STONE COLD LEAD PIPE DOCKS - PLAYOFF EDITION

After a rowdy regular season, the NFL playoffs are finally here. We have some great matchups right off the bat like the Colts and Chargers, and Falcons and Cards, so it should be a fun weekend.

Anyways, after a profitable regular season in picking, we are back with our picks of the week, our playoff edition....

Suman aka Richboy's pix:
(Last week 4-0-1)
(Overall 8-6-1)

Falcons at Cardinals (Cardinals +2)

My first instinct was to take the Falcons big in this one. But after some research I see that most people are on the Falcons. And most people are usually wrong in games like this. Warner is a former MVP and won a Super Bowl. Matt Ryan is playing in his first playoff game on the road. The Cards have been getting torn apart in the media the last few weeks for "not trying" after they clinched. So I'm hoping that disrespect + the major disrespect of being home underdogs will lead to some anger. The Cardinals probably won't make it far once they get to cold weather, but this is Arizona and its a home game. They'll be able to move the ball. I just can't see the Falcons stopping this cardinal offense. On the other hand, I can foresee a situation where Matt Ryan throws up a dud of a game. I'll take the Cards and the points in a blowout.

Colts at Chargers (Colts Pick Em)

I'm going with the Colts here because around week 4 I started seeing an All Manning Super Bowl, so I'm going to stick with that pick (actually I lie I still had Super Bowl hopes for the Browns at that point, but if you disregard the delusional part of my brain the normal
part of my brain said Peyton would somehow get the Colts there). This is a real tough game to pick, and I'm still kind of iffy on it. The Chargers have been playing great ball lately, and Phil Rivers has would have been a strong MVP candidate had the Chargers won a few more games. But if you take a closer look at the teams the Bolts have beaten in this streak to get them into the playoffs (Oakland, KC, Tampa & Denver)....all have major flaws other than Tampa Bay which basically fell apart by the end of the year. On the other hand, I can't bet against Peyton right now (the fucked up thing is that I was so sold on the Colts winning in round 1, but if you had to pick 1 team and QB to cause me doubt it would be the Rivers and the Chargers). But Peyton is on another level. Plus I think the Colts have been keeping Bob Sanders out just for the playoffs, so he should be close to 100%. The lack of a pass rush from the Chargers hurts, so I see
Peyton picking this team apart. I'll take the Colts in another blowout.

Ravens at Dolphins (Ravens -3)

I liked Miami this year, but I don't think they are built right now to beat a team like Baltimore. Miami isn't a big play offense. They methodically beat people with a solid run game and Pennington's controlled passing attack. Well that doesn't work against the Ravens. You can't run on them (unless you are the Giants or maybe Vikings) and that short shit doesn't work. You need big plays on their corners. And Chad Pennington doesn't make big plays because he
doesn't have a big arm. Meanwhile, the Ravens are going to pound this Miami defense with a 3-headed monster of a running attack. They won't make Flacco have to make plays in this one. The Ravens already beat this Dolphins team pretty badly earlier this year, and I see a repeat. Ravens in a blowout.

Eagles at Vikings (Eagles -3)

Wow I really hate this game. Lets just say I won't be betting on this game in real life. But if I had to, I would lay the points here. I really don't want to bet against Purple Jesus here but I have to. Fat McNabb and the Eagles are hot right now. They are ballin'. Meanwhile, I can't trust Tarvaris or Mr. Feeny. I hate the fact that over 80% of the betting public are on the Eagles, but I think there is a reason...nobody believes in the Vikes. Not even there own fans. I heard somewhere today that this game isn't even a sellout, and there is a possibility it will be blacked out in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Philly has that karma right now with the Eagles ripping the Cowboys in a must win last week, and with with the Phillies winning the WS this year. Although, the major reason I would take the Eagles is that I like their defense right now. They are quick to the ball, fast, and if they play anything like they did last week against the Cowboys this will be the 4th blowout of the weekend.

Vik aka Docksquad's pix:
(Last week 3-1-1)
(Overall 41-33-5)

Falcons at Cards (Falcons pk)

I'm going to have to go against Richboy in this game. I am going to take the Falcons to win this Football game straight up. These Falcons have been an amazing story this year, and they have been money for me all year long, so I am going to ride them again in this one. I think in the playoffs you need a solid defense, and that is what was my deciding factor in this one. The Cards defense has been opportunistic, especially early on in the year, but recently they have struggled. They are giving up huge plays, and the Falcons have some big time playmakers who can take advantage of that. I definitely see Ryan hooking up with Roddy White all day in this game, and Turner torching the Cards run defense. The Falcons are the second best rushing team in the game, and they will go to that well early and often in this one. The Falcons have also been a very physical team on the oline and dline, and that kind of toughness definitely gets it done in the playoffs. Look for John Abraham to have a huge day in this one as well. That guy is an underrated beast, and Warner better watch his back with Abaraham lurking. In the end I see the Falcons D coming up with some stops of the Cards passing attack, and the Falcons making enough big plays in this one to win. I would also play the over in this game, as both teams will put up some big points in this game.

Colts at Chargers (Colts pk em)

This game scares me because everyone and their mom is on the Colts as the "sexy" pick of the playoffs. Usually when that happens, those teams lose early. That being said, I tried and tried to come up with a way to pick the Chargers in this game, but couldn't. Now I know the Chargers are a lot better at home, and that they have dominated the Colts the last four times they have played, but this game to me is going to come down to two things, coaching, and turnovers. I think the Colts have the advantage in both areas, and I am going with the Colts in this one. There is no way Turner outcoaches Dungy in this game. Turner is one of the worst coaches in the league, and trust me when you have a twang coach, you will always lose in the playoffs. Trust me, I know from first hand experience being a Bears fan. Anyways, the second factor is turnovers. I really do see the Colts D coming up with some turnovers in this game, and giving Manning more opportunities to win this game. I also know that the Chargers can not get any pressure on the QB, and that will allow Manning to sit back in the pocket and carve up this weak Chargers secondary. LT is also hurt, but is going to play, and although he has been great in recent weeks, I just don't see him having a big game in this one. I've been fading the Chargers all year long, and I will do it again once more here. They have proved me wrong the past couple of weeks, but their opponents have been jokes compared to this streaking Colts team. No one wants to play the Colts right now, and I will take them to win this game straight up.

Ravens at Fins (Ravens -3)

The Fins have been one of the hottest teams in the league recently, winning five in a row. But if you look a little further, check out the five teams they have beaten... the Jets who were struggling, the Chiefs, Niners, Rams and Bills have been their recent victims. The last time the Fins played a good team, the Pats, they got smoked. And I see that same outcome bringing the Fins great run to an end this weekend. I know Chad is having a great year, but the Fins are anchored by their running attack, and this is a bad matchup for them. These Ravens do not give up 100 yard running games, or rushing touchdowns. The Ravens have the second best rushing D in the game, and that will be huge in this one. The Ravens on the other hand, have been playing some great football as of late, and their D has been stout as usual. But for once, the Ravens are also scoring pts. Their rookie QB Flacco has been great all year long, and Flacco is great on the road and has a 91.7 road Qb rating, the third best in the league. Ravens also have the fourth best running attack. Their three running backs are kind of underrated. They will pound you to the ground, especially in the fourth quarter, as we saw in that Cowboys game. In the end I see this being a hard hitting, low scoring, grind it out football game, and that will play right into the Ravens gameplan. Ravens will win by double digits and finish off what was a great run by the Fins this year. They will definitely be a solid team next year as well.

Eagles at Vikings (Eagles -3)

Let me give it up to the Vikings. Even though I hate them, they have been hot, and they deserved to win the NFC North this year. Their D line has really stepped up with Allen leading the way, and Apete is just Apete. Even when he is hurt. That being said, I still just don't see how I can put money on TJax being their Qb in a playoff game. Random tidbits, but the Vikings are also 5-11 vs NFC East teams in the playoffs. The Vikings are also missing DE Ray Edwards, and Pat Williams and Berrian are still nicked up from their injuries. Those are some really valuable players to this Vikings team, so that will come into play in this game as well. The Eagles are also a hot team, after coming off of a waxing vs the Boys last weekend. They will need McNabb, Westbrook, and DJackson to light it up on offense, and they will need their blitzing, ball hawking Defense to come up big if they want to win this game. And I see exactly those things happening in this matchup. The Eagles are also the only team left in the playoffs with a top 10 defense and offense, which is huge. Every year a team that barely gets into the playoffs makes a run, and this year, I think the Eagles can be that team. The Eagles fourth ranked run D will come up with a way to stop Apete. Jim Johnson is too smart and too experienced not too. The Eagles Tra Thomas, will also do well vs Jared Allen, after shutting down Demarcus Ware last weekend. And lastly, Asante Samuel does look like he will play tomorrow, which is big for the Eagles. I really think this game comes down to coaching and the Qb position, and the Eagles have the advantage in both.



Remember the spreads we put up in our picks, that is what we put our bets in at, since the lines have moved a lot for these playoffs games. We also bought the hooks. Gluck to everyone!!!