Thoughts about the NFL playoffs

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Here are some quick-hitting thoughts about Wild-Card Weekend and a look at this weekend's Divisional Round.

1. Can you believe that the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints lost to the sub-.500 Seattle Seahawks? The 65-year-old Matt Hasselbeck simply carved up a Saints defense that looked lost and confused. Bet the Saints go after defensive players in this year's draft. They better.

2. The Indianapolis Colts blew a chance to advance in the final minute of the game. That should never, ever happen. Poor coverage on the kickoff gave the Jets great field position, and then Sanchez lofts a pass that Braylon Edwards snags on the sidelines to help Nick Folk boot an easy field goal as time expires. Shame on the Colts.

3. How about that Baltimore Ravens defense? More like, how garbage is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel? For him to not even look Dwayne Bowe's way all game long, the Chiefs deserve to lose just for that. Plus, Cassel looked timid, scared and baffled every time he dropped back to pass. Did he study the Ravens defense during the week? Just a JV quarterback if you ask me.

4. Why is everyone trying to blame Mike Vick for the Eagles' loss to the Packers? I know he threw a pick to end the game, but shouldn't the intended receiver tried to break up that pass in the end zone instead of letting the corner make the pick? Who cares about that play, anyway, point to David Akers missing two easy field goals as the reason why Philly lost. Field goals at home, mind you. The veteran kicker is being blamed my me. If they played again tomorrow, I'd still take the Eagles ...I still am not impressed with the Packers.

5. Best game this coming weekend: Baltimore at Pittsburgh ...if you like defense. The teams split during the regular season, and expect some bloody lips, a lot of hard hitting and maybe a fist or two flying around over the course of the 60 minutes. It might even go into overtime, too. The quarterback -- Ben Roethlisberger or Joe Flacco -- that can make the most plays in the passing game will win because both teams will have trouble moving the ball on the ground.

6. Seattle at Chicago: Who cares.

7. Green Bay at Atlanta: Should be another classic ...if you like offense. Aaron Rodgers can beat up Atlanta's secondary, and the Falcons' balance with running back Michael Turner and Matt Ryan throwing to Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez can produce points pretty quickly, too. The winner of this game will go the Super Bowl.

No reason to be scared of Sanchez

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Wild-Card Weekend is officially in the books, and now it's on to the Divisional round.

For the Patriots, they now must content with the ever-dangerous (joking) New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Throughout the year, Sanchez has been asked to not make mistakes while the running game and the defense are expected to carry the load and win games.

But with New England up next, you can bet coach Bill Belichick is going to make the Jets young quarterback beat his well-rested defense, which welcomes back rookie inside linebacker Brandon Spikes.

A quick question for Patriots Nation: Are you guys really afraid of the Jets? Better yet, Sanchez?

I think taking the cautiously optimistic approach to beating the Jets is fine, but of all the quarterbacks still left in the playoffs, the Pats drew perhaps the easiest guy to face (I'd even take Jay Cutler and Matt Hasselbeck over Sanchez) and the least likely to carve up a secondary.

So advantage Patriots.

I'm going to say this all week, too: The Jets need to play a perfect game to beat the Pats, while the Pats will have to play a less-than-a-C-game to lose to loudmouth Jets coach Rex Ryan, who obviously wishes he had Tom Brady on his team.

Can the Jets keep up with the Pats and go point-for-point with them? No way, especially not with that offense -- led by pee-shooter-for-an-arm Sanchez running the Jets offense.

The Pats will make Sanchez throw, stacking the line of scrimmage in order to stop LT and Shonn Greene in the backfield. It's the right way to play them, too. Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes must deliver down the field, but plan on one of those two guys being taken away on every play by outstanding play from rookie Pro Bowl cornerback Devin McCourty.

I know the Pats and Jets split during the regular season, but expect the Pats to confuse Sanchez and prove to everyone the former USC product will never be a top-of-the-line starter in this league.

Pats avoid Ravens; Jets should be taken seriously, however

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Oh, yeah, bring on the Jets.

Good old loudmouth and foot-lover Jets coach Rex Ryan and his cocky crew are coming to Foxboro next Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Bring it on.

How lucky do Patriots fans feel now that they don't have to see the rough-and-tough Ravens (who play the Chiefs today and would have drawn the Pats if they won and the Colts won last night)?

We all know the Ravens are a threat because of how physical they are and how they pound the football with Ray Rice, but now it's the rubber match vs. the Jets, a team that doesn't have the offensive weapons to go toe-to-toe with the Pats.

But the Jets should be taken seriously, however. They popped the Colts with a ground-and-pound approach -- something the Pats have had trouble with at times (remember the Browns game this year?).

But the Jets need to play a perfect game to beat the Pats, and the Pats have to play real poorly (both on offense and defense) to get upset.

And do we honestly think the Pats will sputter coming off the bye and with Tom Brady at quarterback?

Not a chance.

Bet Brady wants to get the last laugh against Rex (remember all the digs he's been throwing Brady's way while hyping up Peyton Manning?).

It should be a dandy -- either a low-scoring nail-biter or a blowout. No style point needed, however, a win is a win in the playoffs.

So many great story lines this week.

Check back throughout the week to get some quick-hitting insight on the game and certain matchups at Fan Fanatic Sports.

FFS Fantasy Playoff Challenge: Saturday games update

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Chad vs Jim: NFL Wild Card Weekend & Super Bowl Picks

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, now that I've successfully beaten Chad in the regular season, we get down to the truly important time of the year. Yes, I mean the NFL Playoffs. I finished the regular season with a record of 145-77, a .653 winning percentage. Chad finished with a record of 131-91, a .590 winning percentage. Both records are very, very strong nationally. The playoffs are an entirely different beast. This weekend there are only 4 games, and Chad and I differ on two of them. Please see below for our picks, and then read on to see our Superbowl picks.

Now, onto our Superbowl picks. Both Chad and I pick the The Atlanta Falcons to play the New England Patriots. Chad says the Patriots will win the game 31-20 and Tom Brady will be the MVP. I also pick the Patriots to beat the Falcons, but by a score of 34-30 in a close fought game. I also pick Tom Brady as my MVP.

Well, make sure to check back next week for the Divisional round picks.

Hope you enjoy

Week 17 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome to the regular season finale that is Week 17. Chad and I differ on only 4 games, so it's a lock that I won the season face off. I'll be the first to say that Chad knows far more about football than I do, so I am very surprised and humbled that I have bested him. I take a record of 134-72 and a 14 game lead into week 17 against Chad's record of 120-86. Fan Fanatic Sports will be running a Fantasy Football Playoff Challenge, so please email jingram221@hotmail.com if you'd like to join and get more information. Please stay tuned during the playoffs as Chad and I will be making our predictions and weekly picks as well. So long and thanks for a great season!

Chad vs Jim: Week 16

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, we now have just two weeks left in the season. Fortunately for Chad, he picked up his first weekly win of the year last week. Entering week 16, Chad is now 112-78 and I have a record of 125-65 with a 13 game lead. Regardless of the standings between the two of us, we are still much better than the ESPN "experts" in picking games. Don't believe me? Go check their records on the World Wide Leader's site. Now onto this week. Chad and I have 5 games that are different, and the interesting thing is that all 5 games have playoff implications.