We dropped the prediction segment on the ZB Web site early in the season this year due to lack of cohesiveness, direction and readership. We’ll probably bring something pick-related, both straight up and against the spread, for next season. It’ll definitely be more organized than it was before.

That said, it’s the playoffs and with the beginning of the second season I thought I’d go back to making some foolish game picks.

So, for Wild Card weekend, here are my thoughts.

Straight-up: Dallas over Philly
Spread: Dallas -4

Reason: I thought all season Philly was the better team but now I’m not so sure. Dallas in the last four games has given up 0, 0, 17, and 20 points. So while they aren’t scoring a ton, the defense is playing well enough for them to win.

Philly is scoring but their defense isn’t stopping anyone. If Dallas’ defense can hold tough – and two successive shutouts are impressive in the NFL, even if one was against Washington – I think they win, something like 20-16.

Straight-up: Green Bay over Arizona
Spread: Green Bay -1

Reason: Packers are scoring a ton and, other than the blip against Pittsburgh, the defense seems to be catching on as well. They’ve given up 14, 37 (PB game), 10 and 7 in the last four. While they have a weak secondary the Cardinals could be without Boldin. At a minimum he won’t be full strength. Breaston, Early Doucet and Jerheme Urban are solid guys but having to move them up to 2-4 rather than 3-5 hurts that offense.

I don’t think it’s as obvious as the national pundits are making it. The Cardinals will make it a game. But a 27-21 Packer win seems reasonably likely to me.

Straight-up: New York Jets over Cincinnati
Spread: Jets +2.5

Reason: Bengals are the coldest team heading into the playoffs. They’ve given up 27 or more points in three of the last four and won only one of four. The Jets dismantled the Bengals. They have the best scoring defense in the league for the season. And they have scored 26, 29 and 37 in three of the last four games. I expect a lower scoring game but most of the scoring will be done by the Jets.

Straight-up: Baltimore over New England
Spread: Baltimore +3.5

Reason: This game is about as evenly matched as they come based on how the teams are performing heading into the playoffs. The Pats before last week had given up 10, 10 and 7 points in their previous three games. And the last one didn’t matter much to them. The Ravens have won three of four and have given up 13 or fewer points in three of those games.

The Ravens lost to the Patriots 27-21 early in the season and were close to driving for the winning score when a receiver dropped a fourth down pass at the five yard line. The separator in this game, in my opinion, is the injury to Wes Welker. That’s 123 catches and nearly 1350 yards of offense they need to replace. Julian Edelman is a fine player. But he’s a rookie in his first playoff game. Welker and Brady have been together three seasons. Ravens avenge the early season loss.