Well, it’s game time and I’ve had time to weigh my options.  I had planned on doing this a couple days ago, but came down with a persistent little cold, so I have been exhausted.  So, here’s what I think.  I’ll also throw out a score for all of them, just to see how close I can get.

Starting in the AFC….

Jets vs. Pats.  The Game is Afoot!  Losing their safety a few weeks ago and a corner (Coleman) in practice this week does not bode well for stopping Brady.  I think that Revis can shut down one WR (Branch?….not sure he could totally stop Welker).  But that means that the other, along with everyone’s all-american Danny Woodhead could be running free.  And Benjarvis Green-Ellis is going to get some carries I’m betting.  The Jets are going to have to find a way to score with the Pats.  Having KR Brad Smith a little dinged up won’t help.

I think the holes in the Pats defense from last year (that made me know that the Ravens would beat them) have been patched and they seem to be peaking late in the season.  I think the Jets still have a shot to run the ball, but they’re going to need great QB play to win…..play the likes of the best QB of all-time…past or future….royalty has called him “a miracle” and “king of the impossible”.  Yes, that’s right……QB of the NY Jets…..Flash Gordon!  I rewatched part of that movie the other day and it could not have felt more apropos.  And did you ever notice that Baron (Timothy Dalton) looks a bit like Danny Woodhead?  Barring Flash’s resurrection, Pats win 34-13.

Ravens vs. Steelers

I don’t think Flacco is quite there yet.  Ben has been and still is.  That’s all there is to this.  I saw a stat this week that Flacco is 0-5 lifetime vs. Roethlisberger.  Big Ben makes it 6-0, in another hard-fought war.  I’ll say 28-24, Steelers.  X-factors in this game are the 2 safeties….Polomalu with that achilles injury and Reed missing key practice time due to his brother.  That could lead to more big plays than usual here, hence the high score pick.

NFC:

Bears vs. Seahawks

Well, all you Jay Cutler fans will finally get to see if he’s any good in the playoffs.  While I thought that Seattle could run and score against the Saints, I think that’s going to be much tougher against the superior Bears defense and outside.  As long as Cutler doesn’t throw a pick 6, I think the Bears contain Seattle.  And yet I feel like the Bears offense might struggle too, so I”m going to go against the whole year’s history and pick Seattle to lose a close one.  Robbie Gould is the difference maker in Soldier Field.  Bears 16.  Seahawks 14.

Atlanta vs. Green Bay.

Fascinating game between the most stable and the most dangerous teams in the NFC.  This Atlanta team feels a bit like the Atlanta team that lost in the Super Bowl before.  I kinda think it’s going to happen again.  I expect Roddy White to play a big part here, because it might be tough sledding for Turner against that defensive front of GB.  Rodgers help dispel a bit of his stigma (in my mind) of not closing out opponents last week, but I just think Atlanta finds a way to win again.  Let’s go with the same score as their regular season game, 20-17. 

So, enjoy the games.  To recap:
Pats big
Bears barely
Steelers bury the Ravens in the Cask of Amontillado
Falcons through the air

By the way, I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that I’m in the date range for this new, 13th zodiac sign.  It feels contrived, and yet I have no doubt that it’s based on more science than this set of predictions.  Oh, and check out the NY Post cover from yesterday (Return of the Jet-I) and the Wes Welker foot-references interview if you haven’t seen them yet.  Both awesome.

-Justin