Last week was an exciting opening weekend for the NFL Playoffs. I went 2-2 thanks to the herculean effort of the Indianapolis Colts in the second half as well as losses courtesy of the latest collapse in Cincinnati and the Eagles losing by a field goal. The Colts and Chiefs may have provided the most exciting game last week, while the San Francisco and Green Bay matchup may have been the best played game overall. Here's to hoping this weekend's batch of games are just as exciting. Check out my picks Saturday's divisional round after the jump.
New Orleans Saints AT Seattle Seahawks (11-5) (13-3)
The New Orleans Saints escape Philadelphia with a win by winning in an "un-Saints" like fashion, running the football. Mark Ingram had what many may consider his best game as a pro as Sean Payton turned to the ground game after star quarterback Drew Brees had a rough first half. In order to defeat Seattle at home, the Saints must play a near flawless game on both sides of the ball or the trip back to New Orleans will be just as long and brutal as it was after their regular season matchup. As dangerous as Jimmy Graham is as a receiver, running situations for the Saints are pretty obvious as Graham isn't normally on the field because he isn't a very good blocker. If they want to keep this elite Seahawk defense on its toes, they need to find a way to better disguise their tendencies.
Coming off a bye, the Saints may hope that Seattle is a little rusty, but I doubt Pete Carroll allows that to happen. Expect Seattle to sharp and focused out the gate. The formula for Seattle is simple, play great defense, feed the beast that is Marshawn Lynch, put Russell Wilson in the position to make positive plays, and avoid turnovers. All things that they are pretty good at. Seattle's defense can be over aggressive at times and it makes them susceptible to the run but I don't believe that New Orleans' rushing attack is good enough to give the Seattle defense serious problems.
Prediction: Seahawks 24 Saints 10
Indianapolis Colts AT New England Patriots
(11-5) (12-4)
Indianapolis Colts throughout the season have found ways to dig themselves into some nice sized holes, only to find away to dig themselves right back out of them. That proved true again during the first week of the playoffs as they trailed the Kansas City Chiefs 38-10 in the 3rd quarter only to come back and win 45-44. I have no reason to believe that will be the case this weekend. The Colts will show up ready and will give Tom Brady and the Patriots everything they can handle and more. The Colts, led by Andrew Luck have proven they can score on even the best defenses in the league but they key to victory will be their defense. Robert Mathis and the gang need to put pressure on Tom Brady and do it early and often. Brady has a tendency to play skittish and fast when his jersey gets dirty and that's they best way to beat the Pats.
New England has fought injuries all year and they keep mounting, as they just recently lost linebacker Brandon Spikes. Things won't be easy for the Patriots but the "Golden Boy" Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will always find away to stay competitive and win. The Pats need to take some of the pressure off their defense by keeping Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton off the field by running the ball and using the short passing game as an extension of the run game. This will also open up plays downfield as the Colts can vulnerable to big plays on defense. Expect a slugfest.
Prediction: Colts 23 Patriots 20
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