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Jeff Flanagan’s NFL playoff picks
By JEFFREY FLANAGAN The Kansas City Star
Last week’s record straight up: 3-1
Season record straight up: 170-90
Last week’s record against the spread: 3-1
Season record against the spread: 134-122-4
Packers 20, Seahawks 17: Most of the football “experts” see the NFC as the conference that will have at least one upset, and the trendy upset special is Seattle. I wouldn’t be shocked if that’s true but I still don’t know how good the Seahawks really are. Washington truly had them beat last week until a dropped pass near the goal line and a missed chip shot field goal crushed the team’s spirit. The Packers are the youngest team in football and those kids might be a bit shaky for a game of this magnitude. But Brett Favre has been there a few dozen times and should be a calming effect.
The big Xs and Os factor is how will the Packers attack the Seahawks’ speedy defense. If the Packers get a ground game going and slow the Seahawks’ pass rush, this game should go according to plan.
Line: Packers by 8
Patriots 24, Jaguars 23: I love the Jags’ toughness. They simply don’t get intimidated by anyone. The Pats weren’t dominating down the stretch, just good enough to throw in a perfect season so far. This could be the most interesting matchup of the weekend. The way to beat a bully (the Pats) is to smack ’em in the mouth early on, which is just what the Jags will do. The Pats are pretty tough themselves, though, and are likely to bounce back and squeak one out at the end.
Line: Pats by 13½
Cowboys 34, Giants 17: Everyone keeps talking about how Tony Romo’s relationship with Jessica Simpson is a distraction, and how the Cowboys haven’t played well down the stretch, and how the Giants are a hot team. Baloney. The Giants are phony and the Cowboys will smack them for the third time this season. Eli Manning will throw at least three picks.
Line: Cowboys by 7½
Colts 28, Chargers 24: OK, here’s the mystery game to me. The Chargers finally got over the hump and won a big playoff game last week. They should play with more confidence this week. The Colts, even though rested, don’t seem as dynamic offensively as they have been in the past. What if the Chargers come out with a dominant running game? That’ll make this one very interesting.
Line: Colts by 9
By JEFFREY FLANAGAN The Kansas City Star
Last week’s record straight up: 3-1
Season record straight up: 170-90
Last week’s record against the spread: 3-1
Season record against the spread: 134-122-4
Packers 20, Seahawks 17: Most of the football “experts” see the NFC as the conference that will have at least one upset, and the trendy upset special is Seattle. I wouldn’t be shocked if that’s true but I still don’t know how good the Seahawks really are. Washington truly had them beat last week until a dropped pass near the goal line and a missed chip shot field goal crushed the team’s spirit. The Packers are the youngest team in football and those kids might be a bit shaky for a game of this magnitude. But Brett Favre has been there a few dozen times and should be a calming effect.
The big Xs and Os factor is how will the Packers attack the Seahawks’ speedy defense. If the Packers get a ground game going and slow the Seahawks’ pass rush, this game should go according to plan.
Line: Packers by 8
Patriots 24, Jaguars 23: I love the Jags’ toughness. They simply don’t get intimidated by anyone. The Pats weren’t dominating down the stretch, just good enough to throw in a perfect season so far. This could be the most interesting matchup of the weekend. The way to beat a bully (the Pats) is to smack ’em in the mouth early on, which is just what the Jags will do. The Pats are pretty tough themselves, though, and are likely to bounce back and squeak one out at the end.
Line: Pats by 13½
Cowboys 34, Giants 17: Everyone keeps talking about how Tony Romo’s relationship with Jessica Simpson is a distraction, and how the Cowboys haven’t played well down the stretch, and how the Giants are a hot team. Baloney. The Giants are phony and the Cowboys will smack them for the third time this season. Eli Manning will throw at least three picks.
Line: Cowboys by 7½
Colts 28, Chargers 24: OK, here’s the mystery game to me. The Chargers finally got over the hump and won a big playoff game last week. They should play with more confidence this week. The Colts, even though rested, don’t seem as dynamic offensively as they have been in the past. What if the Chargers come out with a dominant running game? That’ll make this one very interesting.
Line: Colts by 9
