I love this time on the NFL calendar. Now itʼs time to get down to business. Who wouldʼve thought weʼd have a situation where all four road teams are favoured in the first round of the NFL playoffs? It certainly adds more fuel to the debate in having the top six teams from either conference make the playoffs rather than award spots for division winners.

For the record, while I understand the frustration of Patriots fans not getting the chance to see their 11-5 team move on while the 8-8 San Diego Chargers host a first-round game, the league has to keep a spot open for each division winner. Otherwise, you might as well get rid of the divisional framework altogether and have all of the teams in one conference play each other.

Instead of resolving the issue it wouldnʼt take long for fans and pundits alike to point fingers at strength of schedule. It would be tricky for the league office to come up with a formula for a schedule that would give a fair chance to each team to have a balanced schedule year over year.

The NFL sets it up so that a team with a weaker record will have an easier schedule for the next season than compared to some of the stronger teams. But that is only done for less than 50% of the schedule. There is still the mandatory six divisional games as well as the rotated inter-conference/division match-ups that are already set coming into the next season.

Inter-division match-ups ensure there are rivalries. Without them, they wouldnʼt be as fierce. Imagine if Cleveland and Cincinnati didnʼt play each other for an entire season?Or the Cowboys and Redskins?

If anything this season should have the league looking at awarding the home site to the team with the best record. It would ensure that at least the record is rewarded someway.

They do this in the NBA with the #3 and #6 seeds in the first round of their playoffs and it seems to be working out just fine.

But...I digress. Iʼm two games up with just 11 games left but I still feel pretty comfortable in my lead over Alana. Weʼll get into more trash talking in next weekʼs column but for now, here are my thoughts on the games...

Atlanta (-1.5) @ Arizona

While Arizona has had a lot of trouble running the ball this season and didnʼt look sharp coming down the stretch, Atlanta looked a little shaky at home against St Louis last weekend. True they did beat a playoff team in the Minnesota Vikings just two weeks ago, but they were certainly aided that Minnie couldnʼt throw the football. The Cardinals defense has been criticized for not being able to defend the pass, but the Falcons arenʼt much better. On average the Cardinals have given up 221.3 yards through the air.
Atlanta, 220.4 yards. The Arizona offense can roll up the score if theyʼre given the opportunity and although Matt Ryan has had a terrific rookie season, heʼs thrown only three touchdown passes and five interceptions over his last four games. I think the Falcons will have trouble matching the Cardinals score for score. Plus, if I didnʼt pick at least one home favourite I might spontaneously combust.

My Pick - Arizona; Alana - Atlanta

Indianapolis (-1.5) @ San Diego

On November 23d these teams met in San Diego. The Colts came out on top 23-20. I cannot see why that wonʼt happen again. While both offenses have been on fire coming into the game, I see an edge for Indy at quarterback with the now three-time MVP Peyton Manning outduelling Philip Rivers. I also see an edge for the Colts at the coaching position with Tony Dungy having won a Super Bowl versus Norv Turner rarely going deep in the playoffs. Two stars for San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio
Gates missed practice time this week due to injury which doesnʼt overly concern me but worth mentioning. Both teams will come in with something to prove. The Colts lost at home to the Chargers in the second round of the AFC playoffs last season while the Chargers arenʼt getting much respect having barely won the lackluster AFC West with an 8-8 record. Iʼm taking the Colts here because of the Peyton Manning factor but wouldnʼt be surprised if the Chargers won this won because they are hot having won their last four games and were supposed to be one of the AFCʼs top teams this season before a slow start.

My Pick - Indianapolis; Alana - San Diego

Baltimore (-3.5) @ Miami

Hats off to Miami for the strong turnaround from last seasonʼs embarrassment. Itʼs just too bad you have to face the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs. The Ravens defense was the second-best unit in the NFL this season. They rank number three against the run and number two against the pass. To beat this team you must be able to break off a couple of long plays and Pennington doesnʼt have the long dstance arm to do it. The last time these two teams met was back on October 19th in Miami. The
Ravens won the game fairly decisively 27-13. They were able to hold Miami to 71 total yards on the ground. Ronnie Brown rushed for 27 yards and Ricky Williams ran for 16. On the flipside, Baltimore enjoyed a great day on the ground. Willis McGahee rushed for 105 yards and one score while rookie quarterback Joe Flacco played a “Pannington style” game completing 17 of 23 passes for 232 yards and one TD. I was tempted to take Miami here only because the spread has now gone over a field goal but I think in the end the Ravens will win by 7-10 points.

My Pick - Baltimore; Alana - Baltimore

Philadelphia (-3) @ Minnesota

Philadelphia is one of the hottest teams coming into the playoffs with the exception of the week 16 egg they laid in Washington. I think the third-ranked Eagles defense will bottle up Adrian Peterson and confuse Tavaris Jackson all game long. While the Vikings are the best defense against the run for mot of the season they struggled their last two weeks without nose tackle Pat Williams allowing over 100 yards on the ground both games. Williams is questionable for Sunday but starting defensive end Ray Edwards is out with a knee injury. The Vikings defensive line is just too banged up to give them a chance to win this game. In order for the Eagles to be beaten on offense, Minnesota will need to get pressure in Donovan McNabbʼs face. I just donʼt see that happening here.
My Pick - Philadelphia; Alana - Minnesota

WEEK 17 - JAYSON (8-8-0); ALANA (8-8-0)

OVERALL - JAYSON (108-92-8); ALANA (106-94-8)

James and I will be back on Burn the House for the second round of the playoffs. Enjoy
the first round of the playoffs everyone.