With the Eagles season over, it’s time to look at the upcoming playoffs. The AFC is tough because there are so many good teams. The NFC is tough because there really aren’t any good teams.
The Packers are nice and finally figured out how to run the ball this season. Ryan Grant has been great. I don’t like the way Tony Romo is playing going into the playoffs. The Cowboys could be in trouble. Can the Patriots get knocked off? Will Jacksonville make a statement? Will the Colts prove that they are the true champs? Tough field to predict this year, but let’s look at the Wild Card weekend coming up:
Jackonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers:
It is going to be very tough for the Steelers to win this game. I loved the Steel Crew at the beginning of the season and thought that they’d be trouble for the Patriots come January. Not so. Not only have the Steelers already lost at home to the Jaguars this season, but they are the football equivalent of a triage unit. Raise your hand if you know who Trai Essex is. He’ll be protecting Big Ben’s blind side. Have fun with that. Willie Parker is hurt; Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu are banged up. Even Roethlisberger has a bum ankle.
On the other side, no one has ever beaten Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh twice in the same season. What does that mean? Absolutely nothing, I hate stats like that. Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount will not play this weekend (although if the injuries keep mounting up…). I don’t care what happened in the 70’s, 80’, 90’s or whenever. David Garrard is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league. He quietly just makes plays and wins. And the Jags run the ball incredibly well and line up to play on defense, so the elements shouldn’t affect them. This isn’t your typical Florida team.
My pick: Pittsburgh is too banged up – Jacksonville 23, Pittsburgh 10
Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers
I’m not sure I know what to make of the Chargers. I’m not sure the Chargers know what to think of the Chargers. To say that QB Philip Rivers as been inconsistent would be an understatement. His season-ending numbers aren’t atrocious, but I collected enough empirical data to be worried. Ladainian Tomlinson is simply marvelous, as is tight end Antonio Gates, so you know what you are getting there. On defense you see the playmakers like Shawne Merriman, Jamal Williams and the break-out star in Antonio Cromartie. I see tons of great players on this team. Ok, then why do they lose so many stupid games?
And on the other side you have the at-times-maddening Titans. The biggest question for the Titans is whether or not Vince Young (quad) will start at QB. The second biggest question is whether or not the Titans have a better chance with Kerry Collins. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth should be good to go and that is bad news for the Chargers. Yes, he’s a jerk. But he’s a jerk that plays his butt off when he’s in a contract year. The Chargers better have a plan for Haynesworth and linemate Kyle Vanden Bosch (a monster that seems to fly under the radar). It should be an interesting matchup, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tomlinson is in for a long day. QB play will determine this game.
My pick: I don’t like the QB situation in Tenn. – Tennessee 13, San Diego 27
New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Giants are an enigma. You really don’t know what you are going to get from week to week. Other than the New England game, Eli Manning hasn’t been so hot as of late. But could someone help the poor guy? No one can catch his passes. Brandon Jacobs has the worst hands of any running back I’ve ever seen. One thing to look for is that they may be better off without Jeremy Shockey. I know that sounds crazy, but Eli seems to throw most of his INT’s when he’s looking for Shockey. He has actually had some success with this new guy Kevin Boss. On the defensive side of the ball, they need to assign someone to run with Joey Galloway. He’s lightning on the field and Sam Madison will never stay with him. The Giants secondary is a weakness and it’s up to Tampa Bay to take advantage.
On the other side, the Bucs need to have some success running Ernest Graham. If they can’t run and that Giants front four can bring it every down? It could get ugly really quickly down in can’t-sellout-a-playoff-game Tampa Bay. Also, notice that the Bucs will be in the Cover 4 a good portion of the time too. It looks identical to the Cover 2, but it goes to a man situation where the two corners and two safeties are each responsible for their own deep quadrant. The Giants better recognize which is which or Eli could be tossing INT’s all over the field.
My pick: It’s just not good when you can’t sellout a playoff game – Giants 24, Tampa Bay 20
Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks
Much like 2005, the Redskins have picked the right time to play good football. Backup QB Todd Collins has played incredibly efficient football and hasn’t cost the team games. And yes, considering his career, that was a very realistic possibility when he entered the Chicago game. Personally, I don’t love either of these teams. It’s tough for me to even discuss it. The Redskins will run Portis and hope that Santana Moss can beat Seattle corner Marcus Trufant. They’ll need to run successfully because, I don’t care what anyone says, Collins is still a concern.
On the other side, Seattle has some players, but like I said, I don’t love them either. Shaun Alexander is toast at this point. Deion Branch has a bum calf, so who knows what they’ll get out of him. The guy to keep an eye on if I’m the Redskins though, is defensive end Patrick Kerney. He had 14.5 sacks this season and could make Collin’s afternoon miserable.
My pick: I have to pick one? – Washington 17, Seattle 27
micahw@feverpitchmedia.com
