NFL Pro Football 2007 Divisional Playoff Picks

NFL Pro Football 2007 Divisional Playoff Picks - Sunday games

Sports Handicappers Lounge
Check out the web's best sports handicapping forum - get free service plays from Capper's Lounge.
www.capperslounge.com

Get Winning Football Picks!
Get NFL picks and College Football predictions against the spread from the National Sports Advisors
www.nsawins.com

Football Picks
Free NFL and NCAA College Football Picks with expert handicapping and analysis weekly.
www.ScottsPicks.com

Fearless Rick's NFL Divisional Playoffs

Rick Gagliano | Jan. 10

All times Eastern - Click here for Saturday games.

Divisional Playoffs

Sunday, January 13

1:00 pm San Diego at Indianapolis (-8 1/2, 45 1/2) - No team had a more turbulent season than the Chargers, opening with a 1-3 record but finishing in style with six straight wins to go 11-5 and capturing the depleted AFC West. The Colts were simply the second-best team in the AFC, going 13-3, with the losses coming by 4, 2 and 6 points.

That 2-point loss came at the hands of these same Chargers, back on November 11, in San Diego. It was easily Peyton Manning's worst game of the season, maybe of his entire career, as he tossed six interceptions. Still, the Colts nearly won that game, and should have, but Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field goal as time wound down in the 4th quarter. The Chargers held on for the 23-21 win.

It would be difficult to expect Manning to have another bad game against the Chargers, though San Diego has had the Colts' number over the past couple of years. In 2005, the Chargers stopped Indy's attempt at a perfect season in their 14th game.

The intrigue will be supplied by Manning and the Charger defense, which may have turned in its best performance of the season in last week's 17-6, first-round win over Tennessee. The defense limited the Titans to a pair of first-half field goals, 248 total yards, sacked quarterback Vince Young three times and forced a fumble and an interception. They were the dominant group on a day when the offense stumbled through much of the afternoon and they are poised for another stellar effort at Indianapolis.

Injuries may also play a key role here. San Diego's All-Pro tight end, Antonio Gates, is unlikely to play due to a dislocated big toe on his left foot suffered against the Titans. Returning to duty for the Chargers, however, is fullback Lorenzo Neal, who has been out since December 9. With him in the backfield, expect the Chargers to dish out steady doses of LaDainian Tomlinson. Also, the late season addition of Chris Chambers will ease the loss of Gates. Chambers is a large, gifted receiver, and he will be an important part of the offense.

For the Colts, wide receiver Marvin Harrison is still questionable to start on Sunday. He's been out since week 4 - with the exception of 3 catches in week 7 - with a knee injury. If he does go for Indy, it's doubtful he'll be fully effective, though Manning still has Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Devin Aromashodu and rookie Anthony Gonzalez in the rotation.

As good as San Diego's defense may play, the Colts might be even better. They're fast, physical and fearless, despite the absence of Dwight Freeny on the D-line. Indy finished third in the league in yards allowed at 279.7 per game. The Chargers were better in forcing turnovers, 46-41 and sacks, 42-28.

The Colts are no lock to win this, though home field and Manning's leadership should carry the day. The Chargers will not likely go easily and should keep it close until the very end.

Prediction: Colts 33 Chargers 27

--- Story continues below ---

4:30 pm NY Giants at Dallas (-7 1/2, 47) - The Giants were beaten twice this season by Dallas - 35-25 in the season opener in Dallas, and 31-20 on November 11 in New York. In those two games combined Giants' QB Eli Manning was 51-75 for 548 yards, 5 TDs and 3 INTs, though four TD passes and only one INT came in the first game.

Manning's numbers were generally good, but he seems to finally have come into his own over the past to weeks. He was 22-32 for 251 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT in a 34-31 loss to New England and last week engineered four scoring drives for the Giants in a 20-27, 185 yard performance with 2 TD passes and no interceptions, beating Tampa Bay, 24-14.

The Giants' defense also looked rock-solid, though that isn't saying much against the scoring-challenged Buccaneers. Having played Dallas twice already should help New York.

On the Dallas side of the ball, things are getting interesting. Star wideout Terrell Owens still hasn't practiced as of Wednesday, but the Giants are preparing for TO to be at or near full strength and speed. He's still listed as OUT, but coach Wade Phillips is calling his playmaker a "game-time decision."

Quarterback Tony Romo seems to have suffered considerably since the "Jessica Simpson incident" on December 16. Romo had his worst game of the season with his purported girlfriend in the stands, though most of his problems were likely more attributable to a sore thumb on his throwing hand. Romo was 13 of 36 for 214 yards and 3 INTs in that game, though he rebounded with a 28-42, 257-yard effort the following week at Carolina. In the regular season finale, Romo only played a couple of series and seemed fine. Whatever went wrong with his thumb appears to have been fixed since, but the concerns over Owens remain.

Terry Glenn will start if Owens is unable to go, but he's nowhere the receiver TO is, and Dallas will be hampered without the big receiver.

The defenses are nearly even, though the Giants have a better pass rush, leading the league with 53 sacks this season.

Considering the injuries and the Giants' overall level of play, New York should finish this game closer than the 10 and 11-point losses suffered earlier in the year and appear poised to pull off the upset.

Prediction: Giants 24 Cowboys 21

All times Eastern - Click here for Saturday games

Copyright 2007, 2008, Rick Gagliano, Downtown Magazine. All rights reserved. Downtown Magazine is located in the Uinted States of America and is not affiliated with the National Football League or the NCAA. For more information, contact us here. Use of this site is for entertainment purposes only.