Division Playoffs Preview
SATURDAY, JAN. 14
Washington at Seattle, 4:30 p.m. (FOX)
Latest Line: Seahawks by 9
Injury Report: Redskins: QUESTIONABLE: WR James Thrash (thumb). PROBABLE: DT Cornelius Griffin (shoulder); T Chris Samuels (ankle); CB Shawn Springs (groin). Seahawks: QUESTIONABLE: T Wayne Hunter (ankle); LB D.D. Lewis (foot); T Sean Locklear (hip); DE Joe Tafoya (hamstring); CB Marcus Trufant (back).
Outlook: The Redskins have now won six straight after downing Tampa Bay 17-10 on the road in last week’s wild card weekend. Their offense was putrid as Mark Brunell managed just 40 yards passing, but the defense impressed and it was enough to move on. Seattle, meanwhile, had run off 11 straight wins of its own before resting everyone in Week 17. League (and fantasy) MVP Shaun Alexander (RB) leads the way, but it could be quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s arm that does the most damage. I just don’t see the Washington offense keeping up.
The Pick: Seahawks, 31-13.
New England at Denver, 8 p.m. (CBS)
Latest Line: Broncos by 3
Injury Report: Patriots: PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder); LB Matt Chatham (knee); RB Corey Dillon (calf); RB Heath Evans (shoulder); TE Christian Fauria (foot); TE Daniel Graham (shoulder); DE Jarvis Green (shoulder); S Artrell Hawkins (thigh); C Russ Hochstein (ankle); T Nick Kaczur (shoulder); RB Patrick Pass (hamstring). Broncos: PROBABLE: TE Stephen Alexander (toe); DE Courtney Brown (knee/shoulder); LB Keith Burns (knee); TE Jeb Putzier (shoulder); CB Darrent Williams (groin); LB Al Wilson (thumb).
Outlook: The Broncos are probably the most overlooked team in the playoffs. Quarterback Jake Plummer has looked like a new man all season. Their running game is always virtually impossible to stop and they played well in a very tough division. Still, if you think I’m taking anyone but the Patriots in the postseason before they lose, you’re crazy. Pay no mind to the 28-20 Denver win the last time these two teams met. The Pats had quarterback Tom Brady and a high school junior varsity team suited up.
The Pick: New England, 27-24
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Injury Report: Steelers: OUT: WR Quincy Morgan (leg). DOUBTFUL: LB James Harrison (ankle). PROBABLE: RB Jerome Bettis (hamstring); LB Clark Haggans (toe); DE Travis Kirschke (groin); LB Joey Porter (hand); QB Ben Roethlisberger (right thumb); DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen (knee). Colts: PROBABLE: T Ryan Diem (knee); TE Bryan Fletcher (groin); DE Dwight Freeney (ankle/foot/hamstring); WR Marvin Harrison (hand); LB Cato June (ankle/groin/knee); DE Robert Mathis (foot); DT Montae Reagor (knee); DT Darrell Reid (shoulder); S Dexter Reid (ankle); S Bob Sanders (back); DT Corey Simon (foot); QB Jim Sorgi (right thumb); WR Brandon Stokley (knee); DE Josh Thomas (shoulder).
Latest Line: Colts by 9.5
Outlook: The Steelers win over Cincinnati last week has combined with the Colts’ turbulent month has made Pittsburgh the sexy pick for everyone. I’m not convinced. The Indy defense is good enough to slow the Steelers and the offense will come out firing. If this game was in Pittsburgh, it would be a different story.
The Pick: Colts, 41-21
Carolina at Chicago, 4:30 (FOX)
Latest Line: Bears by 3
Injury Report: Panthers: QUESTIONABLE: RB DeShaun Foster (toe); RB Brad Hoover (ankle); G Tutan Reyes (toe); LB Brandon Short (knee) PROBABLE: WR Ricky Proehl (illness). Bears: DOUBTFUL G Terrence Metcalf (knee). QUESTIONABLE: G Lennie Friedman (knee); RB Bryan Johnson (foot).
Outlook: This will certainly be a black and blue game with yards coming at a premium. The Panthers looked great in last week’s big win over the New York Giants, but they’ve been very inconsistent so far this season. The Bears boast a terrific defense and a terrible offense. I think Carolina’s playoff experience from two years ago — especially at the quarterback position — will be the difference.
The Pick: Panthers, 17-13
LAST WEEK: 4-0
Washington at Seattle, 4:30 p.m. (FOX)
Latest Line: Seahawks by 9
Injury Report: Redskins: QUESTIONABLE: WR James Thrash (thumb). PROBABLE: DT Cornelius Griffin (shoulder); T Chris Samuels (ankle); CB Shawn Springs (groin). Seahawks: QUESTIONABLE: T Wayne Hunter (ankle); LB D.D. Lewis (foot); T Sean Locklear (hip); DE Joe Tafoya (hamstring); CB Marcus Trufant (back).
Outlook: The Redskins have now won six straight after downing Tampa Bay 17-10 on the road in last week’s wild card weekend. Their offense was putrid as Mark Brunell managed just 40 yards passing, but the defense impressed and it was enough to move on. Seattle, meanwhile, had run off 11 straight wins of its own before resting everyone in Week 17. League (and fantasy) MVP Shaun Alexander (RB) leads the way, but it could be quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s arm that does the most damage. I just don’t see the Washington offense keeping up.
The Pick: Seahawks, 31-13.
New England at Denver, 8 p.m. (CBS)
Latest Line: Broncos by 3
Injury Report: Patriots: PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder); LB Matt Chatham (knee); RB Corey Dillon (calf); RB Heath Evans (shoulder); TE Christian Fauria (foot); TE Daniel Graham (shoulder); DE Jarvis Green (shoulder); S Artrell Hawkins (thigh); C Russ Hochstein (ankle); T Nick Kaczur (shoulder); RB Patrick Pass (hamstring). Broncos: PROBABLE: TE Stephen Alexander (toe); DE Courtney Brown (knee/shoulder); LB Keith Burns (knee); TE Jeb Putzier (shoulder); CB Darrent Williams (groin); LB Al Wilson (thumb).
Outlook: The Broncos are probably the most overlooked team in the playoffs. Quarterback Jake Plummer has looked like a new man all season. Their running game is always virtually impossible to stop and they played well in a very tough division. Still, if you think I’m taking anyone but the Patriots in the postseason before they lose, you’re crazy. Pay no mind to the 28-20 Denver win the last time these two teams met. The Pats had quarterback Tom Brady and a high school junior varsity team suited up.
The Pick: New England, 27-24
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Injury Report: Steelers: OUT: WR Quincy Morgan (leg). DOUBTFUL: LB James Harrison (ankle). PROBABLE: RB Jerome Bettis (hamstring); LB Clark Haggans (toe); DE Travis Kirschke (groin); LB Joey Porter (hand); QB Ben Roethlisberger (right thumb); DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen (knee). Colts: PROBABLE: T Ryan Diem (knee); TE Bryan Fletcher (groin); DE Dwight Freeney (ankle/foot/hamstring); WR Marvin Harrison (hand); LB Cato June (ankle/groin/knee); DE Robert Mathis (foot); DT Montae Reagor (knee); DT Darrell Reid (shoulder); S Dexter Reid (ankle); S Bob Sanders (back); DT Corey Simon (foot); QB Jim Sorgi (right thumb); WR Brandon Stokley (knee); DE Josh Thomas (shoulder).
Latest Line: Colts by 9.5
Outlook: The Steelers win over Cincinnati last week has combined with the Colts’ turbulent month has made Pittsburgh the sexy pick for everyone. I’m not convinced. The Indy defense is good enough to slow the Steelers and the offense will come out firing. If this game was in Pittsburgh, it would be a different story.
The Pick: Colts, 41-21
Carolina at Chicago, 4:30 (FOX)
Latest Line: Bears by 3
Injury Report: Panthers: QUESTIONABLE: RB DeShaun Foster (toe); RB Brad Hoover (ankle); G Tutan Reyes (toe); LB Brandon Short (knee) PROBABLE: WR Ricky Proehl (illness). Bears: DOUBTFUL G Terrence Metcalf (knee). QUESTIONABLE: G Lennie Friedman (knee); RB Bryan Johnson (foot).
Outlook: This will certainly be a black and blue game with yards coming at a premium. The Panthers looked great in last week’s big win over the New York Giants, but they’ve been very inconsistent so far this season. The Bears boast a terrific defense and a terrible offense. I think Carolina’s playoff experience from two years ago — especially at the quarterback position — will be the difference.
The Pick: Panthers, 17-13
LAST WEEK: 4-0
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