Baltimore Ravens AT New England Patriots
If you turned on a sports show of any kind in the past 24 hours, you know that the scrappy, soulful, "one-of-a-kind" Wes Welker is hurt, and now, all of a sudden, Brady and his bunch have to "evolve" the way they play for the postseason without him. People have been calling him their key to success this season. Obviously he was doing something right: 123 receptions is tough to overlook, and he created a lot of opportunities for them.
Here's what the typical NE fan is forgetting: without a Mr. Randy Moss, Welker is just another short possession receiver who catches balls in the flats and can make an over-pursuing linebacker miss. Don't get me wrong: I'd be all about Welker if he were on my team. But he isn't the best receiver on that team. His opportunities are created by the other defense taking away the deep threat that WR #1 poses. But before I sound like I'm on the Patriots bandwagon, let me explain why this creates a golden opportunity for Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the other freaks of nature that play defense for Baltimore.
Now the Patriots are easy. They have Moss, who still won't go across the middle, and is at his best when he's deep. Ed Reed knows how to sniff out the ball from a deep threat, and Ray Lewis knows how to cover underneath routes (ok, he's old, he knows how to tell his teammates to cover them. But he does it REALLY convincingly.) The Pats running attack is not the best in the playoffs, and the Ravens can cover it. Joe Flacco is no slouch either, and he's shown he has confidence quarterbacking the Ravens in the playoffs. Their receivers have to focus this time around, and they can't fumble like they did two weeks ago.
But you can't ever count out Tom Brady. It pains me to say it, but I still don't think the Ravens have the offensive tools to make the difference. The Patriots just make it happen, year in and year out, and though they have a big wrinkle to solve this week with the loss of Welker, I think they will when all is said and done.
Score: Baltimore 17, New England 27
Green Bay Packers AT Arizona Cardinals
This is the first time Aaron Rodgers will test his skills in the playoffs after missing out last year on a chance to make Brett Favre look like a washed up diva. He certainly has a good team playing for him. Ryan Grant has been running consistently, and without much error. He has not been electrifying, but the general consensus is that you need consistency coming out of the backfield to even dream of success in the playoffs.
Which brings me to the Arizona Cardinals. They don’t have one guy doing it. Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower have been enjoying each other’s work and gashing defensive fronts left and right. And this has been instrumental in setting up Warner to Fitzgerald, Warner to Boldin, and Warner to insert-receiver-here. But there’s a problem, and that is the sight of Anquan Boldin limping off the field yesterday. Perhaps more importantly, it was Anquan Boldin limping off the field yesterday after the Packers defensive backs were seemingly catching everything thrown in their general direction.
Let’s not forget what Fitzgerald showed he was capable of in the postseason last year. He was superhuman, and he can be again if he erases all memory of last week's trouncing. But only expect him to make plays down the sidelines; the Packers' defensive front seven has been absolutely brilliant this year, with Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji leading the way (both of whom are rookies.) And we have to wonder if Charles Woodson, who has enjoyed quite the career revival this year, will be healthy enough to cover Fitzgerald step for step in this rematch.
Arizona definitely has a home field advantage to be proud of, but the Packers are too good and are riding into the postseason on a hot streak. The Cardinals limped away from last week, and have been one of the more hot and cold teams this year. I’m no psychic, but I’ll take the sure thing over the team that can’t decide on an identity.
Score: Green Bay 34, Arizona 15
Philadelphia Eagles AT Dallas Cowboys
So, Dallas finally decided to get its act together and realize that Thanksgiving isn’t the end of the season. It’s about time, because I’m not sure anyone, including Dallas fans, could take another minute of Jerry Jones on his outrageously expensive soapbox (the man owns the largest HD screen in the WORLD, I’m sure he spent at least a grand on a soapbox since he’s on it all the time.) (ZING!)
I know that the Eagles got shut out in Week 17, in Cowboys Stadium, and this game is essentially a rematch in the same stadium. I also know that the Cowboys shut out the Washington Redskins on national television the weekend before. I have no intent to take away anything from either of those performances, as Dallas very aptly brushed the monkey off its collective back given their past performances in December. Miles Austin has had an outstanding year. Tony Romo is playing with confidence. Wade Phillips has the defense functioning at a top-notch level.
I try not to dwell in the past, as I believe that you’re only as good as your record says you are. And looking at the scoreboard, the Eagles and Cowboys are even at 11-5 for the record, with Dallas edging them on a tiebreaker for the NFC east title. Now answer me this: When’s the last time Dallas won a playoff game? And what about the Eagles? Again, things have changed quite a bit recently, but I still think the cultures of the two teams are different, and that hasn’t changed one bit. Philadelphia wins, and Dallas wins too, but Philly has been more of a threat to get close to (or into) the Super Bowl almost every year for nearly the past decade. Dallas has been the laughingstock of the postseason. They have a chance to turn it around, but again, I’ll stick with what I know to be true.
Also, DeSean Jackson is a really, really, REALLY good wide receiver.
Score: Philadelphia 28, Dallas 24
New York Jets AT Cincinnati Bengals
I promise you that none of my anger in this section is a result of the Texans being forced out of the playoffs due to this joke of a game in week 17. It goes without saying that the postseason rematch is due to be far more interesting, and the constant factor between the two games is the Jets running attack. They showed how dangerous they can be when they’re running on the ground. Shonn Greene, Thomas Jones, and Brad Smith are all lethal with the ball in hand, and as the NBC announcing crew was confirming, this is mostly due to the devastating offensive line that the Jets have blocking for them upfront.
But something will change. This time, the Jets won’t be playing a game against crash dummies and orange cones. This time, Carson Palmer will decide to play quarterback instead of Marco Polo, and Chad Ochocinco will actually heat the ice blocks off his sore hands before the game, instead of after it. The Bengals won the AFC North this year, which is no easy feat considering how, even though they were nudged out of the postseason, the Steelers are no team to be taken lightly. Carson Palmer is still a top-10 quarterback, and Mark Sanchez is a rookie.
That doesn’t mean the Jets aren’t making noise. They’ve certainly played like contenders in the past, and they boast the best cornerback in the league in Darrelle Revis. He shut down Chad Ochocinco’s stunt double last week, so it will be interesting to see how he fares against an actual football team this week. But Cincinnati will put Cedric Benson back on the field, and he made noise as the best RB in the league before Chris Johnson got close to breaking 2000.
Who am I kidding? The Jets were given the postseason as a gift, courtesy of a brain fart by Colts upper management, and the Cincinnati Zombie Bengals. For Rex Ryan to say that they are a dangerous team is similar to saying that I have no life and I should be doing better things with my time than writing pro bono sports columns that 10, MAYBE 15 people, will read: it’s just not true. The Bengals will show up and expose the Jets just like New Orleans, Miami, Jacksonville, and New England (week 11 version) did.
Score: New York 7, Cincinnati 31
If you turned on a sports show of any kind in the past 24 hours, you know that the scrappy, soulful, "one-of-a-kind" Wes Welker is hurt, and now, all of a sudden, Brady and his bunch have to "evolve" the way they play for the postseason without him. People have been calling him their key to success this season. Obviously he was doing something right: 123 receptions is tough to overlook, and he created a lot of opportunities for them.
Here's what the typical NE fan is forgetting: without a Mr. Randy Moss, Welker is just another short possession receiver who catches balls in the flats and can make an over-pursuing linebacker miss. Don't get me wrong: I'd be all about Welker if he were on my team. But he isn't the best receiver on that team. His opportunities are created by the other defense taking away the deep threat that WR #1 poses. But before I sound like I'm on the Patriots bandwagon, let me explain why this creates a golden opportunity for Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the other freaks of nature that play defense for Baltimore.
Now the Patriots are easy. They have Moss, who still won't go across the middle, and is at his best when he's deep. Ed Reed knows how to sniff out the ball from a deep threat, and Ray Lewis knows how to cover underneath routes (ok, he's old, he knows how to tell his teammates to cover them. But he does it REALLY convincingly.) The Pats running attack is not the best in the playoffs, and the Ravens can cover it. Joe Flacco is no slouch either, and he's shown he has confidence quarterbacking the Ravens in the playoffs. Their receivers have to focus this time around, and they can't fumble like they did two weeks ago.
But you can't ever count out Tom Brady. It pains me to say it, but I still don't think the Ravens have the offensive tools to make the difference. The Patriots just make it happen, year in and year out, and though they have a big wrinkle to solve this week with the loss of Welker, I think they will when all is said and done.
Score: Baltimore 17, New England 27
Green Bay Packers AT Arizona Cardinals
This is the first time Aaron Rodgers will test his skills in the playoffs after missing out last year on a chance to make Brett Favre look like a washed up diva. He certainly has a good team playing for him. Ryan Grant has been running consistently, and without much error. He has not been electrifying, but the general consensus is that you need consistency coming out of the backfield to even dream of success in the playoffs.
Which brings me to the Arizona Cardinals. They don’t have one guy doing it. Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower have been enjoying each other’s work and gashing defensive fronts left and right. And this has been instrumental in setting up Warner to Fitzgerald, Warner to Boldin, and Warner to insert-receiver-here. But there’s a problem, and that is the sight of Anquan Boldin limping off the field yesterday. Perhaps more importantly, it was Anquan Boldin limping off the field yesterday after the Packers defensive backs were seemingly catching everything thrown in their general direction.
Let’s not forget what Fitzgerald showed he was capable of in the postseason last year. He was superhuman, and he can be again if he erases all memory of last week's trouncing. But only expect him to make plays down the sidelines; the Packers' defensive front seven has been absolutely brilliant this year, with Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji leading the way (both of whom are rookies.) And we have to wonder if Charles Woodson, who has enjoyed quite the career revival this year, will be healthy enough to cover Fitzgerald step for step in this rematch.
Arizona definitely has a home field advantage to be proud of, but the Packers are too good and are riding into the postseason on a hot streak. The Cardinals limped away from last week, and have been one of the more hot and cold teams this year. I’m no psychic, but I’ll take the sure thing over the team that can’t decide on an identity.
Score: Green Bay 34, Arizona 15
Philadelphia Eagles AT Dallas Cowboys
So, Dallas finally decided to get its act together and realize that Thanksgiving isn’t the end of the season. It’s about time, because I’m not sure anyone, including Dallas fans, could take another minute of Jerry Jones on his outrageously expensive soapbox (the man owns the largest HD screen in the WORLD, I’m sure he spent at least a grand on a soapbox since he’s on it all the time.) (ZING!)
I know that the Eagles got shut out in Week 17, in Cowboys Stadium, and this game is essentially a rematch in the same stadium. I also know that the Cowboys shut out the Washington Redskins on national television the weekend before. I have no intent to take away anything from either of those performances, as Dallas very aptly brushed the monkey off its collective back given their past performances in December. Miles Austin has had an outstanding year. Tony Romo is playing with confidence. Wade Phillips has the defense functioning at a top-notch level.
I try not to dwell in the past, as I believe that you’re only as good as your record says you are. And looking at the scoreboard, the Eagles and Cowboys are even at 11-5 for the record, with Dallas edging them on a tiebreaker for the NFC east title. Now answer me this: When’s the last time Dallas won a playoff game? And what about the Eagles? Again, things have changed quite a bit recently, but I still think the cultures of the two teams are different, and that hasn’t changed one bit. Philadelphia wins, and Dallas wins too, but Philly has been more of a threat to get close to (or into) the Super Bowl almost every year for nearly the past decade. Dallas has been the laughingstock of the postseason. They have a chance to turn it around, but again, I’ll stick with what I know to be true.
Also, DeSean Jackson is a really, really, REALLY good wide receiver.
Score: Philadelphia 28, Dallas 24
New York Jets AT Cincinnati Bengals
I promise you that none of my anger in this section is a result of the Texans being forced out of the playoffs due to this joke of a game in week 17. It goes without saying that the postseason rematch is due to be far more interesting, and the constant factor between the two games is the Jets running attack. They showed how dangerous they can be when they’re running on the ground. Shonn Greene, Thomas Jones, and Brad Smith are all lethal with the ball in hand, and as the NBC announcing crew was confirming, this is mostly due to the devastating offensive line that the Jets have blocking for them upfront.
But something will change. This time, the Jets won’t be playing a game against crash dummies and orange cones. This time, Carson Palmer will decide to play quarterback instead of Marco Polo, and Chad Ochocinco will actually heat the ice blocks off his sore hands before the game, instead of after it. The Bengals won the AFC North this year, which is no easy feat considering how, even though they were nudged out of the postseason, the Steelers are no team to be taken lightly. Carson Palmer is still a top-10 quarterback, and Mark Sanchez is a rookie.
That doesn’t mean the Jets aren’t making noise. They’ve certainly played like contenders in the past, and they boast the best cornerback in the league in Darrelle Revis. He shut down Chad Ochocinco’s stunt double last week, so it will be interesting to see how he fares against an actual football team this week. But Cincinnati will put Cedric Benson back on the field, and he made noise as the best RB in the league before Chris Johnson got close to breaking 2000.
Who am I kidding? The Jets were given the postseason as a gift, courtesy of a brain fart by Colts upper management, and the Cincinnati Zombie Bengals. For Rex Ryan to say that they are a dangerous team is similar to saying that I have no life and I should be doing better things with my time than writing pro bono sports columns that 10, MAYBE 15 people, will read: it’s just not true. The Bengals will show up and expose the Jets just like New Orleans, Miami, Jacksonville, and New England (week 11 version) did.
Score: New York 7, Cincinnati 31
I'm starting grad school soon, and I came to realize two things tonight: I need to rev my writing engines to get ready for the ridiculous deluge of papers that I will be writing and my inner, secret sports columnist psyche is itching. No crazy introduction, I'll get to the point and pick apart each game, piece by piece.
Baltimore Ravens AT New England Patriots
If you turned on a sports show of any kind in the past 24 hours, you know that the scrappy, soulful, "one-of-a-kind" Wes Welker is hurt, and now, all of a sudden, Brady and his bunch have to "evolve" the way they play for the postseason without him. People have been calling him their key to success this season. Obviously he was doing something right: 123 receptions is tough to overlook, and he created a lot of opportunities for them.
Here's what the typical NE fan is forgetting: without a Mr. Randy Moss, Welker is just another short possession receiver who catches balls in the flats and can make an over-pursuing linebacker miss. Don't get me wrong: I'd be all about Welker if he were on my team. But he isn't the best receiver on that team. His opportunities are created by the other defense taking away the deep threat that WR #1 poses. But before I sound like I'm on the Patriots bandwagon, let me explain why this creates a golden opportunity for Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the other freaks of nature that play defense for Baltimore.
Now the Patriots are easy. They have Moss, who still won't go across the middle, and is at his best when he's deep. Ed Reed knows how to sniff out the ball from a deep threat, and Ray Lewis knows how to cover underneath routes (ok, he's old, he knows how to tell his teammates to cover them. But he does it REALLY convincingly.) The Pats running attack is not the best in the playoffs, and the Ravens can cover it. Joe Flacco is no slouch either, and he's shown he has confidence quarterbacking the Ravens in the playoffs. Their receivers have to focus this time around, and they can't fumble like they did two weeks ago.
But you can't ever count out Tom Brady. It pains me to say it, but I still don't think the Ravens have the offensive tools to make the difference. The Patriots just make it happen, year in and year out, and though they have a big wrinkle to solve this week with the loss of Welker, I think they will when all is said and done.
Score: Baltimore 17, New England 27
Green Bay Packers AT Arizona Cardinals
This is the first time Aaron Rodgers will test his skills in the playoffs after missing out last year on a chance to make Brett Favre look like a washed up diva. He certainly has a good team playing for him. Ryan Grant has been running consistently, and without much error. He has not been electrifying, but the general consensus is that you need consistency coming out of the backfield to even dream of success in the playoffs.
Which brings me to the Arizona Cardinals. They don’t have one guy doing it. Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower have been enjoying each other’s work and gashing defensive fronts left and right. And this has been instrumental in setting up Warner to Fitzgerald, Warner to Boldin, and Warner to insert-receiver-here. But there’s a problem, and that is the sight of Anquan Boldin limping off the field yesterday. Perhaps more importantly, it was Anquan Boldin limping off the field yesterday after the Packers defensive backs were seemingly catching everything thrown in their general direction.
Let’s not forget what Fitzgerald showed he was capable of in the postseason last year. He was superhuman, and he can be again if he erases all memory of last week's trouncing. But only expect him to make plays down the sidelines; the Packers' defensive front seven has been absolutely brilliant this year, with Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji leading the way (both of whom are rookies.) And we have to wonder if Charles Woodson, who has enjoyed quite the career revival this year, will be healthy enough to cover Fitzgerald step for step in this rematch.
Arizona definitely has a home field advantage to be proud of, but the Packers are too good and are riding into the postseason on a hot streak. The Cardinals limped away from last week, and have been one of the more hot and cold teams this year. I’m no psychic, but I’ll take the sure thing over the team that can’t decide on an identity.
Score: Green Bay 34, Arizona 15
Philadelphia Eagles AT Dallas Cowboys
So, Dallas finally decided to get its act together and realize that Thanksgiving isn’t the end of the season. It’s about time, because I’m not sure anyone, including Dallas fans, could take another minute of Jerry Jones on his outrageously expensive soapbox (the man owns the largest HD screen in the WORLD, I’m sure he spent at least a grand on a soapbox since he’s on it all the time.) (ZING!)
I know that the Eagles got shut out in Week 17, in Cowboys Stadium, and this game is essentially a rematch in the same stadium. I also know that the Cowboys shut out the Washington Redskins on national television the weekend before. I have no intent to take away anything from either of those performances, as Dallas very aptly brushed the monkey off its collective back given their past performances in December. Miles Austin has had an outstanding year. Tony Romo is playing with confidence. Wade Phillips has the defense functioning at a top-notch level.
I try not to dwell in the past, as I believe that you’re only as good as your record says you are. And looking at the scoreboard, the Eagles and Cowboys are even at 11-5 for the record, with Dallas edging them on a tiebreaker for the NFC east title. Now answer me this: When’s the last time Dallas won a playoff game? And what about the Eagles? Again, things have changed quite a bit recently, but I still think the cultures of the two teams are different, and that hasn’t changed one bit. Philadelphia wins, and Dallas wins too, but Philly has been more of a threat to get close to (or into) the Super Bowl almost every year for nearly the past decade. Dallas has been the laughingstock of the postseason. They have a chance to turn it around, but again, I’ll stick with what I know to be true.
Also, DeSean Jackson is a really, really, REALLY good wide receiver.
Score: Philadelphia 28, Dallas 24
New York Jets AT Cincinnati Bengals
I promise you that none of my anger in this section is a result of the Texans being forced out of the playoffs due to this joke of a game in week 17. It goes without saying that the postseason rematch is due to be far more interesting, and the constant factor between the two games is the Jets running attack. They showed how dangerous they can be when they’re running on the ground. Shonn Greene, Thomas Jones, and Brad Smith are all lethal with the ball in hand, and as the NBC announcing crew was confirming, this is mostly due to the devastating offensive line that the Jets have blocking for them upfront.
But something will change. This time, the Jets won’t be playing a game against crash dummies and orange cones. This time, Carson Palmer will decide to play quarterback instead of Marco Polo, and Chad Ochocinco will actually heat the ice blocks off his sore hands before the game, instead of after it. The Bengals won the AFC North this year, which is no easy feat considering how, even though they were nudged out of the postseason, the Steelers are no team to be taken lightly. Carson Palmer is still a top-10 quarterback, and Mark Sanchez is a rookie.
That doesn’t mean the Jets aren’t making noise. They’ve certainly played like contenders in the past, and they boast the best cornerback in the league in Darrelle Revis. He shut down Chad Ochocinco’s stunt double last week, so it will be interesting to see how he fares against an actual football team this week. But Cincinnati will put Cedric Benson back on the field, and he made noise as the best RB in the league before Chris Johnson got close to breaking 2000.
Who am I kidding? The Jets were given the postseason as a gift, courtesy of a brain fart by Colts upper management, and the Cincinnati Zombie Bengals. For Rex Ryan to say that they are a dangerous team is similar to saying that I have no life and I should be doing better things with my time than writing pro bono sports columns that 10, MAYBE 15 people, will read: it’s just not true. The Bengals will show up and expose the Jets just like New Orleans, Miami, Jacksonville, and New England (week 11 version) did.
Score: New York 7, Cincinnati 31
Baltimore Ravens AT New England Patriots
If you turned on a sports show of any kind in the past 24 hours, you know that the scrappy, soulful, "one-of-a-kind" Wes Welker is hurt, and now, all of a sudden, Brady and his bunch have to "evolve" the way they play for the postseason without him. People have been calling him their key to success this season. Obviously he was doing something right: 123 receptions is tough to overlook, and he created a lot of opportunities for them.
Here's what the typical NE fan is forgetting: without a Mr. Randy Moss, Welker is just another short possession receiver who catches balls in the flats and can make an over-pursuing linebacker miss. Don't get me wrong: I'd be all about Welker if he were on my team. But he isn't the best receiver on that team. His opportunities are created by the other defense taking away the deep threat that WR #1 poses. But before I sound like I'm on the Patriots bandwagon, let me explain why this creates a golden opportunity for Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the other freaks of nature that play defense for Baltimore.
Now the Patriots are easy. They have Moss, who still won't go across the middle, and is at his best when he's deep. Ed Reed knows how to sniff out the ball from a deep threat, and Ray Lewis knows how to cover underneath routes (ok, he's old, he knows how to tell his teammates to cover them. But he does it REALLY convincingly.) The Pats running attack is not the best in the playoffs, and the Ravens can cover it. Joe Flacco is no slouch either, and he's shown he has confidence quarterbacking the Ravens in the playoffs. Their receivers have to focus this time around, and they can't fumble like they did two weeks ago.
But you can't ever count out Tom Brady. It pains me to say it, but I still don't think the Ravens have the offensive tools to make the difference. The Patriots just make it happen, year in and year out, and though they have a big wrinkle to solve this week with the loss of Welker, I think they will when all is said and done.
Score: Baltimore 17, New England 27
Green Bay Packers AT Arizona Cardinals
This is the first time Aaron Rodgers will test his skills in the playoffs after missing out last year on a chance to make Brett Favre look like a washed up diva. He certainly has a good team playing for him. Ryan Grant has been running consistently, and without much error. He has not been electrifying, but the general consensus is that you need consistency coming out of the backfield to even dream of success in the playoffs.
Which brings me to the Arizona Cardinals. They don’t have one guy doing it. Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower have been enjoying each other’s work and gashing defensive fronts left and right. And this has been instrumental in setting up Warner to Fitzgerald, Warner to Boldin, and Warner to insert-receiver-here. But there’s a problem, and that is the sight of Anquan Boldin limping off the field yesterday. Perhaps more importantly, it was Anquan Boldin limping off the field yesterday after the Packers defensive backs were seemingly catching everything thrown in their general direction.
Let’s not forget what Fitzgerald showed he was capable of in the postseason last year. He was superhuman, and he can be again if he erases all memory of last week's trouncing. But only expect him to make plays down the sidelines; the Packers' defensive front seven has been absolutely brilliant this year, with Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji leading the way (both of whom are rookies.) And we have to wonder if Charles Woodson, who has enjoyed quite the career revival this year, will be healthy enough to cover Fitzgerald step for step in this rematch.
Arizona definitely has a home field advantage to be proud of, but the Packers are too good and are riding into the postseason on a hot streak. The Cardinals limped away from last week, and have been one of the more hot and cold teams this year. I’m no psychic, but I’ll take the sure thing over the team that can’t decide on an identity.
Score: Green Bay 34, Arizona 15
Philadelphia Eagles AT Dallas Cowboys
So, Dallas finally decided to get its act together and realize that Thanksgiving isn’t the end of the season. It’s about time, because I’m not sure anyone, including Dallas fans, could take another minute of Jerry Jones on his outrageously expensive soapbox (the man owns the largest HD screen in the WORLD, I’m sure he spent at least a grand on a soapbox since he’s on it all the time.) (ZING!)
I know that the Eagles got shut out in Week 17, in Cowboys Stadium, and this game is essentially a rematch in the same stadium. I also know that the Cowboys shut out the Washington Redskins on national television the weekend before. I have no intent to take away anything from either of those performances, as Dallas very aptly brushed the monkey off its collective back given their past performances in December. Miles Austin has had an outstanding year. Tony Romo is playing with confidence. Wade Phillips has the defense functioning at a top-notch level.
I try not to dwell in the past, as I believe that you’re only as good as your record says you are. And looking at the scoreboard, the Eagles and Cowboys are even at 11-5 for the record, with Dallas edging them on a tiebreaker for the NFC east title. Now answer me this: When’s the last time Dallas won a playoff game? And what about the Eagles? Again, things have changed quite a bit recently, but I still think the cultures of the two teams are different, and that hasn’t changed one bit. Philadelphia wins, and Dallas wins too, but Philly has been more of a threat to get close to (or into) the Super Bowl almost every year for nearly the past decade. Dallas has been the laughingstock of the postseason. They have a chance to turn it around, but again, I’ll stick with what I know to be true.
Also, DeSean Jackson is a really, really, REALLY good wide receiver.
Score: Philadelphia 28, Dallas 24
New York Jets AT Cincinnati Bengals
I promise you that none of my anger in this section is a result of the Texans being forced out of the playoffs due to this joke of a game in week 17. It goes without saying that the postseason rematch is due to be far more interesting, and the constant factor between the two games is the Jets running attack. They showed how dangerous they can be when they’re running on the ground. Shonn Greene, Thomas Jones, and Brad Smith are all lethal with the ball in hand, and as the NBC announcing crew was confirming, this is mostly due to the devastating offensive line that the Jets have blocking for them upfront.
But something will change. This time, the Jets won’t be playing a game against crash dummies and orange cones. This time, Carson Palmer will decide to play quarterback instead of Marco Polo, and Chad Ochocinco will actually heat the ice blocks off his sore hands before the game, instead of after it. The Bengals won the AFC North this year, which is no easy feat considering how, even though they were nudged out of the postseason, the Steelers are no team to be taken lightly. Carson Palmer is still a top-10 quarterback, and Mark Sanchez is a rookie.
That doesn’t mean the Jets aren’t making noise. They’ve certainly played like contenders in the past, and they boast the best cornerback in the league in Darrelle Revis. He shut down Chad Ochocinco’s stunt double last week, so it will be interesting to see how he fares against an actual football team this week. But Cincinnati will put Cedric Benson back on the field, and he made noise as the best RB in the league before Chris Johnson got close to breaking 2000.
Who am I kidding? The Jets were given the postseason as a gift, courtesy of a brain fart by Colts upper management, and the Cincinnati Zombie Bengals. For Rex Ryan to say that they are a dangerous team is similar to saying that I have no life and I should be doing better things with my time than writing pro bono sports columns that 10, MAYBE 15 people, will read: it’s just not true. The Bengals will show up and expose the Jets just like New Orleans, Miami, Jacksonville, and New England (week 11 version) did.
Score: New York 7, Cincinnati 31
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