Bolt Notes: Divisonal Round Analysis and Picks

Okay, it is late on Friday night and I just got home from a high school girl's water polo tournament. I am hearing my bed calling me, but I have to at least make my picks for this weekends game. After all, it could be the most exciting week of football on the whole season. Anyway, sorry so brief, but I hope you will check it out and give me your picks as well. By the way, I was 3-1 last week.

CARDINALS @ saints

As with many of these games, my pick has changed on a daily basis this week. It should be a shootout, but who knows where the Saints are right now. I began the week liking the Saints to win at home in a high scoring game. As the week went on, I started dwelling on the fact that the Saints haven't played to win in a month! Are they so good that they can turn off the switch in week 15 and then turn it back on and beat Kurt Warner and the high flying Cardinals? I don't think so. Cards 38 Saints 24

ravens @ COLTS

I hear people talking about the great Ravens defense and the powerful Ravens running game. Okay, I'll buy that (for the most part). I hear others say that the Colts, and Peyton Manning, don't do well in the playoffs after a bye. Okay, I'll buy that (history doesn't lie). Then I look at the fact that Joe Flacco is hurt, the Colts are at home, and the Colts are pissed off that they didn't get a chance to be perfect. Also, the last time these two teams met, Flacco was healthy and his powerful offense only scored on 5 field goals. If the Ravens can't score touchdowns, they can't beat the Colts. Ravens 12 Colts 24

cowboys @ VIKINGS

Here is another game that I have flip-flopped on all week. Yes, the Cowboys are on fire right now. Yes, Tony Romo has knocked the playoff monkey off of his back. Yes, Brett Favre is almost as old as I am. Yes, Adrian Peterson hasn't broken the century mark in a game in the last seven weeks. All that being said, I think the Cowboys don't have the pressure they had on them last week and may relax just a little bit. Also, Favre is sure to have one great game in the playoffs. In fact, I see him playing great this week and having a tough game next week and missing the Super Bowl (at least that is what I feel today). Look for the Cowboys to come back down to earth. Cowboys 20 Vikings 28

jets @ CHARGERS

Well, obviously I am going with the Bolts this week. I always go with the Bolts. I'm a homer and have no problem admitting it! That being said, I must say that the closer we get to game time, the wider I think the margin of victory will be. The way I see it is that the Jets have one studly defensive back in Revis. The problem is that they don't have anymore. They need someone to cover all the other weapons that they Chargers possess. Go ahead and lock down Jackson. Just look out for Floyd, Gates, Nanee, Sproles, Tomlinson and even Tolbert. The Chargers just have too much fire power for the Jets.

The Jets will be able to run the ball, but other teams have run the ball as well and still lost to the Bolts. The Chargers give up a lot of yards, but not that many points. In the last half of the season, the Chargers defense has played very well in the redzone. You can ask the Dallas Cowboys if that statement is true.

The fact is that if the Chargers can score like I think they can, the Jets will be forced to pass the football more than they want to. Not that Sanchez is terrible, but he is a rookie and I don't think he beats Philip Rivers in a battle of the quarterbacks. If it becomes a shootout, the Jets don't stand a chance.

Don't get me wrong, I do think the Jest have a chance to win this game. I am not looking past them. I just think that the Chargers are a better team and if they play their game, the Jets so not have the answers for them. That really became clear to me when I started hearing quotes from Jets coach Rex Ryan. The way I see it is if the coach is talking smack, it is probably to try to get in the Chargers heads and to convince his own team that they have a chance.

Jets 16 Chargers 31

Enjoy the games!