With the NFL and NCAA filling the calendar with football lately, many fans have their own opinion on which version of the sport they prefer. I don’t. I really can’t say that one is better than the other because it’s all football and both sports have the potential to produce great games.
But here are some things that give the NFL an edge in this argument.
First, every NFL playoff game actually counts for something. Unlike college football, where the BCS Championship game is the only bowl with title implications, every NFL playoff game moves one team closer to the Super Bowl and a championship.
Second, only a handful of elite teams make the playoffs at the professional level. This means that, in most years, there are six to eight teams with a real shot at winning the Super Bowl.
And third, with great players on every team, there’s a better chance for close games. Blowouts just don’t seem as common in the NFL playoffs.
So after picking the first four BCS bowls correctly, let’s hope that success continues with these NFL Playoff picks. Here they are (Home team in CAPS):
COLTS over Jets
This is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game, which Indy won before falling to New Orleans in the Super Bowl. Expect the same result this time around. The Colts may have lost several key offensive players to injury this season, but the Jets have suffered their fair share of injuries on defense in recent weeks. And if anyone can take advantage of that, it’s Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
Ravens over CHIEFS
If you thought the Rams had an impressive turnaround this season, the Chiefs may have done even better. They improved by six games and won the AFC West on the strength of their running game. Too bad Baltimore is the perfect team to slow them down. The Ravens have had one of the NFL’s best defenses for nearly 10 years and are ferocious against the run. They also have more experience at quarterback with Joe Flacco and a better passing game.
EAGLES over Packers
These teams met back on Sept. 12, when the Packers won by seven. But a lot has changed since then. Michael Vick took over as Philadelphia’s starting quarterback early in the season and has played like an MVP ever since. His passing and running skills make the Eagles very hard to contain on offense and the Packers have suffered several injuries that will make that even more difficult.
Saints over SEAHAWKS
I really want to see the Seahawks lose after denying the Rams a playoff spot last week. But that’s not the only reason why I’m picking New Orleans. The Saints are defending-champions and quarterback Drew Brees is leading another high-powered offense. And the Seahawks only had to win seven games to make it this far. Home field advantage may have helped Seattle against the Rams last week, but it won’t make the difference against the Saints.
