It has become a New Year tradition. Perhaps not as interesting as the annual review of new words that have entered the language during the year just completed. It can be as frustrating as the tradition by which certain clueless Democrats are eager to unthinkingly give George W. Bush whatever he wants because we must support the president. And it can even cost you money if you're not careful.
I am referring, of course, to my annual NFL playoff predictions.
Last year I managed to get three of the four games right on the opening weekend, which turned up the pressure on me to intolerable levels in succeeding weeks. As a result, I folded like Notre Dame. After that 4-and-2 start, I ended up 5-and-6 for the entire playoffs, largely because I picked against the Steelers every time, and they ended up winning the Super Bowl. But because the great thing about beating your head against a wall is that it feels good when you stop, here are the 2007 wildcard picks.
Kansas City at Indianapolis (today, 3:30PM Central, NBC): When Denver and Cincinnati improbably took the gaspipe last weekend, KC sneaked into the postseason. Meanwhile, Indy did its usual hot start/cold finish routine, and you'll find practically nobody outside the state of Indiana who believes they'll get beyond next weekend. Today is another story, though--but if KC pulls the upset, I won't be surprised. Either way, this is likely going to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. Indianapolis 45, Kansas City 35.
Dallas at Seattle (tonight, 7PM, NBC): This, on the other hand, could be the dog of the weekend. If the regular season had been a couple of weeks longer, each of these teams would have found a way to miss the playoffs entirely. Dallas has been slowly imploding for a month now, and if they get a couple of touchdowns behind, receiver Terrell Owens is likely to take to medication again, and coach Bill Parcells may just retire in mid-game, Don-Zimmer style. Seattle 20, Dallas 9.
New York Jets at New England (tomorrow, noon, CBS): Those who have read these predictions in the past know that I tend to display an unhealthy level of quarterback love for Tom Brady, especially at playoff time. So take that into consideration when I tell you this: When picking your Super Bowl teams, do not sleep on the New England Patriots. New England 26, New York 16.
New York Giants at Philadelphia (tomorrow, 3:30, Fox): The Eagles look a lot like last year's Steelers--left for dead in November but finishing the season on a roll, and with a backup quarterback at that, albeit a good one in Jeff Garcia. I don't expect them to duplicate Pittsburgh's run to the championship, but they'll beat the Giants, who are a mess. Their quarterback, Eli Manning, can't play, and their coach, Tom Coughlin, is wound so tight as a result that he can now kill waterboys just by staring at them. Keep out of sight, waterboys. Philly 27, New York 10.
Watching at home like the rest of us, except in more expensive houses: Chicago, New Orleans, San Diego, Baltimore.
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A Holiday Saturday in America
The Clueless
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