Pink's NFL Playoff Picks

Last week’s record: 3-1

Playoff record: 7-1

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, but when you’re both, that’s a tough combination to beat. That is certainly the case with the Patriots with regard to their upset win over the Chargers. Quarterback Tom Brady took advantage of an extra opportunity provided him and guided his troops to victory. What more can you say? He’s good, but the Pats got lucky.

The other games went pretty much as I thought they would, with New England’s victory being my only blemish. We’re down to four teams vying for their respective league championships and a chance to play in the Super Bowl. This is how I see two of the biggest games of the year:

Sunday, Jan. 21

NFC Championship Game

New Orleans at Chicago

– The biggest factor to consider in this matchup could very well be the weather. The Bears relish the idea of playing rough and tumble football at home at Soldier Field in Chicago, especially with wintry conditions. The Saints come from the warm confines of the New Orleans Superdome and would prefer more moderate conditions.

Though the Bears will enjoy the home-field advantage, they come into the game with a couple of huge question marks. The first surrounds the play of quarterback Rex Grossman and the second is the overall performance of the defense.

Grossman’s performance against Seattle was, for the most part, solid, but he will have to play better if the Bears hope to advance to the Super Bowl. If the weather conditions are wintry and blustery, the Bears are certainly well-equipped to keep the ball on the ground with the likes of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson running the ball. However, this type of playing conditions can make it very hard on the quarterback. Grossman’s ability to play a pressure-packed game under these circumstances will go a long way toward determining whether or not the Bears advance.

As for the defense, the Bears have been giving up points in bunches at season’s end. Defense was supposed to be the strength of this team. Brian Urlacher and company are capable but they must find a way to stop one of the most productive offenses in the NFL.

The Saints come into this game on a roll due largely to a very versatile offense. The team is capable of grinding it out on the ground, but can be equally effective in a run-and-gun game. Quarterback Drew Brees is odds-on to have a good game because his track record is that of a budding superstar. The running back tandem of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush and a host of receivers led by rookie Marquez Colston provide Brees with a multitude of weapons for his disposal.

Make no mistake about it, the Saints are going to score points one way or another. What that means is the game hinges on how well the Saints’ defense performs. The defense is not bad but it’s not that good either. The unit’s effectiveness lies in the fact that the offense is on the field for long stretches, which in turn lightens the load.

In the end, I feel the NFC will send to the Super Bowl the team that is playing its best at the right time, the New Orleans Saints, following a convincing 24-13 win over the Bears.

– The biggest factor to consider in this matchup could very well be the weather. The Bears relish the idea of playing rough and tumble football at home at Soldier Field in Chicago, especially with wintry conditions. The Saints come from the warm confines of the New Orleans Superdome and would prefer more moderate conditions.

Though the Bears will enjoy the home-field advantage, they come into the game with a couple of huge question marks. The first surrounds the play of quarterback Rex Grossman and the second is the overall performance of the defense.

Grossman’s performance against Seattle was, for the most part, solid, but he will have to play better if the Bears hope to advance to the Super Bowl. If the weather conditions are wintry and blustery, the Bears are certainly well-equipped to keep the ball on the ground with the likes of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson running the ball. However, this type of playing conditions can make it very hard on the quarterback. Grossman’s ability to play a pressure-packed game under these circumstances will go a long way toward determining whether or not the Bears advance.

As for the defense, the Bears have been giving up points in bunches at season’s end. Defense was supposed to be the strength of this team. Brian Urlacher and company are capable but they must find a way to stop one of the most productive offenses in the NFL.

The Saints come into this game on a roll due largely to a very versatile offense. The team is capable of grinding it out on the ground, but can be equally effective in a run-and-gun game. Quarterback Drew Brees is odds-on to have a good game because his track record is that of a budding superstar. The running back tandem of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush and a host of receivers led by rookie Marquez Colston provide Brees with a multitude of weapons for his disposal.

Make no mistake about it, the Saints are going to score points one way or another. What that means is the game hinges on how well the Saints’ defense performs. The defense is not bad but it’s not that good either. The unit’s effectiveness lies in the fact that the offense is on the field for long stretches, which in turn lightens the load.

In the end, I feel the NFC will send to the Super Bowl the team that is playing its best at the right time, the New Orleans Saints, following a convincing 24-13 win over the Bears.

AFC Championship Game

New England at Indianapolis

– This matchup is like watching an old movie that you never get tired of seeing. These are two excellent teams, with two great quarterbacks going head-to-head for the AFC Championship. I must admit that I would have rather seen the Chargers facing the Colts in sunny southern California, but we’ll have to wait for that matchup.

In previous years, this game has been played in Foxboro, normally in some form of wintry conditions. This year, however, it will be played in Indianapolis in the RCA Dome and that should have an impact on the game.

The Patriots and Head Coach Bill Belichick have done a masterful job of bringing in players to replace departed players in the artful game called "staying under the salary cap." This year’s edition of the Patriots is full of not-so familiar names, yet the results are generally the same. The team has even managed to replace PK Adam Vinatieri with rookie, Stephen Gostkowski.

But the success of this team is truly a testament to quarterback Tom Brady’s ability when you consider that he makes this offense go without the benefit of a thousand-yard runner or receiver. True, running backs Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney have combined for more than 1,500 yards, but neither qualifies as a go-to back. Wide receivers Troy Brown and Jabar Gaffney, along with running back Kevin Faulk coming out of the backfield, hardly qualify as a top-of-the-line corp of receivers, but they almost always get the job done.

On the defensive side is where the genius of Belichick becomes a major factor. Three capable down lineman to contain the run, combined with an outstanding group of four linebackers who combined for 20 sacks in the regular season, are as much a testament to Belichick’s defensive scheme as it is to the talent of the players. You can always count on the Patriots to be willing to try most anything to stop an opponent.

Still, no one knows the Patriots better than the Colts. Led by the most prolific passer of this generation of quarterbacks, Peyton Manning will be asked to lead his team to its first Super Bowl appearance. At this stage of his career, Manning should be as ready as he will ever be to deal with whatever defensive scheme the Patriots come up with. The Colts’ running game is by no means spectacular. For the most part, the tandem of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes produces similar results as their Patriot counterparts, Dillon and Maroney. It’s at wide receiver where the Colts have an edge, with the likes of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

Harrison, with 95 catches and more than 1,300 yards, and Wayne, with 86 catches with 1,300-plus yards, form a very significant challenge for the Patriots secondary. Manning has shown in recent weeks that he will take whatever the defense is giving him if that’s what it takes to win.

As for the Colts’ defense, Head Coach Tony Dungy has a long defensive pedigree like Belichick. All season long the defense came under fire for its lackluster performance, but somehow Dungy has kept the line playing well so far in the playoffs. The Colts rely more on their four down lineman to pressure the quarterback and so far they have been successful. That trend must continue if Indianapolis hopes to move on to the Super Bowl.

This game should be a real barn burner and in the end I see the Colts’ Adam Vinatieri sending his former Patriot teammates home following a game-winning field goal, 24-21, as Indianapolis advances to the Super Bowl to play the Saints.

– This matchup is like watching an old movie that you never get tired of seeing. These are two excellent teams, with two great quarterbacks going head-to-head for the AFC Championship. I must admit that I would have rather seen the Chargers facing the Colts in sunny southern California, but we’ll have to wait for that matchup.

In previous years, this game has been played in Foxboro, normally in some form of wintry conditions. This year, however, it will be played in Indianapolis in the RCA Dome and that should have an impact on the game.

The Patriots and Head Coach Bill Belichick have done a masterful job of bringing in players to replace departed players in the artful game called "staying under the salary cap." This year’s edition of the Patriots is full of not-so familiar names, yet the results are generally the same. The team has even managed to replace PK Adam Vinatieri with rookie, Stephen Gostkowski.

But the success of this team is truly a testament to quarterback Tom Brady’s ability when you consider that he makes this offense go without the benefit of a thousand-yard runner or receiver. True, running backs Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney have combined for more than 1,500 yards, but neither qualifies as a go-to back. Wide receivers Troy Brown and Jabar Gaffney, along with running back Kevin Faulk coming out of the backfield, hardly qualify as a top-of-the-line corp of receivers, but they almost always get the job done.

On the defensive side is where the genius of Belichick becomes a major factor. Three capable down lineman to contain the run, combined with an outstanding group of four linebackers who combined for 20 sacks in the regular season, are as much a testament to Belichick’s defensive scheme as it is to the talent of the players. You can always count on the Patriots to be willing to try most anything to stop an opponent.

Still, no one knows the Patriots better than the Colts. Led by the most prolific passer of this generation of quarterbacks, Peyton Manning will be asked to lead his team to its first Super Bowl appearance. At this stage of his career, Manning should be as ready as he will ever be to deal with whatever defensive scheme the Patriots come up with. The Colts’ running game is by no means spectacular. For the most part, the tandem of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes produces similar results as their Patriot counterparts, Dillon and Maroney. It’s at wide receiver where the Colts have an edge, with the likes of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

Harrison, with 95 catches and more than 1,300 yards, and Wayne, with 86 catches with 1,300-plus yards, form a very significant challenge for the Patriots secondary. Manning has shown in recent weeks that he will take whatever the defense is giving him if that’s what it takes to win.

As for the Colts’ defense, Head Coach Tony Dungy has a long defensive pedigree like Belichick. All season long the defense came under fire for its lackluster performance, but somehow Dungy has kept the line playing well so far in the playoffs. The Colts rely more on their four down lineman to pressure the quarterback and so far they have been successful. That trend must continue if Indianapolis hopes to move on to the Super Bowl.

This game should be a real barn burner and in the end I see the Colts’ Adam Vinatieri sending his former Patriot teammates home following a game-winning field goal, 24-21, as Indianapolis advances to the Super Bowl to play the Saints.