I'm a college foorball nut by trade. But since the NFL Playoffs are the only football game in town, here's my 2 cents.
Atlanta at Philly...A dome team playing outside in very nasty weather. Didn't we see this last week with Indy? A rookie coach going against a cagey veteran. I liked Atlanta's special teams...last week. But does anybody think the Falcons are going to rack up 150 return yards and the good field position they enjoyed last week? Vick will have some success. But not like he does on his home astroturf where he can utilize his speed. McNabb will have more success because of his scrambing ability and his accurate short passes that could be turned in to big plays today. I'm sure Philly is still thinking about the tough playoff losses of the past. I don't think this Philly team is snakebit. They just lost to 2 better teams the last couple years with Carolina and Tampa Bay. I don't get that feeling with Atlanta. And Philly is an improved team with another year of expierence under their belts. Many of the Eagle starters had been off for over a month last week against Minny. They should come in a lot sharper this week. Especially on offense. I like PHILLY -5.
New England at Pitt....I always look at the coaches first to see if i have an advantage. There's no doubt that New England has an advantage. Not huge but it's still there. I then look at the QB's. This is where the biggest advantage lies. Brady is simply like Joe Montana. He knows how to win big games. But even Montana had a lot of problems when he had to go face a great N.Y.Giants defensive team in the frigid weather of the north. This could be the difference today with New England on a rare road trip final. Pitt is a better defensive team than the one that lost to New England in 2001 in the AFC finals. My feeling here is that after the mistake prone game that Rothsnburger played last week, Cower is going to take the game more out of his hands and rely more on the running game. I feel about the same way with New England. I believe with Corey Dillon back in the lineup the Pats will try to establish the running game more this time around. I want to take Pitt here because I feel it's going to be a low scoring game. Especially being played in the early evening. But I can't make myself go against Belichek and Brady. But I do think with the combination of both teams trying to establish a clock moving running game, and field goals being a lost commodity at Pitt stadium, that points are going to be hard to come by. I believe the best play here is the UNDER (36).
GL to all!
Atlanta at Philly...A dome team playing outside in very nasty weather. Didn't we see this last week with Indy? A rookie coach going against a cagey veteran. I liked Atlanta's special teams...last week. But does anybody think the Falcons are going to rack up 150 return yards and the good field position they enjoyed last week? Vick will have some success. But not like he does on his home astroturf where he can utilize his speed. McNabb will have more success because of his scrambing ability and his accurate short passes that could be turned in to big plays today. I'm sure Philly is still thinking about the tough playoff losses of the past. I don't think this Philly team is snakebit. They just lost to 2 better teams the last couple years with Carolina and Tampa Bay. I don't get that feeling with Atlanta. And Philly is an improved team with another year of expierence under their belts. Many of the Eagle starters had been off for over a month last week against Minny. They should come in a lot sharper this week. Especially on offense. I like PHILLY -5.
New England at Pitt....I always look at the coaches first to see if i have an advantage. There's no doubt that New England has an advantage. Not huge but it's still there. I then look at the QB's. This is where the biggest advantage lies. Brady is simply like Joe Montana. He knows how to win big games. But even Montana had a lot of problems when he had to go face a great N.Y.Giants defensive team in the frigid weather of the north. This could be the difference today with New England on a rare road trip final. Pitt is a better defensive team than the one that lost to New England in 2001 in the AFC finals. My feeling here is that after the mistake prone game that Rothsnburger played last week, Cower is going to take the game more out of his hands and rely more on the running game. I feel about the same way with New England. I believe with Corey Dillon back in the lineup the Pats will try to establish the running game more this time around. I want to take Pitt here because I feel it's going to be a low scoring game. Especially being played in the early evening. But I can't make myself go against Belichek and Brady. But I do think with the combination of both teams trying to establish a clock moving running game, and field goals being a lost commodity at Pitt stadium, that points are going to be hard to come by. I believe the best play here is the UNDER (36).
GL to all!
