By Scott Burks
NFC
Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals.
The Falcons are the darlings of the NFC playoffs. They are playing
well, and that acquisition of Michael Turner is looking smarter by the
week. Plus, it helps to have a once-in-a-generation rookie QB in Matt
Ryan making plays. The Falcons are playing with a lot of confidence on
both sides of the ball, and they will be a tough out in the NFC
Playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are frauds. After clinching the NFC
West division title, they were pasted in consecutive weeks, and won an
ugly game against the St. Louis Rams. Look for the Falcons to paste the
Cardinals on the road this week. Falcons 30, Cardinals 17.
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota
Vikings. The Eagles are scary. Once given up for dead after being
spanked in Baltimore, the Eagles lost once during that stretch and have
regained that intimidating swagger. The Vikings have been playing well
as of late, and you have to like their chances at home in the dome with
that vaunted running game and bruising run defense. This game should be
a low-scoring slobber-knocker. Two physically intimidating teams in a
playoff game is “must-see TV”. That said, I think the Eagles are on a
mission. Look for the Eagles to pull this one out late. Eagles 17,
Vikings 13.
AFC
Indianapolis Colts at San Diego
Chargers. This, in my opinion, is the game of the week. We have
arguable the two most entertaining teams (with a lot of playoff history)
in the NFL going at it this weekend. I am excited over the QB match-up
of Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, who combined for over 60 touchdown
passes and 7,500 passing yards. Having said that, the Colts are the
hottest team in the NFL, having won nine straight games. Despite this
game being played in San Diego, the Colts should have little problem in
extending their winning streak to ten games. Besides, the Chargers are
not that good. They won only eight games in one of the worst divisions
in the NFL. Colts 27, Chargers 17.
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins.
This is the match-up to watch. Both teams are coming off big wins and,
in a sense, mirror images of each other. Both teams like to run the
football, play outstanding defense, and not make the “big mistake”.
Both quarterbacks are efficient, in that they won’t lose the game for
you. That said, the Dolphins will win the rematch. The Ravens will be
playing with an injured Derrick Mason at WR. Plus, you cannot rely on a
rookie QB to win a playoff game on the road when one of your weapons on
offense is hobbled the way Mason is. Expect the Dolphins coaching staff
to learn from their mistakes and make Ravens QB Joe Flacco to beat them,
which he will not. Dolphins 13, Ravens 9.
