Everything You Need To Get Ready For the the NFL's Divisional Round

Philadelphia (+4) @ New York:

Often, it's said that when two teams face each other three times in the same season, it's difficult for one team to win all three of those game. Don't worry about that here.

Often, you can look towards home-field, and handicap a game based on which team has that advantage. Don't look at that here either.

Really, don't look for any sort of cute indicators. Both teams won games during the year on the other's home field, neither game decided by more than a touchdown. The Giants, after a bye week, are just about fully healthy. Justin Tuck is going to play, even if it's only on one leg. The Eagles are nicked up, but, nothing out of the ordinary or not to be expected this deep into the season.

It's going to be absolutely freezing at the Meadowlands today, so expect both teams, despite Andy Reid's wishes, to run the ball, a lot. We all know how tough the Giants run game can be but the Eagles can be just as difficult to handle if only because of their versatility. Keep in mind, Brian Westbrook might not be your prototypical back, but he did have one of his best games on the ground this year in New York (err...New Jersey). Also, as they showed last week, the Eagles don't necessarily have to run the ball to keep Westbrook involved. Screens and short passes to him and my man Kevin Curtis will be the name of the day.

No question, tough game to pick. About a two months ago, it was impossible to predict against the Giants. They were running over people, just ripping up the NFC. Then Plaxico and Pierce did their best Bonnie and Clyde impression, Brandon Jacobs got hurt, and they became human. The Eagles, on the other hand, have been (pardon the corny pun) flying. With the points not being much difference here, I'm taking the Eagles. Jim Johnson's D will have the G-Men scrambling all day, and the Eagles will find a way to keep it simple with Westbrook. Close game, but Eagles and the points.

Scott's Pick: Philly Jordan's Pick:  New York

San Diego (+6) @ Pittsburgh:

Here's my thing, so far as San Diego's concerned: they're playing with house money because they don't have their star running back, and, they know they really shouldn't be in the playoffs. Did they earn their spot? Sure they did. But, most any team worth the fibers stitched on their jerseys (read: not Denver) would've sealed the deal with a 3 game lead and 3 to play. Good for San Diego that Denver stinks.

That all considered, San Diego's got a tough task today.  While it does seem like the ever-frequent image of LT is of one sullen superstar sitting in an over-sized coat on the sidelines come playoff time, fact is, dude is hurt, again.  So, it's up to Darren Sproles.  The odds are supremely stacked against him.  Pittsburgh hasn't allowed a 100 yard rusher all season.  In fact, including this year's preseason, this season and last year's playoffs and season, they've only allowed one 100 yard rusher in the last 27 games.  It was amusing watch Sproles scat his way all over the field last week, such a similar result ain't gonna happen.

So, Philip Rivers, it all falls on you.  Pissed off you didn't make the Pro Bowl (how on Earth did that happen, by the way)?  Show the world (read:  15 people that watch the "joy" that is the NFL's all-star game) that you deserved to be there.  Though, Brett Favre did his best to show he didn't belong in the season's final weeks, and no one seemed to notice.  

While it isn't likely to be raining or snowing Pittsburgh today, the weather, as in New Jersey, will surely be dreadful and close to frostbite inducing (again, read:  not a lot of scoring or enjoyable play).  Low scoring affair that this game seems destined to be, Pittsburgh has to be the way to go.

To go all Winston Churchill on you, it's time that the Iron Curtain closes on the dream that has been the Chargers season. 

Or something like that.

  

Scott's Pick:  Pittsburgh Jordan's Pick: San Diego

Everything You Need To Get Ready for Wild Card Weekend

Saturday Edition

The first round of playoff football is finally upon us, after 17 weeks of watching battling, and playoff jockeying, and eventual choking, the supposed cream of the crop, the league's best 12, have risen to the top.  Eight of them square off this weekend, in a battle for the right to move on to face teams that are way, way better than them.

Falcons (+1) @ Cardinals

First of all, if you saw this one coming, pat yourself firmly and squarely on the back.  Matter of fact, have someone else do it so you don't have to do any more work.  Well done.

Second of all, this one should be a fun one, if only because it's something new.  Don't get me wrong, Colts/Chargers is compelling, and has provided great playoff drama in the past.  However, as most baseball fans agree, Yankees/Red Sox games get a little boring after the 100th time.  Point is, this game features some new playoff blood, both teams haven't been here in a bit.  Both teams feature offenses that can put up points in an absolute hurry.  

The rub, as they say in the movies, comes from two pointed differences in these two teams. First, both are quite prone to giving up yards, however, the Cards are in the bottom 5 in the league in points allowed per contest at just under 30.  The other problem Arizona faces is that they couldn't have played much worse football down the stretch of the season to "tune up" for the playoffs.  After a hot 7-3 start, the Cardinals dropped four of six, and at least 35 points in every loss.

Atlanta, on the other hand, finished the season 5-1, with impressive victories against Carolina and Tampa Bay, and at Minnesota and at San Diego.  We all know that Matt Ryan's a rookie QB, and how rare that is for him to be starting a playoff game (only 3 other guys have done it, and one was Shaun King).  That said, he hasn't Joe Flacco'd his way through this season.  Ryan's had to carry an offense at times, not simply manage it.  And, as the team's success indicates, he's done a pretty damn good job.  With such a small line, I'm going with Atlanta, behind one of the league's best new running backs Michael Turner and star rookie QB Matt Ryan.

Scott's Pick: Falcons  Jordan's Pick: Falcons

Colts (-1) @ Chargers

Before we get into this one, is there a more blatant example that the idea of division winners getting automatic home field in the first round is absolutely moronic?  Here's a San Diego team that backed into the playoffs, largely due to Denver's never ending, confounding incompetence.  All Indy's been doing since Week 9 is winning, plain and simple.

Then again though, LaDainian Tomlinson did look mighty spry against that Denver D.  Now, that is a swiss cheese defense, no one's doubting that, but, for the first time in a while, LT looked like his old self again, making cutbacks, exploding into the open field. Indy's been susceptible to the run game this year (122 ypg), so if Tomlinson's feeling good again, this one could be swung to the home team.

Still though, it is hard to pick against a team that's won nine straight and has the league MVP, unless, you're negative and you're constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.  

But, if we may for just a second, let's take a look at that nine game winning streak.  Credit where credit is due, Indy did beat Pittsburgh on the road and New England at home.  However, of the other seven games, not one was against a winning record (if you take out a meaningless win against Tennessee in the final week of the season).  Houston, San Diego, Cleveland, Cincy, Detroit and Jacksonville all had under-500 records at the time they faced the Colts.  Cleveland, Cincy, Detroit and Jacksonville just happen to be four of the worst teams in the NFL.  Not so impressive now, huh?

And so, I'm going with San Diego, if only because I want to see a last gasp effort out of LT and finally see Philip Rivers get some credit.  He had the year of his life, and it's not nearly talked about as much as it should be.  I expect he and LT to step up big time, because they're going to need it in this one. 

Scott's Pick:  Chargers  Jordan's Pick:  Colts