Pigskin Loving Lady Presents: NFL Playoffs- Wild Card Weekend Preview
A little while back I told the ladies How To Impress Your Man on Game Day and gave you a few nuggets of football information to share with your significant other. Well it was made in fun and I’m well aware there are women who seriously know the game. Well today we have an expert in the house. She runs the successful blog Pigskin Loving Lady and is here to give us a preview of this weekend’s NFL Wild Card Playoff games. Please show her some love when done by checking out her site.
Yes my fellow football fanatics, we’ve arrived at the pivotal point in the 2008-09 football season – the playoffs. For those who love the game like I do, “it doesn’t get any better.” This is absolutely the most wonderful and my favorite time of year. After a grueling 16 game schedule, full of ups and down, bump and bruises, benching and firings, we’re left with 12 teams on the quest to gain the ultimate prize, the “Lombardi Trophy.”
#5 ATLANTA at #4 ARIZONA
The Cardinals are not a playoff caliber team, point, blank, period. Teams want to enter the playoffs on a hot steak and these cats were put on ice when they played New England. They are members of the NFC West, the 2nd worst division in the league. Arizona is 3-7 outside of their division, has lost 4 of their last 6, and 5 straight outside of the NFC West. I know about WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, but in order to pass the ball you must first establish the run. I don’t see that happening. Atlanta on the other hand has the AP’s offensive rookie of the year, QB Matt Ryan, coupled with RB Michael Turner; the Falcons offense is clicking on all cylinders. Although the Falcons’ defense is ranked #24, they’re good enough to hang. The Falcons can upset a couple teams along the way, watch out now! ATL 37 AZ 27
#5 INDIANAPOLIS at #4 SAN DIEGO
Both come in on winning streaks, the Chargers with 4 straight and Indy with an incredible 9 straight. Peyton Manning is my MVP of the NFL. He had surgery in the offseason, came back healthy, only to lose several members of his team, both offensively and defensively over the course of the season. Finally Joseph Addai is back but I know they’re happy Domonic Rhodes resigned with them. He carried the team in many games and they’ll need him. LB Gary Brackett is out and that’s going to hurt the defense, Bob Sanders can’t do it alone. On the other side of the field, the Chargers are on a mission. LT looks like the RB from 2 seasons ago and QB Philip Rivers is the taking charge in the huddle. The defense of the Chargers is the problem and has been all season long. You can’t allow Peyton Manning to take a huge lead and think a comeback is happening. But RB Darren Sproles is a nice substitute when LT needs a breather. Look for WR Chris Chambers and Antonio Gates to have awesome games. I expect this to be a close one, with the Chargers pulling it out in the end. IND 31 SD 41.
#6 BALTIMORE at #3 MIAMI
The Miami Dolphins turned around a 1-15 season in 2007 to claiming the AFC East title this year. The only team they beat during that campaign was the Baltimore Ravens. But this is a new year and two different teams. There’s so many matchup to watch. The Ravens #2 defense that features the Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis vs. Joey Porter. Rookie QB Joe Flacco vs. battled tested QB Chad Pennington. RBs Willis McGahee for the Ravens vs. Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams. The Baltimore Ravens had the tougher schedule in my opinion. They’ve been here before and know what it takes t win. You can’t say this enough, “defense wins championships” and Baltimore’s d is no joke. BAL 20 MIA 17
#6 PHILADELPHIA at #3 MINNESOTA
Philadelphia comes in after winning 4 of their last 5 and shocking the football world and the Dallas Cowboys. After sitting at the bottom of the NFC East for most of the season, they played every game to the end. The Philadelphia has something special going and I don’t expect it to stop in Minnesota. The Vikings have home field advantage and its gets pretty load in the dome, but the Eagles can handle that. The Minnesota Vikings must run the ball in order to succeed and the Eagles defense, ranked #3 in league is stingy. Adrian Peterson will have moments of greatness and even score a few touchdowns, but it won’t be enough. Tavaris Jackson has no idea the blitz schemes Jim Johnson is cooking up. After hitting the turf a few times, he’ll become rattled and throw some INTs. Game Over. It won’t be that easy, but the Eagles will prevail. PHI 35 MIN 31
One more thing, we get to watch football on Saturday and Sunday for the next two weeks? Goody, goody, gum drop!!
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