We got some complaints that when we did our NFL Pick ‘Em competition this year, it wasn’t open to the readers.  Our bad—but now we’re in postseason form, and we’re going to make up for lost time, by opening the NFL Playoff Pick ‘Em competition up to you, our beloved readers!

IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED, SEND YOUR PICKS NOW!  Do it before kickoff of Bengals/Jets!

The rules are simple—first, your only prize is fame.  There is no fortune to be had here.  But we will say nice things about you, and maybe get you tickets to a Long Beach State men’s basketball game or something.

SO, here’s how you play.  Copy the “bracket” below, and fill in your predictions, all the way down to a Super Bowl winner, then email us at fiddler@lbpostsports.com.  You have until Friday at midnight.  Each game you pick correctly will earn you a point, and correctly picking the Super Bowl champion in your initial bracket will earn you two points. 

Additionally, so you can still compete even if your bracket is busted, you can submit your picks for the coming week’s games starting with the Divisional Round on January 16-17.  Each correct pick you make in the week-by-week picks will be worth one point as well—as we progress through, if you’ve correctly picked a side of the bracket, this gives you the option of hedging your bet by picking the opposite of what you picked in the beginning of the competition, thus earning a point no matter what, or doubling down on it, by picking the same team twice.

Simple, right?  All weekly picks, and your initial bracket, are due Fridays by midnight.  Here’s the list for you to send (in forecasting who will play who, remember the highest seed always plays the lowest seed, and the remaining two teams in the conference play each other).

* Replace “lowest seeded winner” or “highest seeded winner” with your choice, and put the winner of each contest after the colon!

AFC

Wild Card Weekend, January 9-10

6. Ravens at 3. Patriots:

5. Jets at 4. Bengals:

Divisional Round, January 16-17

Lowest seeded winner at 1. Colts:

Highest seeded winner at 2. Chargers:

AFC Championship, January 24

Lowest seeded winner at highest seeded winner:

NFC

Wild Card Weekend, January 9-10

6. Eagles at 3. Cowboys:

5. Packers at 4. Cardinals:

Divisional Round, January 16-17

Lowest seeded winner at 1. Saints:

Highest seeded winner at 2. Vikings:

NFC Championship, January 24

Lowest seeded winner at highest seeded winner:

SUPER BOWL

NFC Championship winner vs. AFC Championship winner: