WEEK 2 of the NFL PLAYOFF POOL IS CLOSED!
Here are Haru’s picks, followed by the standings and picks by other players:
NFC - Arizona at New Orleans: I feel like the dog days of the winter are with us, a little hint of how my picks will go this week. The lone game that was actually good since it wasn’t an all out blowout but was a shootout was the one won by Arizona. The Cardinals look like they might pull another run (sigh from the Divisional rival fan of the 49ers...) as they won without Anquan Boldin while Kurt Warner managed to be nearly perfect at finding receivers like Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston at will. This is a good matchup with another pass happy team in the Saints, who slumped at the end of the season and might not find their mojo in time. If Drew Brews looks normal they will struggle, though the running game trio of Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and Reggie Bush did get to rest during the bye week. I still think that Warner might be hot at the right time to lead another long playoff run now, and add this is an indoors game should keep Warner’s arm nice and fresh.
Haru takes the Arizona Cardinals.
Dallas at Minnesota: Another team that slumped at the end of the season seemed to be the Vikings, opening things up for anyone to win the NFC now, even the usually inept Cowboys. While Minnesota did blow out a win to end the season, Brett Favre is still 40 years old and likely going to retire like Warner at year’s end (knock on wood...). Unlike Warner, Favre over the last few years runs out of gas this late in the season. More concerning is how bad the supposed #1 running back in the NFL Adrian Peterson looks normal and fumble-prone. The Cowboys meanwhile might have like many teams had learned enough from past failures to put it all together. Their defence is the best of the NFC right now led by the inspirational DeMarcus Ware, while Tony Romo isn’t making mistakes, throwing only when needed while letting guys like Felix Jones and Marion Barber run the ball again. This might be the year of the Cowboys in their new stadium, but their road record is decent enough too to handle the Vikings while also being indoors sure helps for this game as well.
Haru takes the Dallas Cowboys.
AFC - Baltimore at Indianapolis: As my picks continue, so does my interest in the underdog seeds. Baltimore is doing what they do best: shut down the offense with defensive studs like Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis. These dirty birds attack the QB like they did last week, and will make MVP QB Peyton Manning force throws too. They also won despite sophomore QB Joe Flacco barely being a factor, letting an amazing running game come back that was absent early in the season in Willis McGahee, Le’Ron McClain and the rising Ray Rice. The Colts have issues handling the rush even with guys like Dwight Freeney on defence with his patented spin move. If the Ravens keep Manning off the field, they can win this one very handily.
Haru takes the Baltimore Ravens.
New York Jets at San Diego: Well I think I should end my dog picks and take one favourite here, and it’s for good reason. The Chargers are the hottest team going into the post season, and the bye week actually helps them heal up older players like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates who have been good in spurts this year, allowing guys like Vincent Jackson and Darren Sproles to shine under the heavily forgotten QB Philip Rivers. Despite the Jets having a great defence led by shutdown king Darrelle Revis; San Diego has way more weapons to go to in order to avoid matchups. Don’t underrate the Charger defence either, as guys like Eric Weddle will make it much harder for Mark Sanchez to have time to find open receivers, while that’s good since then they can focus to better their not-so-good rush defence against the Jets’ Thomas Jones. I think this is finally the Chargers year to finally get over the hump and make the Super Bowl!
Haru takes the San Diego Chargers.
PLAYER NAME # GAMES PICKED WINS-LOSSES WINNING PERCENTAGE (WINS/GAMES)
DTM 4 4-0 1.000
HARU 4 2-2 .500
ANDONE 4 1-3 .250
Week 2 picks:
HARU-ARI/DAL/BAL/SD
DTM-NO/DAL/IND/SD
ANDONE-NO/MIN/IND/SD
Good luck!