NFL Divisional Playoff Preview
Saturday, January 15, 2011
While we here in New England have been consumed with the Pats-Jets smack talk all week long, there are 3 other Divisional Playoff Games in the NFL this weekend starting today. Here’s a look at the other three match-ups:
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh – Sat. 4:30pm (CBS)
There has been a lot of talk about how the Patriots and Jets “hate” each other this week. The problem is, most of it is just that – talk. You want to talk about a rivalry with genuine dislike and hatred? The Ravens and the Steelers fit the bill.
These two teams are almost mirror images of each other. Both finished the regular season at (12-4). Both are known for having tough, physical defenses. They split their regular season match-ups both scoring a total of 27 points combined in the two games. The Steelers won at Baltimore 13-10. The Ravens won in Pittsburgh 17-14.
Both have good weapons on offense with Roethlisberger, Mendenhall, Wallace and Ward leading the way for Pittsburgh. Flacco, Rice, Boldin and Mason are Baltimore’s top performers.
This has all the makings of a backyard brawl, a fist fight between two tough teams. We’ll give the Steelers the edge due to the home field.
Green Bay @ Atlanta – Sat. 8pm (FOX)
The Packers visit Atlanta fresh off their Wild card win in Philadelphia. They now head to the Georgia Dome to face a Falcons team they met in week 12 in Atlanta. That hard fought game went to the Falcons 20-17.
Atlanta QB Matt Ryan is virtually unbeatable at home having lost only one game in his career at the Georgia Dome. Ryan is, however, still searching for his first playoff victory which is something Aaron Rodgers picked up last week in Philly.
Rogers and Ryan have almost identical numbers this season. Both have great go-to WR’s in the Falcons’ Roddy White and the Packers’ Greg Jennings.
If there is a decided advantage on offense for either team, it’s in the running game. While rookie James Starks ran for 123 yards last week in Philadelphia, that appears to be the aberration for this Green Bay ground game and not the norm.
Atlanta, however, has Michael Turner who rushed for just under 1,400 yards this season and 12 touchdowns.
The x-factor for Green Bay is defensive coordinator Dom Capers. The former Patriots assistant has done a fantastic job in Green Bay since leaving the Patriots to go there a couple of years ago. His defense stymied Michael Vick last week. Can they do the same to Ryan and Co. this week? We’ll see.
A lot of people like the Packers to represent the NFC in this year’s Super Bowl which wouldn’t be all that surprising. Still, given Atlanta’s dominance at home, we’ll take the Falcons in a close one.
Seattle @ Chicago – Sunday 1pm (FOX)
Nobody thought that the (7-9) Seahawks would make it to the postseason, much less advance through the Wild Card round to this point. But here they are, decided underdogs at Soldier Field.
One of the big reasons Pete Carroll’s team was able to upend the defending champs last week was the resurgence of QB Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks QB threw for 272 yards and 4 TD’s against the Saints and may need a repeat performance Sunday if Seattle hopes to continue its Cinderella story.
Buffalo cast-off Marshawn Lynch also shredded the Saints defense for 131 yards and 1 TD last week but should find it much tougher to run against this Bears defense Sunday.
Chicago’s hopes rest on the arm of Jay Cutler. The Bears QB doesn’t have to be outstanding Sunday for his team to win. He simply has to avoid costly mistakes and turnovers which could put his team in position to lose.
Seattle beat the Bears 23-20 in Chicago October 17th in week 6. Most believe that a repeat performance Sunday is unlikely. I agree. The Bears should win.
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It