Gant Gridiron Challenge: Divisional Playoffs

Definitely a ‘two-horse race’ now between Chris and Jay, and as you can see below, there won’t be any changes after this week at the top because they both have the same picks. The Bowl special results are also included, and with a 10-2 record it’s clear, Chris knows bowls! On to the picks….

The Last Word

Chris: As a diehard Steeler fan, I cannot pick against the black and gold. This will be another smashmouth game between bitter rivals. I like the Steelers in an extremely close game. In Chicago, I wouldn’t be surprised if Seattle pulls the upset, but playing at home last week really gave the Seahawks the edge. They won’t have that this week. Another close one, but the Bears win. As much as it pains me to admit, the Patriots are the best team in the NFL and the Jets do not have the horses to keep up with them. It won’t be 45-3 this time, but the Patriots will win by a couple of TDs. Last but not least, sure Atlanta has played well at home under Matty Ice but Aaron Rodgers is playing about as well as a QB can. The No. 6 seed moves on. The Upset Special.

Jay: “Last week I went with 3 out of 4 away teams, while this week I’m going with 3 out of 4 home teams. I’ll try and better my 2-2 result though! I am a Flacco and Rice fan, but I think the Steeler ‘D’ makes the difference in this one – especially if #43 is somewhat healthy. Though it wouldn’t totally surprise me if Seattle pulled off another upset I have to go with the Bears not to lose to Seattle twice at home in the same season. Cutler does have the ability to implode and cost his team the game more than Hasselbeck does, but I think the Chicage coaches will reign Cutler in enough to win. No way the Pats lose to the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets. Hopefully it will be closer than the 45-3 debacle of a few weeks ago though. Packers-Falcons game is the toughest one of the weekend for me to pick. I think the Packers have the team to pull off the three road wins and play in Dallas for the Super Bowl, which seems to happen alot more in the last few years than it used to happen. Matty “Ice” is tough to beat at home, but I think the Packers are the best in the NFC right now.”

Dustin:  “Considering only one of my teams won last week, I’m just playing the odds this time and going with the home teams.  The Patriots pounded the Jets the last game, and I don’t see the New York defense holding back Tom Brady.  Matt Ryan simply cannot do wrong when he’s inside the Georgia Dome.  I won’t deny that Aaron Rodgers looked phenomenal against the Eagles, but home field advantage will be huge in this one.  Chicago and Seattle…well I would be shocked if lightning struck twice in this one, but Brian Urlacher and that Bears defense is just so strong, and considering it’s at Soldier Field, Seattle is way out of their element.

And then it’s the Ravens vs. Steelers…the rubber match.  Both teams are healthy, but Pittsburgh had a longer time to prepare.  Polamalu will be in the secondary, Heath Miller will be at tight end, and Ben Roethlisberger will be under center.  He remembers that broken nose from the last game, and he’s ready to win one for his team.  Gotta go with Pittsburgh there, no questions asked.”

Rusty: “It’s desperation time, and if I want to get back in this thing, I have to use some creative arguments on myself.

The Ravens may have won big last week, but with the Steelers healthy and focused, it should be a different story this week.  It may come down to whichever QB has the better day as the defensive side of the game will be, as always, awesome.  Seahawks, really?  I had no faith in them last week, but Pete Carroll had them ready to play.  This win should let them carry on in the playoffs – I may have them winning it all now.  Why not?, the rest of the season has been so unpredictable (obvious for me anyway).  Ok, Ok, I’m really picking the Jets because I don’t think anyone else will, but after being embarrassed a few weeks ago by the Patriots, they better have a strong game plan – I know I’m fired up for it, even if they are not.  Atlanta Georgia is going to look more like Green Bay this weekend after recent storms.  I know, I know they play in the dome, but I’d take the guys outside for warm-ups and halftime to get the feel of Lambeau Field – maybe it will carry over to the game.  In reality, my picks were so bad last week that I decided to pick the opposite of who I thought would win this week – can’t be much worse, right?”

Dave: “Like last week, you can see my in-depth analysis Friday in my Glass Eye column – but my quick thoughts….As Bob Smizik said in the Post Gazette this week, anyone who thinks they can predict the Steeler-Raven game is fooling themselves. This series has been so close and turned on extraordinary plays so many times (like Polamalu’s sack in Baltimore), it just makes predictions impossible. I will say this: these games always seem to be low-scoring, but between the Ravens’ improvement on offense, their decline on defense, and the Steelers having a week to get healthy I actually expect more points this week – I think the winner will get 20-24 points rather than 13-17. I picked the Steelers because I think homefield and the bye give them a slight edge. I’m picking the Bears but like many others on here I think Seattle could win – in my opinion the Bears are the weakest by far of the bye-week seeds and Seattle has already won at Soldier Field. However, I think they maxed out their potential last week, and they will crash back to reality this week. Pats – not much to say here, they are the best team and the team to beat until proven otherwise. Frankly, I’d be shocked if the game is closer than 10 points. Finally, I’ve been on the Packers’ bandwagon since preseason and I’m amused that 3 out of 4 of my colleagues joined me this week – Atlanta has been incredible at home, but I feel like they might be too conservative and might have peaked too early. This game should be very close and as always turnovers will be a big factor, but I still believe Green Bay will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.”