After 17 weeks, the playoffs are finally upon us. 32 teams have been narrowed down to 12. Come Sunday, the pretenders will have been eliminated and we’ll be down to 8 teams battling it out for the Vince Lombardi trophy.
Of the 20 teams that did not make the playoffs, 11 made changes at the head coaching position, front office or, in some cases, both on Black Monday. Black Monday certainly lived up to it’s name but talk of replacements and how they’ll fit in certain teams can wait for another month. The spotlight is on 8 of the 12 remaining teams this weekend, starting in Houston on Saturday night.
(HOME TEAM in Caps):
TEXANS (-4.5) over Bengals
Houston haven't looked the same team since they were humbled by the Patriots in week 14. The Texans have certainly limped into the post season winning only one out of their final four games. Not the kind of momentum you want heading into the post season. However, I believe that this Houston team got complacent since they were one of the first teams guaranteed a playoff spot. While they blew their chance against Indy to get the bye, the whole world could see that result coming given the wave of #ChuckStrong-induced emotion involved in that game from a Colts stand point.
Meanwhile, the Bengals have won three of their last four games and seem to going in the complete opposite direction to the Texans. However, they lost to the Cowboys before beating Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. All three teams failed to reach the playoffs, none finished with a winning record. Their final win against the Ravens was meaningless as neither team had much to gain from the match up.
The Texans will be relying heavily on Arian Foster. If Houston can get the running game going early, then it will allow Matt Schaub to find his rhythm. Texans comfortably beat the Bengals in this round last season with a third string quarterback, 31-10. Their offense is more complete this season and with the playoff atmosphere set to take over Houston. I can’t see Dalton and co walking out with a victory.
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| Is Adrian Peterson going to run out of luck? |
Vikings (+9.5) over PACKERS
Minnesota have been in playoff mode since beating the Texans in Week 16 in a must-win game. The Packers would have liked to have beaten the Vikings last week to get the bye and avoid playing a division rival. However, Adrian Peterson stepped up and had now had a combined 409 yards in the past two games against the Packers.
However, this game is in the fortress known as Lambeau field, where the Packers were at one stage 13-0 in the postseason. That is until Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons rolled into town and defeated them. In the Packers last six playoff games, they are 2-4. The other losses came against the Giants twice in their Superbowl winning seasons and . . . . the Minnesota Vikings!
The adverse conditions in Green Bay could result in a battle of a ground game between the Packers and Vikings. If that's the case, do you really think the Vikings and Adrian Peterson will lose by 10 points or more?
"But this game is in Lambeau Field!" I hear you say. Of course Minnesota will not be comfortable playing in such an unknown territory like Lambeau Field where they play every single season right?
I still think that Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers get their revenge over the Vikings for making them play an extra game. But Minnesota will be prepared and will feel like they can pull off an upset. They got to Rodgers a lot last week (5 sacks). Rodgers will need more protection in the pocket to deliver.
Combining last year’s painful loss to the Giants in Lambeau with the improbability of Christian Ponder beating Aaron Rodgers twice in consecutive and Green Bay should take this one . . . . But certainly not by 10 points!
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| Ray Lewis: 2013's version of Omar from The Wire, according to Andy. |
Colts (+7.0) over RAVENS
Indianapolis are certainly riding on #Chuckstrong and have become everyone’s new favorite team. I have predicted them to win their wildcard match up for weeks now and am not going to change that prediction now . . . Even though I was incredibly tempted by the news that this is Ray Lewis’ last hoorah.
Ray Lewis symbolizes the Baltimore Ravens' tough, physical, no nonsense team. That sums up the city of Baltimore. If you have ever watched The Wire, you will know what I am talking about. He's been apart of the Ravens for a lifetime and is a sure-fire Hall Of Famer. If anyone can inspire one more playoff run, it is Ray Lewis.
However, there's a reason Ray Lewis is retiring. It’s the same reason why a very similar player named Brian Urlacher could not inspire the Bears. The Ravens and the Bears have had very similar seasons. Both started red hot (Bears 7-1 and Ravens 9-2). However, both crumbled as the season progressed. The difference was that the Bears were in a much tougher conference and therefore missed out on the playoffs.
A lot of the success achieved in Baltimore over the past few years on the defensive side of the ball can be attributed to, not only Ray Lewis, but also Chuck Pagano. Chuck Pagano was the defensive co-ordinator last year on a Ravens team that could have reached the Superbowl; if it wasn’t for a terrible field goal attempt that would have at least sent the game to overtime. (below). Chuck Pagano knows the strengths and weaknesses of the Baltimore defense more than most. And with that defense getting older, he should be able to exploit it.
(Rick Note: Hey Andy, is that the same Billy Cundiff who's been brought in to save the 49ers' kicking woes? Whew, good luck with that...)
Andrew Luck has done a phenomenal job as Peyton Manning’s replacement. The 11-5 Colts have a better record than the Ravens plus the momentum to reach the divisional playoffs and set up a mouth-watering clash against the Manning’s Broncos (provided the Texans also win).
Seahawks (-2.5) over REDSKINS
The final clash of the Wildcard playoffs sees the Seattle Seahawks travel to Washington D.C to take on RG3 and the Redskins. The Seahawks have been demolishing teams as of late, including a very impressive victory over the San Francisco 49ers. They didn’t play to their full potential last week, probably assuming that the Niners could take care of business against the Cardinals (which they did!)
What is worrying Seattle is their away record. The Seahawks are technically 3-5, though one of those games was in Toronto . . . and it was against the Bills. Taking that into account, out of their last 5 games, only one was when the other team have had home field advantage: that was the against Chicago Bears where it took an over time to get the victory. They lost the previous game in Miami.
While the Seahawks have won their last 5 games, Washington have won their last seven and have not lost at home since week 9 against Carolina. Their impressive run has led to the Redskins hosting their first post season game in 13 years. Expect the noise level to be deafening in Washington. After all, these fans are not going to see a playoff game with their NBA counterparts, the Wizards anytime soon.
Both Seattle and Washington are very similar: two rookie quarterbacks with outstanding play this season, combined with two great running backs in Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch and Washington’s rookie running back Alfred Morris.
What I think will edge this game is the Seattle defense. I expect that one or two reckless plays from RG3 will cost his team. No doubt that it is those kind of plays that make him a must-see player but the city if Washington haven’t idolized a sporting hero like this since that movie about Michael Jordan becoming a Washington Wizard (I never watched this movie!)
I think Seattle by 4, after a late RG3 comeback is stopped due to a turnover. Either way, it is going to be a phenomenal game and a great way to end the Wildcard round.
With the Niners safely through already thanks to Adrian Peterson’s heroics last week, I can sit back with a few beers and thoroughly enjoy this weekend as my Niners heal up and get ready to go to war next week for the divisional playoffs!
Happy Football people!
Last week: 2-3
Season: 47-51
Accumulator: 1-17
Season: 47-51
Accumulator: 1-17
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