Here now, the kind of top-secret info I use for my picks. Some may call it useless information, I prefer to call it “less than useful.”
– Missouri has both of its NFL teams (Kansas City’s Chiefs and St. Louis’ Rams) in action together in the playoffs for the first time.
– Dome football teams (hello, Colts) are 11-32 when they play in the frigid outdoors come playoff time.
– New England, Kansas City and St. Louis are each undefeated at home. Each plays at home this weekend. And all three are professional football teams.
– Eight national champions will be crowned Sunday in the NFL’s Punt, Pass & Kick National Finals at the Kansas City-Indianapolis game in Kansas City.
See? Told you this would be useless.
You makes your picks, you takes your chances.
– – –
Scaling new heights for weighty issues
Since I’m shorter and lighter than just about anyone reading this, I put an emphasis on height and weight. Using opening-day rosters, here are the averages of remaining teams:
AFC
Kansas City: 6-foot-1.8, 249.4 pounds
New England: 6-foot-1.5, 247.7 pounds
Tennessee: 6-foot-2.2, 243.6 pounds
Indianapolis: 6-foot-1, 236.6 pounds
NFC
Green Bay: 6-foot-2, 248.8 pounds
Carolina: 6-foot-1.6, 243.1 pounds
St. Louis: 6-foot-1.4, 242.3 pounds
Philadelphia: 6-foot-1.4, 244.2 pounds
If size matters, it’s the Chiefs over the Packers in the Super Bowl.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
MATCHUP
Carolina (12-5) at St. Louis (12-4)
3:30 p.m.
WFLD-Ch. 32
WHEN LAST WE SAW THEM
On Dec. 23, 2001,
the Rams edged the Panthers 38-32 as Marshall Faulk ripped off 202 yards and 2 TDs.
WATCH YOUR STEP
Don’t forget that the Panthers equaled an NFL record with seven victories by 3 points or less. That’s crucial, to what I don’t know. QB Jake Delhomme starred against the best defense in the NFL last week by posting a 104.5 passer rating in the win over Dallas.
KEEP SCRATCHING
The Rams are well-rested. The Rams have won five home playoff games in a row. But the Rams also have Kurt Warner ready to back up Marc Bulger, who makes his first playoff start. Do I smell a potential offensive meltdown in St. Louis or did you just cut the cheese?
THE LINE
Rams by 7 1/2
OVER UNDER
45
FINAL SHAKE
Panthers. Does it bother anyone else that ex-Bear Todd Sauerbrun is this close to playing in a Super Bowl?
MATCHUP
Tennessee (13-5) at New England (14-2)
7:15 p.m.
WBBM-Ch. 2
WHEN LAST WE SAW THEM
On Oct. 5, the Patriots won a shootout, 38-30.
WATCH YOUR STEP
This is my kind of mistake-free match-up. The Pats have the
No. 2 turnover differential (+17).
The Titans are No. 3 (+13). You know what that means? The first team to lose a fumble loses the game. Mark my words, but use pencil just in case.
KEEP SCRATCHING
Steve McNair is healthy, so cool your jets Neil O’Donnell. But the Pats are the third team in NFL history to win 12 in row to end the season. The other two? The 1934 Bears won the NFL Championship and the 1972 Dolphins won Super Bowl VII.
THE LINE
Pats by 6
OVER UNDER
37
FINAL SHAKE
Pats. Add up the win totals between these two. You get 27 wins. It took the Bears almost four seasons to win 27 games.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
MATCHUP
Indianapolis (13-4) at Kansas City (13-3)
Noon
WBBM-Ch. 2
WHEN LAST WE SAW THEM
The Colts beat the Chiefs in Kansas City, 35-38, on Oct. 25, 2001. That was a long time ago.
WATCH YOUR STEP
The Chiefs have the No. 1 offense in the AFC and the Colts have No. 2. The Colts have the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL and the Chiefs have No. 2. OK, I’m sure I lost some of you there.
KEEP SCRATCHING
You don’t want to pick the Colts because they’re an indoor team going outdoors. Except you don’t want to take the Chiefs who notoriously fade in the playoffs. Not an easy thing to do, these NFL picks.
THE LINE
Chiefs by 3
OVER UNDER
49 1/2
FINAL SHAKE
Both teams have an unlucky 13 wins.
Colts get their 14th.
MATCHUP
Green Bay (11-6) at Philadelphia (12-4)
3:45 p.m.
WFLD-Ch. 32
WHEN LAST WE SAW THEM
On Nov. 11, Donovan McNabb threw a 6-yard TD pass to Todd Pinkston with 27 seconds left to out-Favre the Packers 17-14.
WATCH YOUR STEP
The series between these two is hard-fought with the last four in a row decided by 8 points or less. Both teams are coached by old colleagues as Mike Sherman and Andy Reid were assistants (dental, I think) in Green Bay.
KEEP SCRATCHING
As high-profile as McNabb and Brett Favre are, these two teams really rely on the run. Eagles have a rushing TD in 15 straight games, and the Packers have Ahman “Among Boys” Green. Did everyone catch that? Chris Berman can eat my shorts.
THE LINE
Eagles by 51/2
OVER UNDER
42
FINAL SHAKE
Favre out-McNabb’s McNabb. Don’t go away mad, just go away having picked the Packers.NFL Playoffs: Round 2
