Chick Picks: NFL 2010 Playoff Scenarios and Predictions

The first week of the 2010 NFL Playoff games will feel like déjà vu from week 17 of the Regular Season Schedule. Six of the eight teams will be playing the exact same match-up as last week with the exception of the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots who will meet up at Gillette Stadium for the first week of the playoffs on January 10, 2010.

In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles will play the Dallas Cowboys again at Cowboys Stadium with hopes to redeem their team from last week's game. In week 17, the Eagles lost miserably to the Dallas Cowboys whose unpredictable offense was on target for a change. While the Cowboys obviously have a stronger defense, their offense is much less predictable and this game could still go either way. It doesn't look good for the Eagles though, who also lost against the Cowboys in week 9 of the Regular NFL Season. With a final score of 16 to 20 in that game and a hard loss of 0 to 24 in week 17, the Cowboys only seem to be getting better at beating the Eagles.

The Green Bay Packers will also meet up one more time with the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium with full intention of repeating the beating they gave them in week 17. But don't be so sure of the outcome from that game. Remember the Arizona Cardinals beat the Minnesota Vikings 30 to 17 in week 13. The game played in week 17 should not give you any indication of how this week's game will play out.

Arizona rested a good number of their starters, knowing the outcome of week 17 would not affect them in the playoff standings. This may have been a better strategy than most think. By sitting them out, they not only achieved physical rest for their players, they took away the opportunity for Green Bay to review their plays from week 17. Kurt Warner was not at the top of his game in week 17 and he was sidelined before half time. The only real assessment of how this game might go was displayed in the preseason game where the Green Bay Packers beat the Arizona Cardinals 44-37. Green Bay has picked up substantial momentum this year with the cohesion of their new quarterback Aaron Rogers and the rest of the team. His performance has improved dramatically this year with his experience on the field.

Should the Eagles win, they will face the New Orleans Saints in week 2 leaving the Minnesota Vikings to face the winner of the Cardinals vs. Packers game. Many Vikings and Packers Fans are hoping that the Eagles win over the Cowboys and the Packers win over the Cardinal so that the Green Bay Packers will have a shot at Brett Favre one more time before the season ends. It would be sweet victory for Brett Favre to beat the Packers in the Playoffs, and then ultimately acquire a Super Bowl ring with the Vikings after their defeat. As a Vikings and Brett Favre fan, this would be so awesome. But, I honestly don't think it will play out this way.

There is another scenario that would allow the Vikings to play the Packers in the Playoffs. If the Cowboys win over the Eagles and the Packers win over the Cardinals, then the Vikings will play the Cowboys and the Saints will play the Packers. If the Packers win over the Saints and the Vikings win over the Cowboys, the two rival teams will meet up in the final week of the playoffs. Unfortunately, that will not happen either. The Arizona Cardinals will take the game in over time and score the final point.

In the AFC, does anyone have any doubt about the Indianapolis Colts, or does everyone think the team is unbeatable with their starters? I think the San Diego Chargers are the meanest team in the AFC. If you look at the Colts 2009 Regular Season Schedule, you will see they had a pretty easy match up for the year. Don't get me wrong. They are a good team. But lets not forget the Pre Season games against the Vikings when they lost 3 to 13, against the Bengals 7 to 38, and even lost to the Detroit Lions by one point. In the Regular Season they played less than great teams like the St. Louis Rams (who were 1-15), the Tennessee Titans (who were 8-8), and the Buffalo Bills (who were 6-10). Not a very good match up if you ask me.

I am going to call the San Diego Chargers as the team to come out on top in the AFC Playoffs this year. While the AFC is a pretty easy pick for me, I think the NFC games will be a little more competitive and harder to call. Because I am biased, I'm going to root for the Vikings in the NFC, but I will be watching out for the Cardinals or the Cowboys to really work them over on their way. The Saints have been in trouble the past few weeks, so I am really not too afraid of them. But when they are on, they can play a pretty mean game too.

In the second week of the playoffs, look for the Vikings to beat the Cowboys and the Cardinals to beat the Saints. Then Brett Favre will get another chance to meet up with Kurt Warner. If that happens, you can guarantee more quarterbacks will be retiring later in life and prolonging the years they play.