The NFL Playoffs Predictions

Jason and Matt have each done the due diligence of selecting the winners of each and every playoff game. Here are their takes! Remember, Jason in Brown and Matt in Orange.

Starting in the AFC. New York @ Cincinnati

Baltimore @ New England

I think New York takes care of Cincinnati again. Their defense is playing at its peak and their running game is tough to contain. In the other matchup I'll go with New England. I think this game will be close and even though the Pats are without star receiver Wesley Welker they will still find a way to get it done.

Divisional

New York @ Indianapolis

New England @ San Diego

The Colts will take care of business in this game but I do think they will come out rusty. After resting for 3 weeks they will need to be sharp if they want to beat a hot Jets team. Home field advantage will play to their favor. The other game will be close but I think San Diego will pull away at the end. The Chargers are arguably the hottest team in the league right now and the Pats are banged up. Chargers prevail.

Conference Championship

San Diego @ Indianapolis

I originally had Indy going to the Super Bowl. I still think they can but it's hard to go against the Chargers at this point. I think Rivers and company keep up the torrid pace right into Miami. San Diego wins the AFC.

Now over to the NFC.

Wild CardPhiladelphia @ Dallas

Green Bay @ Arizona

I would normally go against Dallas any year but not this one. They are having a rare hot streak at the end of the year and they are also playing at home. Dallas moves on. On the opposite side, Arizona the state is hot but the football team is ice cold. Green Bay has been playing great all year and their defense is coming together nicely. Rodgers will take advantage of the Cards banged up secondary and move the Packers into the next round.

Divisional

Green Bay @ New Orleans

Dallas @ Minnesota

New Orleans seemed like the mid-season favorite and then fizzled like a cheap bottle rocket. Green Bay is a team I view as a dark horse and I think they will squeak one out in the Bayou. Minnesota and Dallas may be the best game of the playoffs. Both teams are good, both teams are hot, and both teams are hungry. Vikings have too many weapons and will prevail.

Conference Championship

Green Bay @ Minnesota

Logic would tell me to pick Minnesota, however, I know how Brett Favre is. I would never count on him to win a big game. Minnesota beat up on Green Bay in the regular season. Rodgers gets his revenge this time. Green Bay goes to the show.

Super Bowl

Green Bay vs. San Diego

Not what you would call a "glamour" matchup but it will be one that is tight all the way through. It's really hard for me to make a pick with these two, in fact I would expect it to go to OT. I will stick with my pick from earlier in the year and say Green Bay gets another Lombardi Trophy. Aaron Rodgers also solidifies his tenure in Green Bay and puts the Favre legend to rest once and for all.

Wow, going against your Colts. I am shocked!

Here's my predictions.

AFC

New York @ Cincinnati

I don't think the Jets can handle the real Bengals. Cinci played very "vanilla" so they didn't tip their hand to New York last weekend. The Bengals should roll in this one, especially due to the fact that the Jets have a rookie quarterback getting his first taste of the post season.

Baltimore @ New England

This game is really a coin flip with Welker not playing. It's a classic game of Offense vs. Defense and you know what they say, defense wins championships. Combine that with the fact that Ray Rice and Joe Flacco are playing great and I see the Ravens taking the win and moving on to the next round.

"The Next Round"

Baltimore @ Indianapolis

Peyton Manning and the Colts should be able to handle the Ravens in this game. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne both got to the 100 reception mark this season and there is no reason they won't manhandle the Ravens secondary. I know, I know, the Ravens defense got them to this game but Indy moves on to the AFC Championship anyways.

Cincinnati @ San Diego

The Chargers are a team possessed and they will not be stopped by the Bengals. Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson will be the reasons that San Diego comes out on top in this game, setting them up for a showdown with the Colts.

AFC Championship Game

San Diego @ Indianapolis

This is another game that could go either way. If this game was in San Diego, I would pick the Super Chargers but Indianapolis is at home and they will not be denied a trip to the big game in Miami. I see Joseph Addai having a huge game as the Chargers will be expecting Peyton to try and beat them with his arm.

Time for the NFC.

Philadelphia @ Dallas

Last week, Philly got shutout in the Jerry Jones Shrine and, while they won't get shut-out again, I don't see them faring much better this time around. Dallas is playing out of their mind and Tony Romo is out to prove that he is a superstar quarterback. This game will help cement that, and also Wade Phillips' job for another year.

Green Bay @ Arizona

Last week, Green Bay beat the snot out of the Matt Leinart led Cardinals. This week, the Cardinals will have Kurt Warner at the helm but the result will be the same. Green Bay is playing as strong as they have all season and the offensive line is finally protecting Aaron Rodgers. Look for Donald Driver to have one oh his best games, ever.

"The Next Round"

Green Bay @ New Orleans

The Saints have looked pedestrian over the past few weeks. The Packers have looked like Champions. Green Bay wins on the road, in the SuperDome and punches their ticket for a spot in the NFC Championship Game. This one will be won on the ground for the Packers. They did it through the air in the first round but Ryan Grant carries the team in this one.

Dallas @ Minnesota

Brett Favre's comeback comes to an end. Tony Romo is still jacked from the week before and gets the job done in this one with a game winning score by Jason Witten to seal the deal. The Old Gun Slinger can't handle the pressure that the 'Boys bring down after down and Adrian Peterson can't convince him to hand him the damn ball.

NFC Championship Game

Green Bay @ Dallas

Late in the season the Packers took down the Cowboys. Unfortunately, and it pains me to say it, the Cowboys get a little payback in this one. They use the same tenacious "D" they did against the Vikings to shut down the Packers passing game. Aaron Rodgers tries too hard and ends up throwing a few picks, which is completely out of the norm for him. Dallas uses the "Yankee Formula" to win. Get a new Stadium, win games.

Super Bowl

Indianapolis vs. Dallas

Tony Romo has tried so hard to make a name for himself and prove himself as a superstar in the National Football League. This is the year he actually does it. Dallas comes out firing on all cylinders and puts Indy on their heels for the entire game. The Cowboys get up by a couple scores early forcing Peyton to beat them with his arm. Once Dallas knows what is coming, the secondary shuts the Colts down and, while they do get back in it and keep it close, the Cowboys win this game by a slim margin, 31-27.