The year 2012 has ended and so has the NFL regular season.\u00a0 Twenty teams are now thinking about what to do in the offseason, while twelve are dreaming of the Lombardi Trophy.\u00a0 The Packers and Patriots each won themselves homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.\u00a0 The 49ers and Steelers earned themselves a week off and a bye into the divisional round.\u00a0 The Falcons, Eagles, Texans, and Broncos all won their divisions and will play host during Wild Card weekend.\u00a0 The Saints, Bears, Ravens, and Bills all eanred themselves a wild card into the playoffs.\u00a0 Let the second season begin…<\/p>\n
Saturday, January 5, 4:30<\/span> – #6 Buffalo Bills at #3 Houston Texans<\/em> Saturday, January 5, 8:00<\/span> – #5 New Orleans Saints at #4 Philadelphia Eagles<\/em> Sunday, January 6, 1:00<\/span> – #6 Chicago Bears at #3 Atlanta Falcons<\/em> Sunday, January 6, 4:30<\/span> – #5 Baltimore Ravens at #4 Denver Broncos<\/em> Saturday, January 12, 4:30<\/span> – #4 Philadelphia Eagles at #2 San Francisco 49ers<\/em> Saturday, January 12, 8:00<\/span> – #3 Houston Texans at #2 Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, January 13, 1:00<\/span> – #5 Baltimore Ravens\u00a0at #1 New England Patriots Sunday, January 13, 4:30<\/span> – #6 Chicago Bears at #1 Green Bay Packers Conference Championship Sunday<\/span><\/p>\n Sunday, January 20, 1:00<\/span> – #2 Pittsburgh Steelers at #1 New England Patriots Sunday, January 20, 4:30<\/span> – #4 Philadelphia Eagles at #1 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XLVII<\/p>\n Sunday, February 3, approximately 6:48<\/span> – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots The year 2012 has ended and so has the NFL regular season.\u00a0 Twenty teams are now thinking about what to do in the offseason, while twelve are dreaming of the Lombardi Trophy.\u00a0 The Packers and Patriots each won themselves homefield … Continue reading
\n<\/strong>The playoffs kick off with this year’s AFC regular season surprise taking on last year’s AFC regular season surprise.\u00a0 The Bills faded down the stretch and lost some head-scratching games, but still managed to get to 9 wins and beat out the Chargers and Bengals on a tiebreaker.\u00a0 If it’s possible for a team that has only won one playoff game (last\u00a0 year) to underachieve by getting 11 wins, the Texans did that.\u00a0 But, they have a shot to erase it all and go for the title which many thought them capable.\u00a0 They should be able to handle the Bills here at home, sending them to the Steel City for the divisional round.\u00a0 Texans 27 – Bills 10<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Despite all the distractions of this offseason, the Saints and all of their offensive talent still put together a terrific season, missing out on winning the division on a conference record tiebreaker.\u00a0 The Eagles bounced back from a terrible 2011 to return to the top of the NFC East, with an 11-5 record.\u00a0 They lost to the Giants in Week 17, costing themselves a first-round bye.\u00a0 Now, they are stuck with a wild card game against a very good team and a road game in the divisional round.\u00a0 In this one, I think the much maligned Eagles defense comes up big, while the offense does what it always does.\u00a0 The Eagles run away with this one to avenge the playoff loss in 2007 and send them to the divisional round against either Green Bay or San Francisco, depending on the outcome of the early game tomorrow.\u00a0 Eagles\u00a034 – Saints 20<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Falcons had another very good season under Matt Ryan and Mike Smith, but it’s not about the regular season anymore for this team.\u00a0 It’s all about what they do in the postseason.\u00a0 And, they didn’t get a great draw here, as the Bears, an 11-win 6-seed are really tough.\u00a0 The addition of Brandan Marshall pushed this offense to new levels, while the defense is its consistent self.\u00a0 Now that the defense doesn’t have to carry this Bears team, they are very dangerous.\u00a0 Once again, I think this Falcons team falls short at the worst time, as the Bears go into the Georgia Dome and upset the Dirty Birds, setting up a bitter matchup with their longtime rivals.\u00a0 This Bears win sends Philly to San Francisco next week.\u00a0 Bears 21 – Falcons 17<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Peyton Manning is back in the playoffs.\u00a0 After a tough 1-4 start, the Broncos rallied to win 8 of their last 11 games, winning the AFC West on the strength of their season sweep of the Chargers.\u00a0 The Ravens also started slowly, winning just 3 of their first 7, before ripping off 8 wins in 9 games, including two over the hated rival Steelers.\u00a0 The red hot Ravens offense is rolling, while the defense is digging in for one last stand.\u00a0 The season in Denver has to be deemed a success, but it will, most likely, end here, as the Ravens earn themselves a chance at redemption against the team that beat them in the AFC Championship last year.\u00a0 Ravens\u00a031 – Broncos 13<\/strong><\/p>\nDivisional Weekend<\/h1>\n
\n<\/strong>After a thorough beatdown of a really good Saints team, the Eagles are really rolling.\u00a0 The 49ers won the NFC West and, for the second straight year, earned themselves a first-round bye.\u00a0 And, like last year, they welcome in a team that has a terrific offense and very big aspirations.\u00a0 But, unlike last year, this team can also play defense.\u00a0 The Eagles d-line should abuse Alex Smith all day, and the Niners receivers will have a miserable time getting open on Nnamdhi and DRC.\u00a0 It will be a frustrating day by the bay for the red and gold.\u00a0 Eagles 23 – 49ers 6<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>Ho-hum, another 12-win season for the black and gold.\u00a0 They have o-line issues and potentially huge running\u00a0back issues.\u00a0 But, their receiving corps is elite, the defense is legendary, and their QB knows how to do nothing else in this world other than winning football games.\u00a0 The Texans have a ton of talent, but they are a bit top-heavy, and this is where that shows up.\u00a0 Their penny-pinching on the offensive line will haunt them in this one.\u00a0 Steelers 20 – Texans 14<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>The Pats are loaded, yet again, this year.\u00a0 They are revolutionizing the offensive game with their 2- and 3-tight end sets, and their defense is a LOT better than it was a year ago.\u00a0 They cruised to 14 wins this year and did it rather easily.\u00a0 The Ravens have been rolling recently and will be trying to avenge a home loss in Week 3 and, more importantly, a crushing loss in the AFC Championship Game last year.\u00a0 But, the Pats are just too good right now, and the Ravens defense will really miss Terrell Suggs in this one.\u00a0 Barring a superhuman performance by Ray Rice, the Pats should eliminate the Ravens yet again, setting up another showdown with those Pittsburgh Steelers.\u00a0 Patriots 28 – Ravens 14<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>The oldest and best rivalry in football rekindles itself here in the divisional round on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.\u00a0 The Packers followed up their 15-1 season last year with a 14-2 season and another #1-seed this year.\u00a0 Their defense was a little better than last year (and, how could it be worse?), and their offense was just as potent.\u00a0 The Bears picked up a big upset win in Atlanta last week to get them here, but they are a bit overmatched in this one.\u00a0 Packers 30 – Bears 21<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>The Pats made quick work of a good, experienced Ravens defense, and they are poised to do the same here.\u00a0 The Steelers probably just don’t have the horses on either side of the ball to run with this loaded Pats team.\u00a0 Yet again, we have to live with two weeks of media coronation of the Belichick-Brady Era.\u00a0 Patriots 35 – Steelers 17<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>What is the Packers biggest weakness of offense?\u00a0 They have a very shaky offensive line.\u00a0 What do the Eagles do better than any other team in the NFL?\u00a0 Rush the passer.\u00a0 What is the Packers biggest weakness of defense?\u00a0 An shaky secondary.\u00a0 What do the Eagles have more of than – just about – any other team in the NFL?\u00a0 Speed, speed, and more speed on the outside.\u00a0 The front four of the Eagles will live in the Packers backfield all game, while the speed merchants of Maclin, McCoy, and Jackson will abuse the Packers secondary all game.\u00a0 The Pack will get theirs, but this smells like an upset.\u00a0 Eagles 34 – Packers 30<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>A rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX, except that I will actually get to watch it in English in a country that is not (most likely) 36 hours into a military coup d’etat.\u00a0 These two teams are both loaded.\u00a0 The problem (if you’re an Eagles fan) is that one of teams has actually won with this group and the other may still be trying to put the right pieces in the right places.\u00a0 Furthermore, the matchups\u00a0 in this game are absolutely terrible for the Birds.\u00a0 They have two physical man corners, but who in the hell is gonna cover those two tight ends?\u00a0 Unless Nate Allen or Michael Kendriks plays the game of their lives, this Pats team might march up and down the field on the Eagles because the pass rush can be rendered ineffective against the quick passes to the tight ends and Welker.\u00a0 I like the Eagles offense to put up some points, but probably not nearly enough, as Belichich and Brady get yet another one…\u00a0 Patriots 38 – Eagles 27<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"