Due to the heightened importance of these games, the picks for each game will feature an analysis of the how each team's units match-up with each other and will culminate with a synthesis of these segments in the form of my picks for these games. So without further adieu......

4) Green Bay Packers (11-5) (+4) at Arizona Cardinals (10-6)

a) Green Bay's Offense vs. Arizona's defense- Arizona's D is better than it is typically given credit for. It can force turnovers and keep teams out of the endzone. However, Aaron Rogers is making fans in the fattest state in our great nation say, "Brett who?" I believe he is the only QB ever to have 2 consecutive 4,000 yard seasons to start out his career. He is a beast. He has very nice receivers including old reliable Donald Driver and Greg Jennings as well as the overrated by still solid Giants'  reject Ryan Grant. I think Green Bay's passing game will be too much for the Card's d. EDGE: GREEN BAY OFFENSE

b) Green Bay's Defense vs. Arizona's Offense- This match up is far easier to call. Green Bay has a reasonably decent defense but it took two huge punches to the gut when it lost Aaron Kapman and Al Harris for the season due to injury. Arizona's offense is obviously quite prolific especially through the air. No way A.J. Hawk and company can keep up with "Air Cheesenhunt." EDGE: ARIZONA OFFENSE

c) Mike Sherman (Green Bay) vs. Ken Whisenhunt (Arizona)- neither of these coaches have proven very much. Yes, Zona had a semi-miracle run to the bowl last year despite only going 9-7. But Ken has not been around all that long so its hard to really say how good he is yet. Sherman is in a similar spot. Sherman tremendously overachieved with an aging Favre and an overrated running game during the 2007 season going all the way till the NFC title game. Sherman of course gets a lot of credit for this. However, neither coach has a tremendous reservoir of experience from which to draw strength. EDGE: EVEN

d) The Pick- I think that given the above three match ups neutralize each other, I will take the hotter team which of course is the Pack. Also, Rogers is a better QB right now and his mobility could be big. THE PICK: PACKERS TO WIN OUTRIGHT 28-27

3) Baltimore Ravens (9-7)  at New England Patriots (10-6) (-4)-

a)  Raven's Offense vs. Pats Defense- This is actually an easy call though you might first think to yourself that both of these units leave something to be desired. Yes, Flaco, though he has a golden arm, is nowhere near ready to be called an elite QB in this league. However, he has a great running game to lean on lead by Ray "I'll retire at age 28 because I can't walk anymore" Rice and Goal-line stalwart Willis Mcgahee. Seriously though, where was this great speed from Ray Ray at Rutgers. He was a battering ram in college and now hes a speed burner???  Anyway,  the Pats D is awful. It has spit the bit against virtually every foe away from Gillete and has generally been very vulnerable to the big play.  This isn't your 3 year old cousin's Pats on defense. It is very soft for sure. This game will be decided by whether the Pats D can hold Baltimore under 28 points. EDGE: RAVENS

b) Raven's Defense vs. Pat's offense- Of course this is the match up everyone will turn on the tv to see. You have Ray "1/8th tackle" Lewis leading his powerful although aged defense against the greatest player in NFL history. (there I said it) Unfortunately this living legend will not have the best slot receiver in the NFL to lean on as Wessy Welk is out till probably next November with a torn everything. Still, Moss is kind of decent and the O-line is still adept at keeping Brady upright. Will Brady throw any balls within 10 yards of Ed Reed? If he doesn't, I think New England will be able to get its points against the Ravens. Basically if your a Pats fan, you want to hope every Brady pass is in the area of  #41 Frank Walker because if it is, you know its going to be a big play for your offense. EDGE: PATS

c) William Bellicheck vs. Jonathan Harbaugh- This is probably the easiest match up to call of any of the 12 I will breakdown in this space.  Harbaugh is a bright young coach but he is facing a 1st ballot Hall of Fame coach and human being. William is perfect in his pats career at home in the playoffs and his club is also perfect at home this season.  HUGE EGE: PATS

d) The Pick- The Pats' home dominance coupled with Bellicheck's post season experience will be too much for the Raven's to overcome. Also the Raven's d is overrated and won't keep up with Brady's lasers down-field. THE PICK: PATS 24-10

2) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) (+4) at Dallas Cowboys-

a) Eagle's Offense vs.  Cowboy's defense- The Cowboy's defense is actually pretty good. You wouldn't know it based on the intense attention always paid to Tony Romo. (G-d I hate him so much) Demarcus Ware is as dynamic a pass rusher as the league has to offer and Wade Phillips has used his history as a defensive coach to put his players in position to make plays. I am not the biggest fan of this unit as a whole but it has done a good job much of the season. Philly's offense is incredible. It has great speedy receivers, an underrated QB who is great  (you're wrong Maddog) and a great stable of RB's. I guess I can't totally ignore what happened last week but I still love Philly in this match-up. EDGE: EAGLES

b) Eagle's Defense vs. Cowboy's offense- This is an easy match-up to pick. The Eagle's defense, when blitzing, can be deadly but often is prone to the big play when it blitzes. Exhibit A for this is the game vs. my Giants a few weeks ago.  Dallas's offense is pretty dynamic. Romo has had a great year even though I want someone to wipe that G-d forsaken shit eating grin off his fucking face.  It has three very capable running backs and the best TE in the NFC by a wide margin.  Philly will have to dial up some very exotic blitz packages to slow down Romo, Witten and company. EDGE: COWBOYS

c) Andrew Reid vs. Wadeford Phillips- despite not winning a title and going 1-5 in NFC title games,  Reid has been a very successful head coach. Oh and yea, he has never lost the first playoff game his team has played in during a given playoffs. Wade Phillips has as many playoff wins in his career as I do. I know people are now throwing bouquets at Wade for not allowing another December swoon but I ain't biting. HUGE EDGE: EAGLES

d) The Pick- The coaching advantage enjoyed by Philly as well as Reid's ability to plan well for an opponent bodes well for Philly as does the anger factor. THE PICK: EAGLES 35-31

1) New York Jetropolitans (7-7) just fucking with you Jets fans and Devo (9-7)  (+2.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)-

a) Jet's offense vs Bengals defense- Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. This is a tough one. The Jets love to tell everyone that they have the #1 rushing offense in the league.  They will get a chance to showcase that against a healthy Bengals defense that has been the team's cheif strength this year. Expect the Bengals to load the box and make Sanchez, who has more picks than td's, beat it. Sorry Jets fans. That won't happen. The Jets just have to hope Sanchez keeps his throws shorts and can allow Weatherford to pin Carson deep on punts. EDGE: BENGALS

b) Jet's defense vs. Bengals offense- Personally, I don't see why the Bengals offense should even go on the field. The Jets are the self-proclaimed greatest defense of all time. There is no way this impenetrable force can possibly give up nary a point against the Bengals. Seriously, I'm wasting my time even talking about this match-up. This Jets defense is better than the 80's Giants and 70s Vikings even if both units were allowed to join forces and be on the field at the same time. No contest. GINORMUS EDGE: JETS.

Okay sorry. Now for the real analysis. The Jets defense is pretty good at allowing a low amount of total yards and points in each game on average. However, it chokes routninely when it is on the field trying to close out a game. Fortunately for the Jets, Palmer sucks now and has no deep threat. If the Jets can clog the middle with its front 4 and/or if Scott and that white linebacker can cut off Benson on the edges, I do sincerely think the Jets defense will win this battle. EDGE: JETS

c) Starvin Marvin Lewis vs. Sexy Rexy- At least Ryan doesn't say how great he is all the time. He really doesn't actually, just his players.  Ryan has not proven much except that he can beat teams lying down for him and can at times have his defense dominate games. Marvin Lewis is a terrible head coach as demonstrated by his 3 consecutive horrid seasons before finally returning his mediocre team to the playoffs. The Bung would be 4-6 if not for its divisional games and has barely beaten some awful teams this year. Marvin has proven to be a bust as a head coach yet Ryan's book is still very much blank. SLIGHT EDGE: JETS

d) The Pick- Basically I just think the Jets is a better team. I think that the Bengals will be able to keep the jets offense in check but I think the Jets defense will get a defensive td or two and win by 10-14 points without even scoring an offensive touchdown. And I think Ryan is a better coach than Lewis. THE PICK: JETS 21-10

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