Click images for desktop size: "Chrome" by Christian Donner I didn't post my picks for the Wild Card games out of respect for the passing of USC kicker Mario Danelo.
Its shocking whenever a 21 year old dies, let alone a young man who was looking down the road to a bright and happy future.
I don't know the exact place where Mario fell, but I do know the cliffs around San Pedro. Used to use them for some hang gliding.
As he was raised there I can easily imagine him scampering out there to see the moon on the ocean or maybe catch a sunrise reflecting off the waves and turning them silver.
Its sad.
Pete Carroll (USC head coach) made a statement about how this affected the entire Trojan Family. It may sound like rhetoric to outsiders but when my wife was in hospital every week their were fresh flowers from the Athletic Dept. Coaches and coaches wives came to visit, teammates and present members of the team came by to talk to her, me to be there and make it not seem so all alone.
At her services a teammate and the present member who wore my number acted as pallbearers.

In the midst of loss its easy to forget the depth of feeling that people can stir up inside you. Generally its only years after the general wash of emotions have subsided that you can understand the people reaching out to you and the comfort they offered and received.
The USC Trojans will miss and remember Mario.

This weekends Games look so much better than the Wild Card games, as they should actually.

Seattle at Chicago - Chicago whomped all over the Seahawks in the regular season. The Seahawks have since looked abysmal. I picked the Cowboys to beat them last week. And still flailing and stumbling they arrive in Chicago. The Bears front four is in disarray, with arrests and injuries. The Bear offense continues to be unreliable but potent when it does work. I'd give the points and take the Bears. The Seahawks have nothing to brag about and looked pretty poor against Dallas.

Philadelphia at New Orleans - The top NDC match for sure. The Eagles are playing hot ball, always succeeding when they need to. The Saints are a juggernaught though and the bye week will come in very handy for them. I expect the Saints to win but not easily.

Indianapolis at Baltimore - I picked the Chiefs to beat the Colts last week. Well, I expected the Chiefs' O-Line to at least try and block someone! Payton Manning is a great QB but the Colts continue to find ways to lose in the playoffs. Baltimore and Steve McNair will be ready for him. Remember McNair and Manning were Co-MVP's just a couple of years ago. McNair's been to the SuperBowl and knows how to get back there. Go Ravens.

New England at San Diego - The game of the season! It would have been better as the AFC Championship game. LT vs Brady. It doesn't get much better than this. Brady doesn't lose in the Playoffs, until last year at Denver. The Chargers are the best team in the AFC and I'm picking them to win this one but if I were betting money I'd take the Patriots and the points.

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