Jan 03 2009
NFL wild-card playoff games
With the NFL playoffs starting this afternoon, it’s time to pick ‘em.
Atlanta at Arizona - The desert heat must be getting to these Cardinals. Over the last six weeks of the season, they lost 4 out of 6 and coasted to a 9-7 record, the worst of all the NFC playoff teams.
AP Rookie-of-the-Year Matt Ryan will quarterback his overachieving Falcons to a win on the road that will feature running back tandem Michael Turner (1699 yds)and Jerious Norwood running at will against the Cardinal sieve run-defense, keeping the ball away from passing specialist Kurt Warner (4583 yds). Pick: Falcons
Indianapolis at San Diego - The Colts take their 9 game win streak into southern California to take on a Chargers team who managed to win their weak division with an 8-8 record. In the 2007 playoffs, the Chargers upset the Colts 28-24, shocking Tony Dungy and the favorite Colts but it won’t happen this time. NFL MVP Peyton Manning will live up to his reputation and come out gunning. Pick: Colts
Baltimore at Miami - This game features two rookie head coaches Tony Sparano (Dolphins) and John Harbaugh (Ravens) who have rejuvenated two struggling teams and led their troops into the playoffs with 11-5 records. Rookie QB Joe Flacco is having an overachieving season and Chad Pennington will face a tough task of breaching the Ravens potent defense. Miami capitalizes on the home field advantage and Flacco finally plays like a rookie. Pick: Dolphins
Philadelphia at Minnesota - What Eagles team will show up, the team who won 4 out of the final 5 during the regular season to squeak into the final wild-card spot or the team that tied the lowly Bengals and lost to the Redskins?
Vikings have some key injuries on defense, A.P. has developed fumblitis and they still can’t get a consistent QB to take the snaps. Pick: Eagles
