Gridiron Guide: NFL divisional round picks

SATURDAY

JETS (11-5) at COLTS (10-6)
Line: Colts by 2 1/2
Over/Under: 44 1/2
TV-Radio: Ch. 4, ESPN (1050), 8 p.m.
Look at the numbers Colts QB Peyton Manning has put up against Rex Ryan’s defenses in six career meetings: 5-1 (only loss was last season in Week 16 when Manning was pulled for backup Curtis Painter); 1,513 yards passing, 12 TDs and 2 INTs. Also, Manning threw for 377 yards and three TDs in last year’s AFC Championship Game victory. No wonder Ryan called beating Manning & the Colts in the wild-card game “personal.” I just can’t see the Jets’ defense stopping Manning & Co. The Jets’ ground and pound could use Bill the Jets fan, because LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene aren’t cutting it. Tomlinson hasn’t rushed for more than 60 yards since Week 5, and Greene has only cracked the 70-yard plateau twice all season. And if this game comes down to a FG, I’ll take the ultra-clutch Adam Vinatieri over Nick Folk.
The pick: Colts.

SAINTS (11-5) at SEAHAWKS (7-9)
Line: Saints by 10 1/2
Over/Under: 44
TV-Radio: Ch. 4, WFAN (660), 4:30 p.m.
The tape from last week’s win-and-you’re-in NFC West battle should be destroyed. Seattle, the first NFL team to ever win a division title with a sub-.500 record, needs to make the Super Bowl just to guarantee a winning season! I know Seattle’s 12th Man is loud, but even a 13th and 14th man won’t be enough against Drew Brees and the defending champs, no matter how banged-up they are. Thanks for hosting, Seattle.
The pick: Saints.

SUNDAY

RAVENS (12-4) at CHIEFS (10-6)
Line: Ravens by 3
Over/Under: 40 1/2
TV-Radio: Ch. 2, WFAN (660), 1 p.m.
The more I look at this game, the more I think the Chiefs will have that deer-in-the-headlights look. Baltimore (5-3 ATS on the road) has too much playoff experience for the young, happy-to-be-there Chiefs. Remember what the Ravens did to the Patriots last year?
The pick: Ravens.

PACKERS (10-6) at EAGLES (10-6)
Line: Eagles by 2 1/2
Over/Under: 46 1/2
TV-Radio: Ch. 5, WFAN (660), 4:30 p.m.
A lot has changed for both teams since their Week 1 encounter, a 27-20 Pack win. Aaron Rodgers vs. Michael Vick in the rematch should be a thriller. I know the Eagles are 4-1 in wild-card games under Andy Reid, including 3-0 at home. But I believe the Packers have the kind of athletic defense to trouble Vick and launch them to the Super Bowl. A No. 6 seed from the NFC has never reached the big game.
The pick: Packers.