Round 1 Playoffs Patch Pick'em

Welcome to the weekly Patch NFL Pick 'Em Playoff Edition, where Fair Lawn residents and wannabe NFL prognosticators Stuart Pace, Steve Brown, Rich Seibel and Zak Koeske offer up their picks for NFL games each week and dish out a little fantasy football advice to boot.

If you'd like our opinion on fantasy roster moves, have a fantasy football question you'd like answered or would like to compete against us as a Guest Picker, email Patch NFL Pick 'Em at zak.koeske@patch.com

This week's Pick 'Em games:

• Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) @ Houston Texans (12-4) -- Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
• Minnesota Vikings (10-6) @ Green Bay Packers (11-5) -- Saturday, 8 p.m.
• Indianapolis Colts (11-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (10-6) -- Sunday, 1 p.m.
• Seattle Seahawks (11-5) @ Washington Redskins (10-6) -- Sunday, 4:30 p.m.

Click here and scroll to the bottom to see this week's Patch Survivor picks.

Stuart Pace’s Game Picks:

Houston, Green Bay, Baltimore, Seattle

Houston Texans over Cincinnati Bengals -- I trust that Houston will prevail for the second year in a row against Cincy in the playoffs. Though the Texans have been in a slump, I can't see their better talent losing in the first round. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Green Bay Packers over Minnesota Vikings --The matchup last week was one of the best games of the  year. But the ending will be different in Green Bay. Their playoff experience will be the difference in this game and while it
may be a close game, this time the Pack gets the win. Confidence Level: 3

Baltimore Ravens over Indianapolis Colts -- Indy doesn't beat good teams and as long as the Ravens can run Ray Ray, it will be a long day for the Colts. Not this year for Indy. Confidence Level: 4 (most confident)

Seattle Seahawks over Washington Redskins -- The battle of the rookie QBs goes to Wilson. The Seattle D is the better defense in this game and though their road record is usually bad, I think Seattle handles the Redskins fairly well here. Confidence Level: 2

Steve Brown’s Picks:

Cincinnati, Minnesota, Indianapolis, Seattle

Cincinnati Bengals over Houston Texans -- Rey Maualuga rips Arian Foster's still beating heart from his chest cavity on the first play of the game, Bengals win. Confidence Level: 3

Minnesota Vikings over Green Bay Packers -- The Green Bay O-Line melts like Velveeta in the Gobi Desert sun when facing the heat from Jared Allen and Brian Robison. VIKINGS CONQUER! Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Indianapolis Colts over Baltimore Ravens -- Elderly Ray Lewis shatters his pelvis while attempting his silly pre-game dance antics. Lucky Colts win.  Confidence Level: 2

Seattle Seahawks over Washington Redskins -- Bruce Irvin and his 4.5 fast 255 pounds of chaos stifles RG3. Seahawks fly!  Confidence Level: 4 (most confident)

Rich Seibel's Picks:

Houston, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Washington

Houston Texans over Cincinnati Bengals -- Houston at home is a 4.5-point favorite over the Bengals. Though they are in a slump I have to give this to the Texans. This team is loaded and will be ready to play. Confidence Level: 4 (most confident)

Green Bay Packers over Minnesota Vikings --Green Bay is a 7.5-point favorite at home versus the Vikings. It is hard for me to take the Packers here, but to beat the same team two weeks in a row is a very tall order in this NFL. The Packers have a tough time tackling but the weather, the crowd and the QB will be too much. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Indianapolis Colts over Baltimore Ravens -- Ravens at home versus Indy favored by 6.5. What do the bookies know here? There is always one upset in these games and here it is. Luck will shred the once-vaunted Ravens defense and Ray Lewis goes off into the sunset and the Harbaugh Super Bowl is not to be. Confidence Level: 2

Washington Redskins over Seattle Seahawks -- Seattle is favored on the road against the RG3-led Redskins. Seattle looks tough at home but this is a long way to travel and I think the Skins pull it off in OT Confidence Level: 3 

Zak Koeske's picks:

Houston, Green Bay, Baltimore, Washington

Houston Texans over Cincinnati Bengals -- The Texans are not a Super Bowl-caliber team. Despite their record, they're not even one of the top three teams in the AFC right now, but they are just good enough to squeeze by the Bengals at home. Matt Schaub bounces back after four poor weeks and the Texans advance to face almost certain defeat in the second round. Confidence Level: 2

Green Bay Packers over Minnesota Vikings -- Adrian Peterson has rushed for 200 yards against the Packers both times he's faced them this year and has been absolutely bonkers over the second half of the season. But he is the Vikings' entire offense. I'm afraid he won't be able to sustain them on the road playing in front of a hostile Lambeau Field crowd. The Pack regroups and advances. Confidence Level: 4 (most confident)

Baltimore Ravens over Indianapolis Colts -- Baltimore has lost four of five but they're tough at home and the Colts have struggled this year on the road. I think Ray Lewis' return for his last hurrah will pump up Baltimore's D who will play over their heads on Sunday and hand the Colts and Andrew Luck a loss in what is sure to be his first of many playoff starts. Confidence Level: 3

Washington Redskins over Seattle Seahawks --Incredible to see three rookie quarterbacks in the playoffs, let alone two matching up with one another in the first round. I'll take the ridiculous rookie tandem of RGIII and Alfred Morris in this one. The Seahawks have been unbelievable of late, but I still trust Griffin more than Wilson when push comes to shove. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

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