The Wild Card Round features 4 intriguing matchups. This round alone should make for another great postseason.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Cincinnati Bengals (6) at Houston Texans (3) 4:30 PM ET
Deja vu. Oh wait, these two teams played in the Wild Card Round last year with the Bengals going on the road to Houston. The Texans were without starting QB Matt Schaub, but it did not matter because the Texans won 31-10 at home.
Cincinnati has a much improved defense from last season. They had 30 total takeaways (2nd in the AFC) and had 51 sacks on the season, (3rd in the NFL) one behind the leaders Denver and St. Louis. QB Andy Dalton has played well all season but has turned the ball over more this season (16) than the previous season (13), his rookie year.
Houston was regarded as the best team in the NFL for the first half of the regular season. They average 372 yards per game (7th in the NFL) while only giving up 323 yards per game, (7th in the NFL). The NFL Sacks Leader DE JJ Watt (20.5) as always will be a force on the defensive side of the ball.
Every game comes down to turnovers. This one will be no different. Usually I am inclined to give the home team the nod when I am unsure of my prediction in the outcome. This time though, I feel like the upset will happen because the Texans are fading down the stretch. I will take the Bengals on the upset 20-17.
Minnesota Vikings (6) at Green Bay Packers (3) 8:00 PM ET
The last time that the Vikings went to Lambeau Field for a playoff showdown it featured the infamous endzone celebration by WR Randy Moss back in the 04-05 season. The Packers won the first two meetings in the regular season but the Vikings got the last laugh winning the playoff game 31-17.
The Packers went on the road to the Metrodome last week in the regular season finale and lost on a last second field goal by the Vikings Pro Bowl Rookie Kicker Blair Walsh. There were four key plays during the game that the Vikings were able to capitalize on, extending drives and keeping Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on the sideline.
In the second game in as many weeks, both teams know what to expect from each other. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson will get his yards, much like Rodgers will be able to throw the ball all over the field. The difference will be whether or not Vikings QB Christian Ponder can manage the game well enough and stay turnover-free.
The Packers WR’s do have a tough time catching the ball in cold weather which could keep the Vikings close. The Vikings defense is not nearly as stymieing on the road. However, unless the Moss of old shows up to the game with QB Daunte Culpepper throwing him the ball, I see the Packers winning the game 27-16.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Indianapolis Colts (5) at Baltimore Ravens (4) 1:00 PM ET
The Colts and Ravens had played some great playoff games over the years. QB Peyton Manning is gone, insert QB Andrew Luck and it seems that the Colts are almost back to where they left off. Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano spent the last few seasons in Baltimore as a defensive coach before taking the gig in Indianapolis.
The Colts are a young team with some veteran leaders who rode the wave of emotion all year long to the playoffs. The Colts play extremely well in the fourth quarter and have won many close games including many come from behind victories. Their running game has been almost non-existent, the lowest yards per game of any playoff team (22nd, 104 ypg).
If you have watched the Baltimore Ravens play over the last several years, you would know that they win games by playing tough defense and running the ball. This season they lost their identity and have tried to let QB Joe Flacco win ball games through the air. The team fired Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron because they realized that Flacco will not be an elite quarterback. The gameplan is now going back to the running game and RB Ray Rice.
MLB Ray Lewis will be back from injury and his leadership will improve what has been a mediocre defense this season. The Colts defense has been decimated by injuries and cannot stop the run. I see the Ravens winning this game and ending the Colts magical season. S Ed Reed will intercept at least one pass from Luck and the score will be 34-24.
Seattle Seahawks (5) at Washington Redskins (4) 4:30 PM ET
This game features two rookie quarterbacks. QB’s Russell Wilson for Seattle and Robert Griffin III have been in a battle with Andrew Luck for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The two defenses have nothing in common. The Redskins defense has played well enough to win, while the Seahawks defense has single-handedly won games.
CB Brandon Browner has been activated off of the reserve/suspended list. This should bolster what has already been a great secondary. However, the key for the Seahawks defense will be to stop the best running game in the league. If they can do that and force RGIII into making bad decisions they could and should win the game.
The Redskins will need to find a way to stop RB Marshawn Lynch and Seattle’s running game. Wilson tends to struggle more on the road and the team has had problems winning on the road.
This game will come down to who plays the best defense. Seattle has one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Redskins defense is not ranked very highly in total defense but they find ways to get stops when they need them, especially at home (5-3). I think that RGIII and London Fletcher, offensive and defensive captains respectively, will find a way to win the game at home. The score will be 23-16.
arcrowell 