Post-season Predictions - Wildcard Round
The Patriots head into the playoffs as the only team in NFL history to win all 16 games in the regular season. But if you ask any Patriots fan whether 2007 was a successful season, every one will tell you it's too early to say. 16-0 in the regular season means nothing (o.k. next to nothing) if you're not 3-0 in the post-season. Will the Pats go 3-0 when it matters? Before I answer that question, let's take a look at this weekend's wildcard round...
Wildcard Round:
(3) Chargers vs (6) Titans: The Titans have one of the best right sides of a DL with Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch. But Haynesworth is listed as probable (hamstring), Vince Young is a game-time decision and the Titans lack talent at WR (even more with Roydell Williams done for the year) make the Titans double-digit underdogs. Jeff Fisher is a great coach that makes a lot with limited talent and I certainly have more confidence in his ability to call the game than I have in Norv Turner. But the Chargers have too much talent on both sides of the ball, head into the post-season playing great football (6 straight wins) and L.T. has returned to form with 8 TDs in the past 5 games. Chargers advance.
(4) Steelers vs (5) Jaguars: These two teams met 3 weeks ago in Pittsburgh and the Jags won by a TD. Without Willie Parker, the Steelers head into this game as the only home underdog in the first round of playoffs. Including their loss to the Jags, the Steelers head into the post-season with 1 win in their last 4 games. The Jaguars are one of the most physical teams in the NFL and I expect the Jags to beat the Steelers again.
(3) Seahawks vs (6) Redskins: After the tragic way Sean Taylor's life ended, it's amazing that the Redskins were able to rally together and make the playoffs. In fact, they've won all 4 of their games after attending his funeral. Needing a win to get in last week against their biggest rival and the #1 seed, they won by 21 points (matching Taylor's number). Although the 'Skins are a feel-good story, they will miss Taylor and Carlos Rogers (injured) more than ever as Matt Hasselbeck is having the best year of his career (nearly 4000 passing yards). The Seahawks will advance to face Brett Favre and the Packers.
(4) Bucs vs (5) Giants: Will Tom Coughlin be back as Giants' coach in 2008? Will Eli Manning take the next step and show that he is a franchise QB? These questions could be answered with a win on Sunday. Getting to the playoffs and losing every game 3 years in a row will not make Giants fans happy. The Giants are banged up after impressing me (and many others) in their performance against the Pats last week. The Bucs are much healthier as they rested their starters the last 2 weeks. That being said, I look for the Giants pass rush to make plays and Eli (admittedly, I'm a little worried about my newly-found confidence in Eli) to keep the mistakes to a minimum. Tampa Bay's attempt to prevent New Yorkers from buying playoff tickets will only mean more of their own fans will leave Raymond James disappointed.
Divisional Round match-ups will be:
AFC: (1) Patriots vs (5) Jaguars and (2) Colts vs (3) Chargers
NFC: (1) Cowboys vs (5) Giants and (2) Packers vs (3) Seahawks
Check back tomorrow for my Divisional Round, Championship Games and Super Bowl picks...