Soooo it's my first post of 2011, and what do you all want to hear about? How my New Years was, (great!) how getting my wisdom teeth out feels (terrible!), something about sports? That's what I thought.
Here now are my wildcard predictions, so you know what to do, pick the exact opposite 4 teams and also go 2-2...
(sidenote, why does anyone EVER get their pro sports insight from any site BUT this one??? CLICK ME )
Sat 4:30 PM
SAINTS at SEAHAWKS
The Saints are 10½-point favorites in this one, the largest point spread for a visiting team in an NFL playoff game in recent memory. The Saints have never won a road playoff game. Last year, en route to the Super Bowl, New Orleans had a bye the first week of the playoffs, then two home games.
More than that, the Saints have had to put running backs Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas on injured reserve. So in quest of its first-ever road playoff win, New Orleans has to go without Ivory, whose running and pass-catching was so vital a year ago, and Thomas, who had stepped up to stabilize the Saints' offense by averaging more than five yards per carry.
Thing to watch: If the Saints have a massive SUPER BOWL HANGOVER. Like the one Rich had after his 21st birthday... That's probably the only way Seattle could win this game.
Score: SAINTS 31, SEAHAWKS 17
Sat 8:00 PM
JETS at COLTS
Aha, a rematch of last years' AFC championship game. Following a string of rabbit-out-of-the-hat wins, New York put all those division title thoughts back in the closet for next year following the 45-3 Monday night curb-stomping in New England. The 22-17 victory in Pittsburgh two weeks later may have been just as important, but in a good way.
Meanwhile the Colts are not the same Colts that won the AFC last year. The Colts won their last four and assumed their birthright atop the AFC South division. Survived injuries upon injuries to make it back here. And really, being in the AFC South helped. The Colts need Dwight Freeney to be in Mark Sanchez's mind all day and if that's the case, expect some "D'oh!" decisions.
Thing to Watch: It's almost like the Jets brought in Antonio Cromartie in preparation for a rematch with Indy. Peyton Manning is smart enough to avoid throwing in Revis' direction, and is accurate enough to make Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie beat you. This time they will be without the latter, as well as Mr. Consistent Dallas Clark. Now that the Jets have 2 superior corners, Manning will have to work Garcon, Jacob Tamme, as well as a solid rushing perforance in order to win. Very tough against an opportunistic defense.
Score: JETS 28, COLTS 24
Sun 1:00 PM
RAVENS at CHIEFS
There's no doubt CBS was hoping for a RAVENS COLTS first round game and JETS CHARGERS counterpart, but instead they have this curious matchup. The Ravens have been to the playoffs 3 straight years with Joe Flacco at the helm, but each time have not had a home playoff game.
The Chiefs lost one game at home during the regular season, and Kansas City is notoriously a difficult place to play. But the Charlie Weis situation could be a distraction within the Chiefs' organization. While Kansas City looked terrible against Oakland in Week 17, the Ravens finished the season winning four straight and have not lost a game all year by more than a touchdown. This will be Matt Cassel's first playoff start.
Thing to Watch: The Ravens' defense is not as good as everyone thinks it is, and the one thing that the Chiefs have going for them is Jamaal Charles. This guy is the fastest running back in the AFC playoffs, and if he gets going, the Chiefs could land a home upset.
Score: RAVENS 24, CHIEFS 21
Sun 430 PM
PACKERS at EAGLES
For me, this is the hardest game of the weekend to predict. The Philadelphia Eagles were a .500 team at Lincoln Financial Field and lost their season opener there against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, who hope for a repeat result in Sunday's NFC wild-card game as they try to keep up with Michael Vick and the Eagles' big-play offense.
No team has won the Super Bowl after having a losing record on the road and no sixth seed has represented the NFC on the NFL's biggest stage, so Green Bay has plenty working against it after going 3-5 away from home. However 2 of those wins were at the Meadowlands and at Philly...
Thing to Watch: Michael Vick vs the GB pass rush. Oh man this is going to be the best game of the weekend.
Score: EAGLES 30, PACKERS 27.
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