NFL Divisional Playoffs Day 1

Last weekend I didn't do too well picking games. I was only 1-3 for spreads. Maybe being over the pond is making it a little bit harder to predict the games. But this is no time for excuses. It's playoff time and this is normally when I'm at my best, so I guarantee I'll do a lot better this weekend. On to the games for Saturday.

Broncos 28, Ravens 20 --- BAL +9 That's a huge spread for what could be Ray Lewis' final game. The Broncos have won 11 in a row and they are 7-1 at home but it's possible the week off could make them start a little slow. This game reminds me a lot of the 2005 Divisional Playoff game between the Colts and the Steelers. The Steelers had a certain player who was in his last year going up against the number 1 seed in the AFC. Peyton Manning was the QB back then and he is today. Plus the Ravens lost to the Broncos 34-17 in week 15 (the Steelers lost to the Colts in the regular season as well). I think the Broncos will get the job done today because Joe Flaccccoooooo is nothing special on the road (only 7 TD's and 5 INT's) and will most likely make a mistake. I do think it will be a lot closer than that spread though because the Ravens are going to want to do it for Ray, get revenge, get back to New England where their season ended last year. (After writing all this I might have just convinced myself that the Ravens pull this one out.

Packers 24, 49ers 21 --- GB +3 The Packers have a huge advantage at the quarterback position and this is why I'll take them to win today (Plus, they were my preseason Super Bowl pick so I might as well stick with them). But in all honesty Aaron Rodgers is an experienced playoff QB, while Colin Kaepernick is making his playoff start. The Niners also only finished the year 3-2, so they aren't exactly rolling with Alex Smith on the bench. Another reason I like the Packers is the revenge factor. The Pack lost the first game of the season in San Francisco and they will want to make sure that doesn't happen again. I also feel like everybody has forgotten that they won the Super Bowl two years ago.

Hopefully I'm right today. I'm really thinking I want the Ravens to win now. I watched a bunch of Ray Lewis speeches this week and he got me sorts of fired up. I swear he could convince me to hit my grandma if he talked to me.