NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend Preview

Before we get into the preview ramblings, if you are a betting man - this is a little tidbit for you from ESPN.com Tuesday Morning Quarterback Gregg Easterbrook;

"Home teams in the NFL divisional round are the surest thing in sports. Since the current playoff format was adopted in 1990, home teams in the divisional round are 55-17, a .764 winning percentage.

A week later in the championship round, the home advantage dissipates. Since 1990, home teams in conference championship games are 21-15, a .583 winning percentage. That's only a tad better than the rate at which home teams won all games over the same period. (So far this season, home teams are .554.) In the championship round, nobody's had the previous week off and the Super Bowl is just one W away. Players leave everything on the field in championship contests."

Now on to game previews...

Arizona vs. Carolina
Last week the Cardinals surprised everyone with a great defensive performance that shut down the Falcons running game. Carolina has a running game every bit as good , so can Arizona do it again? It doesn’t look good. Arizona plays awful when they come east, combine that with a physical game last week and one of their biggest weapons, Anquan Boldin being injured and all signs point to the Panthers victory.

Look for everyone to be ga-ga over Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams and his sidekick rookie RB Jonathan Stewart, they will break a couple of big runs and make the highlight reel, but the star of the game will be the Panthers secondary led by Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas and the rock solid linebacker core Jon Beason and Thomas Davis and get a monster pass rush day from Julius Peppers.

Enough of the name dropping, my pick,
Carolina 27 vs. Arizona 20

NY Giants vs. Philadelphia
The Eagles have been playing lights out football, while the world champion NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS have stumbled across the finish line. This leads to the Eagles bandwagon pulling into the Meadowlands with a full load.

The Giants probably benefitted more from the week off than any other team. It allowed them to get over the fact that they haven’t been playing well and re-set their mind for a run at another Lombardi trophy.
As for the Eagles, I refer back to last week’s post when I said that coach Andy Reid will blow a game with a missed call, whether it be a time-out, challenge, QB sneak.

Eli Manning comes through in Super Bowl form – throwing touchdowns, as does Donovan McNabb – puking in the huddle.

My pick,
NY Giants 24 vs. Philadelphia 13

San Diego vs. Pittsburgh
If I thought the Eagles were on a roll, not sure what to call the Chargers run. Led by diminutive RB Darren Sproles the Bolts out-schemed the Colts to win in the opening round. Pittsburgh fight off injuries and a concussion to QB Big Ben Roethlisberger enjoyed the week preparing.

As for advantages – the one most pundits are talking about right now is special teams. Chargers punter Mike Scrifes was unbelievable versus the Colts, but if that is your big advantage you are in for a long day. No LT, means no more January football for the Chargers.

My pick,
Pittsburgh 24 vs. San Diego 10

Baltimore vs. Tennessee
The Ravens defense of 2008 is being compared to the history making squad of 2000 when they won the Super Bowl in spite of their offense. This year QB Joe Flacco and the 3 headed monster at tailback have decided to stand up and be counted. Tennessee on the other hand, is mimicking that 2000 Ravens team more and more. Excellent defense, but little scoring. So, if I had to choose between two great defenses and then a bad offense and a good one, my pick will be the good one – the Baltimore Ravens.

Look for Ravens WR Derrick Mason to have a steady game despite playing with a separated shoulder and a couple of big plays from Michael Clayton on the other side of the line. The Titans will try to keep up by controlling the clock and running Chris Brown and LenDale White, but in the end, Ed Reed and the Ravens defense will prevail.

My pick,
Baltimore 35 vs. Tennessee 21