2011 NFL Divisional Round Predictions

"Beast Mode. Beast Mode! BEAST MODE! BEEEEAAASSSSSTTTT MOOOODDDDEEEEE!!!!! YEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!" Marshawn Lynch is affectionately known as "Beast Mode" when he is running the football and last week during his game-clinching 67 yard touchdown run, Lynch earned that nickname. As a Seahawks fan, I've been yelling "Beast Mode" at the television everytime I see him run the ball for the Seahawks (Much like Patriots Fans yell out "Law Firm" everytime that Benjarvus Green-Ellis runs the football) and the beginning of this blog entry was a manuscript of how I reacted during that magnificent rumble. That run by Lynch brought out true joy from every football fan that doesn't hate the Seahawks or is a Saints' fan. It was truly what makes football great.

Last week I was a last second FG away from going 4-0 on Wild Card Weekend. I also got the point differential correct for the Seahawks-Saints game and I got the Chiefs' score exactly right (and was three points off of the Ravens' final score in the same game). I like to think that is a good omen for this next round of predictions. Without further ado:

AFC Divisional Playoff #1: #2 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) vs. #5 Baltimore Ravens (13-4) Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Everyone knows that these two teams love to beat up on each other and that neither team will come out of this game unscathed. Regardless of who scores more points in this football game, the real winner will be the victor's opponent next week. They will receive a team that is beat up and will most likely be missing one to two starters which is a lot in the playoffs. But back to this game, it is Big Ben vs. Flacco, Harrison and Polomalu vs. Lewis and Reed, and one underrated D-Line against another. This game is truly a pick 'em and I don't think home-field advantage is going to matter. When in doubt, go with your gut, and my gut is telling me to stick with the team I predicted to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl during the pre-season.

Final Score: Ravens 16 - Steelers 12

NFC Divisional Playoff #1: #1 Atlanta Falcons (13-3) vs. #6 Green Bay Packers (11-6) Location: Atlanta, GA

I watched their regular season match-up from the opening kickoff to the final play and I remember thinking to myself "These two teams are bound to meet again in the playoffs". I also thought that the match-up would occur during the Conference Championship, but it looks like I was a round off. During that regular season game I noticed that the Falcons had trouble moving the ball on the Packers and had to rely on field position to earn all of their 20 points while the Packers left at least 7 points on the field that day if not more. There were a couple of red zone turnovers that were committed by the Packers, but mostly the lasting impression was that the Packers stopped themselves that day and Atlanta was lucky to get a win. I feel like if these two teams played ten times, the Packers would win nine of them and since the Falcons already won once, I'm picking Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

Final Score: Packers 24 - Falcons 13

NFC Divisional Playoff #2: #2 Chicago Bears (11-5) vs. #4 Seattle Seahawks (8-9)
Location: Chicago, IL

So here is where the ride ends, right? The Seahawks can't beat a team as tough on defense as the Bears twice, especially at Soldier Field, right? It defies logic to think that a team could be 9-9 in the Conference Championship, right? I mean, look at the 2004 St. Louis Rams and the 2008 San Diego Chargers, the other two teams with non-winning records that won a game in the playoffs, but they both lost in the Divisional Playoffs, just like the Seahawks will, right? Honestly, I think the Bears are a good enough team to make the playoffs, and a bad enough team to get upset at home in the playoffs by a team with a losing record. The Seahawks have a QB with 5 postseason victories, a running game that has earned over 100 yards in each of their last two games, and some stability on the O-Line for the first time all year. I'm taking the Seahawks and everyone will have their eyes on Seattle, WA for the NFC Championship!

Final Score: Seahawks 27 - Bears 19

AFC Divisional Playoff #2: #1 New England Patriots (14-2) vs. #6 New York Jets (12-5)
Location: Foxborough, MA

The main event of the weekend is the rubber match between the Jets and the Patriots. I think it is evident which team has been preparing for this match-up strategically and which team believes that talking crap and puffing out their chest will somehow create an advantage on the football field. I'm supposed to believe in Mark Sanchez because he "called his own play" at the end of the Colts-Jets game last week? A game in which the Jets scored only 17 points and won by one?! The Colts were a subpar team with a great QB and the Jets are an average team with a very shaky demeanor. Plus, the Patriots don't lose Divisional Round games at home. If anything, they lose these games on the road. I'm choosing Brady, Belichick, and the smart-asses from Massachusettes to cruise to the AFC Championship.

Final Score: Patriots 38 - Jets 10

So if it all goes the way I see it, we're looking at Patriots-Ravens in the AFC Championship (early game most likely) and then the Seahawks-Packers in the NFC Championship. I'd watch both of those games while on the edge of my seat. I hope my picks pan out.