Patrick Smith - Getty Images
Chris dropped the updated 2012 NFL playoffs schedule in here last night but I wanted to follow up with a few of my thoughts on the AFC and NFC Divisional round games. We had three of the four teams on Wild Card weekend win in a blowout and the points spreads for the Divisional round are similar with three of the four games having a line of eight or more points.
A few early thoughts and early predictions on next weekend's games:
New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers: Love this game. I imagine most are saying the Saints should take care of business -- they're early 3.5 point favorites on the road -- but the 49ers have the formula to stick with these guys. They can rush the passer well, which should disrupt Drew Brees, and they have a solid secondary. They can also run the ball well on offense, which means they can control the time of possession. I'm not picking the 49ers to win this game -- in the end, I'm sticking with the Saints -- but I do think this is a very close game.
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots: Geez, how many story lines can one game have? Tim Tebow was awesome on Sunday night beating the Pittsburgh Steelers but he'll have to do it again against a team with a significantly better offense. The Broncos lost by 18 points to the Patriots earlier this season and I wouldn't be surprise to see a similar score this time around. The Patriots should win by double digits.
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens: I still have trouble remembering that this Texans team is very good on defense, like top-5-in-the-league good. So this could be a defensive battle. In these hard-to-predict games, I always look to the quarterback for the tiebreaker so my early prediction is the Ravens.
New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers: I'm going all in with this prediction and taking the Giants. I think they have the pieces in place for an upset and I think they'll go to Green Bay and beat the Packers. I wouldn't be that surprised to see Green Bay win in a blowout but my bold pick of the week is the Giants over the Packers.
0 recs | 30 comments
Saints, Pats, Ravens, Giants.
Pats vs. Saints, Saints bring it home.
severn58 - January 9, 2012
I have never seen,...
So many people people who wanna suck on TeBag’s jock strap! I’m sick of ESPN giving this dude 30 min coverage! I can’t wait till NE bends him over next week!
HOF4DT58 - January 9, 2012
Agree with you on most days
But this morning Tebow is the story of the playoffs. Three other games were blowouts, he won in OT. The story’s going to be about him.
Joel Thorman - January 9, 2012
Not to say that I agree with all-Tebow, all-the-time the other 364 days of the year
Joel Thorman - January 9, 2012
Agree 100%
At least there was an actual story there this time…not just talking about the guy to talk about him.
Scott B. - January 9, 2012
Giants, bold pick for sure ... nice job, Joel
you mentioned QB as difference, I think home-field also is an edge … ergo Balt in a close game
upamtn - January 9, 2012
All I know
is the whole Tebow orgy needs to stop.
SCKSChief - January 9, 2012
And It WILL!!
That will be his 1 and only playoff win in his career! We would have beaten the Steelers if it wasn’t for PickO’
HOF4DT58 - January 9, 2012
Well...A lot of people call this Tebow hate
That is far from it. People think we hate Tebow. I don’t hate anyone. I hate the hype surrounding him. So it is time for Brady to silence Tebow Time again, but this time on his own turf.
NJChieffan16 - January 9, 2012
yeah, just like we beat the Ravens last year!
upamtn - January 9, 2012
Ouch
SCKSChief - January 9, 2012
I just don't get it
Why the hell everyone is so in “ah” about Tebow….He’s not the only Christian to play football!!
Arrowhead816 - January 9, 2012
His religion doesn't really matter to me
But I thought he was a really bad quarterback and now he’s playing well enough to knock off the defending AFC champs. You gotta admit, it’s pretty interesting.
Joel Thorman - January 9, 2012
Is it Tebow playing "well"
or Pittsburgh playing “badly”? A case could be made for both. I think Ditka said it best on Mike and Mike this morning; “He’d (Tebow) be the first to admit he’s just a part of an interesting situation.” Paraphrased there (sorry, Ditka), but the gist is there. It isn’t Tebow winning these games, guys.
SCKSChief - January 9, 2012
Tebow Haters at it again
Give it up. Tebow has done nothing to warrant all this hate he gets. It’s the media who can’t leave him alone for one second. It’s the media who force feed us Tebow storylines every minute of every day!
Sorry but I’m not gonna hate on Tebow because he is just doing his job “HELPING” to win games!
Matt_Grbac - January 9, 2012 via mobile
yup, and yesterday he actually looked like a real QB most of the game
upamtn - January 9, 2012
That'll happen when you give him 2 minutes to sit back in the pocket while he waits for his receivers to get open
RA_ChiefsFan - January 9, 2012
Yesterday
One time this season. Still had more incomplete passes than completed passes.
SCKSChief - January 9, 2012
Yep if Cassel was 10 for 21 and the same outcome,
We all would still be saying he’s a bad QB.
dbakerku - January 9, 2012
I don't see people hating on Tebow.
I must just look at things different, because I see them hating on his game, not on him. I hate all the hype he gets because I believe he can’t keep it up, but I understand all the circumstances into it, and the reasons for it. Tebow as been hyped up all his carrer, and shoved down everyne’s throats from the MEDIA, So the MEDIA is the one’s who bring it on Tebow. Just like you’re sick of the “HATE”, I’m sick of the leave him alone, he’s done nothing crap. Tebow is probably a great guy, and I don’t HATE him. I hate evrything revolving around the situation, and it has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with his religion, that’s another MEDIA BS topic thrown on top.
dbakerku - January 9, 2012
Well I'm sure some do actually hate him,
There are assholes in the world, but I think it’s more the situation and not him
dbakerku - January 9, 2012
I hate the hype
it’s ridiculous.
SCKSChief - January 9, 2012
I'm glad Tebow is winning,
Better for the Chiefs in the long run. Surely they have to keep him as starter next year now. His game will die off just like the Wildcat.
dbakerku - January 9, 2012
I too am glad that they'll be saddled with a bad QB
SCKSChief - January 9, 2012
Which is why
RAC is a pure genius!!! Have man on man coverage, with a QB spy….force Tebow to play….
Arrowhead816 - January 9, 2012
The funny thing is seeing an un-enthusiastic Elway during the game when they would score.
It’s like he’s happy that his team won but with every win he’s stuck with a guy who he knows is not a real NFL QB.
RA_ChiefsFan - January 9, 2012
steelers were crippled
everybody is making a big deal out of denvers win,the fact is the steelers were banged up pretty much.the patriots are healthy and ready to roll,so we will see how tebow does against a lot better team.and i think we all know what the results will be.and maybe the media will finally shut the hell up.no matter what the chiefs beat them.
chiefsfool - January 9, 2012
I'm on board with the Giants
I think the Packers peaked about midway through the season. The Giants were a bit of a surprise last time they made a run to the big dance as well… While I don’t think they are the best team in the bracket, I think they put up when it counts.
ToddQuixote - January 9, 2012
Go Niners, Pack, Ravens and fightin Tebows
Sucks to pull for the Donks but Boston sports need to be taken down a notch
HIV 2 Elway - January 9, 2012
Saints, Pats, Ravens, and Packers.
Pats will beat the Ravens to go to the Super Bowl. I will reserve judgment on the Saints and Packers game until I see how they each play leading up to the NFC championship game.
G.L. - January 9, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Arrowhead Pride to post a comment.