The End Zone (Divisional Playoff Edition)

1. Your picks for the weekend are and why.

Seattle v. Bears
KDC:The Bears are vulnerable, but underrated. If they lose to Seattle, at home, they’re a punchline for another year of jokes. I just don’t see the defense and special teams allowing that to happen. I see this as an ugly, low-scoring affair, even if Seattle QB Hasselback is red hot again.
Momo: I’m taking the Bears because Pete Carroll said he is going to kick to Devin Hester. Hester is going to flip the field and provide the Bears with great field position. The Seahawks magic ends this weekend.

Baltimore v. Pittsburgh

KDC: Do either of these teams deserve to lose? What a great rivalry! Pittsburgh at home is impossible to bet against though. Which is a shame, because the Ravens match up really well against the Patriots. That said, I think the difference is the QB, and Flacco just hasn’t been consistent enough to gain my confidence. Pittsburgh by a TD.
Momo: In a perfect world these two teams would be playing in the Super Bowl. Talk about a compelling game. For some reason Big Ben has owned the Ravens the last 6 games. To me, the x-factor will be Steelers receiver Mike Wallace. If he gets free he can stretch the field and make life difficult for the Ravens. However, that Pittsburgh line is banged up and Suggs and Lewis will get after Ben. I’m going with the Ravens by a field goal. It kills me to say it because I love Polamula

Green Bay v. Atlanta

KDC: In the justly lauded hubbub about the Falcon’s home record, many forget Green Bay lost their last encounter in Atlanta due to a turnover at the goal line & a wrong call on a 4th down catch to Tony Gonzales that led to a TD. And that was the difference. The Packers couldn’t run then (26 yards), and I’m not sure last week’s triumph over the Eagles proves they can now. But if they can, it’ll be the Packers in a squeaker.
Momo: I’m taking the Packers in an upset. Reason being, Atlanta had a hard time with them a few weeks ago. The Packers are running the ball better and their defense is going to make life difficult for Matt Ryan. The most underrated player in the playoffs is Aaron Rodgers.

New York Jets v. New England

KDC: I hate picking the Patriots, but they’ve played the best football in the second half of the season. That said, they’re vulnerable. Green Bay nearly beat them with a back-up QB, but probably because the coaches didn’t know how to game plan him. They know what to do against the Jets and I expect they’ll drop the hammer, though it won’t be as bad as the last game. It’ll be obvious though.

Momo: If the Jets would just shut up and play ball, I would love to pick them. But the constant talking totally takes away from their play. These two teams do not like each other. The Pats can be stopped and if the Jets blitz enough and trust their corners to cover then they will win. However, special teams will be the decider in this one and the Pats have the edge. Pats by a field goal.

2. Player that surprised you most this season was...
KDC: I’m not sure I have one. Of course you must include Michael Vick. After that, there were a bunch of good stories by hard-working unknowns – Texas RB Arian Foster winning the rushing title after being on the practice squad last year. Dwayne Bowe coming out of nowhere for KC. Brian Urlacher returning to form. This was a season of great stories.
Momo: Mike Williams of the Seattle Seahawks. He is another guy who was out of football because he was overweight. At one point, Williams weighed more than his former teammate Warren Sapp, and as a receiver, you should never weigh as much as a defensive tackle. Williams led the Seahawks in receptions and is almost living up to potential. Being with Pete Carroll, a coach that believes in him, has truly helped Williams.

3. What happens when you are in charge of the Cleveland Browns? Why on Earth would Holmgren hire Rams O-coordinator Pat Shurmur?

KDC: Obviously Holmgren is seeking a conservative “I don’t want to lose” man (instead of a “Lets go for the win” guy) who has never been a head coach before. Shurmur almost lost the Rams a couple games (vs the Broncos especially), because he went into the safest playcalling ever and forced so many consecutive 3-and-outs that Josh McDaniel almost kept his job. So I’m not sure how much credit he deserves for Bradford’s maturation.

The weird thing is, Holmgren has to be right or he’s not much of a football czar. It’s a shame, because Cleveland’s fans are among the best in the NFL, but something must be in the water that rots the brains of Browns’ GMs. It’s a mystery.


Momo: I know some no name guys like John Harbaugh and Mike Smith came out of nowhere to coach but Pat Shurmur?!?! You have to be kidding me. The Rams offense under him was stagnant. Shurmur hasn’t been a head coach anywhere. I know he is related to Fritz Shurmur who ran Mike's defense but this is so out of the blue. While leading the Rams offensive, the team ranked at the bottom or near the bottom in every offensive category. Just a mind boggling pick by Holmgren. So I’m thinking one of two things will happen, 1. Holmgren will realize the error of his ways and come down to coach or 2. He will leave the Browns in worse shape than he inherited it and coach somewhere else.