For the first time since 2005, all four divisional playoff games will be rematches from regular-season contests. In those 2005 playoffs, the regular season winner lost in three of the four rematches. If history holds to form, that means the Ravens will beat the Titans, the Cardinals will beat the Panthers, and the Chargers will beat the Steelers. Leaving the Giants vs. Eagles, as the toss up game because they split their two regular season meetings. So what’s happened the past three years? The home team has gone 5-7 in the divisional round of the playoffs. Here are my predictions…Ravens vs. Titans
The premier game of the weekend, if you ask me. The Ravens come in very confident after winning 10 of their last 12 games, and totally dominating the Dolphins, last week. However, this time around their special teams must do a much better job against return man Chris Carr. In October, Carr had a punt return for 33 yards and a kick return for 49 yards. This is going to be a field position game, so a big day by a return specialist can spell doom. The Titans, meanwhile, have three big question marks, DT Haynesworth, DE Vanden Bosch and C Mawae. From what I hear, Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch are ready to go. Mawae is a game time decision. With DT Haloti Ngata plugging up the middle, and Ray Lewis and Bart Scott playing like its 2000, the Titans run game may suffer, if Mawae is unable to play. That means Tennessee will then have to rely on their passing game. Ray Lewis, and the rest of the LB’s, will have to do a better job of covering the TE’s and RB’s. Tennessee loves to dink and dunk. If the LB’s struggle in coverage, the Titans have a chance. But, I’m going with… Baltimore 20-17.
Cardinals vs. Panthers
The Cardinals look to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive (did I just say that about the Cardinals? It’s definitely a new year!), as they travel to Carolina. If this game turns out to be anything like the regular season match up, then we’re in for a treat. Arizona controlled the game for 2 ½ quarters. Leading by 14 points in the middle of the third quarter (the score was 17-3, Cardinals), the Cardinals committed two crucial turnovers, a fumble by Edger in James and a Kurt Warner interception. This led to the Cardinals feeling the wrath of Steve Smith, and Dingell Williams. Smith caught two touchdown passes, while Williams racked up 108 yards rushing and set up a John Kasey field goal to seal a 27-23 Panther victory. I hope we are treated to such theatrics once again, but, both of these teams have grown over the year. If the Cards bring the same defense we saw last week against the Falcons, this game will get interesting. If the Cards bring the defense that gave up 500+ yards against the Patriots, look for a continuation of the final quarter and a half of their regular season contest… Carolina 31-21.
The Cardinals look to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive (did I just say that about the Cardinals? It’s definitely a new year!), as they travel to Carolina. If this game turns out to be anything like the regular season match up, then we’re in for a treat. Arizona controlled the game for 2 ½ quarters. Leading by 14 points in the middle of the third quarter (the score was 17-3, Cardinals), the Cardinals committed two crucial turnovers, a fumble by Edger in James and a Kurt Warner interception. This led to the Cardinals feeling the wrath of Steve Smith, and Dingell Williams. Smith caught two touchdown passes, while Williams racked up 108 yards rushing and set up a John Kasey field goal to seal a 27-23 Panther victory. I hope we are treated to such theatrics once again, but, both of these teams have grown over the year. If the Cards bring the same defense we saw last week against the Falcons, this game will get interesting. If the Cards bring the defense that gave up 500+ yards against the Patriots, look for a continuation of the final quarter and a half of their regular season contest… Carolina 31-21.
Chargers vs. Steelers
The San Diego Chargers are the enigma of the NFL! Every year this team is expected to do big things, and fall short. This year, they were written off when they fell to 4-8. So what do the Chargers do? Win their next 4 games, along with the division, and make the playoffs. Then they go and beat the team a lot of experts picked as the favorite (including me), Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Now, it’s on to Heinz Field. The last time these two teams met, the game ended with a Steelers 11-10 win. But, the Steelers dominated every statistical category, including penalties, which nearly cost them the game. Pittsburgh was flagged 13 times for 115 yards, most by an NFL team since 2002. However, Big Ben completed 31 of 41 passes for 308 yards. Mike Tomlin will have the Steelers ready to play, and there’s just something about Pittsburgh in January. Very tough place to go in and get a win. Besides, it’s another west coast team going east, which has spelled doom for the west coast team, all year. Even though San Diego has a knack for pulling off the upset during the playoffs, I say… Steelers 16-10.
The San Diego Chargers are the enigma of the NFL! Every year this team is expected to do big things, and fall short. This year, they were written off when they fell to 4-8. So what do the Chargers do? Win their next 4 games, along with the division, and make the playoffs. Then they go and beat the team a lot of experts picked as the favorite (including me), Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Now, it’s on to Heinz Field. The last time these two teams met, the game ended with a Steelers 11-10 win. But, the Steelers dominated every statistical category, including penalties, which nearly cost them the game. Pittsburgh was flagged 13 times for 115 yards, most by an NFL team since 2002. However, Big Ben completed 31 of 41 passes for 308 yards. Mike Tomlin will have the Steelers ready to play, and there’s just something about Pittsburgh in January. Very tough place to go in and get a win. Besides, it’s another west coast team going east, which has spelled doom for the west coast team, all year. Even though San Diego has a knack for pulling off the upset during the playoffs, I say… Steelers 16-10.
Eagles vs. Giants
The stats and the records are thrown out of the window, for this game. It’s an old fashioned, smash mouth NFC East match up that happens to be a playoff game. Both of teams know each other like the back of their hands. Scoring will be low. The difference… No Plaxico Burress. The Giants normally try to take advantage of the Eagles small corners with Plaxico’s height. In Week 14 Plaxico didn’t play, and the Eagles produced what I think was their best performance of the year, handing the Giants their only home loss of the season. Brian Westbrook was key with 203 total yards from scrimmage and 2 TD’s. As always, Westbrook will be key again. But, Giants fans like to point out that Brandon Jacobs wasn’t 100% during the week 14 game, as he will be on Sunday. Jacobs will be tough to stop (I can’t think of any run play that went for negative yards, this year. If you can, let me know the play!), with Ward, and Bradshaw. Nevertheless, the Eagles will game plan to stop the run and try to make the Giants one dimensional. This will then allow Jim Johnson to bring his vaunted blitz package, and let Dawkins, Samuels, Mikell, and Brown create turnovers. Thus, ending the Giants chances at repeating. Who else did you think I was going with? Eagles 16-13.
The stats and the records are thrown out of the window, for this game. It’s an old fashioned, smash mouth NFC East match up that happens to be a playoff game. Both of teams know each other like the back of their hands. Scoring will be low. The difference… No Plaxico Burress. The Giants normally try to take advantage of the Eagles small corners with Plaxico’s height. In Week 14 Plaxico didn’t play, and the Eagles produced what I think was their best performance of the year, handing the Giants their only home loss of the season. Brian Westbrook was key with 203 total yards from scrimmage and 2 TD’s. As always, Westbrook will be key again. But, Giants fans like to point out that Brandon Jacobs wasn’t 100% during the week 14 game, as he will be on Sunday. Jacobs will be tough to stop (I can’t think of any run play that went for negative yards, this year. If you can, let me know the play!), with Ward, and Bradshaw. Nevertheless, the Eagles will game plan to stop the run and try to make the Giants one dimensional. This will then allow Jim Johnson to bring his vaunted blitz package, and let Dawkins, Samuels, Mikell, and Brown create turnovers. Thus, ending the Giants chances at repeating. Who else did you think I was going with? Eagles 16-13.
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