Your Playoff Picks

[james_t]

OK, Fence Posters, it's time to make your playoff predictions for this Sunday. Having already embarrassed myself in the College Bowl pick 'em, I'll start this off:

Saints 35, Bears 21 - The forecast in Chicago is for mid-30s this weekend, and while that may slow the Saints' offense some, the Bears' defense won't. Rex Grossman will make at least one key mistake that Da Bears won't be able to recover from.

Patriots 27, Colts 24 - Pats get in the Colts' way again.

[LuciusBeebe]

Saints 24 - Bears 20

Deuce up the middle, all day long.

Colts 17 - Patriots 14

Vinatieri in the final :04 sends the golden boy packin'.

[terryh]

Wouldn't it be ironic if Adam Vinatieri would kick the winning field goal for the Colts in their game with the Patriots? Vaniteri spent the previous 10 years with the Patriots before signing with the Colts in the offseason. For Bostonians, that would be similar to former Red Sox pitcher Babe Ruth throwing a no-hitter or hitting a game-winning homer for the Yankees against the BoSox.
I like that scenerio. Colts 17, Patriots 14.

[LuciusBeebe]

Part of me fears a double-agent scenario. The clock is ticking down... they're about to kick the game-winning field goal... Vinatieri looks up into the luxury box, where we see Bob Craft. Bob does a slow thumbs-down, and Vinatieri boots it 60 yds wide of the goal post.

I mean, why else get rid of him, if not to stick it to the colts yet again, in epic fashion?

[matt_s]

I'm looking for a Colts vs. Bears Super Bowl that will just tear up these two states. It would be fun here in the office where there are fans on both sides and I've got in-laws who are big Bears fans.

I agree with the winning kick scenario for the Colts over the Patriots. Not only appropriate, but likely given the number of touchdowns the offense has been scoring lately.

For the Bears and Saints. While I think that Bush is going to have a wild day against the Bears, I think the Bears defense is actually going to cause the Saints quarterback to get more lateral yardage than Bush will get going forward and cause enough pressure to force a lot of bad throws.

[markm]

The Colts have proven it's a marathon, and not a sprint. I went to the first five home games, and I had the same feeling about this team. I watched them in close calls against Tennessee and Buffalo, and they found a way to win.

At this level, that's what counts. You need one more point than the other team.

No heroics for Vinatieri. I see a late interception sealing the deal. Colts, 23-17.

The Bears, like New England, were very fortunate. They seem to rely too much on big plays and emotion. The did not look good against the pass, which does not bode well with Drew Brees in town. Saints, 31-21.

[Clark Kent]

OK - do we pick with our heads or our hearts?
Picking with my hearts, it's a no-brainer for me.

Saints over the Bears, 24-17.
Colts over the Patriots 38-19


Now putting all emotion aisde:
Bears 21, Saints 20
Patriots 24, Colts 23

The Colts, while they are my 2nd favorite team, haven't shown me that killer instinct that will help them break in the Patriots jinx over them.
And I think the cold weather of Soldier Field will be good for 3 points for the Bears over the Saints. But really, if you compare Grossman vs. Drew Breese, the better of the two is obvious.