Thanks for your thoughts. You make a compelling argument for NYG. I still can't change my pick to NYG because they have a history of laying a big egg when expected to win.

In considering your points, I'll start with Atl with the consecutive short week. They played on Sunday, they will play on this coming Sunday again, I fail to see what you mean by the short week. Also, they had a laugher-butt-kicking of a game vs TB, those are not the ones which take a huge toll on the team from a physical or emotional point of view. They jumped out on top early, and I hope you realize that when they were  42-0 in the FIRST HALF when they already pulled Ryan and Turner, taking full advantage of the opportunity to sensibly rest starters. It's the hard-fought struggles which tend to take their toll. In contrast, the Giants had to play a Sun NIGHT game, and against a division foe which are usually brutal games which take a physical and emotional toll on the team. I know NYG won by a comfortable margin, but I didn't see them pulling starters late in the game, and they played a hard-fought, play-off atmosphere type game all the way to the end. So, Atl played one half of a Sun aft game, NYG played a full SN game...my question to you is...who is on the "short week"? There goes that argument out the window.

In considering your argument about Atl's games... the Hou loss was on the road at arguably one of the top defenses in the NFL at the time. That a third-stringer was the Hou QB is not very relevant IMO. Hou's offense only scored 17, that's not a bad job by Atl's defense. Yeah, they beat Car on the road which is not that impressive, unless you take into account it was a divisional game, and those are always tough games. They stomped on Jack 41-14, and that's exactly what a good team should do. The loss @ NO is understandable, no one has beaten NO at the Superdome. NYG lost @ NO 49-24, Atl @ NO lost 45-16. One team lost by 29, the other by 25...pretty equal. As mentioned earlier regarding their last "unimpressive" win, Atl was up 42-0, starters got pulled already late in the 1st half, and TB "only" lost by 45-24 in the end.

NYG's games you mention, loss to GB...a home game and at the time a "must-win" type of game considering their losing streak at the time...it was a valiant effort,but they still found a way to lose letting GB march down the field in 5 plays and how many seconds (?!) to kick the winning FG, which is not too impressive regarding NYG's defense. A case of good news, bad news. As far as beating Dal twice (Dal lost 4 of their last 5) and Jets (Jets lost their last 3), that is not that impressive considering those 2 teams stunk it up bad late in the season. The loss to SF is excusable. 2 loses to a bad Wa team and that stinker vs Sea @ home is a real head-scratcher....

Anyway, my point is that there is more than one way to look at the argument you present. You may be right that NYG will cover a third game in a row, something they have done once this season...but I remain doubtful regardless. NYG should be the pick considering they are at home, but they have a terrible record winning the games they should this season. Home teams are not that historically impressive in Wild Card round, NYG are definitely the type of team which may well disappoint.

We agree on Cin. I too like the overs in the NO game, but I am not terribly worried about a back door cover. NO at home has been extremely dominant on Prime Time this year and I don't see why I should suddenly think they won't be this one and only time. No has a well balanced offense and play good D at home, Det is a one-dimensional offense and a not-so-good D.

I also agree with you that Pit is not a "great" pick regarding their injury situation. However, I can't support a team with a terrible QB and facing a still dominant Pit defense. Believe it or not, I think Pit's D can win this game on their own. I wouldn't be surprised to see multiple turnovers, and Pit defensive scoring. I have a really tough time envisioning where Den's points are going to come from.

Anyway, I enjoyed thinking over your points, and I wish you the BOL this weekend!

"Atl played one half of a Sun aft game, NYG played a full SN game...my question to you is...who is on the "short week"? There goes that argument out the window."

<<< I goofed on the ATL playing on a short week.  I though they were playing on Saturday, 1/7 >>>  Your analyis of NYG and ATL games are equally valid.  Here is how I see the individual match up's.  Eli over Matt---a super bowl winning QB vs one without a playoff win.  A slight edge to Gmen's running game over ATL.  Bradshaw and Turner are both good but Jacob (when running hard) is a load and an advantage in the fourth qtr.  WR's/TE are about equal; ATL has a slight edge at TE, where as, Giants have three good wideouts vs two from ATL.  Yet, ATL will have to max protect on passing down as NYG have arguably one of the better defensive line in the NFL thus requiring Turner and Gonzalez to chip in on blocks.  Turner's style of running (power back), IMO, plays into Gmen's strength.  I also see an advantage in LB's and DB's for the NYG, especially, with Grimes and Spoon being limited in ATL's secondary.  Special Teams for either team, IMO, are nothing special.

The aformentioned are just my thoguhts and observations by watching the two teams and not derived from box scores so I could be totaly off-base when comparing actual stats.  I do like the fact that, while pondering on other's views, you stick to your guns when wagering. 

BOL