WILDCARD PLAYOFFS

Neither team plays the run particularly well, but Green Bay, with a top ten running game, appears more likely to exploit that weakness. In the air, the Skins are the passing team this year but they may see some resistance from a good Packer pass D. Rodgers should have more luck against a weak secondary, although he figures to face some pressure. It could rain, which is not too big of a concern, but a little wind may affect the passing game.

Packers PICK Packers 25 Redskins 23 Computer Generated BEST BET HIT: Pack 35 Skins 18

Vikings +4 1/2 Vikings 21 Seahawks 21 Computer Generated BEST BET HIT: Hawks 10 Vikes 9

First, the good news: The Vikings are the best team against the spread this season. Now the bad news: That's about the only positive indicator we've seen about this pick. Seattle rates as the 2nd best team in our objective Power Ratings while Minnesota ranks 12th. Even the GRIDLINE forecast admits the Hawks are going to swamp them yardage-wise. The projected tied final score is hard to explain. It IS consistent with the Vikes defensive numbers in that they give up fewer points than their opponents yardage indicates. Still, we can easily envision the Seahawks walking up and down the field and scoring at will, even in 0 degree temperatures. We're just going with the system because it's all we can do in the midst of a nasty losing streak.

This one looks like it could turn into a passing festival. The forecast says the Bengals could hold their own but when we look at the numbers they don't support it. We like McCarron but almost anybody is destined to lose out in a passing battle against the hard-throwing, time-buying R'Berger. We don't want to go against the system so we'll tease up the point spread and tease down the Total and try to hit both plays (actual odds: 2 1/2, 45 1/2). It's going to be a steady rain in the second half. Certainly not a deluge that will ground the offenses, but it may convince the coach of the leading team to play it close to the vest. Tonite's game is going to be hard to get in. We'll need a flash TD on Cincy's part to bring it home, or it'll have to be one of those uncappable games where something quirky happens to render all analysis futile. Actually, that seems to happen a full third of the time. Sacrificing this one to the football God's.

TEASER: Bengals +8 1/2& Bengals/Steelers OVER 39 1/2 Bengals 24 Steelers 23 Computer Generated BEST BET MISS: Pitt 18 Cincy 16

The Chiefs beat the Texans soundly in the season opener in Houston. Usually, it means a lot to us when a team wins while visiting, but the Texans gave up two early TDs on turnovers that didn't have to happen. That Houston team did not know how they played, yet. They were discombobulated. The Texan team at the end of the year was more, er, combobulated. The last few games of the year they played lights out defense - the best in the league. Ordinarily, they have a decent run D. As usual, we expect decent run D's to play good at home, so the late season numbers might be more applicable here. They'll need a good run defense to stay with K.C. because the Chiefs are one of the best rushing teams in the league. It's how they win games. Stop the run, stop the Chiefs. Offensively, the Texans run a lot of close line plays and they attack the center of the defense. It doesn't always work, but we're hoping it will work enough to win a close game or stay within the spread. This should be a brutal game. Officials are known to allow some contact during the playoffs, which should be fine with both teams. Our major concern is playoff experience; K.C.'s got it, Houston is too far removed from it. We'll make a low-confidence play on what should be a great game where field position comes into play. When's the last time you heard that?

Texans +3 Texans 22 Chiefs 20 Computer Generated BEST BET MISS:Chiefs 30 Texans 0

Good Luck Everyone!

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