The Improp does Wildcard Weekend

Finally! The NFL Playoffs are here! And to celebrate such a momentous occasion the staff of the Improper Sportsonian will be giving our picks and holding a competition to see who has the superior football knowledge. This is something we wanted to do for the regular season, but we could never find the time to do so. We encourage you, the reader, to follow along and serve up your picks as well! So read and write away bitches.


The first match-up features the 9-7 Jets visiting the 10-6 AFC North champion Bengals. The Jets scratched and crawled their way into the playoffs after demolishing an uninterested Bengals team 37-0. The Jets have been hanging on the strength of their defense and running game, two staples in a championship team. Jets coach Rex Ryan, just weeks after saying his team didn't deserve to be in the playoffs, says his team is the team to beat in the playoffs. Hardly. I think he just wrote a check that his team won't be able to get cashed. Expect the Bengals to come out ready to play in front of their home crowd and prove to the country that last week's thrashing was a fluke. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez will have a tough time adjusting to the playoff atmosphere and will struggle throwing at least two picks. The Bengals hold off the Jets, 24-10.

THE WRITER X'S PICK: Jets over Bengals, 20-10. Jets defense comes up big, and the running game does enough to generate offense. Sanchez doesn't mess this one up.

THE EMPIRE'S PICK: Jets over Bengals, 23-17. The Jets D is too good right now. They are running the ball fantastic behind that O-line and eating up clock more than Snooki from Jersey Shore eats cake. I think Sanchez breaks out a little bit, no more excuses your rookie season is over, this is the post season now. He needs to step up. OchoCinco has a touchdown but is limited other than that on touches and Revis shuts him down again. Imagine if they still had Leon?


Saturday's other match-up features another Week 17 rematch. The 11-5 Eagles go to Big D to face the NFC East champion Cowboys. The 'boys have been rolling in December, a surprise to many--including Tony Romo. With a healthy running game and a swarming defense they will be able to overcome a big play or two from DeSean Jackson. The Eagles will struggle to move the ball consistently without a good ground game. No Jessica= no problem for Romo, who wins his first ever playoff game. Cowboys clip the Eagles, 28-14.

THE WRITER X'S PICK: Cowboys over the Eagles 34-27. Offensive shootout...Cowboys come out on top because Tony Romo finally has a great postseason game. Barber, Jones, and Choice wear down the philly defense to run the clock out in the end.

THE EMPIRE'S PICK: Eagles over Cowboys - 31-24. It's incredibly hard for a team to beat another team 3 times in a season. Especially a good division rival. Last time Dallas was presented with this situation was the '07 playoffs when they met the Giants for the third time in the season after beating them in the 2 regular season games. We all know that outcome. Philly figures out the Dallas D and makes the adjustments to get some offense going. Tony Romo finds some way to blow the game late and Wade Phillips is out of a head coaching job and keeps his and the Cowboys postseason losing streaks alive.



The first game of Sunday has the 9-7 Baltimore Ravens at the AFC East champion Patriots. In a rematch from their Week 4 match-up, in which the Patriots won 27-21, the Pats look to be vulnerable without star wideout Wes Welker. The loss of Welker will hurt, but look for Welker-clone, Julian Edelman to step up. The Ravens haven't played well against top QBs this year, and Tom Brady certainly is a top QB. He finds a way to grind out the game, and the defense does enough to shut down either Ray Rice or Joe Flacco, but not both. Patriots win at home--business as usual. Patriots over Ravens, 21-17.

THE WRITER X'S PICK: Patriots over Ravens, 24-20. Close game, but the Pats win on a game winning drive led by Tom Brady...Julian Edelman scores the touchdown.

THE EMPIRE'S PICK: Patriots over Ravens 27-17. It pains me to say it, but I think New England will find a way to win this first game. The loss of Welker hurts but they have other weapons, remember that guy Moss? Yeah, He's not too bad. On top of that, Belichick is one of-- if not the best-- for preparing for a single game. Ravens won't be able to get into any rhythm and Brady will rally his troops into the next round.

The final game on Wildcard Weekend is yet another Week 17 match up, with the 11-5 Green Bay Packers visiting the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals. Expect this game to be heavy on the offense, light on the defense. But I do like the Packer defense to make the necessary stops to win the game. Charles Woodson at 75% is still better than three-quarters of the league, and Clay Matthews has had a terrific rookie campaign. That Arizona defense will put a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Kurt Warner, pressure that I don't think he can handle. Packers win on the road, 34-24.

THE WRITER X'S PICK: Packers over Cardinals, 27-24. Green Bay stays hot. Aaron Rodgers excels in his first playoff game, and Arizona struggles without Boldin due to Green Bay's steller defense.

THE EMPIRE'S PICK: Packers over Cardinals 28-24. Cardinals had their run last year and they aren't going to repeat it. Green Bay is playing great football right now on both sides of the ball and Aaron Rodgers is coming into his element as a big name QB. I know it's the same thing everyone said last year, but Arizona plays in the weakest division in football, my HS football team could make a run at winning the NFC West.

And here are the Improp's Super Bowl match-ups.
Wesley: San Diego over Green Bay
THE WRITER X: New York over New Orleans
THE EMPIRE: San Diego over New Orleans