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Analysing the games? Ay yi--very tough to pick, even tougher to figure out the scores--well Boomer Esiason picks 3 on the road and the Pats at home, but then again Esiason has a much crappier picks record than Shannon Sharpe and, even, Dan Marino. The odds makers are stacking up Pittsburg on the road--it looks like most of these games boil down to effective running.
Steelers: Willie Parker is in gear now and Bettis is scoring TDs like a beast-Ben is healthy and Hines is happy-damm good D.
Bengals: Probably the flimsiest D (especially v, run) of all the wild card teams-will Palmer get into the flow in time? I say Pitts D does enough to stop Cin--but, with key personel additions on D, next year the Bengals will be a monster. 23-Cin 17
The strangest game to call is Car/NY. Panthers: D has shown signs of brilliance--but it really depends on the matchup. O has staggered all month but went nuts this weekend. Giants: Tiki and the running game are awesome, is Shockey still injured? D is very good but it, and Strahan, has shown signs or weariness of late. Delhomme much more experienced and cooler than Manning. Foster is the key to the whole game-as, could be, the weather. If Car can get NYG D huffing and puffing Steve Smith will win the game for them. I think only cold weather and a massive surge on D will win it for Ants. Got to go with Panthers 28-NYG 17
Wash/TB--looks pretty on paper-decent QBs, great RBs, stellar Ds. Redskins: is Cooley really that injured? He's a very key player for Skins. Was Portis shaken up--probably not much, he'll play--will Brunell's knees last (or will the cortisone injections last is the real question)? Buccaneers: If the Cadillac stays healthy then Chris Simms and a second WR are the only weak spots for the Bucs. I hear the wheels turning in Chucky's head-this game, sorta, has echoes of the TB/Oak Superbowl. Pittman is the x-factor. If Gruden can structure TB's passing offense to utilize TE Smith, Pittman and the occassional fling to Galloway they'll be OK. Barber and Rice are coming on like gangbusters right now, and Brunell is clearly not as mobile as he used to be. I say the diffence is Brunell getting knocked out of the game and an INT returned for a TD. 21 Redskins 13
Jax/NE--possibly the toughest game to call. Jaguars: very good D, decent QBs, strange running game. If Garrard starts they have a chance. Partiots: aside from Bruschi banged up they can do pretty much what they want to do in this type of matchup. I say experience, weather, Dillion, magic and Viniteri make Pats the favorite 24 Jaguars 14. *****
Before, you are wise; after, you are wise. In between you are otherwise.
Fravashi saying (from the formularies of Osho the Fool) <i>Edited by: danlo60 at: 1/3/06 4:27 pm
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