Tuesday Morning QB, Week 17

Tuesday Morning QB is weekly feature on The Full Court Press, reacting to the past week’s happenings in NFL Football.

 The Grand Finale

This is it folks, my mad experiment with a weekly football post has come to an end!  The Full Court Press will return to the variety pack of subjects you all know and love (or at least know).  It's been fun writing regularly on a subject I'm passionate about, but a it's been a beating as well in trying to keep up with my self-imposed Tuesday morning deadline.  This week's edition of the Tuesday Morning QB will be a preview of the post-season, as I gaze into my crystal ball to predict the outcome of the playoffs, let's take a look:

Wild Card

Panthers vs. Cardinals: Before Carson Palmer went down (and even Drew Stanton, to an extent) this was the best team in football.  The Panthers, on the other hand, were the least-weakest team in the weakest division in football.  Expect an ugly game with a low score as Arizona's defense should be good enough to keep Carolina from kicking the most field goals of the two teams.

Steelers vs. Ravens: Saturday's night cap will be almost as ugly in a rubber match between division foes.  The Steelers are playing better ball late in the year, and I'm a Steelers fan, so I'm calling for Pittsburgh to stay alive for at least one more week.

Bengals vs. Colts:  I'm honestly shocked the Bengals managed to squeak into the playoffs.  Indianapolis has disappointed at times throughout the year, but they have a much stronger resume.  The Colts blanked the Bengals when these teams met in week 7, and while I wouldn't expect another shut-out, I also wouldn't expect Cincinnati to have learned their lesson.

Cowboys vs. Lions: While I wouldn't expect Dallas to step-up in the playoffs, I also didn't expect them to have a perfect December, or an 8-game winning streak en route to a plus-.500 season.  Since Ndamukong Suh won't be around to step on Tony Romo's back, expect the 'Boys to cruise to the next round.

Divisional Round (hypothetical match-ups)

Steelers vs. Bronocs: On paper, this is a game the Broncos should win handily.  But momentum is everything in the playoffs, and in this case, the advantage goes to Pittsburgh.  Look for an upset in Denver.

Patriots vs. Colts: One week after duplicating a win in one regular season match-up, the Colts will turn around and repeat a loss in another.  The Patriots have been playing far too well to lose to an inconsistent dome team at home.

Packers vs. Cowboys: The Cowboys revival season stops in Lambeau.  There's simply no way this team is strong enough to beat Aaron Rodgers at home in January.

Seahawks vs. Cardinals: They say it's hard to beat the same team 3 times in one season.  True as that may be, it's a heck of a lot easier to do that when said team has more QB's on IR than the active roster.  The 'Hawks will get to defend their NCF crown at home.

Conference Championships (even more hypothetical match-ups)

Patriots vs. Steelers: This hurts, as I love my Steelers, but absolutely hate the Pats.  However, Pittsburgh is 0 for their last 2 in AFC Championship showdowns with New England.  As much as I'd love for that streak to end, it ain't happening.

Seahawks vs. Packers: This game will prove just how meaningless the regular season opener is, a game that was dominated by the Seahwaks this season.  I know the Seahawks are playing like defending Super Bowl champions, but Aaron Rodgers has been playing like an MVP since that Thursday night game that seems like forever ago.  The Packers will punch a ticket to Arizona.

Super Bowl (it's probably OK to stop reading at this point, or at least stop taking this seriously)

Patriots vs. Packers: In yet another regular season re-match, look for a memorable showdown between two elite quarterbacks in Rodgers and Tom Brady.  The Packers won narrowly in a game in which they had home-field advantage, but I don't think the neutral field will hurt them this time around.  While speculation of a New England demise after a week 4 blowout to the Chiefs might have been a little overblown and premature, I think there was an ounce of truth in there that the Pats aren't as potent as they once were.  Aaron Rodgers cements his place as the best QB in football, and Brady hopefully joins Peyton Manning in the "can't win the big one" dog house (come on, 0 for his last 3 in a "what have you done for me lately league?").

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