My Super Bowl XLV Prediction

Finally, we've reached the end. After 266 football games, a ton of hype and a handful of controversies, we're finally ready for the best two teams in the league to compete for the title. And make no mistake, unlike years past, these are the two best teams in the league, starting with their elite quarterbacks and defenses and going right through to their coaching. We really could be in store for anything in Super Bowl 45, including a high-scoring shootout like the two teams had last year or a low-scoring slugfest where the defenses take over. No matter what happens, you better enjoy the game because it could be the last NFL football you see for a long, long time.

After a season of picking every NFL game, here is my final pick of the year. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Last Week: 2-0, 1.000
Playoff Overall: 6-4, .600

Super Bowl 45
Packers vs. Steelers
Not to toot my own horn too much, but way back in the preseason I picked the Packers the get to the Super Bowl. Of course, I didn't pick the Steelers to get to the Big Game, leaving them out of the playoffs completely in favor of the Ravens in the AFC North. As for who wins this one, much has been said about how even these two teams are but I have to give the edge to the Packers. If you look at the games that the Steelers defense has struggled this season, its against teams with high-powered offensive attacks. Sure, Pittsburgh can stop the run with the best of them, but they can have problems with teams that spread out and throw the ball all over the field. Count on the Packers to abandon the run early and force the Steelers out of their usual element. That being said, I don't see the Packers running away with this one as the Steelers offense should be able to put some points on the board. This game will be close enough that it will probably come down to who makes fewer turnovers. My pick: Packers 24, Steelers 20

That is my final pick of this NFL season. Check back next season for my picks for the 2011 season, if there is one! Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section.

2011 NFL Championship Round Predictions

After another weekend of good football, we are now down to four. Here are my picks for who will be going to Dallas. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 3-1, .750
Playoff Overall: 4-4, .500

Sunday Games:

NFC Championship
Packers @ Bears
You've heard it before but it bears repeating: these two teams have played each other 181 times in their long history and yet this is only the second time they will meet in the playoffs. That's remarkable. What's also remarkable is how quickly the Packers have gone from the 6th seed in the NFC to Super Bowl favorites. While everyone picked them in the preseason to go the distance, they stumbled at midseason as they dealt with injuries, losing to the lowly Redskins and the Dolphins in overtime. A late season injury to Aaron Rodgers set them back, too, which is how they became possibly the best 6th seed ever. These two teams have met twice this season and played close, low-scoring games, with each team winning at home. With the way Aaron Rodgers is playing right now and the Packers having at least some semblance of a running game, I expect them to put up plenty of points. It will be up to the Bears to keep up and I simply don't see it happening. My pick: Packers

AFC Championship
Jets @ Steelers
Despite all the bluster and all the controversy, Rex Ryan has done one hell of a job with the Jets, taking them to back-to-back AFC Championship games in his first two years as head coach. He has a way of getting his teams motivated to win games they have no business winning, like their upset over the Chargers last year and their unlikely win over the Patriots last week. If they want to pull of another upset this week, Mark Sanchez is once again going to have to play way above his ability and the Jets defense is going to have to create havoc for the Steelers banged-up offensive line. Ben Roethlisberger is going to have his hands full trying to perform his escape act against a hungry Jets defense but I like the Steelers chances of putting up some points because they have something the Patriots don't have: a deep threat. Mike Wallace should be able to spread the field, something the Pats couldn't do, and that will take the Jets out of what they did last week and force them to have some help deep. I expect this one to be close and low-scoring but I expect Pittsburgh to edge out the Jets after they put pressure on Sanchez and force him into a few bad turnovers. My pick: Steelers

Those are my picks for the Championship round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back in two weeks for my Super Bowl pick. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

2011 NFL Divisional Round Predictions

The Eagles were unfortunately eliminated in the first round (again), but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of good football left. If the first round of the playoffs is any indication, we are in for a great couple of weeks of NFL action. Of course, it could also be our last NFL action for a long, long time if they don't get this labor situation figured out.

Despite my poor record in the first round and the fact that the Eagles have been knocked out, I will continue to make my weekly NFL picks throughout the playoffs. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 1-3, .250

Saturday Games:

Ravens @ Steelers
If history shows us anything, expect this to be a hard-fought, low-scoring battle with plenty of big hits. Based on their reputations, both teams are very similar. Both rely on a solid defense and a good but not great offense. Unfortunately for the Ravens, their offense hasn't exactly lived up to their reputation, though they have only allowed 27 total points to the Steelers in two meetings this year. If the Steelers offensive line can give Ben Roethlisberger any kind of protection, he should be able to find Mike Wallace deep and carve up the Ravens secondary. If the Steelers defense can shut down Ray Rice and Joe Flacco is forced to make plays, the Ravens won't be putting many points on the board. While I like the Steelers to win, this will definitely be a close game. My pick: Steelers

Packers @ Falcons
With the emergence of James Starks, the Packers suddenly don't have a weakness. When I picked the Eagles to beat the Pack last week, I assumed that the Birds defense didn't have to respect the run because Green Bay had such a one-dimensional offense. Now, with Starks ripping the Eagles for over a hundred yards and Aaron Rodgers able to pick apart any defense on the planet, the Packers offense looks unstoppable. Of course, there is the possibility that Starks had such a good game against the Eagles defense because they have had major problems stopping the run all year. The Falcons are a better overall team than the Eagles and have very few weaknesses. In fact, I struggle to even come up with anything the Falcons don't do well. They have a balanced offensive attack, an above average defense and they play very well at home. Despite all of that, I'm going to stick with my prediction from last week that the winner of the Packers/Eagles game would be representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. My pick: Packers

Sunday Games:

Seahawks @ Bears
Do I have to apologize after saying it was an "absolute joke" that the Seahawks made the playoffs? Absolutely not! Sure, the Seahawks played a great game and knocked out the defending champs, but, as we know in the NFL, any team can beat any other team in any given game. While I will give the Seahawks credit for playing their best football of the season at the right time, I don't think it's going to carry over for another week. The Bears aren't a great football team but their defense is leaps and bounds better than the Saints D and they certainly won't be allowing Matt Hasselbeck to carve them up. If the Packers couldn't score more than 10 points against the Bears in Week 17, what chance do Hasselbeck, Marshawn Lynch and Co. have of putting up big numbers? The only way Seattle wins this game is if Jay Cutler turns back into the turnover machine that he was earlier in the year, which actually has a legitimate chance of happening. This one could be a close game but the Seahawks run ends here. My pick: Bears

Jets @ Patriots
It's hard to have much faith in the Jets after they got drubbed by the Patriots in Week 13. Still, if you look way, way back to Week 2 and ignore the fact that Mark Sanchez has been pretty terrible this season, you can see how the Jets might have a chance in this one. While I expect this game to be much closer than the last time they played, the Pats are simply too good to lose to a team with as many weaknesses as the Jets. The gameplan for the Pats is actually pretty simple in this one: get up by a touchdown early and laugh as the feeble Jets offense tries to fight their way back into the game. My pick: Patriots

Those are my picks for the second round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back every round for my playoff predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

Akers, Eagles fall short against the Packers

And so another Philly sports season ends with a tough loss.

While David Akers may end up being the goat after missing two field goals, there is plenty of blame to go around for the Eagles in their 21-16 loss to the Packers. We can blame the defense, which couldn't make a stop on third down to save their lives. We can blame Winston Justice, who got eaten alive by Clay Matthews during a key Eagles drive. We can blame Andy Reid for not having the Eagles offense prepared in the first half, when they managed to score only 3 points.

No matter who is to blame, which is really all of the above, the Eagles had their chance at the end and the season ended on a Michael Vick pass to Riley Cooper (of all people) that fell short. While it's hard not to be upset with how it ended, the Eagles had a good season for a team that was supposed to be rebuilding. Very few people expected the Eagles to be back in the playoffs this year, let alone be one of the better teams for a good portion of the season.

With that said, the Eagles have once again been bounced in the first round of the playoffs. With another long offseason ahead, the Birds will need to focus on bringing in some better defensive pieces and of course make sure that Michael Vick isn't allowed to leave town. Despite how this season ended, the Eagles have a bright future and a lot of young players, like LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and Jamar Chaney, that are only get better in the coming years. Time will tell whether they will be the ones to finally lead the Eagles to that elusive Super Bowl victory.
(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Eagles vs. Packers Wild Card Game Inactives: No Bradley or Jean-Gilles

The Eagles and Packers have announced their inactive players for their playoff showdown:

Eagles: S Jamar Adams, LB Stewart Bradley, DT Jeremy Clark, G Max Jean-Gilles, T Austin Howard, CB Brandon Hughes, QB Mike Kafka, DE Bobby McCray

Packers: S Atari Bigby, G Evan Dietrich-Smith, CB Josh Gordy, DT Howard Green, FB Korey Hall, QB Graham Harrell, G Nick McDonald, LB Frank Zombo

The Eagles will be without two starters for this game as Jean-Gilles and Bradley are unable to go. Filling in at right guard will be Nick Cole, who hasn't started a game since Week 11. Filling in at middle linebacker for Bradley will once again be Jamar Chaney, who has done quite well considering he is just a rookie. There was some hope that Bradley would be able to play today but apparently his elbow just isn't strong enough for him to be effective.

This one promises to be a good one, folks. The Eagles and Packers are very closely matched and there should be plenty of offensive fireworks. Let's hope Michael Vick can work his magic. GO BIRDS!

2011 NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Finally, after 17 weeks of warming up, the NFL is ready for the Big Show. There are tons of intriguing storylines that could be played out in the coming weeks, from a Michael Vick return to Atlanta in the NFC Championship to a rematch between the Patriots and Ravens. No matter how it all plays out, one thing is for sure, the NFL has the best playoff system of any professional sport.

I will continue to make my weekly NFL picks throughout the playoffs. While my picks during the regular season were against the spread, my playoff picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 10-6, .625
Final Regular Season Record (against the spread): 135-121, .527

Saturday Games:

Saints (11-5) @ Seahawks (7-9)
I'm not sure what the solution should be but it's an absolute joke that a 7-9 team made the playoffs and is the home team in the first round. I don't know if you need to have fewer divisions or make a rule where you have to have at least 8 wins but the NFL looks really bad when a team as terrible as the Seahawks is three wins away from the Super Bowl. That said, since they somehow play decent at home, I don't think this will be a 30 point blowout. Even terrible teams can show up on any given Sunday, so while the Saints will likely win this one by two touchdowns, they may not annihilate the Seahawks like everyone thinks. My pick: Saints

Jets (11-5) @ Colts (10-6)
On paper, this looks like a classic good defense vs. good offense game. Look a little closer at the Jets defense, however, and you notice the 45 points the Patriots racked up against them and even the 38 points they gave up against a mediocre Bears offense. So, while the Colts have their own issues, especially with their lack of depth that has been exposed due to injuries, this is a pretty good matchup for Indianapolis. Besides, when it comes down to picking Peyton Manning at home vs. Mark Sanchez on the road, what kind of sane person is going to pick against the Colts? My pick: Colts

Sunday Games:

Ravens (12-4) @ Chiefs (10-6)
This is the third straight game where the road team has a better record than the home team. Seriously, NFL, can't you just let all the teams qualify and then seed them all based on record? The Chiefs looked earmarked as a one and done team, especially after how poorly they looked last week against the Raiders. The Ravens aren't great in any one area but they are a good team nearly everywhere; with a defense that is weaker than it has been in recent years, they will need their offense to pick things up if they want to make a Super Bowl run. My pick: Ravens

Packers (10-6) @ Eagles (10-6)
Nearly every expert is picking the Packers, so why am I going with the Eagles? Is it simply because I'm a biased Philly sports fan? Perhaps, but I think the demise of Michael Vick has been greatly exaggerated. Just a few weeks ago, Vick was the toast of the NFL, drawing serious consideration for the MVP award as he led a dominant Eagles offense to great heights. Now, after one bad game against the Vikings where he got banged up early on, Vick has suddenly morphed back into his old self? I don't buy it. Sure, the league has started to figure out how to slow Vick down with speedy pass-rushers but the Eagles have had two weeks to scheme up a counter and they should be ready. With one of the best defenses in the league and a quarterback licking his chops to pick apart a weak Eagles secondary, the Packers present a difficult matchup for the Birds. However, they also have an offense that is incredibly one-dimensional and a defense that is quick but not quite quick enough to keep up with the Eagles weapons, so I think the Packers will fall just short. That is, unless Vick gets hurt. My pick: Eagles

Those are my picks for the first round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back every round for my playoff predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

NFL First Round Playoff Schedule: Eagles vs. Packers on Sunday

Here we go, here is the schedule for the first round of playoff action:

Saturday:
(5) Saints @ (4) Seahawks, 4:30 pm (NBC)
(6) Jets @ (3) Colts, 8:00 pm (NBC)

Sunday:
(5) Ravens @ (4) Chiefs, 1:00 pm (CBS)
(6) Packers @ (3) Eagles, 4:30 pm (FOX)

With both conferences basically wide open, we are in for a very entertaining playoffs, starting with the first round that features the defending champs and what should be a handful of good football games.

Eagles vs. Packers in the first round

With their win over the Bears, the Packers have earned the 6th seed in the NFC and will be traveling to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles next week. While the schedule for the first playoff weekend has yet to be released, there is speculation that the game will be on Saturday night.

This game will be a rematch from Week 1 of the season when the Eagles lost 27-20 at home in an injury-filled game. That game saw the Eagles lose Jamaal Jackson and Leonard Weaver for the season and also saw the emergence of Michael Vick after he took over for the injured Kevin Kolb. A lot has changed for both teams since Week 1 so expect a very different game this time around.

I'll post the first round schedule as soon as it gets released.

Eagles locked into 3rd seed after pathetic loss to Vikings

Well, we can all forget about those crazy playoff scenarios that could have seen the Eagles get a first round bye or even the number one seed in the NFC. After the effort they showed in a 24-14 loss to a terrible Vikings team, the Eagles are probably happy that they were even able to secure the 3rd seed.

While the Eagles offense certainly didn't have the big plays and huge fireworks we've grown accustomed to over the last few weeks, the defense deserves the majority of the blame for the loss. That a mediocre quarterback like Joe Webb, who was making his first NFL start, was able to step up in the 4th quarter and win the game for his team tells you that the Eagles defense was just not ready to play. Simply put, when a big play needed to be made, the Eagles couldn't stop a quarterback that had no NFL experience.

After he repeatedly got hit in the first quarter, it was no surprise that Michael Vick didn't have enough left in the tank to lead the Eagles on another comeback win. The Eagles had better start figuring out better schemes to protect Vick or they are going to be in some serious trouble should he get knocked out of a playoff game.

With the 3rd seed locked up, look for the Eagles to rest their starters next week against the Cowboys. I would expect every player that even has the slightest injury to be benched and we'll see plenty of Kevin Kolb in the second half of the game. Since they weren't able to earn a bye in the playoffs, the Eagles might as well treat Week 17 like a bye for some of their banged up stars.

It's impossible to call the Eagles loss to the Vikings anything but a disappointment but I wouldn't read too much into this game. Hopefully the loss will be a wakeup call for the Birds; they can't just show up against supposedly inferior teams and blow them out. With their next meaningful game being in two weeks in the playoffs, the Eagles had better shape up or they are going to be facing a long offseason.

Eagles are NFC East Champs!

Thanks to a Packers 45-17 win over the Giants, the Eagles have clinched the NFC East title! It is the first division title for the Eagles since 2006.

While the Eagles are now officially in the playoffs, there are still plenty of scenarios to play out before they know who they will play. The Eagles could still finish anywhere from 1st to 3rd in the NFC and could have a bye or play the Packers or Giants in the first round. While we can't assume anything at this point, if the Eagles beat the Vikings and the Cowboys in the final two weeks, their seeding will depend on who wins the Bears/Packers game. That game will likely determine whether the Eagles get a first round bye or face the Giants in the first round.

Of course, there is still that little matter of playing the postponed game on Tuesday night, a game that may be more difficult now that Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre are getting more time to heal.

Eagles Week 16 playoff scenarios

In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, the Eagles are inching closer and closer to winning the division and possibly getting a first round bye. Here are the things that have to happen for the Eagles to clinch a playoff spot in Week 16:

To clinch the division:
1. The Eagles beat the Vikings
2. The Eagles tie the Vikings and the Giants lose or tie to the Packers
3. The Giants lose to the Packers

To clinch a playoff spot:
1. The Eagles tie with the Vikings
2. The Bucs lose or tie against the Seahawks

There is no scenario in Week 16 for the Eagles to clinch a first round bye. If the Eagles win out and the Bears lose one of their last two games, Philly would get the bye over the Bears.

With the Eagles preparing to face a Minnesota team with Joe Webb at the helm, a playoff spot looks nearly guaranteed for the Birds. As we have seen in the past, though, some crazy things can happen in the last few weeks, so we can't assume anything just yet.

My Super Bowl XLIV Prediction

After 266 games, it all comes down to this. You've heard all the hype, you've seen all the puff pieces on New Orleans and Peyton Manning's "God-like abilities", you've placed all your bets on who will win the coin toss and how long the national anthem will last. When you wade past all the BS that surrounds the Super Bowl this week, you are left with a game that has the potential for a lot of points and a lot of fun. Of course, since the last two Super Bowls have been incredibly entertaining, we are due for a stinker.

After a season of picking every NFL game, here is my final pick of the year. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Last Week: 2-0, 1.000
Playoff Overall: 5-5, .500

Super Bowl 44
Saints @ Colts, 6:25 pm
How this game will go should be determined by the Colts first drive. If Peyton Manning marches the team right down the field for a touchdown, it's going to be a long game for New Orleans. Should the Saints throw some different looks at Peyton and force the Colts to punt, we should have a good game on our hands. Really, this entire game comes down to whether the Saints defense can come up with that elusive gameplan that forces Manning to make mistakes. Since there isn't enough talent on the Saints D to make up for poor gameplanning, all of the pressure is on what Gregg Williams has come up with to disrupt and confuse the Colts QB. Of course, we all know Manning has seen everything you can possibly throw at him, so that's going to be a tall order. As for the Saints offense, I expect them to put up at least 20 points as they will be able to move the ball all day on the Colts. If both defenses completely fail, a distinct possibility, this game will simply come down to who has the ball last. I see Manning and the Colts marching on the Saints all day in this one, forcing New Orleans in some mistakes as they play catch up. My pick: Colts 34, Saints 28

That is my final pick of this NFL season. Check back next season for my picks for the 2010 season! Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section.

2010 NFL Championship Round Predictions

The NFL Playoffs have hardly lived up to the hype this season, with only one truly good game out of the eight. The championship weekend looks to be a little more promising as we have a pair of teams that have conflicting strengths in each game. With a little luck, we should be in store for a great Sunday.

Here are my picks for who will be going to Miami. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Last Week: 2-2, .500
Playoff Overall: 3-5, .375

Sunday Games:

AFC Championship
Jets @ Colts, 3 pm There is always one team that everyone picks against in every round that finds a way to sneak into the final four. The Jets are that Cinderella team this year though it seems like we should have seen them coming. After all, they do have the best defense in football and they can run the ball very effectively, two things that are trademarks of good playoff teams. That's why, despite how much of an underdog they look to be on paper, you can't discount them making things interesting against the Colts. When you break everything down, though, the Colts already proved they can beat a team just like the Jets when they beat the Ravens last week. Sure, the Ravens D isn't quite up to the level of the Jets D, but can anyone really slow down Peyton Manning and this offense? Besides, who do you trust at the end of this one if it's close, Manning or rookie Mark Sanchez? Sanchez hasn't had to do anything and the Jets have still advanced; I guarantee the Colts force Sanchez to make some plays and I guarantee the rookie will make some mistakes. This one will be close as the Jets hold the Colts under 30 points, but I have to go with the favorite. My pick: Colts

NFC Championship
Vikings @ Saints, 6:40 pm What an offensive battle we have here. We've got two elite quarterbacks playing the best football of their career surrounded by offensive talent at every position. We have the best running back in football on one side and a suddenly resurgent former college star on the other. So, obviously, this game is going to come down to the defenses. Really, since neither defense is going to stop these potent attacks, it's going to come down to which defense is going to force the most turnovers. As we know, the Saints D, led by Darren Sharper, has been the most opportunistic in football. While two number one seeds haven't played each other in the Super Bowl in quite some time, the Saints, with their home field advantage and seemingly endless supply of offensive talent, will march into the big game for the first time ever. My pick: Saints

Those are my picks for this round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back every round for my playoff predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

2010 NFL Divisional Round Predictions

Most football experts point to the Divisional Round as the best weekend of football of the year. It's the best of the best as you have eight top teams all battling for their shot at getting to the Super Bowl.

Of course, last weekend was supposed to be filled with good football but only the epic Cardinals/Packers game saved it from being a complete dud. I can't remember the last time we saw three teams completely dominate their opponents in the playoffs the way the Cowboys, Ravens and Jets did last week. The dangerous thing for those looking to place their Super Bowl bets on one of those three would be to think they are just going to roll over the top seeds like they rolled over their weak first round opponents. Momentum does have a lot to do with who wins in the NFL Playoffs but momentum can be given or taken away on the first play of the next game. The cream will rise to the crop in the playoffs this year just like it does every year.

Despite my poor record in the first round and the fact that the Eagles have been eliminated, I will continue to make my weekly NFL picks throughout the playoffs. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 1-3, .250

Saturday Games:

Cardinals @ Saints After what happened between the Cardinals and Packers last week, even if you don't think you know who is going to win this one, everyone should be calling up their favorite bookie and putting as much money as they can on the over, no matter how high it is. The Saints offense is even better than the Packers so 50 points for them seems like a given. Of course, we also know the Saints defense is also better than the Packers, so they should be able to keep Kurt Warner from finding wide open receivers all over the field. Seriously, what kind of defense were the Packers playing? Why was there no one within 10 yards of any Cardinals wideout? While it's a bit dangerous to assume the Saints offense will run on all cylinders after the week off and the way they limped into the playoffs, you have to believe that offensive mastermind Sean Payton will get them prepared. My pick: Saints

Ravens @ Colts Count me as someone who didn't see the Ravens buzzsaw coming. Even though my preseason picks called for the Patriots to win it all, I was more than happy to see them basically lose the game in the first three minutes against Baltimore. While it's tempting to pick the Ravens to roll their way past the dormant Colts, who haven't shown us anything in a month, Peyton Manning isn't going to let his team lay down in this one. Even if the Ravens do manage to score two early touchdowns, who doesn't think Manning will calmly exploit the over-aggressive Ravens and guide his team right back into the game. Joe Flacco also didn't convince anyone that he can actually throw his way to victory so the Colts will be stacking the line all day and just daring Flacco to try and beat them. Seriously, when it comes down to it, you would have to be out of your mind to take Flacco over Manning. My pick: Colts

Sunday Games:

Cowboys @ Vikings You aren't going to like this, Eagles fans: the Cowboys are going to make a run to the Super Bowl. After watching Dallas rip through a solid Eagles team like it was nothing, I'm convinced that the Cowboys are going to beat the Vikings and the Saints and be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. That doesn't mean I'm not going to root against them every step of the way, but the Cowboys are simply playing the best football of anyone right now. The Vikings do represent a tougher matchup for the Cowboys than the Eagles did as they will actually run the ball but Dallas is just playing too good on both sides of the ball. Their swarming defense is going to hound Brett Favre all day as he won't be able to elude the rush at all like Donovan McNabb did. I expect this one to be fairly low scoring but the Cowboys will win it by a touchdown, prompting the Brett Favre retirement questions to start up again. Ugh. My pick: Cowboys

Jets @ Chargers Unless I'm completely missing something here, this one should be a cakewalk for the Chargers. Sure, the Jets will be able to slow down the passing attack but San Diego simply has too many weapons to be completely neutralized. And, sure, the Chargers defense isn't great but it's good enough to beat up on the worst quarterback still playing, Mark Sanchez. If I made a "lock of the week", this would be it. My pick: Chargers

Those are my picks for the second round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back every round for my playoff predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

That looked familiar: Cowboys end Eagles season with another beatdown

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Same opponent. Same location. Unfortunately, same result.

For the first time in the Andy Reid era, an Eagles season was ended in their first playoff game of the postseason. In a repeat of the Week 17 blowout, the Cowboys had their way with the Eagles, dominating them from start to finish in a 34-14 win.

As much as it pains me to admit, the Cowboys are simply better than the Eagles. Their defense hounded Donovan McNabb all game long, forcing him to scramble out of the pocket and rush his throws. The Cowboy offense also seemed one step ahead of the Birds D, calling screen plays when the Eagles blitzed and moving the ball at will. Really, the only thing that kept the Cowboys from putting up more points were untimely penalties that kept them off the board in the first quarter.

As for the Eagles, we will spend another offseason wondering what to make of the team. Are the Eagles a great team that simply ran into a team that had their number? Or, are the Eagles simply a good team that doesn't quite have enough talent to keep up with the best in the league?

Of course, you know that no offseason will be complete without the obligatory Donovan McNabb drama. As far as I'm concerned, McNabb did everything he could with what little protection he got against the swarming Cowboys defensive line. McNabb was forced out of the pocket on nearly every passing play and had to improvise most of the game. Despite this loss not being his fault, many fans in Philadelphia are going to call for him to be shipped out of town. Those that want him out, I ask you to please tell me who the Eagles should turn to at quarterback that will be better. Michael Vick is not an acceptable answer. Kevin Kolb is not a proven commodity. Hopefully the Eagles front office understands that this team needs to improve a lot more in other areas than they do at QB.

So another season ends in disappointment for the Eagles, this time without a deep run into the playoffs. It was a typical Eagles season, filled with big wins and bad losses and the belief that, if the team plays to their potential, they could beat anyone. As Eagles fans, we keep rooting because we know, at some point, they will put it all together and win the Super Bowl. We only hope that it will happen in our lifetime.

Eagles/Cowboys Wild Card Inactives: Vick is back

The playoffs are here! The Eagles and Cowboys have announced their inactive players for their Wild Card showdown:

Eagles: WR Kevin Curtis, DB Quintin Demps, QB Kevin Kolb, OL King Dunlap, DT Trevor Laws, DB Geoffrey Pope, OL Dallas Reynolds, TE Martin Rucker

Cowboys: CB Cletis Gordon, G Montrae Holland, LB Curtis Johnson, QB Stephen McGee, T Pat McQuistan, OL Duke Preston, S Pat Watkins, LB Jason Williams

The only change for the Eagles from last week is that Michael Vick returns as the backup quarterback and Kevin Kolb has been pushed to the 3rd string. Expect Vick to be used often as the Eagles try to throw a different wrinkle at the Cowboys. Quintin Demps will be out again this week meaning Jeremy Maclin will return kicks.

The Cowboys will get lineman Marc Colombo back but otherwise have all the same inactive players. Colombo is a solid lineman so Tony Romo should get even more protection tonight.

Let's hope for a completely different game this week from the Eagles. Hopefully the Birds have scrapped whatever gameplan they used last week and they will come out this week with tons of energy and passion as their season is on the line. GO BIRDS!

2010 NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Forget Christmas, this is the most wonderful time of the year...the NFL Playoffs are here! It's been another interesting season in the NFL, filled with surprise teams, like the Bengals, who helped keep the defending champion Steelers out of the postseason. There is plenty of good football left, especially in the NFC, where any of the 6 remaining teams could make a run to the Super Bowl.

I will continue to make my weekly NFL picks throughout the playoffs. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 11-5, .688
Final Regular Season Record: 176-80, .688

Saturday Games:

Jets (9-7) @ Bengals (10-6) This game is the first of three Week 17 rematches and it will be the one rematch that looks most like the previous game. With the way they got drubbed last week, it's hard to really make a case for the Bengals in this game, even though they did basically lay down in the second half. The Jets are simply better in every facet of the game, except maybe in the passing game. Unfortunately for the Bengals, their passing game will likely be shut down with Darrelle Revis likely glued on Chad Ochocinco all game long. I don't expect it to be 37-0 like it was last week but the Jets shouldn't have any trouble in this one. My pick: Jets

Eagles (11-5) @ Cowboys (11-5) Call me a homer, and I'm sure you will if you are a Cowboys fan reading this site, but the Eagles will win this game. While last week was truly an ugly game, when it comes to big games in the playoffs, these two teams are complete opposites. The Eagles are the team that has the adjustments to make, from blitzing the crap out of Tony Romo to get him off balance to mixing in more running plays, while the Cowboys will come into the game thinking they can just play the way they did last week and they will crush the Eagles. If there is one thing we've learned in the last decade, though, it's that Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb don't lose in the first round. Reid will have the team playing their best with the season on the line and McNabb will show the poise he is known for in the early rounds of the playoffs. The bottom line here is, if the Eagles play their best football, they can beat anyone in the NFL. My pick: Eagles

Sunday Games:

Ravens (9-7) @ Patriots (10-6) The injury to Wes Welker makes the Ravens a tempting pick. The Patriots really haven't shut anyone down this year so you have to think Ray Rice will be able to run all day long. The key in this game is whether the Ravens can slow down Randy Moss since Tom Brady will likely be looking his way early and often. Another red flag for the Ravens in this one is Joe Flacco. Sure, he's a decent quarterback, but how much do you really trust that he can lead his team to an upset over one of the best franchises in the last decade? If the Ravens get down by two touchdowns, and Flacco has to get them back into it with his arm, this one is over. My pick: Patriots

Packers (11-5) @ Cardinals (10-6) In my playoff picks last year, I'm pretty sure I went against the Cardinals in every round. I'll start by doing the same this year. Outside of San Diego, the Packers are the hottest team in football and they were my preseason pick to make the Super Bowl. I really like how they let their starters play in Week 17, keeping their momentum going into the postseason. This game figures to be high-scoring as both teams have potent passing attacks, so it will come down to which defense can come up with more turnovers. The Packers defense is filled with big-play guys, so expect them to pick off Kurt Warner a couple of times and force a fumble. Whether they will be able to get past Minnesota or New Orleans next week is another story, but I don't see Green Bay struggling too much against Arizona. My pick: Packers

Those are my picks for the first round of the NFL Playoffs. Check back every round for my playoff predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comments section!

NFL First Round Playoff Schedule: Eagles vs. Cowboys on Saturday

The Eagles won't have to wait long to get their revenge on Dallas. Here is the schedule for the first round of playoff action:

Saturday:
(5) Jets @ (4) Bengals, 4:30 pm (NBC)
(6) Eagles @ (3) Cowboys, 8:00 pm (NBC)

Sunday:
(6) Ravens @ (3) Patriots, 1:00 pm (CBS)
(5) Packers @ (4) Cardinals, 4:40 pm (FOX)

With three re-matches from games this week, it should be a great Wild Card weekend. Hopefully the Birds can wake up and actually play this time.

Playoff rematch: Dallas crushes lifeless Eagles as Birds fall to #6 seed in NFC

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Eagles never seem to like to do things the easy way. Needing a win to get a first round bye in the playoffs, the Eagles didn't bother to show up against the Cowboys, getting crushed, 24-0. The loss means the Eagles didn't get a first round bye, didn't win the NFC East and, because the Packers beat the Cardinals, the Eagles have slipped all the way to the number 6 seed in the NFC. Oh, and their opponent when they go on the road in the first round? Yep, the Dallas Cowboys.

Trying to analyze what happened in the game today would simply be maddening. Basically, the Cowboys were better in every facet of the game. Offensively, Dallas dominated the Eagles by running the ball when they wanted to (6.3 yards per carry) and met little resistance in the passing game, meaning the Cowboys could do whatever they wanted on offense and controlled the clock for most of the game (over 40 minutes of possession). Defensively, Dallas pressured Donovan McNabb all day (4 sacks, 2 fumbles), completely shut down the Eagles rushing game (37 yards on 10 carries) and didn't allow the Eagles receivers to get open down the field.

So, rather than getting a week to rest up before making their playoff run, the Eagles will have just this week to regroup and try once again to solve Dallas, this time with their season on the line. The Cowboys have now beaten the Eagles twice this season so hopefully the Birds saved their master gameplan on how to knock off Dallas for next week in the playoffs. At least we know they can't possibly play any worse than they did this week.

What a difference a year makes. Last year, we were all basking in the joy of the Eagles destroying the Cowboys to get themselves into the playoffs. This year, we have been given a taste of what it feels like on the other side, although we can be comforted with the fact that the Eagles will still be in the playoffs. The frustrating thing about this Eagles team is that we know how good they can be when they are on their game, we just never know when they are going to show up. They better plan to show up next week.

The Eagles are one win away from a first round bye

Thanks to an incredible performance on Monday Night by the Chicago Bears, your Philadelphia Eagles are now one win away from the Number 2 seed in the NFC. The Bears knocked off the Vikings, 36-30 in overtime, to drop Minnesota to 11-4, the same record as the Eagles.

Now, if the Eagles knock off the Cowboys next week, not only do they win the NFC East, they also get a first round bye. And you thought the game next weekend couldn't get any bigger!