NFL (Wacky) Wild Card Playoff Predictions

At the moment your middle finger is raised above the computer screen and towards me. I don't care what you think about my picks; I'm just telling you that the NFC is highly overrated and that any team--except for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers--could represent the conference in the Super Bowl. That's right; I said it. Dallas and Green Bay aren't that good. But you'll have to wait until the divisional round to find that out.

SHOO-INS

Washington (9-7) at Seattle (10-6)

Washington and journeyman backup quarterback Todd Collins have about as much chance of winning in Seattle as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have in winning the whole thing. But we'll get to that later. About the only position battle that the Redskins win in this battle is running back. And even that's iffy with the re-emergence of Shaun Alexander after suffering through a leg injury. Seattle has one of the best defenses in the NFL and Matt Hasselbeck is playing like a Pro Bowler--again. He has a solid group of wideouts and Bobby Engram is emerging into a reliable target. Keep in mind that Seattle has the distinction of knocking out Dallas last year in the divisional playoffs and are the only team to make the conference championship the past two years. Washington is not in the same caliber as the Seahawks and that should become apparent as soon as the ball is kicked off at Qwest Field this Saturday. Wins against Minnesota and Dallas don't count. Neither does playing for a fallen teammate (Sean Taylor) though it does make for good TV.

Seahawks 35, Redskins 13

Tennessee (9-7) at San Diego (11-5)

The last thing Tennessee wanted was to play the Chargers, particularly when their star quarterback Vince Young pulled a quad early on in their Week 17 game versus the Colts and is questionable for the wild-card game. But that's what the Titans will face, a Charger team that is arguably the hottest going into the playoff round and a prohibitive favorite to win not only this game but also to make it to the championship game since their road will likely go through Indianapolis. The Titans only hope for this game is for LaDainian Tomlinson to suffer an injury in the first quarter and for Young to miraculously reprise his national-championship role as America's quarterback and put the Titans on his shoulders to victory. But since some people live in Dreamland 24-7, I'm gonna say the chances of the Titans winning are as high as Ryan Seacrest having a female date after the Times Square festivities on New Year's.

Chargers 49, Titans 10

GOOD FOR ONE WEEK

New York Giants at Tampa Bay

A lot of people were discounting the Giants before they darned near beat New England and took a New Joisey whiz on the Pats' unblemished, sparkling 16-0 record. Discount them no more. Eli Manning was one play away from giving New York the lead and the win. Last week's historic game may have had a lot of significance for New England, but it also may have been the coming-out party for the other Manning. New York did what Dallas couldn't even come close to doing--and that's beating the Patriots. And they did it without Jeremy Shockey. That was enough for me. Some critics say Manning's too shaky. My problem is Tampa Bay's got aging talent in Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway and they're not even remotely near the echelon of the New England Patriots.

Giants 27, Buccaneers 20

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh

The Jaguars find a way, year after year, to somehow put a monkey wrench in the plans of football prognosticators and make the playoffs. This year won't be any different. But they still can't win the big one and I'm not convinced this is the year for them to start, considering they're probably headed to Foxboro to play the Patriots if they win. The Jags have found yet another QB who can put up monster numbers, they have two quality running backs (and yes, the ageless wonder Fred Taylor is one) and their receivers aren't half-bad either. Their defense is again good versus the run, but is suspect against the pass. That won't matter much against the Steelers, who lost Willie Parker for the season and are primarily a run-first team. Now Ben Roethlisberger will have to use his arm more than ever and that will give the Jaguars time to figure him out. Injuries will cost the Steelers big in this game in spite of having the No. 1 defense in the NFL.

Jaguars 17, Steelers 14