NFL Playoff Picks

It's Wildcard weekend so here go my fearless predictions....

Washington (10-6) at Tampa Bay (11-5), Saturday 4:30pm.

The Skin's won their last five games to get into the playoffs and are on a roll. Tampa has played consistently all year and Chris Simms has managed games well in a controlled offense. The Bucs won the Nov. 13 meeting 36-35 but there is no way this game will be that high scoring. I think RB Clinton Portis has a big game for Washington and QB Mark Brunell's playoff experience outplay Simms' whose making his playoff debut. Redskins 17, Bucs 10.

Jacksonville (12-4) at New England (10-6), Saturday 8:00pm

The Jags have been a trendy pick based on their 12-2 record against teams not named Indianapolis, and the Pats won 10 games in a weak division. I just don't see an upset here though. Jags QB Byron Leftwich gets the start coming off injury and the Pats D is back to nearly full strength. It seems to me like lambs to the slaughter. Pats QB Tom Brady is still Tom Brady which means he moves to 10-0 in the playoffs today. Pats 24, Jags 7.

Carolina (11-5) at New York Giants (11-5), Sunday 1:00pm.

Which Carolina team shows up today will determine this game. Is it the team that shows up every other week and looks like the pre season Super Bowl pick that runs the ball down other teams throats and plays stifling D, or the team that shows up every other week and can't stop the run. They better hope it's the former or Giants RB Tiki Barber, who had a career year, will turn this game into a route. My hunch is that the better Panthers team shows up today. I think the bad taste from the Super Bowl two years ago fuels them. I also think Giants QB Eli Manning is a year or two away from being an effective playoff starter. He still throws too many balls into coverage and will get picked off a couple times today. Panthers 24, Giants 20.

Pittsburgh (11-5) at Cincinnati (11-5), Sunday 4:30pm.

Coventional wisdom says if this a grind it out affair the Steelers win, and if the score gets up there go with the Bengals. The Steelers still have their great D, a great coach in Bill Cowher, and a punishing running game with Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis, and QB Ben Roethlisberger who just knows how to win. The Bengals have coach Marvin Lewis, superstar in the making QB Carson Palmer and WR Chad Johnson healthy and ready to have a coming out party in their first palyoff game. Unfortunately for them Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is going to be the one having the party. He is the best safety in the league and after he shuts down Johnson every one will know it. Screw conventional wisdom, I see points being scored and the Steelers winning it on the strength of the running game. Steelers 34, Bengals 24.