- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,712
- 599
- 113
- 75
Prisco Picks: Wild Card
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/prisco/picks/week18
<table class="data" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="special" class="label"><td colSpan="3" align="left">Cincinnati Bengals[27] at Houston Texans[24] - 4:30 p.m.</td></tr><tr id="rowSpan" class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center"></td><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center"></td><td vAlign="top" rowSpan="2" width="80%" align="left">We had this game last season in the playoffs, but there are big differences. The Bengals were just happy to be in the playoffs then, and the Texans were without starting quarterback Matt Schaub. The way Schaub is going now, some might wish that was the case again. He is struggling. And that's something you can't do against a good Bengals front. Cincinnati was second in the NFL in sacks, which will put a lot of heat on Schaub. The Bengals need to get A.J. Green going early, and the Texans have struggled with the pass. I think they can hit some shots to Green. Houston just hasn't seemed right the past six weeks. If the Bengals can get J.J. Watt blocked, and that's a big if, they will have a great chance to move the football. On the other side of the ball, the Bengals will have to handle the run to get Schaub in passing situations. If they can, they can slow down that offense. He is so much better when Arian Foster is running it well. This Bengals team is confident. And I think they will roll into Houston and pull off the upset.
<table class="data" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="special" class="label"><td colSpan="3" align="left">Minnesota Vikings[23] at Green Bay Packers [34]- 8 p.m.</td></tr><tr id="rowSpan" class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center"></td><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center"></td><td vAlign="top" rowSpan="2" width="80%" align="left">This is a rematch of last week's game, which the Vikings won in Minnesota. But this will be a lot tougher test on the road. The Packers are tough to beat at Lambeau. The key, of course, will be how well Green Bay handles Adrian Peterson. Can they contain him? He's gone for over 200 twice against them with a lot of big plays. B.J. Raji has to play big inside. That would put the game on Christian Ponder. He played well last week, but can he do it again? On the other side, the Packers have to do a better job in pass protection. If they do, Rodgers will light up the Vikings. The Vikings finished 24th against the pass during the regular season. That means chances down the field for Rodgers. This is his time. The playoffs are when he gets it going in a big way; I see that happening here. The Vikings can't keep up with the Packers' high-powered offense.</td></tr><tr class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" align="center"></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="data" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="special" class="label"><td colSpan="3" align="left">Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens - 1 p.m.</td></tr><tr id="rowSpan" class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center">
</td><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center">23</td><td vAlign="top" rowSpan="2" width="80%" align="left">The Colts are one of the biggest surprises of the season. They are riding an emotional wave and rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, who has a knack for playing big in the fourth quarter. Chuck Pagano was back on the sidelines last week after missing most of the season in his battle with leukemia. That played an emotional part, but it's hard to carry that over for long. The Ravens won the AFC North, but they haven't played well the last six weeks, aside from blowing out the Giants. They aren't the same Ravens. The defense isn't very good. Luck should have some chances down the field. But when you look inside the Colts numbers, you wonder how they won so many games. They were 21st in point differential and minus-12 in the takeaway-giveaway department. That matters. Joe Flacco will play well here and the Ravens will move on -- in a tight one.</td></tr><tr class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" align="center">
</td><td vAlign="middle" align="center">26</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="data" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="special" class="label"><td colSpan="3" align="left">Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins - 4:30 p.m.</td></tr><tr id="rowSpan" class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center">
</td><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center">17</td><td vAlign="top" rowSpan="2" width="80%" align="left">This is a battle of two rookie quarterbacks who've had amazing seasons. It is Russell Wilson for the Seahawks and Robert Griffin III for the Redskins. It's a lot tougher to play a road playoff game for a rookie, so RG3 has that edge. But Seattle is much better than the Redskins are on the defensive side of the ball, so that evens it out some. The key will be how well that Seattle defense can slow down Alfred Morris. If he gets going, that will key the passing game. That means Brandon Mebane and Alan Branch have to play big inside. If they can get RG3 in third-and-long situations, the Seahawks have favorable matchups with their corners outside. Wilson doesn't have a lot of great playmakers outside, so he will have to get Marshawn Lynch going. The numbers say the Redskins defense is vulnerable but it has played well lately. Blitzing Wilson and playing man is risky because he can run. But I still think that's what the Redskins will do. It should be fun to watch these two young quarterbacks, but my pick is the Redskins because they are at home.</td></tr><tr class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" align="center">
</td><td vAlign="middle" align="center">24</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
:0002
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/prisco/picks/week18
<table class="data" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="special" class="label"><td colSpan="3" align="left">Cincinnati Bengals[27] at Houston Texans[24] - 4:30 p.m.</td></tr><tr id="rowSpan" class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center"></td><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center"></td><td vAlign="top" rowSpan="2" width="80%" align="left">We had this game last season in the playoffs, but there are big differences. The Bengals were just happy to be in the playoffs then, and the Texans were without starting quarterback Matt Schaub. The way Schaub is going now, some might wish that was the case again. He is struggling. And that's something you can't do against a good Bengals front. Cincinnati was second in the NFL in sacks, which will put a lot of heat on Schaub. The Bengals need to get A.J. Green going early, and the Texans have struggled with the pass. I think they can hit some shots to Green. Houston just hasn't seemed right the past six weeks. If the Bengals can get J.J. Watt blocked, and that's a big if, they will have a great chance to move the football. On the other side of the ball, the Bengals will have to handle the run to get Schaub in passing situations. If they can, they can slow down that offense. He is so much better when Arian Foster is running it well. This Bengals team is confident. And I think they will roll into Houston and pull off the upset.
<table class="data" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="special" class="label"><td colSpan="3" align="left">Minnesota Vikings[23] at Green Bay Packers [34]- 8 p.m.</td></tr><tr id="rowSpan" class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center"></td><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center"></td><td vAlign="top" rowSpan="2" width="80%" align="left">This is a rematch of last week's game, which the Vikings won in Minnesota. But this will be a lot tougher test on the road. The Packers are tough to beat at Lambeau. The key, of course, will be how well Green Bay handles Adrian Peterson. Can they contain him? He's gone for over 200 twice against them with a lot of big plays. B.J. Raji has to play big inside. That would put the game on Christian Ponder. He played well last week, but can he do it again? On the other side, the Packers have to do a better job in pass protection. If they do, Rodgers will light up the Vikings. The Vikings finished 24th against the pass during the regular season. That means chances down the field for Rodgers. This is his time. The playoffs are when he gets it going in a big way; I see that happening here. The Vikings can't keep up with the Packers' high-powered offense.</td></tr><tr class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" align="center"></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="data" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="special" class="label"><td colSpan="3" align="left">Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens - 1 p.m.</td></tr><tr id="rowSpan" class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center">
</td><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center">23</td><td vAlign="top" rowSpan="2" width="80%" align="left">The Colts are one of the biggest surprises of the season. They are riding an emotional wave and rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, who has a knack for playing big in the fourth quarter. Chuck Pagano was back on the sidelines last week after missing most of the season in his battle with leukemia. That played an emotional part, but it's hard to carry that over for long. The Ravens won the AFC North, but they haven't played well the last six weeks, aside from blowing out the Giants. They aren't the same Ravens. The defense isn't very good. Luck should have some chances down the field. But when you look inside the Colts numbers, you wonder how they won so many games. They were 21st in point differential and minus-12 in the takeaway-giveaway department. That matters. Joe Flacco will play well here and the Ravens will move on -- in a tight one.</td></tr><tr class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" align="center">
</td><td vAlign="middle" align="center">26</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="data" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="special" class="label"><td colSpan="3" align="left">Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins - 4:30 p.m.</td></tr><tr id="rowSpan" class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center">
</td><td vAlign="middle" width="10%" align="center">17</td><td vAlign="top" rowSpan="2" width="80%" align="left">This is a battle of two rookie quarterbacks who've had amazing seasons. It is Russell Wilson for the Seahawks and Robert Griffin III for the Redskins. It's a lot tougher to play a road playoff game for a rookie, so RG3 has that edge. But Seattle is much better than the Redskins are on the defensive side of the ball, so that evens it out some. The key will be how well that Seattle defense can slow down Alfred Morris. If he gets going, that will key the passing game. That means Brandon Mebane and Alan Branch have to play big inside. If they can get RG3 in third-and-long situations, the Seahawks have favorable matchups with their corners outside. Wilson doesn't have a lot of great playmakers outside, so he will have to get Marshawn Lynch going. The numbers say the Redskins defense is vulnerable but it has played well lately. Blitzing Wilson and playing man is risky because he can run. But I still think that's what the Redskins will do. It should be fun to watch these two young quarterbacks, but my pick is the Redskins because they are at home.</td></tr><tr class="row1" align="right"><td vAlign="middle" align="center">
</td><td vAlign="middle" align="center">24</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
:0002
