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Experts' Picks

SI.com's writers forecast each first-round game

Posted: Thursday January 5, 2006 4:32PM; Updated: Friday January 6, 2006 3:02PM
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  WAS @ TB JAC @ NE CAR @ NYG PIT @ CIN

Don Banks		 The 'Skins ride their late-season momentum to Joe Gibbs' first playoff win since a 1992 first-round upset at Minnesota.
Washington 27, Tampa Bay 24		 Tom Brady and the Patriots' defensive front seven make just enough plays to keep the more physical Jaguars from sneaking out of Gillette with a win.
New England 20, Jacksonville 13		 The Panthers defense contains Tiki Barber and forces Eli Manning into one too many mistakes through the air.
Carolina 23, NY Giants 17		 The Steelers pound away at the run-pourous Bengals, and Cincinnati's high-powered offense can't overcome a case of the first-time playoff jitters and a slow start.
Pittsburgh 30, Cincinnati 27

Jeffri Chadiha		 The Bucs' defense frustrates Mark Brunell and shuts down Clinton Portis.
Tampa Bay 14, Washington 10		 Tom Brady throws three touchdown passes as Patriots offensive balance flusters Jags' defense.
New England 31, Jacksonville 14		 The Giants' secondary has no answers for Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith.
Carolina 28, NY Giants 21		 The Bengals win another shoot-out on the arm of Carson Palmer.
Cincinnati 35, Pittsburgh 31

Nunyo Demasio		 The NFL's top-ranked defense -- yes the Bucs, not the Bears -- ends Washington's hot streak as Chris Simms and Joey Galloway exploit the Redskins's depleted secondary.
Tampa Bay 17, Washington 13		 The Patriots use the NFL's worst top team as fodder to show that yet another Super Bowl title isn't so far-fetched.
New England 24, Jacksonville 13		 Steve Smith's routine virtuoso performance can't match an offensive explosion from Tiki Barber & Co.
NY Giants 31, Carolina 17		 The Bengals' defense remains shaky, but Carson Palmer earns his mammoth extension, guiding Cincinatti's potent attack to a stirring victory.
Cincinnati 33, Pittsburgh 31

Peter King		 Chris Simms is smart. Gregg Williams is smarter. He throws a few new blitzes at the kid, and the the sixth seed moves on.
Washington 24, Tampa Bay 16 		After the game, Jack Del Rio says to himself: "I should have played Garrard over Leftwich." Pats sack Byron seven times.
New England 30, Jacksonville 13 		Jake Delhomme split his pants last week in Atlanta. This week he might get them ripped off by a ferocious Giant pass-rush.
NY Giants 17, Carolina 13		 Ball-control. That's the key to life against the explosive Bengals. Pittsburgh gives Cincy only seven possessions and runs for 196.
Pittsburgh 27, Cincinnati 25

Michael Silver		 Gregg Williams has a little something for Chris Simms, who can ask Mark Brunell ('99 AFC Championship Game) all about that kind of all-out assault.
Washington 21, Tampa Bay 20		 It's the story of a man named Brady, who was living with three rings of his own ...
New England 20, Jacksonville 0 		Are the Panthers, week-by-week, evolving into the team we thought they could be?
Carolina 34, NY Giants 31
(Overtime)		 Chad Johnson scores the winning touchdown, drops to his knees and spontaneously combusts in the end zone.
Cincinnati 38, Pittsburgh 35

Dr. Z		 As I said before, bet the under. It was a high-scorer last time, but don't be fooled.
Washington 17, Tampa Bay 13		 If the line would have come up three, I would have taken the Jags. The big number convinces me there's superior intelligence at work.
New England 24, Jacksonville 10		 Missed extra points always drive a coach crazy and we'll have a cell waiting for John Fox.
NY Giants 21, Carolina 20		 The Bengals out-quicked them and won in a shootout last time. It won't happen again.
Pittsburgh 27, Cincinnati 24

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