NFL Divisional Playoffs: Schedules, Matchups, Predictions

It was 4th and 2 for quarterback David Garrard,his Jacksonville Jaguar team, and coach Jack Del Rio when I yelled out, " He's gonna run! They need a spy!" Next thing you know Jags hike the ball, the Steelers drop back, and off he goes down to the 10 yard line leaving Josh Scobey with a chipshot to send Jacksonville to the Divisional Series game against the New England Patriots. The year of the offense was shining even brighter after the #1 (Steelers) and #2 (Buccaneers) defenses in the league lost over the weekend. So where do we go from here?

Saturday January 12th (4:30 pm eastern) FOX

NFC DIVISIONAL SERIES MATCHUP

Seattle (11-6) at Green Bay (13-3)~ Line: Green Bay - 8 ~ Seattle's game against the Redskins was about as big of a rollercoaster ride an NFL team has seen in the playoffs in a long while. Up by 13, down by 1 in a matter of minutes, then win by 3 touchdowns all within one quarter? What an exciting way to start last weekend's games, but if you are a Seahawk fan don't expect the same thing against the Cheese-heads.

The Matchup: Seattle's road play has been less than mediocre posting a 3-5 record over the course of the season. This definitely looks good on paper with Green Bay securing a 7-1 record in Lambeau only losing to the Chicago Bears which they were swept by this season. Seattle is going to have to find a way to get more than 77 yards on the ground if they plan on winning against the Pack. As stated against the Redskins in the previous article Your Guide To The NFL Playoffs: Predictions For Wild Card Weekend I spoke of the Seahawks needing to spread the field with Maurice Morris and I'll be sticking by that this week as well. If the team is not going to produce 100 yards they must figure out how to get wide receivers D.J. Hackett, Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson open. Only 4 passes were thrown to their backfield and two were to the fullback Leonard Weaver. In all Shaun Alexander and Weaver gained 7 yards on those 4 catches. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck needs those dump-off passes to not feel pressured into going down the field and force passes which was evident last weekend throwing to interceptions. Can Holmgren's history with Favre help Seattle squeak out a victory?

Green Bay not only had a week to rest, but they got a first hand look of what Seattle planned on doing with their game plan. One the key points of the game will be the defensive scheme and how the Packers utilize their linebackers against a throwing styled offense. What else can you say about the offense except they have Brett Favre! Thats all they need right? Haha, no of course not. Ryan Grant has resurrected the running game in Lambeau which has given all kinds of directions for their offense to move the ball down the field. The #2 ranked offense in the NFL will give the Seahawks defense all they can handle.

Prediction: Seattle just does not have the offensive running game and Green Bay knows this. When you can have a four man rush and it can be effective the passing defense usually prospers. Look for Hasselbeck to throw more interceptions costing Seattle field position and the game. Favre will know what to do and while this may be his last run, he'll be leaving it all and I mean ALL on the field.

Green Bay 27 Seattle 13

Saturday January 12th (4:30 pm eastern) CBS

AFC DIVISIONAL SERIES MATCHUP

Jacksonville (12-5) at New England (16-0)~ Line: New England -12 ~ Okay, been sitting here for about 10 minutes now and the only thing I can come up with to say is Tom Brady to Randy Moss for the touchdown. If it doesn't happen there are about a billion other options for Brady to take advantage of all game long. If Jacksonville plays the blitzing game Brady will dump, dump, and dump passes left and right, over the middle. Then of course for a change of pace they'll run Lawrence Maroney down around the red zone. However, not wanting to discriminate against any team.........

The Matchup: Jacksonville played 5 games against playoff teams during the season and went 4-1 only losing to Indianapolis (25-28). They were one play away from watching Pittsburgh in Foxborough after looking as though they had the game in hand. Where they go from here is anyone's guess. Will this fuel them to bounce the Patriots from going 19-0? Your guess is as good as mine, but they look as though they can give New England all the Pats can handle. Quarterback David Garrard knows he will have to have a flawless game if they plan on staying this one and may have to score 40 points to win. They could score 40 and still lose. Maurice Jones-Drew is becoming an NFL superstar and will have to continue his special teams skills to give the Jaguars the best chance possible to score.

Question is will New England be cocky or as some would say "confident" enough to actually kick to him. Probably depends on the weather and the traction, but he'll get his chances. The Patriots will just continue to do what they do. Ranked 9th against the run and 10th against the pass their defense is no slouch. Veterans such as Rodney Harrison, Teddy Bruschi, and Junior Seau know how to handle the playoffs and opposing offenses. Not to go on and on about the Patriots offense but Tom Brady to Randy Moss/Wes Walker and well, its deadly.

Prediction: While the Jags can play on the road and all the hype on how they have the best shot at taking down the Patriots sounds good, its really isn't. The Jags defense is strong its in the wrong area. They are #1 against the rush giving up only 43 yards a contest but a whopping 24th against the pass handing over 337 yards through the air. Definitely a mismatch that doesn't need to be exploited, unfortunately it will.

New Englad 42 Jacksonville 21

Saturday January 13th (4:30 pm eastern) FOX

NFC DIVISIONAL SERIES MATCHUP

New York Giants (11-6) at Dallas Cowboys (13-3)~ Line: Dallas -7 1/2~ There is nothing more exciting then watching two division rivals play each other in the playoffs. Two teams that may say they respect each other, but under their breath are talkin' about how much they can't stand the other team (keeping this G-rated of course). Dallas won both matchups during the season by 10 points and 11. So can the Giants keep from being hit yet again

The Matchup: The first thing everyone needs to know is no matter how big of an Eli Manning hater or for some a "disliker" (we know your just being polite) you are the guy completed 68% of his passes against Dallas this year and averaged 274 yards per game to go along with 5 total touchdowns and 3 picks. You have to know that the Cowboys are aware of this and will make specific changes to the defense to compensate the impressive Manning numbers. This may open things up for Giants running back Brandon Jacobs who could prove to be a factor if New York can control the clock and keep the Cowboy offense off the field. The defense is going to have to prove they can improve tremendously on holding Dallas to a lot less than 38 points which the Boys in Silver n' Blue averaged over their prior two meetings.

The Cowboys main concern will be if Terrell Owens can go and how well his ankle will hold up on cut routes. T.O. himself said he'll be ready, but at what percent is the bigger question. We heard Marvin Harrison for the Indianapolis Colts and the team say he would be coming back all year, and we all know how that ended up. So keep an eye on this all the way up until game time. Problem is if he can't play or is limited as a decoy, that has to play in the Giants favor. Terry Glenn played against the Redskins in week 16, but didn't record a stat for the offense so you have to wonder whether or not he was being prepared for this game just running routes. Tony Romo will show his poise, but will he be able to withstand a defense that will continuously blitz if their are problems with the receiving corp?

Prediction: Its really hard to say without knowing if T.O. is going to be even 80% typing this up at the beginning of the week. What I do know is Dallas coach Wade Phillips is another mediocre head coach with a talented squad (see Norv Turner). Then of course I need to know if Jessica Simpson will be at the game? Sorry couldn't resist. I'm going to go ahead and stick my neck out on this one to be the first "real" upset of the playoffs, what the hey.

N.Y. Giants 31 Dallas 27

Saturday January 12th (8:00 pm eastern) CBS

AFC DIVISIONAL SERIES MATCHUP

San Diego (12-5) at Indianapolis (13-3)~ Line: Indianapolis -8 ~ Six interceptions by Peyton Manning and a missed chipshot field goal by clutch kicker Adam Vinatieri led to the 21-23 loss to the Chargers in week #10 this year. Three of those picks were snagged from new Pro Bowler Antonio Cromartie (who should be a starter btw whether he started all games or not) which seemed to catapult his career overnight. Is it possible to deny the Colts another Super Bowl win?

The Matchup: San Diego has won 7 in a row after their victory against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Although they have the 15th ranked defense overall they are playing like #1. During their winning streak they are only giving up 11 points per game yet scoring 28 ppg. Ever since head coach Norv Turner overcame his stubborness and continued to feed the ball to superstar running back LaDanian Tomlinson the offense has been firing on all cylinders. You won't see a change in this game either especially with the Colts #1 ranked pass defense giving up 182 yards per game. The rushing is there problem ending up in the middle of the pack so the Chargers will get their points.

The Colts won 6 in a row before not having anything to play for the last week of the season. Even while losing wide receiver Marvin Harrison for the majority of the season the offense has still found ways to score whether it be Manning tossing it to his new #1 receiver Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark, or even running with Joseph Addai they averaged 29 points per game during their winning streak. However since the first meeting the Chargers pass defense has only allowed 2 quarterbacks to throw over 300 yard in a game one being Peyton Manning and the other Jon Kitna. The two combined for 11 interceptions between them in those to games. Outside of that only Oakland quarterback Jamarcus Russell threw over 200 yards.

Prediction: One of the biggest problems I had with the first game between these two is that Manning was still able to find Reggie Wayne for 140 yards not two or three times but 10 times in the game when Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, and Dallas Clark were all inactive. More importantly Manning threw 6 interceptions, 3 to Cromartie which if you watch Peyton has a habit of going after players over and over and over again. This time it just happened to back-fire. Even worse then that is the fact about Indianapolis still having a chance to win the game with Vinatieri which even the world thought was a fluke. As was the first game. I would have much rather seen the Chargers face the Patriots with a Cromartie vs. Moss matchup. I'll be rootin' for the Chargers but my prediction goes to the Colts.

Indianapolis 24 San Diego 20