NFL Wildcard Weekend Review

BuDa-Right:
Dallas OVER Eagles
Ravens OVER Patriots

BuDa-Wrong:
Cardinals OVER Packers
Jets OVER Bengals

Let's see what adjustments I'll need to make for next week:

To see what my picks were before this week, see here.  Interestingly enough, it doesn't really affect my previous picks as long as the winners I chose keep winning, but maybe, just maybe, I'll want to make some adjustments.

Divisional Playoff Winners:
Colts OVER Ravens
Chargers OVER Jets
Vikings OVER Cowboys
Saints OVER Cardinals

League Championship Winners:
Colts OVER Chargers
Vikings OVER Saints

Super Bowl Winner:
Colts OVER Vikings

Okay, no changes for the most part.  Actually, not at all.  All the winners were the same.  What about next weeks matchups.

Saturday January 16, 2010

4:30PM ET
Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints
The way the Cardinals won should not be overlooked.  Staring down the eyes of defeat, they turn a Green Bay Packers drive into a turnover and sudden death score.  Amazing.  Especially since the first Aaron Rodgers pass was overthrown by about 6 inches, and the only one in front of Greg Jennings was a ref, and he even he fell (Broke'Em!), the Cardinals are high on life right about now, and Gibril Wilson might possibly be high one more than life, just saying.  I think the Saints win, but the Cardinals are now playing with the hot hand, so it will be a good matchup.  Read my previous posts about the Saints and why they won't win it all.

8:00PM ET
Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts
Another kind of momentum situation, but the 2009 Colts are not the 2009 Patriots.  If the Colts didn't shut it down in Week 16 after one drive into the 3rd Quarter, the Jets wouldn't have won that game.  Recent losses don't mean anything to me, I think they're built to win.  Question marks are the running game and the defensive secondary.  Baltimore versus Former Baltimore.  It will be interesting, and this Ravens team is awesome.  Totally have a man-crush on Ray Rice.  NewRo!

Sunday January 17, 2010

1:00PM ET
Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings
Will Percy Harvin have a migraine that forces him to sit out?  That kind of the only legitimate question mark regarding the Vikings.  They're team is pretty stacked.  They have a legit Tight End, two very good to amazing Running Backs, and three good aerial options in Rice, Harvin, and Berrian.  In this game I have to root for the underdog, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Cowboys end the Vikings chances.  Also, the chances of a Green Bay vs. Favre NFC Championship is no longer possible, so I want their run to end sooner rather than later.

4:40PM ET
New York Jets @ San Diego Chargers
This is going to be an interesting matchup.  Obviously I'm rooting for the Jets, but believe it or not, I think they actually have a chance to win.  Here's why:

1. The Chargers played in the AFC West, and were fortunate enough to play the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders two times each.
2. The Chargers only have had wins of 7 points or more here: Miami Week 3, Kansas City Week 7, Oakland Week 8, Philadelphia Week 10, Denver Week 11, Kansas City Week 12, & Tennessee Week 16.  That seems like a lot, but they only beat the Redskins by 3 in Week 17, and the Bengals by 3 in Week 15.
3. The closest thing the Chargers have faced to a lockdown cornerback like Darelle Revis was Nnamdi Asomugha in Weeks 1 and 8, and then Safety Ed Reed in Week 2.  The Chargers lost to the Ravens in Week 2.
4. The [Always Dirty] Mark Sanchez is used to playing in Southern California.

The most important part of that is #3.  The Chargers most important wins came with Vincent Jackson blowing up for over 100 yards.  Revis has held the best of the games wide receivers to under 30 yards including Randy Moss twice.

That's all for now.  See you next week.