NFL Wild Card Weekend - Road to Super Bowl XLV Begins

Here we go! It's that time in the NFL season where there are no more "tomorrows" if you lose. It's elimination football where the winners of just one game move on to the next round. Unlike our other major sports, there is no "best of" series in the NFL. It's the time of year where Donovan McNabb is actually right, a game cannot end in a tie. (As a matter of fact, there are new overtime rules in play for this season's playoffs. The team with first possession must score a touchdown in order to end the game; if it kicks a field goal the other team has an opportunity to tie or win the game. See this link to NFL.com for more details http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/09000d5d81d72298/article/so-long-sudden-death-playoffs-offer-new-overtime-approach . This time of year is bittersweet for me; I'm always excited to watch NFL playoff football but it "depresses" me to think that the season is winding down. I intend, as I do every year to enjoy each of these playoff rounds which will eventually culminate at Cowboys Stadium on February 6th (without the Dallas Cowboys but that's a WHOLE different story - I digress...). Lets take a look at the Wild Card Weekend games.

First playoff game to be played will be the 11 - 5 NFC wild card New Orleans Saints (-10) visiting the 7 - 9 NFC West division champion Seattle Seahawks. This matchup has upset a lot of folks because of the Seahawks participating and playing at home despite their losing record. The Saints are about a 10 point favorite in this game. They are a better football team in all three phases of the game. Many have predicted a Saints blowout. Saints quarterback Drew Brees has the potential to torch any defense. But the Saints offense has been a bit inconsistent this season. Brees has not been playing clean games as well.  The team is suffering a lot of key injuries especially at the running back position.  Combine these tidbits with the facts that the Seahawks are playing at home where they are 5 - 3 this season and that they have absolutely NOTHING to lose and it shows me the possibility of a huge upset. I give the defending Super Bowl champs the benefit of the doubt though. I think the Saints will pull it out but I wouldn't give the 10 points. Should be somewhat of a close game.

Saturday night features a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game. The 10 - 6 AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts (-3) will host the 11 - 5 AFC wild card New York Jets. Funny how folks are not too bent out of shape about the Jets having to play on the road against a team with a worse record. But the Colts are a winning team and have had an outstanding regular season track record over the last few years. The Colts number one asset is #18, Peyton Manning and everyone knows this guy is always prepared. This Colts team is getting healthier but I don't think it is as good as their Super Bowl team of last season. The Jets defense has been a bit disappointing this year and everyone seemed to jump off, then on, then back off the (Jets quarterback) Mark Sanchez bandwagon this season. A lot of people are picking the Colts to win pretty much just based on Manning. As much as I don't want to see the Colts exit in the first round, I think that is exactly what is going to happen. I think folks are sleeping on the Jets; even though they have had some missteps, they are one of the league's best teams. Sanchez & Company will do enough on offense to secure a Gang Green victory. Take the Jets and the 3 points.

Sunday's first game features the 10 - 6 AFC West division champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the 12 - 4 AFC wild card Baltimore Ravens (-3). Yet again, not many folks upset that the team with the better record is on the road. I loved the way the Chiefs played this season. They have a great running attack with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, which is now complimented with a decent passing game. Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and wideout Dwayne Bowe have built great chemistry this season. It's the kind of chemistry I expected from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and wideout Anquan Boldin. But they never really seemed to get on the right page this year. If the Ravens ever get clicking offensively, I think they can put up points with the best of them. Their running game is led by their dynamic starting running back Ray Rice, who is a big threat as a receiver as well. I think the Ravens will be a little too much for the Chiefs; their weapons, experience and knack for winning playoff road games should help them this weekend. I think this game will be close but I would take the Ravens and give the 3 points.

The final game of Wild Card Weekend may be the best matchup of them all.  The 10 - 6 NFC wild card Green Bay Packers return to scene of their first win of the year at Lincoln Financial Field to face the 10 - 6 NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles (-3). The Packers come into this game as the hot team winning their last two "must win" games to punch the last ticket into the NFC playoffs. Conversely, The Eagles have lost their last two games and have fallen from the graces of many who had thought of them as being the best team in the league. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has looked a lot more human lately after resembling a "superman" on the field for most of the season. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had a great season, overcoming two concussions and a lacking running game. I think these teams are evenly matched, but my gut tells me that the Eagles offense will rise again and carry them to play the Chicago Bears next weekend. After agonizing over this decision, I would take the Eagles and give the 3 points.

So I picked three road teams to win this weekend and the one road team I didn't pick, the Packers, I had a tough time not picking. If all the road teams won, that would eliminate four division winners. That would certainly put the "wild" in Wild Card Weekend! Everybody enjoy the ride! It starts now!