...a typical start to the offseason, right?

We all knew this was coming.  Well...maybe not this.  But there was eventually going to be a year where Rex Ryan's team couldn't back up all the talk and everyone would be red in the face.  Sitting at 8-5 with the playoffs on the horizon, most thought that it wouldn't be this year.  The Jets finished at a collapse-worthy 8-8 and embarrassed themselves right out of the 2011 campaign.  It didn't help matters that one of the losses in the collapse was to the big brother Giants, who made mincemeat out of Gang Green on their way to re-establishing dominance over the city.  

And that's where we will transition.  Sure, there are plenty of grievances to address regrading the Jets.  But to do so before certain events are put into action (coaching moves, inevitable player arrests, etc.) would be pure speculation.  This time of the year, it's about the teams actually on the field.  This weekend features four matchups that may not floor anybody, but all seem to be relatively even.  The game of the week may very well be the Giants/Falcons game on Sunday afternoon.  But as we've seen before (Saints-Seahawks last year, anyone?) this weekend can be partiularly....wild...at times.  Lets dive right into the fun.

The Line: Texans by 3

Former Jets Involved: Mike Nugent (Cin) and Matt Turk (Hou) Advantage: Texans

The Bengals can win because Houston is one of the most decimated playoff teams I have ever seen.  First-string quarterback gone.  Second-string quarterback gone.  Franchise defensive player gone.  Franchise wide receiver hobbled the majority of the season.  But the Texans just kept clicking.  Sure they caught a break that Indy took the year off.  But if anybody deserves a break, isn't it the team that's been playing the past decade against Peyton Manning?  But back to the Bengals.  Most people thought the defense would be sufficient, but they still blew away everyone's expectations.  They're in the top 10 in both pass and rush yards allowed.  The offense was supposed to be the downfall of the team, but they held up their end too.  A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson are two studs at wideout, and Red Rocket Andy Dalton had a sensational rookie year.  Though the two best players in the game (Arian Foster and healthy Andre Johnson) both play for Houston, there can certainly be a case that Cincinnati is a more complete team than the battered Texan squad.

Running the ball and playing defense.  It's the only thing that's kept them alive through their string of injuries.  Arian Foster is a mad man when he has the ball, and Ben Tate is just as good from the bench.  Wade Phillips transformed the defense into one of the NFL's best, and they can certainly hold their own against the Bengal attack.  Unfortunately, Houston's shortcoming is at the most important position.  T.J. Yates is up and down to say the least.  And if he were on the road this weekend, the chances of Houston winning would be far less.  But as long as the Texans defense prevents any huge plays early on, the ball should go to Foster and Tate all day.  And that's exactly what has worked all season long.

I'm taking Houston.  Sure, I have a soft spot in my heart for the little guys.  I'm sure it's been a long few years for them, just knowing every season that the division is pretty much out of the question (Jets fans know a little something about that.)  This is the first ever playoff game for the franchise, so the fans will be pretty amped up.  But take a look at Cincy's schedule and who they beat this year.  Let's just say that if they were to win this game, then Houston would be the best team they've beat all year by a landslide.  Both these teams were good stories in 2011, and I think the carpet ride continues for the battered bunch.

The Line: Saints by 10.5

Former Jets Involved: Jonathan Vilma (NO) Huge Advantage: Saints

This game isn't rocket science.  Detroit is woefully incapable of running the ball.  They know they must throw it, and their opponents know they must throw it.  So...how do they still do it so damn well?  The Lions pile up points by the boatload, scoring at least 28 in each of their last four games.  Stafford to Megatron may be the best hookup in the league, and the supplementary receivers are also quite talented.  The Lions know they're going to score on the Saints.  They key is providing any kind of hinderance to New Orleans' offense.  Drew Brees broke all kinds of records, and he has 4-5 legitimate gamebreaking options to choose from.  It's impossible to cover them all, meaning the maniacal Detroit defensive line will need to have the game of their lives.  These two did play about a month ago, and the Saints cruised to a 31-17 victory.  Detroit must try to address what went wrong on defense (and relatively speaking, offense.)  Detroit has waited a very long time for this playoff game.  They are youthful, hungry, and won't be intimidated by the hostile crowd.  If the Saints want a shootout, they will get a shootout.

They're at home, and they have Drew Brees.  Right off the bat, that combination has produced historical results this season.  Sure, the Saints defense is decent and yadda yadda, but that's not the hook in this game.  The New Orleans offense hasn't been stopped in their dome this season.  It hasn't even been slowed down. Whether it's Colston, Graham, Sproles, Meachem, Henderson, Moore...it's just crazy.  The Saints are favored by 11.5 points.  It's an enormous spread.  And I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing...but last year's loss to Seattle must be mentioned at some point in this post.  Yes, it was on the road in a hostile place.  But games like that make you look at 10.5 point spreads and think just how enormous that margin is.  As was said before, this game already happened this season.  And 31 points was actually pedestrian for the Saints this season.  What happens if they play to their full potential?  May get ugly.

The Pick: I'm upset with this pick because it's cowardly.  I expect the Saints to win.  A detroit victory would actually be on par with Seattle's last season- the Saints have just been that perfect at home.  But 10.5 points bothers me to the upteenth degree.  I can see a sound victory to the tune of 35-27 or 30-20.  But deep down I think the Lions are coming to play Saturday night.  It's just been too much work over this season and over the last decade.  This game is the culmination of the 0-16 season.  Of the Charles Rogers pick.  Of Dan Orlovsky running out of his own endzone.  Of all the Thanksgiving embarrassments.  This one's for KISS, Kid Rock, and Tim Allen all put together.  Ah screw it, I'm all-in.

Thanks for reading, everyone!  Check back tomorrow for Sunday's preview.