Wild Card Weekend

Okay, so my picks for the last 3 weeks of the regular season yielded me a below .500 record, but it's a whole new season now: playoff time.

Time for my picks, listed for you on a clean slate:

Chiefs @ Colts (6.5) = On paper, this game should be the most entertaining. Two fantastic offences playing indoors against two lacklustre defences. Peyton Manning and the Colts have struggled lately, barely beating Miami at home on its finale. Kansas City stood up on Sunday, beating the talented Jaguars at home to make the very difficult AFC postseason. If Kansas City runs the ball with Larry Johnson against the weak Colts run defence, the Chiefs have a shot. But the Colts are undefeated at home this year, and there is less pressure on Indianapolis this year than years past. Manning should get this one done, but the defence will need to produce a turnover or two to get him the win. I think they will. Colts by 10.

Cowboys @ Seahawks (3) = What's wrong with the Dallas Cowboys? A few games ago, Dallas looked unstoppable, and headed towards a division title and a possible first round bye. But you can't lose to Philadelphia at home and to Detroit, well, anywhere, and expect the same result. Now the Cowboys are forced to go on the road to Seattle, where the Seahawks are traditionally very tough at home. Alas, this is not the same team that went to the Super Bowl last year. If Dallas brings their top game, they'll win easily. If not, Seattle will sneak by. I'll take Bill Parcells in this one. Cowboys by 6.

Jets @ Patriots (8.5) = New York enters the postseason as the least experienced team still playing. The Patriots are anything but, and live all year for these four weeks. The Jets should be praised for getting this far, but it ends here. Patriots by 14.

Giants @ Eagles (7) = The Giants do not deserve to get into the playoffs. There, I said it. And I hope Philadelphia crushes them this weekend as a warning to all other 8-8 teams to enter future postseasons: you have no right to be here, and you will be eliminated. Handily. Here's hoping I'm right. Eagles by 17.

Regular season record: 21-26-1