The Extra Point

  Jimmy the Greek time!!!

OK, ok, I know everyone and their brother puts their picks online, just to try to prove that we are more of an expert than the next guy you might read.  Anyway, with that said - here are my expert picks!  I will even give you scores, so you can see how smart (or more likely incredibly off) I am.

Kansas City vs. Indianapolis

Anyone that has Larry Johnson in a playoff fantasy league will be happy, but that is about all that will go well for the Chiefs.  The Chiefs are just happy to be in the playoffs (there is no way they expected to be still playing this weekend when Week 17 started).  They don’t have the defense to match up with the Colts.  Plus, for the true kicker, they have Herm Edwards leading them, the only NFL head coach that can make Tony Dungy look like a playoff genius!

Colts 38 - Chiefs 24

Dallas vs. Seattle

I’m sorry, I know a lot of people are saying this could go either way, as both Dallas and Seattle finished the season 1-3.  But let’s look closer.  Seattle did play badly in Weeks 14 & 15, but in Week 16, they lost to the best team in the NFL, the Chargers, by 3, then walloped Tampa to end the year.  In those 4 games, they were outscored by a total of 3 points.  Now, let’s look at Dallas.

Besides beating an Atlanta team that was more schizophrenic than most teams in recent memory, they also went 1-3, but lost their last two.  Plus, they were actually playing for something in Week 17, and got spanked at home by the Lions!  In those 4 games, they were outscored by 39 points, and their vaunted defense gave up an average of 33 ppg over the 4 weeks.  They are reeling more than people think.  Add in one of the best homefield advantages in the NFL (although they were only 5-3 there this year), and this one looks easy to me.

Seahawks 30 - Dallas 17

New York (A) vs New England

This one should be a good one.  The Jets have played New England very tough this year, splitting the season (with the Jets win coming in New England), and Mangini seems to relish playing Belichick the way Shanahan loves giving it to the Raiders.  BUUUTTTTT… you don’t pick against Belichick and Brady in week one of the playoffs.  They are the Genius and the Golden Boy.  Brady is the anti-Manning, no choke in him.  Can’t happen, right?  (although Brady has taken some lumps this year, including losing his hot-as-hell Hollywood girl)  Hmmmm… nah, gotta go with the Pats.

Patriots 20 - Jets 13

New York (N) vs. Philadelphia

Again, these are just teams moving in different directions.  The Giants went 2-6 to end the year, plus you can visibly tell they hate playing for Coughlin.  The Eagles have won 5 straight, including beating these Giants by 14 in Week 15.  I really don’t see any need to get into specifics of offense/defense, etc.  One team is playing well and for each other, one team is not with a lot of dissension on the sidelines.  The Giants should be able to stay close though, maybe the power of Tiki can allow them to pull off the upset.  Otherwise, it will be a sad end for this team, and more importantly, for Barber’s career.

Eagles 20 - Giants 16

I know, I took all 4 of the home teams, and road dogs have done very well all year in the NFL.  Maybe the playoffs will work the opposite way.