Rob Moore's Playoff Picks

Moore Rants

December 31, 2008

Playoff Bracket

In attempting to make my brackets this year, I had a harder time than any other NFL season. This is because there is no clear cut number one like we thought we had in the Patriots last year or in the Colts the year before. This year it will come down to match ups. Every team has a major flaw that may stop them from making it to the big game. The teams that have great quarterback play and play great defense, struggle to run the ball and the teams that run the ball and play great defense have suspect quarterback play (see Indy, Philly, Pitt, and the Cards with great qb play and suspect running games and Carolina, Tennessee, the Vikings and B-more with good run games and suspect qb play). Atlanta and Miami have great balance in all of the aforementioned categories, but they likely lack the big game experience and a home run hitter like a Troy P., Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning or J. Pepp. And the Giants have balance as well but the loss of Osi, Plax and Strahan may be too much for them to over come down the stretch (just too many distractions to beat a Philly team that is hitting their stride the same way the Giants did last season). So… as you can see I was really torn and I went with my gut and this is what I came up with…

NFC

First Round
Atlanta Falcons v. Arizona Cardinals- Atlanta
Carolina Panthers First Round Bye

Philadelphia Eagles v. Minnesota Vikings- Philadelphia
New York Giants First Round Bye

Second Round
Atlanta Falcons v. Carolina Panthers- Carolina
Philadelphia Eagles v. New York Giants- Philadelphia

NFC Championship
Philadelphia Eagles v. Carolina Panthers- Carolina

AFC

First Round
San Diego Chargers v. Indianapolis Colts- Indianapolis
Pittsburgh Steelers First Round Bye

Miami Dolphins v. Baltimore Ravens- Baltimore
Tennesse Titans First Round Bye

Second Round
Indianapolis Colts v. Pittsburgh Steelers- Pittsburgh
Baltimore Ravens v. Tennessee Titans- Tennessee


AFC Championship
Pittsburgh Steelers v. Tennessee Titans

Super Bowl

Carolina Panthers v. Pittsburgh Steelers

Super Bowl Champion- PITTSBURGH STEELERS
(Hate to do this but minor caveat- if Big Ben is healthy after the concussion)