Fuck. Both are live for points. I win both, I have the lead. There is no way we'll be tied here.

Okay,

Saints at Chicago:

Chicago isn't perfect at home, and the Saints got big road wins in Dallas and New York on the way to a 10-6 finish. As weak as the NFC south is, that's pretty huge. However, neither is Chicago in January. The forecast calls for snow Sunday and Chicago finds a way to win. Let's not forget New Orleans was 3-13 last year; I have a feeling this is where their dream season will come to a tragic end.

Chicago to win, 24-17.

New England at Indianapolis:

Wow, do I not want to bet 2 games against Patrick, but I genuinely think the Colts will take this. The Patriots didn't earn a win last week. They're still not that healthy, and they have NO running game. Meanwhile, Bob Sanders has the Colts D playing like, well, the Patriots D, and Peyton manning picked apart the pats just a few games ago. There's no Ty Law to stop Peyton now, and Assante Samuel is great, but not Law-great. The colts and bears have been on cruise control all year. I think they'll both show up to play and, with any luck, I'll be +1 going in to the Superbowl.

Indianapolis to win, 34-21.

Well I have a one game lead with three games left. It's like the regular season all over again, really, and I get the sense that this will be the week that makes it or breaks it. Josh, you could easily pick two different teams than me this week, but I'm guessing at one. And I also think that the Super Bowl will have us picking the same team. So good luck.

AFC

This one I'm doing based on the fact that the Chargers were the best team in the league this regular season, and they lost at home to the Pats. Now, Indy was not as good as San Diego, and, as Manning continues to disappoint in the playoffs, I really think that the brilliance of the Patriots will be enough this week. I was honestly surprised when I saw that the Pats were underdogs. Although Vinateiri beating the Pats with a last second FG would be a great story...
Naw. Dynasty time.

Patriots by four

NFC

This one is a little tougher. Neither team has that air of destiny about them that the Patriots have. Both have question marks, and this game is really a strength-against-strength, weakness-against-weakness kind of game. Defense wins championships, but so do QBs. The Bears have the better defense by far, and the Saints have the better QB by far. It's outside and is supposed to be 38 degrees F. Not the Superdome. But I just can't take Rex Grossman as a Super Bowl QB, and I predict that he will have just enough of a meltdown this week to give the Saints offense the edge it needs. Vegas thinks I'm picking the underdog again.

Saints by three

JOSH'S PICKS

Indianapolis at Baltimore:Jesus. Okay, well, the colts played last week, have a ton of injured players. Baltimore is at home, had a Bye, and is virtually starting a perfectly healthy roster. I know Manning is good, but Baltimore should take this.

Philadelphia at New Orleans
Saints at home. Enough said. No Lito Sheppard, and Philly barely beat the Giants.

Seattle at Chicago
The home team has won every game, and the trend will hold true. Seattle doesn't deserve to be here.

New England at San Diego
I like the Patriots, but San Diego is too strong. Merriman had 17 sacks in 12 games. That's unbelievable. He'll get at least a couple here. LT will run for 100 (or throw, or catch), and as good as Brady is, Schottenheimer isn't bad enough to be totally and completely outcoached. He just needs to be passable; his team is better.

Now this week is TOUGH. All 8 teams are teams you could make a legitimate argument for, and I would believe you. Shit week to have a lead.

So.

The Ravens D' is much better than the Chief's D' , and I still think that, until I see otherwise, Manning doesn't win against great D's in the playoffs. I'll take McNair, Lewis and Heap over Green, Johnson and Gonzalez also, but just barely. McNair, mostly. If the Colts D' can repeat what we saw last week, I'll lose this one, but I doubt that.

Ravens by four

Philadelphia is hot, yes. Drew Brees has looked unstoppable at times, and Bush, Coleston, and Horn have all had solid years. This offense is #1 in the league. Defense wins championships, but, against a team that squeaked a win out of the Giants at home, I'll go with the offense this week.

Saints by nine

Ah, Rex Grossman. What a quandry you put me in. I mean, the 'Hawks didn't really earn a win last week, they needed some luck. But what happened in Green Bay? Grossman said he was unprepared. That won't happen this week, and I just don't think Seattle's DBs and WRs can hold up the fort with the injuries.

Bears by fourteen

They left the toughest one for last, did they? Very well. L.T.? Amazing. But if anyone can stop him, it's Big B and the Pats. Phillip Rivers? Underrated. But how underrated would he have to be to light up the Pats at playoff time? No Rodney Harrison. No enforcer back there. And, of course, you rarely bet against Brady when the chips are down. Last year, the Pats got thumped by a good running game, an adaquete passing game, and a solid, if not spectacular defense. That's right. The Broncos. Watch that game film, Mr. Schottenheimer. Only because it's in San Diego.

Chargers by three

Well only four this week. Here's my picks.

Indy will pass on KC, KC will run on Indy. When the game is on the line, I'd rather be passing.

Indianapolis by ten

Dallas has an undersized front 7 and Alexander has had a light load this season. Romo vs. Hasselbeck is no contest either. Still, T.O. and Glenn will make it close.

Seattle by three

Who bets against the Pats in the playoffs? Maybe when they get to Baltimore, but at home, the Jets just don't have the experience. Pennington needs a long ball, and just doesn't have it.

New England by seven

The hottest team in the league plays a team that almost blew a playoff spot against the Redskins. Eli is gonna have to win it, and I don't think that Mannings win playoff games on the road. At least for another few years.

Philadelphia by seventeen

Good luck!

Josh's picks:

Kansas City at Indianapolis
Indianapolis has experience and won every one of their games at home. They have a *brutal* run defence, but Larry Johnson gets 150 yards against anyone, so that doesn't really matter. Peyton will tear up the Chiefs D on home turf.

Dallas at Seattle
Wow, Seattle beat a terrible Tampa team, but Dallas lost (and gave up 39 points to) an equally terrible Lions team. Tough call. In the end, I think experience will help. Unfortunately, I think that experience lies with the Cowboys. Seattle's top 4 corners are all out, leaving Terry Glenn, Jason Witten and, of course, T.O., to have a field day. Parcells won't show up unprepared, and this is the first time this over-hyped, underperforming team has had its back against the wall. THe 'Hawks are too injured, making even homefield advantage useless.

NY Jets at New England
The prodigy versus the master. Few have been as good as the jets in recent weeks. The Jets have won 4 of 5, and lost to only the Bills. The thing is, the Bills were the only swarming defence they faced. Every other team plays a conservative Man D, which Pennington picks apart. The Patriots won't. I really thought about this, but I absolutely have to take Tom Brady (who is much better than the Bills' Losman) to at least put up an equal performance.

NY Giants at Philadelphia
Is there any team hotter? I was tempted to go with the Tiki Barber train, but get this: all the starters sat out last week's game, and they still beat a good Falcon team. This team is rested, working together, on a roll, at home, and they're facing a mediocre team that stumbled through the back half of the year. I hope you pick the Giants Patrick, because the Eagles are taking this one, and I'm inclined to bet on them in the NFC.