Mister B's NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview and Picks

Arizona Cardinals (11-6) @ New Orleans Saints (13-3) (Saturday, January 16, 2010, 4:30pm ET, FOX): If you're a fan of offensive football, you're going to love this game between two of the NFC's most explosive offenses. You thought Rodgers versus Warner was exciting? Wait until you see Warner versus Brees. The similarities between the two quarterbacks are astounding. Both quarterbacks are highly respected within their locker rooms and their communities. Warner and Brees each possess a quick and accurate release of the football, picking defenses apart when given time to throw in the pocket.

The Cardinals have become more of a physical team as the season has come along; featuring rookie running back Beanie Wells between the tackles, but it's all about Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald and those other talented wide receivers. The Saints are much more balanced on the offensive end, especially on the ground. Defensively, New Orleans was mediocre in the regular season, however that won't stop Gregg Williams from bring the blitz. The Saints ability to get pressure on Warner might be the X-factor in this game.

If the Cardinals want any chance to win this game, they must get an early lead to quiet the crowd noise of the Superdome, score touchdowns in the red zone, keep Warner upright, make tackles on the Saints playmakers, and run the ball to keep the Saints off the field. In this game, both teams' offenses may be their best defense. I won't be surprised to see the Saints start off slow because they haven't been a meaningful game since week 14 against the Falcons. I believe the Saints have four advantages over the Cardinals in this game.

1. Darren Sharper and his ability to read the eyes of the quarterback when he's able to roam freely at free safety position.

2.The Saints home field advantage at the Superdome. It will be loud and it will be rocking. This could affect the Cardinals ability to get plays off the scrimmage before the play clock expires.

3.The Saints ability to run the ball on the Cardinals 17th ranked run defense, which gave up 112.8 yards in the regular season.

4.The Saints playmakers which include Reggie Bush, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey and Robert Meachem. What makes them so good and so dangerous? It's the fact Drew Brees doesn't lock into one guy and feels very comfortable throwing the ball out to anyone of those players. And if any one of those guys catches a ball in open space, they are more than capable of taking it to the house.

Overall, I think the Saints are a little bit better defensively and can run the football to keep the Cardinals offense off the field. Let's not undersell the Cardinals in this game, they did go 6-2 on the road in the regular season, however the Saints will provide the Cardinals with their stiffest test.

The Winner: I can't see the Saints losing at home in front of the passionate fans of New Orleans. I like the Saints 42-31.

Baltimore Ravens (10-7) @ Indianapolis Colts (14-2) (Saturday, January 16, 2010, 8:15pm ET, CBS): To be honest with you, I had a very difficult time picking the winner of this game. I loved the way the Ravens attacked Tom Brady last week from start to finish. You better believe the Colts will be ready for what the Ravens try to bring against Peyton Manning. The Ravens will have to read and react more in this game defensively because the Colts present so many match up problems offensively.

Here are the keys to victory for the Ravens:

1. Stay in manageable 3rd downs.

2. Run Ray Rice all day against Indy's 24th ranked run defense, which gave up 126.5 yards in the regular season.

3. Offensive line pass protection must be solid for Flacco, so he can find Mason and company.

4. Mix up their coverages against Peyton Manning because he will pick them apart if he gets an idea of what they are trying to do against him.

5. Must score touchdowns in the red zone and not field goals like their previous match up.

Here are the keys to victory for the Colts:

1. Attack the Ravens secondary because they have a tendency to play over aggressive and draw pass interference flags on themselves.

2. Look to score touchdowns early and often so they can take the Ravens out of their game plan offensively.

3. Find a way to pressure Flacco with their speed rush combo of Mathis and Freeney.

When you look at the match ups, I just think the Colts have way too many weapons with Dallas Clark over the middle, Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon as the outside receivers. One can't forget Austin Collie as well in the event Wayne and Clark are double teamed. Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense will have to score at least 27 points in this game to have any chance. One thing that may work in the Ravens favor is the coaching edge. In his young career, John Harbaugh has a 3-1 record in the playoffs with all 3 wins coming on the road against high quality coaches in Tony Sparano, Jeff Fisher and Bill Belichick. Jim Caldwell, on the other hand is his first year in the playoffs and is still facing criticism for benching his first string players in the second half of a winnable game against the Jets in week 15 of the regular season.

The Winner: I like the Colts 27-17 because they have more weapons on offense and I just don't see the Ravens keeping up offensively unless they force a few turnovers.