Well, for the first time in several years we actually made it through a season making picks every week. And with a 12-4 record in week 17, I conquered my brother, who made some obviously grasping picks during the season’s final week in an effort to overtake my lead. His 10-6 record brought his season total to 169-87, three games behind my 172-84. For these efforts I win … bragging rights, I guess.

So, we’ve decided to take this show through the playoffs. The format will change a bit. We’re going to not only provide our pick for who will win the game but some meaningless thoughts about why, as well. So sit back and enjoy.  Or something.

Andy’s Take:

Cincinnati at Houston – Neither team enters this game playing particularly well. Houston has lost three in a row and could be starting a fourth-string quarterback, albeit an experienced one in Jake Delhomme. Cincinnati closed with the tough part of its schedule, losing three of five. I like the Bengals to steal this one on the road with Andy Dalton and AJ Green coming up big in an upset.
Winner: Cincinnati

Atlanta at New York Giants – The Giants looked good ending the season with a dominant win over Dallas. But then again Dallas was kind of exposed throughout the season. Atlanta played in a better division than the Giants and emerged with a better record than New York. With Julio Jones really stepping up his game toward the end of the season there are too many weapons on Atlanta’s offense for New York to stop.
Winner: Atlanta

Detroit at New Orleans – Drew Brees has been incredible this season, particularly at home. Detroit’s offense has been on a roll too, but nobody in the league, including Green Bay, has gelled like the Saints have at the end of the season. New Orleans is averaging 40 points per game at home in 2011. That continues.
Winner: New Orleans

Pittsburgh at Denver – There are three games I’m really looking forward to watching next weekend. This is the other one. This one got the Sunday Prime Time slot? Really? Denver doesn’t really deserve to be in the playoffs, though nobody else in the AFC West division does either. Pittsburgh is pretty good at stopping the run, the one thing Denver does well on defense. And Tim Tebow has regressed in recent weeks. No contest.
Winner: Pittsburgh

Tony’s Take:

Cincinnati at Houston – Frankly, this is a game of also-rans that aims to see who gets to lose next week. Cincinnati is definitely healthier coming in, but they are on the road, and the Texans actually potentially gained experience by losing TJ Yates for late season signing Jake Delhomme. Whether it’s Yates or Delhomme at the helm, I think Arian Foster and Ben Tate allow Houston to grind out a win in the team’s first ever playoff game.
Winner: Houston

Atlanta at New York Giants – Tom Coughlin ranks second on my list of coaches that will presumably not be fired, but probably should be. His team had several chances down the stretch of the season to take over the NFC East and just couldn’t pull it together. Giants fans should almost be hoping for a beat down by the Falcons, so the team will take a serious look at its future. That being said, the defensive line remains the strength of the team, and with Osi Umenyiora healthy, it adds yet another pass rushing threat against a line that has struggled, and a quarterback that has shown he can be rattled this year. This might end up being actually being a good game.
Winner: Atlanta

Detroit at New Orleans – Detroit’s offense actually kept up with Green Bay’s offense in Week 17—normally not a big deal with the backup quarterback starts, but Matt Flynn was the talk of the league with his franchise record-setting performance. Unfortunately, Detroit’s defense kept up with Green Bay’s as well. They remain an undisciplined team, one with basically no playoff experience. I expect Drew Brees to carve them up.
Winner: New Orleans

Denver at Pittsburgh – With Rashard Mendenhall out, Ben Roethlisberger struggling since his high ankle sprain, and Tim Tebow playing like…Tim Tebow – not to mention two of the best defenses in the AFC – this should be a classic defensive struggle. The big difference is Tebow managed to find ways to win a few games he shouldn’t have this year; Roethlisberger has managed during his career to win a number of playoff games that the Steelers shouldn’t have won.
Winner: Pittsburgh