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| Julius Peppers needs to manhandle the Seahawks line to win this week. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) |
The Seattle Seahawks aren't exactly a feel-good story because quite honestly I don't think there were many people excited when they saw a 7-9 team hosting a playoff game. The Saints were the feel-good story last year and they were riding that into the playoffs this year. Most probably wrote off the Seahawks coming into last week and not many were rooting for them. It was a feel-good story in the Saints against a team nobody thought deserved to make the playoffs. However, the Seahawks showed up to play and didn't get knocked flat as many expected them to. They knocked off the defending Super Bowl champions and now they are one win away from hosting the NFC Championship.
This week the underdog Seahawks head to Chicago to take on Jay Cutler and the Bears. Like last week, I have a lot of trouble making the "easy" pick in Chicago. I said in one of last week's posts that "some little part of me says that Seattle will sneak up and surprise everybody by winning this game," and yet I stuck to my guns with the Saints. This week I could pick the Seahawks, they could win, and I could look like I know a bit what I'm talking about. Or if they lose I look like I got caught up in the hype like a lot of other people who are picking Seattle this week.
It seems as if I am in a bit of a pickle. However, I feel confident going with the Bears in this one. Julius Peppers is no doubt one of the best defenders in the game; he is a game-changer. Putting him in with Brian Urlacher and the rest of that Bears defense adds fuel to the fire. Their defense is hard-nosed and I feel they will have their way with the Seahawks as long as they get to Matt Hasselbeck. All Cutler has to do in this game is lead the offense to a couple scores and then manage the game the rest of the way. It seems clear to me that Cutler is going to want to make some big plays in this one to throw it in the face of his "haters," but that is exactly what will get him into trouble. He needs to let the plays come naturally and not try to force a big play. If he does that, the Bears are golden.
Bears 30 - Seahawks 17
*Game is on FOX at 1 PM EST
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| We'll be seeing a lot of this today from Tom Brady. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) |
Did you know that the Jets and Patriots are actually going to play football this week? That's right. They are playing football today. This football game has been lost amongst the trash talk thrown into the pot by various Jets and Patriots players. As much as I love a good rivalry, this is just ridiculous. Rivals don't like each other, that's a given. But what real rivals do is respect the other side and let their play do the talking. The Steelers and Ravens always crank out a good game like yesterday's because they allow the battle to speak for itself. It got chippy on the field with some pushing and jawing, especially between Hines Ward and Ed Reed. They played a great game yesterday and the Steelers came out on top because they were the better team.
I want to see that happen today with the Pats and Jets. I want to see two great football teams play great football. This shows the difference, however, in the two rivalries. The Steelers and Ravens hash it out on the field; they push and they shove and they jaw. The Pats and Jets talk trash from afar, afraid to settle it on the field.
With all of the verbal pollution clouding up the air around the game, I don't see this being a very interesting contest. I see the Jets getting bowled over in this game because they don't live up to their attitude. They talk smack and carry around the Hard Knocks reputation, but all in all the Jets have not had the best season. They have skated by with a low margin of victory (around four points per game) and just don't play up to the hype. Did I mention that the Patriots also have this guy named Tom Brady? He's an alright quarterback. I see him having his way today with the Jets' defense much like he did in their last matchup in which the Patriots won 45-3. With all of the "excitement" leading up to this one, we'll be watching a dud blowout today.
Patriots 52 - Jets 14
*Game is on CBS at 4:30 PM EST
p.s. Yes, I said 52 points.
p.p.s. With two wins yesterday, my playoff record sits at 4-2.
p.p.p.s. Today I'll be working on my new fashion blog. My first post will be up by Tuesday. fashioninthepaint.wordpress.com
p.p.p.p.s. For more senseless babble, follow me on Twitter @Bradley_W_Parks.
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