Thursday, January 7, 2010

NFL Playoff Preview: Wild Card Weekend

Four games, two days.  It can't get better until Championship Weekend.  Then after that, it gets worse with the Pro Bowl, and then, boom, Super Bowl.  Break-it-down!

Saturday January 09, 2010

4:30PM ET
New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

Two weeks ago I would have told you there was no way the Jets could make the playoffs, and sure, they lucked out by playing the Colts and Bengals in the final weeks, but they did make the playoffs.  Through the first five games of the year the Jets looked good.  Sanchez didn't look like a rookie, and all aspects of their game was working.  Reality: Sanchez is a rookie and he's not trustworthy, although Revis is a beast, the loss of Kris Jenkins will be exposed on Saturday.  The Bengals didn't have a single player chosen to go to the Pro Bowl, so although they've been in a powerful position in the league all year I think they are thinking that they have something to prove.  I don't expect the Jets to win, although I will be cheering for them.  Last week Cedric Benson didn't play, and the team didn't NEED the win - they're at home and it's the playoffs, AND they've had two weeks to prepare for this Jets team, AND the Jets didn't see the Bengals at their best.

8:00PM ET
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

The second "two weeks in a row" matchups.  Can Dallas win a playoff game?  They are playing with the hot hand, and even though I'm a Giants fan, I really like this Eagles team.  Especially now that they didn't win the NFC East, and the fact that I hate the Cowboys, I can withstand (let's not say rooting for, let's say) preferring the Eagles to win.  Here is why it will be tough for them to win - Brian Westbrook.  He is second on the depth chart right now because of injuries on the year, and traditionally, the Eagles success lies with his excellent play.  Yes, the big play will be a DeSean Jackson pass, but Westbrook is a game changing running back.  LeSean McCoy is good, but he's no Brian Westbrook.  He's a rookie and at the end of the day you can't rely on him the way you would Brian.  The best thing about the Dallas team is Miles Austin.  Personally, I think he's legit.  The worst thing about their offense is Roy Williams.  Their running game consists of three, count them, THREE good running backs: Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice.  It's got to be a shootout, and I think in defense the Eagles hold the edge.  Again, similar to the Jets-Bengals, the Eagles have two weeks to prepare for Dallas, the difference for the Eagles-Cowboys is that they will play in the same exact stadium, so one can argue (sure, I'll be that one) that they should be more prepared for the circumstances.  Similar to the way the Bengals underperformed last week, so did the Eagles.  A lot of blown coverages.  I think they'll show up and it will be a good game.

Sunday January 10, 2010

1:00PM ET
Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

I really like this Ravens team.  I have all year.  I have man crush on Ray Rice, even though he reneg'd on going to Syracuse and instead went to Rutgers and turned their program around, I hold no animosity.  Joe Flacco is a good quarterback, and their defense is pretty alright too, not the force it used to be, but good.  Other than the Jets, they're my favorite in the AFC.  I think that the Pats losing Welker to a torn ACL & MCL is ha-uge.  Early in the year the Patriots had yet to find their identity as a team, and go figure, Welker missed a few games early in the year.  Limping into the playoffs with a loss and losing Welker might have solidified their loss in the Wild Card playoff game.  We'll see.  Go Ravens.

4:00PM ET
Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

The final rematch of Week 17 in this Wild Card Weekend.  This is the only game where I see an almost identical result.  The Packers are my favorite in the NFC Playoffs, so I'm pulling for them regardless, but this team is good.  Rodgers puts up absurd numbers, Donald Driver is a top notch receiver, Ryan Grant can run the ball, and their defense is one of the best in the league.  The Cardinals don't have an identity with their running game even though they've done everything possible to establish Hightower and/or Beanie Wells as that guy.  They're still the Warner to Fitzgerald/Boldin/Breaston team they've always been.  Also, their defense isn't as good as last years and that is why they won't be able to get to the Super Bowl this year.  Go Pack.  Take down old man Favre in the NFC Championship!

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