And then there were 12, actually only 8 this weekend. The NFL playoffs are here and its gets extra crucial. There are no 2nd chances. You have a bad game, you go home. Win and get one step closer to the Super Bowl. There used to be a bit of a stigma to being a wild card. Someone with little chance of getting far in the playoffs. But there have been three Super Bowl winners in the last ten years that came out of the wild card weekend. Restructured after the 2002 realignment, the wild card weekend makes it tougher for a team that didn't win its division to get to the Super Bowl, but The Jets,Chiefs, Giants and Cowboys have all won Super Bowls and can look no further than last years champs who went through tough venues in Cincinnati, Indy and Denver to win Super Bowl XL.
So let the road to Miami begin
Wild Card Weekend
January 6
Chiefs (9-7 #6 seed, Wild Card qualifier) vs Colts (12-4 #3 seed, AFC South Champs)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis-4:30 (NBC)
Favorite-Colts by 7
Last Playoff Meeting- Colts beat Chiefs 38-31 in 2004 divisional round in Kansas City
Its A Fact-The Colts were unbeaten at home for the first time since moving to Indy.
The Colts righted their ship late and have ridden the hot hand of Peyton Manning. The Chiefs, all but left for dead three weeks ago has everything fall right and got the last berth. Larry Johnson has been the workhorse for the Cheifs and questions about his durability have gone out the window. The Colts suspect run defense will get a test, but the Colts will try to score points quickly to prevent the Chiefs from riding the run. If the Chiefs weren't 3-5 on the road, I'd call this an upset waiting to happen. But the Colts are too tough in the small but extremely noisy RCA Dome
Pick-Indianapolis
Cowboys (9-7 #5 Seed, wild card qualifier) vs Seahawks (9-7 #4 seed, NFC West Champs)
Qwest Field, Seattle- 8 (NBC)
Favorite-Seahawks by 3
First Playoff Meeting, Seahawks lost SB XL to Steelers, Cowboys lost in Wild Card round to Panthers in 2003
Its A Fact-The Cowboys have qualified 28 times for the playoffs, the most in the NFL, but have lost their last four playoff games.
The Pokes stumbled badly down the stretch losing their last two to fall from the division lead to a #5 seed. The Seahawks took advantage of an incredibly weak NFC West to defend their divisional crown for a third time. But as goes Shaun Alexander so go the 'Hawks who have been playing to the level of their opponent as of late. Tony Romo has been up and down lately and the Pokes can ill afford another uneven performance. Winning in Seattle is always a tough task, and I can't see the Pokes getting out of their funk. It'll take one overthrown ball over TO's head for things to go badly. Of course the Tuna jinx will follow me into the playoffs
Pick-Seattle
January 7
NY Jets (10-6 #5 seed wild card qualifier) vs Patriots (12-4 #4 seed AFC East Champs)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA- 1 (CBS)
Favorite-Patriots by 8.5
Last Playoff Meeting-Patriots defeated the Jets 26-14 in the Wild Card round in the 1985 playoffs
Its A Fact-Tom Brady has yet to lose a home playoff game
The Pats seem to be peaking at the right time. The two headed running monster that is Corey Dillon and Lawrence Maroney are grinding opponents into the ground. Tom Brady may not have the weapons for a total aerial assualt but you'll be hard pressed to bet against his coolness in playoff battle. If not for the Saints, the Jets would be the feel good story of the year. Eric Mangini took the ruins of a 4-12 team from '05 and made them efficent and dangerous. Chad Pennington was the right choice for comeback player of the year and while he isn't flashy he gets the job done and is the Jets heart and soul. If it were any other team the Jets were playing, I'd give them a punchers chance. But Belichick is the master and he has a few more lessons to teach his protégé,
Pick-New England
NY Giants (8-8 #6 seed, wild card qualifier) vs Eagles (10-6 #3 Seed NFC East Champs)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia- 4:30 (Fox)
Favorite-Eagles by 7
Last Playoff Meeting The Giants beat the Eagles 20-10 in the 2000 NFC Divisional Round
Its A Fact-The Eagles are playing their first playoff game since 1996 without Donovan McNabb
The Eagles are quietly confident after streaking into the playoffs, a scenario thought impossible after the season ending injury to Donovan McNabb. The Eagles have rode the steady leadership of Jeff Garcia to an improbable divisional title. The Giants are an enigma, qualifying for a playoff spot that most pundits (me included) didn't think they deserved. The Eagles can ride the solid running of Brian Westbrook and a very underrated defense to a lead and watch Eli Manning implode trying to get it back. I think this might very well be Tom Coughlin's last stand in a Giants sweater.
Pick-Philadelphia
Last Week 11-5
Overall 155-101
Two More Bowl Games before the Ultimate College Bowl game of the Century
NCAA College Football
January 6
International Bowl
Western Michigan (8-4) vs Cincinnati (7-5)
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario Canada- 12 Noon (ESPN)
Favorite-Cincinnati by 7
Its A Fact-This is the first bowl game since the 1937 Bacardi Bowl in Havana to be played outside of the US
New UC head coach Brian Kelly gets to make his first impression in Red and Black. He gets a solid defensive unit SS Dominic Ross is a hard hitter and it will be interesting to see how this defenses handles power RB Mark Bonds. The Bearcats have a three headed monster in the run as Bradley Glatthaar, Butler Benton and Greg Moore can keep a defense guessing with their distinct running styles. The Broncos have a strong run defense and LB Ameer Ismail is a sack machine. The Bearcats are best advised to know where this playmaker is at all times. I think the Bearcats can establish the run and use TE Brent Celek as a safety valve to wear down the Broncos. It'll be a close low scoring affair.
Pick-Cincinnati
GMAC Bowl
Ohio (9-4) vs Southern Miss (8-5)
Ladd Peebles Stadium; Mobile, AL- 8 (ESPN)
Favorite-Southern Miss by 6
Its A Fact-This is Ohio's first bowl game since 1968, while the Golden Eagles are making their 9th bowl appearance in the last 10 years.
If its Southern Miss, you're talking about a solid defense. They'll have they're hands full with shifty scatback Kalvin McRae who rushed for 15 TD's and over 1200 yards. The Bobcats have yet to lose a game when McRae rushes for more than 100 yards, so it'll be a good bet that he'll get plenty of touches. Southern Miss QB Jeremy Young isn't flashy but he directs a solid, error free offense. I can't see the bowl vet Golden Eagles being awed by the primetime lights as much as the baby Bobcats will. Frank Solich will have this team in bowl games often, but a win isn't in the mix this time.
Pick-Southern Miss
Bowl Tally
Wednesday 1-0
Overall 22-7
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