Our NFL playoff picks
by Mark Potash mpotash@suntimes.com January 19, 2012 8:04PM
Related Stories
Updated: February 21, 2012 8:43AM
RAVENS AT PATRIOTS
Time: 2 p.m., Ch. 2.
Line: Patriots by 7.
Records (overall/ATS): Ravens 13-4/8-8-1;
Patriots 14-3/10-6-1.
Fast fact: Patriots are 15-5 SU in the playoffs with Tom Brady but only 9-10-1 ATS.
Outlook: Even after humiliating the Broncos last week, the ‘‘Tebow factor’’ still looms for the Patriots. Teams that defend Tim Tebow have struggled against conventional QBs the following week: allowing an average passer rating of 100.5 (20 TDs, 4 INTs) this season. That could come into play with Ravens QB Joe Flacco, who has a 61.6 career passer rating on the road in the playoffs but is more than capable of a big game against a quality opponent. Tom Brady has an 89.1 career rating in the playoffs but had his worst postseason performance in a 33-14 wild-card game loss to the Ravens in 2010 (23 of 42, 154 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs, 49.1 rating). Ravens RB Ray Rice rushed for 159 yards, 2 TDs in that game.
Mark Potash’s pick: Patriots 23, Ravens 20.
Marc Silverman, ESPN-1000: Ravens
Doug Buffone, WSCR-670: Patriots
GIANTS AT 49ERS
Time: 5:30 p.m., Fox-32.
Line: 49ers by 21/2.
Records (overall/ATS): Giants 11-7/10-7-1;
49ers 14-3/12-4-1.
Fast fact: Niners beat the Giants 27-20 at Candlestick on Nov. 13 when Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck were out with injuries.
Outlook: This is one of those games that separates the ‘‘wise guys’’ from the rest of us — a showdown that likely will hinge on intangibles and breaks and QBs who might be better than we think, or worse. The Giants are flawed, but on a roll, and they’ve been here before. The 49ers are upstarts who were 6-10 last year and are new to the postseason spotlight. But they have a top-5 defense and a QB who is tough to beat when he’s on a good team — Alex Smith was 25-1 as a starter in high school, 21-1 at Utah and 14-3 this season. They also have a coach in Jim Harbaugh whose teams commit fewer penalties and miss fewer tackles when it matters most. That, ultimately, could be the difference.
Potash’s pick: 49ers 23, Giants 20.
Silverman’s pick: Giants
Buffone’s pick: 49ers
Comments Click here to view or make a comment