Divisional Round Weekend Preview & BRB Pick 'Em Update

Again, the NFL has messed up the schedule because I don't see a Houston Texans game on the slate this weekend. Maybe one of these Januarys, the NFL will let the Texans play.

Speaking of scheduling gaffes, the NFL is being a bit unfair to Baltimore and Green Bay. Both teams won on Sunday but get the short week for Saturday - as opposed to Seattle and New York, who both won last Saturday. Makes sense, right? Yeah, that's the NFL.

After 18 weeks, you know the order: Jump. NFL Preview. BRB Pick 'Em League Update.

Wild Card #1 Baltimore Ravens @ AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers (Sat 1/15 at 3:30 PM CT)
I really like Baltimore, but an older team on a short week in a physical game? I can't take them. This should be a Pittsburgh win. Steelers win 24-17.

Wild Card #2 Green Bay Packers @ NFC South Champion Atlanta Falcons (Sat 1/5 at 7:30 PM CT)
I've made it no secret that I don't like Atlanta and think they're a bit of a fraud. With James Starks' emergence, I really like Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers should have a huge game against a soft Atlanta secondary - led by Dunta Robinson. Packers win 31-20.

NFC West Champion Seattle Seahawks @ NFC North Champion Chicago Bears (Sun 1/16 at Noon CT)
Last week's Cinderella gets a big prize as they take on, according to the national think, the weakest of the bye teams. One has to like Seattle's chances on defense with Jay Cutler on the other side. Marshawn Lynch proved he could be a factor last week, which is a must in a Chicago winter. Seahawks win 23-20.

Wild Card #2 New York Jets @ AFC East Champion New England Patriots (Sun 1/16 at 3:30 PM CT)
You give the Patriots two weeks to prepare, and I'll take them every time. The league's best offense should nickle-and-dime New York all day long. Patriots win 30-16.

BRB Pick 'Em League Update
The playoffs are a time to make a statement and create a legend. The Wild Card BRB Pick 'Em Winner of the Andre Johnson Award for Ass-Kicking and Excellence, riversmccown, did just that with his 3-1 week.

The only picker to have a record above-.500, riversmccown sent a message to season-long leader SATexan that he was going to make a push for the overall crown. While other players jockey for a top-five and top-ten finish (which most are still eligible for), riversmccown gained ground, as only 19 points and 3 games separate him from catching Cake. Can the SB Nation Houston editor do it? That's playoff drama you just can't make up as riversmccown picked up his second win of the inaugural BRB Pick 'Em season.

Let's all congratulate and raise an ice cold Red Stripe (Hoo-ray Beer!) to the Wild Card BRB Pick 'Em Winner of the Andre Johnson Award for Ass-Kicking and Excellence - riversmccown.

"Should've Put Money On It" Game of the Week: 24 of 32 people pulled for the Ravens over the Chiefs.

"We Know Nothing" Game of the Week: Only Distant_Texan_Fan and WhiskeyR got the Seahawks right.

The Rex Grossman "F**k It, I'm Goin' Deep" Award: WhiskeyR with 16 points on 10.5-point underdog Seattle. Ballsy. Completely ballsy. Most deserved Rexy of the season.

The David Carr Misguided Faith Award: There were some 16s on Indianapolis, but is that really misguided? I guess so, if you consider the Colts have had 7 one-and-dones in 11 appearances in the Peyton Manning Era. No one wins this award this week.

The Charley Casserly Decision Making Award: Three pickers missed every game, but 18 guys missed their picks in general.

BRBer with the best weekly record: riversmccown (Glover Quin Never Allows TD's) 3-1.
BRBer with the most weekly points: riversmccown (Glover Quin Never Allows TD's) 24 points.
Overall best record: SATexan (Cake) 171-89 leads by 3 games over riversmccown (Glover Quin Never Allows TD's).
Overall points leader: SATexan (Cake) 1486 points leads by 19 points over riversmccown (Glover Quin Never Allows TD's).

Top-10 BRB Pick 'Em League (By Points)
1. SATexan (Cake) 1486 points [171-89]
2. riversmccown (Glover Quin Never Allows TD's) -19 points [168-92]
3. Oiler-Texan Diehard (oiler-texan diehard) -68 points [163-97]
4. BigTexBD (BigTexBD) -85 points [162-98]
5. DiehardChris (Ladies Love Leinart) -107 points [161-99]
6. TexansDC (Super Mario's Goomba Stomp) -119 points [149-111]
7. Distant_Texans_Fan (Distant_Texans_Fan) -122 points [158-102]
8. Xmant2000 (Houston Oilers) -124 points [161-99]
9. Do (do) -132 points [160-100]
10. TexanKevin (In Schwab we trust) -132 points [155-105]

Don't forget to submit your picks for Saturday's game and the rest by Sunday, BRB Pickers. Congrats once again to riversmccown! Enjoy this weekend's slate of football!