It pains me to say it, but I think Atlanta can beat GB. Of course Rogers is a wildcard. The way he’s been playing is mind boggling.
And, I think the NE/Pitt game will be far more exciting than the pundits are willing to admit. The Steelers running game is back, and NE’s defense is overrated. They never spent any time on the field this year...and came from a very weak division.
I expect GB and Pitt both to play a west coast style of ball control game with an occasional long play. Most passes will be across the middle to the TE and Backs. And I expect this to frustrate both NE and the Falcons. Certainly Rogers will use the big, aggressive defense of Atlanta against them.
That frustration will show in bad offensive judgement making BOTH games close nail-biters.
So you’re picking Atlanta and Pittsburgh?
I don’t see how Pittsburgh’s so-so defense can stop the Brady Bunch. Wherever the score is in the forth quarter, I see the Brady Bunch scoring and winning like they always do. I don’t think Pittsburgh will be able to score enough to beat that, barring an injury to Brady. And I think Pittsburgh will turn it over more than NE.
Let’s face it, the Pats have been in a weak division for years and had a pretty soft schedule. I’m not saying they’re not good - they are phenomenal and Brady is just an amazing QB. But they have benefited from playing the Jets, Bills and Dolphins twice every year. At around week ten I did the math. And up to that point they had only played two teams with marginally winning records. I do think they will beat the Steelers, though, and probably the SB. AR and TB matchup would be epic.