So, what does a bye week and the #1 overall seed in your conference get you? Not much, apparently.
Divisional Playoff Predictions:
AFC #6 New York Jets at AFC #1 New England Patriots (Actual ~ New York, 28-21)
Creative Misfortune's Pick: New England, 27-21. The Patriots are the best team in the league right now and they will rise to the occasion against their "hated" division rival.
Scottie V's Pick: New England, 24-20. Sanchez is still not quite ready for Primetime.
Vegas Lines Pick: New England, 28-17. New England by 8.5, Over/Under 44.5.
Accuscore Pick: New England, 28-9. New England 78% win confidence
What If Sports Pick: New York, 21-20. New York won 3 of 5 simulations.
Best Record Wins Pick: New England, 20-17. New England better at 14-2.
Home Team Wins Pick: New England, 20-17
The talkative Jets, the guys who never want to shut up, finally put their money where their mouths are and knocked the New England Patriots out of the playoffs. New York exploited New England's young defense and miscues on special teams to seize the day and advance to the AFC Championship game for the second straight year. The Patriots played downright flawed and mortal. Special teams failed to execute a fake punt in the first half that ended up being worth seven points to the Jets. The Patriots' offensive line, normally stellar, let Brady get hit and pressured repeatedly. New England missed out on their best chance to win the Super Bowl since going undefeated in the regular season a few season ago.
AFC #5 Baltimore Ravens at AFC #2 Pittsburgh Steelers (Actual ~ Pittsburgh, 31-24)
Creative Misfortune's Pick: Pittsburgh, 19-17. It will be a tough, hard-fought game, but Pittsburgh's extra week of rest will prove the difference late in the fourth quarter.
Scottie V's Pick: Pittsburgh, 27-17. The Steel City lives for games like this... Ben makes the plays when it counts.
Vegas Lines Pick: Pittsburgh, 21-17. Pittsburgh by 3, Over/Under 37.
Accuscore Pick: Pittsburgh, 23-14. Pittsburgh 62% win confidence
What If Sports Pick: Baltimore, 14-10. Baltimore won 3 of 5 simulations.
Best Record Wins Pick: Baltimore, 20-17. Baltimore better at 13-4.
Home Team Wins Pick: Pittsburgh, 20-17
The best black-and-blue battle in the league lived up to the hype as the Steelers and Ravens pounded each other for four solid quarters. Despite being completely outclassed and dominated in the first half, the Steelers rebounded in the third quarter and overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat Baltimore for a second time this season. Pittsburgh, undefeated in the playoffs against division opponents, now gets to host the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game after the Jets upset the #1 seeded New England Patriots on Sunday. This will be Pittsburgh's fifth AFC Championship game in the last decade.
NFC #6 Green Bay Packers at NFC #1 Atlanta Falcons (Actual ~ Green Bay, 48-21)
Creative Misfortune's Pick: Atlanta, 24-21. Mattie Ice vs Aaron Rodgers. The two rising superstars battle to a draw, but Atlanta's rushing attack will put the Falcons over the top.
Scottie V's Pick: Green Bay, 24-23. Aaron Rodgers outduels Matt Ryan thanks to his feisty defense.
Vegas Lines Pick: Atlanta, 24-21. Atlanta by 2.5, Over/Under 44.
Accuscore Pick: Green Bay, 17-14. Green Bay 52% win confidence
What If Sports Pick: Green Bay, 27-13. Green Bay won all 5 simulations.
Best Record Wins Pick: Atlanta, 20-17. Atlanta better at 13-3.
Home Team Wins Pick: Atlanta, 20-17
Once again the team nobody wanted in the playoffs proved why nobody wanted them in the playoffs. Atlanta hardly looked like a team that had won 13 games during the regular season as the Packers dominated the Falcons in all aspects of the game. Aaron Rodgers played absolutely lights out, missed on only five passes, and finished the game with 366 yards and three touchdowns. The 48 points by the Packers set a postseason record for the storied franchise. Now the Packers take their show to Chicago, where the longest-running rivalry in NFL history will add one more championship chapter.
NFC #4 Seattle Seahawks at NFC #2 Chicago Bears (Actual ~ Chicago, 35-24)
Creative Misfortune's Pick: Chicago, 24-14. The Seahawks are absolutely terrible on the road... Although they have won in Chicago... Hmmm.
Scottie V's Pick: Chicago, 23-17. The Seahawks put up a fight, but can't get it done down the stretch.
Vegas Lines Pick: Chicago, 27-16. Chicago by 10, Over/Under 41.5.
Accuscore Pick: Chicago, 28-7. Chicago 79% win confidence
What If Sports Pick: Chicago, 27-14. Chicago won all 5 simulations.
Best Record Wins Pick: Chicago, 20-17. Chicago better at 11-5.
Home Team Wins Pick: Chicago, 20-17
Seattle's magical attempt to host the NFC Championship game with a .500 record came crashing to an end in Chicago as the Bears jumped out to an early 21-0 lead and coasted to an easy 35-24 victory. Jay Cutler accounted for all five of Chicago's touchdowns, getting three through the air and running in another two. The Bears defense shut down the Seahawks for three quarters before lapsing into a prevent scheme that allowed Seattle to make the game look interesting on paper. Chicago now gets to host the NFC Championship following Green Bay's upset of Atlanta. The last team Chicago wanted to see in the playoffs was Green Bay. Now the road to the Super Bowl has become an NFC North affair.
Divisional Playoff Final Prediction Scoreboard...
Scottie V's: 3-1 (season overall: 167-97)
Accuscore: 3-1 (season overall: 168-96)
What If Sports: 3-1 (season overall: 141-123) *1 Perfect Pick
Creative Misfortune: 2-2 (season overall: 155-109) *1 Perfect Pick
Vegas Picks: 2-2 (season overall: 171-93) *2 Perfect Picks
Home Team Wins Pick: 2-2 (season overall: 146-118) *3 Perfect Picks
Best Record Wins Pick: 1-3 (season overall: 153-111) *3 Perfect Picks
Check back on Wednesday for Creative Misfortune's Playoff Power Rankings. Only four Creative Elite teams remain.
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