Football Playoffs

Next week's games are set. Here is the rundown:

Ravens @ Titans
Pick: Ravens 26 Titans 20

The Titans are pretty ripe for the picking. They are getting some players back (Haynesworth and co) from injuries but time will tell if they are 100% at this point. If Flacco can become Tom Brady circa 2001 and manages the gameplan well, that defense with Ed Reed and Ray Lewis can really carry them. We will see how Johnson and Kerry Collins (although as my brother says, "Never underestimate Kerry Collins") fair aginst a sound if not solid defense.

Chargers @ Steelers
Pick: Steelers 20 Chargers 17

I could use this as an excuse to explain why an 8-8 team shouldn't make the playoffs. Instead, Chargers looked good but without Tomlinson, Sproles is going to be on his back courtesy of James Harrison and Troy Polamalu and I don't think Rivers has enough weapons outside of Antonio (finally looking healthy and himself) Gates to overcome the Steelers Defense.

Arizona @ Carolina
Pick: Carolina 31 Arizona 14

I can pretty much boil this down to counting scores. I can see Arizona playing the couple of big plays (2 long TD's) and a lot of 3 and outs, turnovers and losing the time possession battle kind of game. against Carolina's defense and while Julius Peppers has himself a 3 sack day on as Kurt Warner is reminded he should retire before he gets the final hit he doesn't want.

Eagles @ Giants
Pick: Giants 24 Eagles 16

I really want to pick the Eagles in this game because if anyone in the NFC could beat the Giants its them. I think that if Brandon Jacobs is a) not 100% and b) forced into less carries or out of the game by injury the Eagles have a great chance to win this game. I don't trust the McNabb/Reid braintrust to carry the Eagles to a great extent so Dawkins and the defense and Westbrook on the offensive side will need to have big days. However, I think the Giants defense and an efficient offense and field possession game will move the Giants on.