City of Champions’ NFL Staff Picks Wildcard Round
Here are the results of the final regular season picks.
Zac Weiss – 13-3 (149-87-1)
Matt Shetler – 12-4 (147-89-1)
Matt Gajtka – 10-6 (145-91-1)
Jason Harding – 12-4 (143-93-1)
Here is a preview of the NFL Wildcard playoff games.
Cincinnati at Houston
This is a rematch of last season’s wildcard game which the Texans won their first playoff game in franchise history, 31-10. The difference this year is Matt Schaub will be under center opposed to the third string TJ Yates. Houston has struggled lately losing 3 out of their final 4 games. The Bengals, on the other hand, enter the playoffs on a good run winning 7 of their final 8 regular season games. Andy Dalton continues to improve and claims last year’s loss was good experience and is now more confident. Matt Schaub started the season on a tear, but finished slow possibly costing his team home field advantage. It appears both teams could be getting healthy this week as well. Brooks Reed and Alan Ball may be returning to the line-up for Houston. For Cincinnati Terence Newman and BenJarvus Green-Ellis both look to be primed for action.
Bengals: Shetler, Harding
Texans: Weiss, Gajtka
Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) carries the ball during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Packers 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota at Green Bay
This is a rematch of last week’s regular season finale where Minnesota stole a 37-34 victory at the Metrodome. This week the game will be at legendary Lambeau field where the Packers have struggled in recent years. Green Bay has lost 4 out of their last 6 home playoff games. Green Bay will look to stop Adrian Peterson more frequently. Peterson racked up 199 yards last week, just 9 yards short of break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. Peterson became just the seventh player in history to rush for 2,000 yards. The Packers are looking to get healthy this week as Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson are expected to play. More importantly for Green Bay Charles Woodson has been cleared for action after suffering a broken collarbone.
Packers: Shetler, Weiss, Gajtka, Harding
Indianapolis at Baltimore
Lots of headlines in this match-up: Old Colts Vs New Colts, Ray Lewis Announces Retirement, Caldwell, Pagano Coaching Against Familiar Foe and most inspirational #Chuckstrong. The Colts no question had a lot of motivation this season due to their head coach Chuck Pagano being diagnosed with leukemia. Interim coach Bruce Arians has taken last year’s worst team to an 11-5 record with a rookie QB. One of those losses came in early December when the Ravens won at home 24-10. Luck has been very good this season, but is still prone to mistakes. Baltimore is a team that you can’t afford to make mistakes against. The Ravens also look to get a healthy defense back on the field this week. Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis and Bernard Pollard all may be on the field together for the first time this season. The question will be how many times Jim Caldwell elects to put the ball in Ray Rice’s hands. If Rice has 25 touches the Ravens should be in good shape.
Ravens: Shetler, Weiss, Gajtka, Harding
Seattle at Washington
Dec 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) hands off to Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA Today Sports
As the Washington Redskins took on the Dallas Cowboys in primetime last week the offense continued to shock me. I had watched quite a few Redskins games this season, but they had never looked so fluent. Washington’s scheme is very simple, but extremely effective. Alfred Morris is a work horse in what I believe to be the most dangerous offense in the playoffs. RGIII is still testing out his knee slowly. He looked a little gimpy last week, but said it was much better than the previous week. Seattle is no slouch on the offensive side of the ball either as they have averaged 42.5 ppg in their last 4 games. The Seattle defense is the big match-up this week. They play with so much speed, but against the Redskins offense, speed may hurt. Last week I said Seattle would be the most dangerous team going into the playoffs. Both teams pound the ball, use rookie quarterbacks efficiently and play solid defense. You can’t ask for much more in a wildcard playoff game.
Seahawks: Shetler, Weiss, Gajtka
Redskins: Harding