NFL Playoff Preview: Man vs. Machine

With the weekend slate of NFL wild care games ahead of us, I decided to see who is better at predicting these games Me (and my opinions) or Machine (whatifsports.com) simulation.

AFC:

Colts vs. Chiefs

For the Colts, its sort of hard to tell which team is going to show up, the good Colts that can go head to head with the elite teams in the league or the one that loses head scratching games to non-playoff teams. I think Andrew Luck may be in store for his first playoff win. Initially, I thought that the Chiefs were in line for the win but I think the players may be a bit rusty and having all the starters being rested may come back to haunt them.

My Pick: Chiefs
What If Pick: Chiefs 13 Colts 10 (OT)

Bengals vs. Chargers

The Bengals have become playoff regulars but i'm not sure I trust the combination of Andy Dalton & Marvin Lewis in a playoff game. The Chargers have made some strides in the first year with a head coach NOT named Norv Turner. However, the barely beat the Chiefs B-Squad and even then they needed some missed field goals and bad officiating work to do so.

My Pick: Bengals
What If Pick: Chargers 20 Bengals 10

NFC:

Eagles vs. Saints

The Eagles are one of those teams that went through their struggles but made it into the playoffs and are playing at a high-level at the right time. The Saints seem to need the Superdome to work their magic.

My Pick: Eagles
What If Pick: Eagles 27 Saints 13

Packers vs. 49ers

The Packers (despite shoddy defense and 1/2 a season worth of mediocre to bad qb play) find themselves in the playoffs. With Aaron Rodgers anything is possible. They get a tough match up with their nemesis the 49ers who have beaten them the last three times and seem to dominate them and outsmart Dom Capers like clockwork. As fan as a ride it has been as a Packers fan, bottom line is that the 49ers are the better team.

My Pick: 49ers
What If Pick: 49ers 19 Packers 10

Here's how I think the other rounds would play off as of now:
 
Broncos over Chiefs
Patriots over Bengals

Patriots over Broncos

Seahawks over 49ers
Panthers over Eagles

Seahawks over Panthers

Patriots over Seahawks

Here's how the What If Sports simulations I did played out:

Broncos 31 Chargers 17
Patriots 27 Chiefs 15

Patriots 21 Broncos 16

49ers 17 Seahawks 12
Eagles 24 Panthers 21--Panthers tied this on 6 yd run by Cam Newton with 35 seconds left only for Alex Henery to nail game winning field goal as time expired

49ers 27 Eagles 17

Patriots 13 49ers 10 with the Super Bowl being decided on a 32 yd field goal from Gostowski w/6:30 left