Divisional Weekend-

Wildcard             1-1

Season                 34-24(59%)

Count me amongst the many voices calling for someone's head over the Redskins handling of RGIII during last Sunday's Wildcard game against the Seahawks. Not because there was the potential for him to seriously hurt himself but because he was awful and ineffective after the opening quarter. How that WASN'T obvious to Shanahan and the 'Skins makes me question their ability to coach more than just how bad he was injured. If back-up Kirk Cousins hadn't been effective coming in against the Ravens and for an entire game at the Browns I would understand their hesitation but since he played very well in those games and would have been handed a 14-point lead had he come in at the start of the second quarter or the second half, they blew it, deserve as much criticism as they've gotten and hopefully lose RGIII for much of next season as some punishment karma. The field was a joke as well but whatever. Hey Dan Snyder, spend some money on field turf already! Yes, I lost the wager as if you couldn't tell. Onto day one of the best weekend of football all year...

Denver -9 vs Baltimore

Not completely sold on this one but I'll go with what I know. Denver hasn't beaten anyone and arguably hasn't even played anyone during their much-ballyhooed 11-game winning streak but they get a Ravens team today at home, in the thin air of Mile High, on a short week so I'll lay the points. Baltimore has been a team on decline for the second half of the season and were lucky to win some of the games they won during the first half of the season.  The offense has been mostly inept and the defense porous. Getting that reformed accomplice to murder, Ray Lewis back for one last hurrah (it's amazing how wearing a suit and tie a lot and talking about your kids makes the world seemingly forget how you could have helped put away your murderer-friend years ago in Atlanta) isn't enough considering he's a part-time player and won't be able to catch his breath by the second quarter. Denver by 17 is my prediction so take the Broncos.

Green Bay +3 at San Francisco

When in doubt, go with what my eyes tell you and my eyes tell me that the 49ers defense isn't as good as it was last year, actually one of the worst in the league over the past few weeks of the season and Colin Kapernick isn't ready for prime-time. In steps Aaron Rodgers and the Packers who with a little luck could have been hosting this game. San Francisco has been on the decline and Green Bay is healthier than they've been all year and playing better now than at any time this year, I'll take the field goal with the road team. The ONLY hesitation I have with this is the fact the wise-guys, who've been all over the Pack since the number came out last Saturday night have bought back in on San Francisco a little beginning earlier today. Not my strongest pick of the year but again, when in doubt, go with what your eyes tell you.

Back tomorrow with my picks for day two of the weekend.

Enjoy the games.

Thanks.

-P