I haven’t made picks in a couple weeks due to the holidays and illness but I finished by shortened NFL season at 15-15. Now there are 11 games left to pick starting this weekend with the Wild Card matchups.
So who to bet on….
NY Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5)
Well this game (like 2 others this weekend) happened last weekend. Although that game was played in New York and the Bungals had minimal to play for. Even still I think the Jets showed that they can definitely win this game. They are confident and the Bengals are struggling.
Sure the Bengals will actually have a full complement of players this week (Cedric Benson did not play last Sunday) but I still think the Jets are playing better right now. Cincy has been struggling for weeks and the Jets have been playing pretty well even if the competition has been lacking.
Look for more of the same.
Jets 23 Bengals 16
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (-4)
Another game that happened last weekend. Another game in which one team dominated. The difference between the games….both these teams actually had something to play for. The Eagles would have earned the #2 seed and a first round bye with a win but reportedly they held a lot back and the Cowboys dominated 24-0.
Even though Andy Reid is a very good playoff coach and the Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1997 I still am not sure about the Eagles here. Since they are my team I will surely be rooting for them and I do believe they can win.
BUT if I were a betting man I would take the Cowboys.
Cowboys 24 Eagles 17
Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots (-3.5)
This is the only game this weekend that didn’t happen last weekend. Instead this happened back in week 4 and the Patriots won at home. But it wasn’t a convincing win and the Ravens are playing well right now. With the NFL’s leading receiver, Wes Welker, being lost for a while can the Patriots still move the ball effectively?
I think so. The Baltimore pass defense is not what I would call sturdy. Although neither is the Patriots defense and the Ravens could move the ball easily against the Pats again. This matchup might be the highest scoring of the weekend depending on weather and if the Ravens secondary can match up.
I like the Pats.
Patriots 31 Ravens 17
Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals (-2.5)
The third game to happen last week was an absolute beat down for the Packers. They handled everything the Cardinals threw at them and left with a 33-7 win in the desert.
Will this week be any different? Neither team had too much to play for last week as both were pretty much locked in to their playoff positions. The Cardinals weren’t playing great last season heading into the playoffs either and ended up in the Super Bowl…can it happen again?
I don’t think so. The Packers are every one’s sleeper pick to make the SB and I don’t see them losing here.
Packers 34 Cardinals 21
There you go. 2 road teams and 2 home teams. No real surprises this weekend. Sure I will be hoping to go 3-1 as I am hoping the Eagles can pull out a victory but I don’t see it as likely.
Hopefully we see 4 good competitive games this weekend.
