NFL playoff predictions

I'll take the Packers over the Giants and the Patriots over the Chargers. But I'll be rooting for the Chargers.

I wonder if baseball strategy could apply to football strategy, to wit:

Manny Ramirez can hit any pitch, anywhere, any time. So, one way of thinking is just pitching him in a classic style high and tight with the fastball and low and away with the breaking ball. There's no use thinking too much, because no matter what you throw, he can hit it. Just stick with a simple, reliable strategy and hope your talent and skill top his.

This could apply to the Chargers in that they could adopt a classic, almost vanilla game plan and hope their talented players outplay New England's. It seems to me that if the Chargers adopt any sort of extreme strategy, Bill Belichick already knows how to exploit it, so why bother? Take a simple, classic game plan by running early, then going with the play action passes, screens and draws and only throw deep when the opportunity presents itself.

In fact, the deciding factor may just be whether or not the Charger quarterback can make a few key throws. Like facing Manny, there may not be many opportunities, so when they pop up, he'll have to capitalize. My suspicion is there will be a few third down passing plays and a few long pass opportunities that could tip the game. If the Chargers make them, they can hang with the Pats. If they miss too many, they'll get blown out.

I'd hate to bet on the Chargers, but they do have a lot of talent. They went 14-2 last season, and may be looking for revenge against the Pats who knocked them out of the playoffs.

I don't have any particular thoughts about the Packers game. But, if the Packers go to the Super Bowl, I am going to purchase and wear a Brett Favre jersey for the game.