NFL Playoffs - Divisional Roundtable

Pepster: Well, we all survived the horrific wild card round of the playoffs, and it looks like at least some of these games could be competitive, hard-fought playoff games.

Sinickal:  Except the one in New England.

Pepster:  You are truly living up to your name.  Now, what you say is true, but it is truly cynical.

Sinickal: No doubt.

Hopps:  Yup.  And since we are already on the topic, let's just discuss this game first.  It's Foxboro, and they are the Pats.

Sinickal:  New England ran all over Houston in Week 3 of the season, with Jacoby Brissett at the helm.  JACOBY BRISSETT.

Pepster:  Now don't knock my boy Brissett.  He is a hometown boy (at least for me).  Now that being said, Houston was obliterated by a third-string quarterback.  New England.

Sinickal:  I am not even wasting my breath picking.

Hopps:  Yup.

Pepster:  That makes it unanimous.  Let's go to today's first game, Seattle at Atlanta.

Hopps:  Atlanta should have beaten Seattle in Seattle.

Pepster: Very true.  Seattle won that game 26-24, at home and coming off a bye, whereas Atlanta had traveled to Denver the week before, and then came back to Seattle.  Everything favored Seattle in that game.  And now Atlanta gets to host.

Sinickal:  That should be all the difference.  We know how much of a home field advantage Atlanta has.

Hopps:  *Does a spit-take*

Pepster:  True cynical form Sinickal.

Sinickal:  Maybe, but it's true.  Look, I lived there for a while, blocks from the stadium.  Atlanta might have the worst fan support in all of sports - except Miami.

Pepster:  Hey.  That's my home ... OK.  You're right.

Sinickal:  Until Atlanta proves it to me that they can handle this type of pressure, I cannot pick them.  Seattle, although more flawed that in the past few years, has done it when it counts.  And Russell Wilson is as cool under pressure as they come.  I'll take Seattle on the road.

Hopps:  Atlanta.

Pepster:  Matt Ryan threw for 335 yards and Julio Jones had 7 receptions for 139 yards in the earlier game, and now Earl Thomas is out.  I think Vic Beasley has meant a world of improvement for this defense, and Atlanta wins.  Any last thoughts on this game?

Sinickal:  Just a shout to all my old neighborhood peeps that will be watching the game at the Elliott Street Pub!

Pepster:  Seems like as good a time to transition to tomorrow's games, where Pittsburgh at Kansas City has been moved to the evening because of an ice storm.  Let's start there.

Hopps:  Mother nature wins again.

Sinickal:  But that weather is football weather!!!  That should be a great game to close out the divisional round.  Kansas City plays tough, Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh (led by my man crush Mike Tomlin).  Looking forward to this one.

Pepster:  It should be a tough, physical game.  And that is just from assistant coach Joey Porter, who will be on the sidelines.

Hopps:  Too much Killer B's.

Pepster:  You mean the Dolphins defense from the early 1980's?

Hopps:  No, you dope.  Ben, Bell and Brown.

Pepster:  Ah, I thought you mean the 1982 Dolphins defense, with starters Bob Baumhower, Bill Barnett, Lyle Blackwood, Glenn Blackwood, Kim Bokamper, Charles Bowser, Doug Betters and Bob Brudzinski.

Sinickal:  F'in nerd!

Pepster:  We established that last week.

Sinickal:  You established that decades ago.

Hopps:  *Does spit-take*

Pepster:  So, Hopps has Pittsburgh.  Sinickal, I assume you do as well.

Sinickal:  Yes.  My man Tomlin.

Pepster:  If the weather affects the passing game, that hurts Pittsburgh more, as they rely much more on Ben and Brown that Kansas City does on anyone in their passing game.  But, Pittsburgh's running game is stellar, and reliable.  Unlike Kansas City's, where most people can't even name their running backs.  I'll go Pittsburgh.

Hopps;  Get to the Cowboys.  Get to the Cowboys.

Pepster:  Ok, Hopps, Green Bay at Dallas.

Hopps:  DALLAS!

Sinickal:  That figures.  Hopps picks his favorite team.

Hopps:  At least I CAN pick my favorite team.  Where are your Bears.

Pepster: Just waiting for DeShaun Watson to suit up!

Hopps:  Yeah, well we have Dak Prescott, and Zeke.  The rookies will have the day.

Sinickal:  You know what the rookies won't do?  Stop Aaron Rodgers.  That dude is on fire.

Pepster:  Glad you said it, because I can't say his name.  But, even with Jordy Nelson out, Davante Adams has really been the best receiver this year for the Packers anyway.  And, as touchdowns are falling from the sky, we get to yell, "Geronimo".

Sinickal:  Ezekial Elliott is a monster, and if Dallas can find some way to carve up the already porous Packer secondary, this game could become a super high scoring shootout.  That would favor Rodgers, no?

Hopps:  Cowboys!

Sinickal:  That doesn't answer my question.

Hopps:  I don't care - Cowboys!

Sinickal and Pepster:  Just for  your insolence, Packers.

Pepster:  There you have it.  Unanimous for New England and Pittsburgh.  2 for Atlanta (Pepster and Hopps) and 2 for Green Bay (Pepster and Sinickal).  Last week's records:

Sinickal:  4-0
Pepster:  3-1
Hopps:  3-1