Q: Anyone care about the NFL Playoffs?
A: Yes.
I follow this game more than any right minded person probably would. I have some predictions and write ups. I'll be interested to see if they are anywhere close to what actually happens.
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Tennessee @ Baltimore
Jamal Lewis might be 2nd all-time for rushing in a season, but the Ravens were the only team in the NFL during the 2003 season with more rushing than passing yards, and even the troubled Steelers were able to shut down their run attack in the final three quarters of last week’s game. If not for Cincinnati’s bungle against the Browns and Pittsburgh’s anemic offense, the Ravens might not even be in the playoffs.
Tennessee is the top Wild Card and had a better record than did Baltimore this season. They have a potent offense with or without McNair and also had the best rushing defense in the NFL this year. The Ravens’ one-sided offense just does not match up against a consistent Super Bowl contender. The Titans also have a respectable road win percentage again this year. This one isn’t even close unless the Baltimore linebackers and secondary create turnovers.
Prediction:
TEN 27
BAL 20
Dallas @ Carolina
The Cowboys’ win against Carolina in Week 12 was a sloppy, penalty thick nail-biter which could have gone either way easily. Since then, the Panthers have been taking it rather easy and are probably the most well-rested squad in the playoffs. This game will probably be a defensive shoving match. The Panthers have a tough and unpredictable running game capable of making big plays, but Dallas has the 3rd ranked rushing defense in the NFL, amazingly giving up only 68 rushing first downs this year, the lowest number in the NFL.
Special teams and turnovers will likely decide the game, so that puts Carolina at a slight advantage. Carolina returned a punt and a kickoff for TDs this year including Rod Smart’s 100 yard KR for a touchdown. On offense both teams put up mediocre numbers through the air ranking 17th and 18th in the NFL, but Dallas threw 21 interceptions, 5th highest in the NFL (tied w/Atlanta-Green Bay) and the 2nd most of any playoff team, while the Panthers intercepted 16 passes this year.
Prediction:
DAL 20
CAR 24
Denver @ Indianapolis
Indy has the home field, and their offense is ripped, but Denver shut them down a few weeks ago in Indy. Denver will need Portis to come up big, otherwise Indy will force them into a suspect passing game.
Indy might also benefit slightly more from watching film of their previous game against Denver. The Broncos probably won't make many adjustments coming into this game since they handily defeated the Colts earlier in the year, and this might give Indy a head start on game strategy. The Colts also have more big game experience. If the Colts go up early, they probably hold on to win as Denver has not passed the ball very well this year and will likely not respond well to coming from behind as they did when Elway was their QB.
Prediction:
DEN 16
IND 24
Seattle @ Green Bay
This should be an exciting game that is fun to watch. I look for this game to be a shoot-out between two highly under-rated offensive units. Brett Favre is always full of surprises with intensity on the field and a remarkable throwing arm that can slice through zone coverage like a scalpel even with the injury. The Packers’ ground game enables Favre to relax a bit more when passing, having put up the 3rd highest yardage in the NFL this year... and with targets like the unbelievably under-rated Bubba Franks, I look for some big plays to come from this offense.
Matt Hasselbeck on the other hand, was almost good enough this year to get my vote for MVP as he has single-handedly solidified the Seattle offense into a team that brings it on every down. Although Koren Robinson and Chad Brown broke out of slumps this past week against the 49ers, I don’t look for the Seahawks to keep their head in this game. Youth, inexperience and the boisterous crowd at Lambeau field will rattle the Seattle offense to their foundation late in the game. I also suspect that God himself will be in attendance to oversee the script on the frozen tundra for this story-book season in Green Bay.
Prediction:
SEA 20
GB 33