Philadelphia (+4) @ New York:
Often, it's said that when two teams face each other three times in the same season, it's difficult for one team to win all three of those game. Don't worry about that here.
Often, you can look towards home-field, and handicap a game based on which team has that advantage. Don't look at that here either.
Really, don't look for any sort of cute indicators. Both teams won games during the year on the other's home field, neither game decided by more than a touchdown. The Giants, after a bye week, are just about fully healthy. Justin Tuck is going to play, even if it's only on one leg. The Eagles are nicked up, but, nothing out of the ordinary or not to be expected this deep into the season.
It's going to be absolutely freezing at the Meadowlands today, so expect both teams, despite Andy Reid's wishes, to run the ball, a lot. We all know how tough the Giants run game can be but the Eagles can be just as difficult to handle if only because of their versatility. Keep in mind, Brian Westbrook might not be your prototypical back, but he did have one of his best games on the ground this year in New York (err...New Jersey). Also, as they showed last week, the Eagles don't necessarily have to run the ball to keep Westbrook involved. Screens and short passes to him and my man Kevin Curtis will be the name of the day.
No question, tough game to pick. About a two months ago, it was impossible to predict against the Giants. They were running over people, just ripping up the NFC. Then Plaxico and Pierce did their best Bonnie and Clyde impression, Brandon Jacobs got hurt, and they became human. The Eagles, on the other hand, have been (pardon the corny pun) flying. With the points not being much difference here, I'm taking the Eagles. Jim Johnson's D will have the G-Men scrambling all day, and the Eagles will find a way to keep it simple with Westbrook. Close game, but Eagles and the points.
Scott's Pick: Philly Jordan's Pick: New York
San Diego (+6) @ Pittsburgh:
Here's my thing, so far as San Diego's concerned: they're playing with house money because they don't have their star running back, and, they know they really shouldn't be in the playoffs. Did they earn their spot? Sure they did. But, most any team worth the fibers stitched on their jerseys (read: not Denver) would've sealed the deal with a 3 game lead and 3 to play. Good for San Diego that Denver stinks.
That all considered, San Diego's got a tough task today. While it does seem like the ever-frequent image of LT is of one sullen superstar sitting in an over-sized coat on the sidelines come playoff time, fact is, dude is hurt, again. So, it's up to Darren Sproles. The odds are supremely stacked against him. Pittsburgh hasn't allowed a 100 yard rusher all season. In fact, including this year's preseason, this season and last year's playoffs and season, they've only allowed one 100 yard rusher in the last 27 games. It was amusing watch Sproles scat his way all over the field last week, such a similar result ain't gonna happen.
So, Philip Rivers, it all falls on you. Pissed off you didn't make the Pro Bowl (how on Earth did that happen, by the way)? Show the world (read: 15 people that watch the "joy" that is the NFL's all-star game) that you deserved to be there. Though, Brett Favre did his best to show he didn't belong in the season's final weeks, and no one seemed to notice.
While it isn't likely to be raining or snowing Pittsburgh today, the weather, as in New Jersey, will surely be dreadful and close to frostbite inducing (again, read: not a lot of scoring or enjoyable play). Low scoring affair that this game seems destined to be, Pittsburgh has to be the way to go.
To go all Winston Churchill on you, it's time that the Iron Curtain closes on the dream that has been the Chargers season.
Or something like that.
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