Christian Newlove
Guest Blogger
As I was 4-0 in my picks last week, I look to repeat with another stellar performance. The divisional round is always my favorite weekend in NFL Postseason Football. There are 4 intriguing matchups this weekend starting on Saturday afternoon.
Ravens@Patriots Saturday, 4:35 P.M. NBC
Baltimore visiting New England. A matchup that we all are accustomed to seeing. The Patriots are the clear cut favorite to win this matchup and most people think 2014 is the year Brady/Belichick will get their fourth super bowl title. Their defense had a superb season ranking in the top 10 in rushing and 13th in total yardage allowed. Offensively they are very well rounded as they can run the football effectively, plus a healthy Rob Gronkowski creates matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. WIth all that said, the Baltimore Ravens are a team that always gives them problems, especially in January. They have won two of the last three playoff meetings(both at Gillette Stadium), where Joe Flacco has played excellent. Speaking of Flacco, in the postseason he has been more Flacco than “Fluke-O”. He has thrown 13 touchdowns against zero interceptions in his last five playoff games including a super bowl title. You add that with a veteran receiving core, a rusher who averages over five yards a carry, and a front seven that allowed only 68 yards on the ground last week which makes the Baltimore Ravens a big threat in this game. I am picking Baltimore to win, 27-24.
Carolina@Seattle, Saturday 8:15, FOX
The later game on Saturday features the defending Super Bowl champs versus a team that finished the regular season under .500, with a 7-8-1 record. Although I believe Carolina’s defense is one of the elite defenses in the NFL (thanks to stud linebacker Luke Kuechly) I do not believe enough in Cam Newton and the rest of the Panthers offense to win this game. They go up against a Seattle defense which is ranked pretty much in the top five in every defensive category. Although their matchup back in week 8 in Charlotte was a tight one(Seattle won 13-9), I believe Seattle’s home-field advantage will play a key role in this game. I am looking for Seattle to run the ball! Marshawn Lynch has finished with double figures in touchdown runs for four straight seasons. I’ll take Seattle, 20-6.
Dallas@Green Bay, Sunday 1 P.M., FOX
Sunday’s first game takes place at the Frozen Tundra, Lambeau Field. I’m guessing most of the country will be rooting against Dallas since they won last week thanks to two botched calls from referee Pete Morelli including one where they originally called, but the flag was picked back up. Everybody is all in for the Dallas Cowboys offense led by quarterback Tony Romo. However, I believe they are a little overrated. Once they matched up with a physical defense in Detroit last week, they only scored 7 first half points and really should have only finished with 17 on the scoreboard. I expect them to lean heavily on the run with their all pro running back Demarco Murray since game time temperature is expected to be just above 10 degrees. For the Packers, Their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers (who I believe will win 2014 NFL MVP), is battling an injured calf but you can’t count out their second year running back Eddie Lacy who went over 1,000 yards for the 2nd straight season. I predict Green Bay to win this battle 27-17 with clear home field advantage, thanks to Rodgers playing turnover free football.
Indianapolis@Denver Sunday 4:40 P.M., CBS
The weekend comes to a close as Peyton Manning faces his former team in the Mile High City. Denver comes in as a clear favorite and has every right to. Although Andrew Luck was stellar last week having his first non interception playoff game, the Colts went to the pass 63 percent of the time. Andrew Luck has had the best first three years any quarterback has ever had, but it still puzzles me that the Colts have been so successful. Andrew Luck really doesn’t have any team around him. His defense is the definition of mediocrity, his running game is poor, and the five guys who protect him up front are pathetic to say the very least. The Colts will not be able to win, especially on the road when relying way too much on Andrew Luck. So much pressure is put on this young man and he has shined, but his team is just a couple years away from making a serious run for the Lombardi Trophy.
My three things to look for on Sunday are as follows…
- Demarcus Ware and Von Miller creating matchup issues at the line of scrimmage
- Andrew Luck turning the ball over thanks to Chris Harris shutting down T.Y. Hilton
- Denver’s C.J. Anderson running the football effectively
I see Peyton Manning coming on top in a total team effort for the Broncos as they roll on to the AFC Championship Game winning 31-23. A little bit of Luck magic keeps things close.
