Your Guide to the NFL Playoffs: Predictions for Wild Card Weekend

Fill the void and get a taste of each matchup heading to Super Bowl XLII, but before you think its already over and New England will win you might just want to take a look at the following eight teams who may think otherwise.

Saturday, January 5th (4:30 pm eastern) NBC

NFC WILD CARD MATCHUP

Washington (9-7) at Seattle (10-6)~Line: SEA -3 1/2 ~ These two teams did not meet during the regular season, but both were full of animosity throughout their respected clubhouses. Washington comes into the contest winning their last 4 games to just make the playoffs, while excluding their last game which was meaningless carries a 6-1 record heading into last Sunday's game.

The Matchup: One of the biggest aspects of this game will be the play of journeyman Todd Collins who has been in the league for 13 years, but only played in 45 games his entire career and no more than 5 a season since 2001. To this point Collins has been solid throwing 5 touchdowns to zero interceptions and sporting three 100 + QB ratings over that span. Coach Joe Gibbs will keep it simple and give his 35 year old QB 18-25 throws in the contest relying more heavily on Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts and the Redskin's running game. Seattle ranks 12th in the NFL against the rush giving up on average 102 yards a contest and 1 touchdown. It will be up to Defensive Tackles Rocky Bernard and Brandon Mebane to stuff the running attack along with MLB Lofa Tatupu and force the Redskins to throw.

Seattle's offensive line has struggled all year long and the retirement of long time fullback Mack Strong only made things worse for Pro-Bowl running back Shaun Alexander who hasn't rushed for 100 yards since week #3 of the season and only two touchdowns on the ground, one coming in the final game of the regular season. The Redskins rush defense ranks 2nd in the NFC and 4th overall so most likely Alexander won't be getting 100 in this game either. They'll have to look to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck as they have all year to engineer a flawless game. Backup running back Maurice Morris will prove to be the change-of-pace back as his presence will spread the offense out a little more and creating more avenues for Hasselbeck to throw.

Prediction: With questions left in the air about if starting quarterback Jason Campbell can go, will he start, and the emotions that will be flying from wanting to win this for the late Sean Taylor, Washington could be a sleeper team and pull the upset. However Seattle has been stellar at home this season with a 7-1 mark along with winning by an average of 13 points per game stick with Seattle here but a little closer than that.

Seattle 24 Washington 17

Saturday, January 5th (8:00 pm eastern) NBC

AFC WILD CARD MATCHUP

Jacksonville (11-5) at Pittsburgh (10-6)~ Line: Jax -1.5 ~ A lot of people have circled this game as the first upset of the playoffs already with Pittsburgh coming in losing 3 of their last 4 (21-27 @ Baltimore, Sunday) and the Jaguars playing extremely well (Sunday's 42-28 loss @ Houston included several players not playing at all). You can look back over the course of the season and find that Pittsburgh was 7-1 at home this year. Then when you look a little closer you realize the only was, yep you guessed it the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Vegas favoring Jacksonville, that just lets us know we need to keep an eye on this one.

The Matchup:Jacksonville will provide much of the same medicine they prescribed in the first matchup when running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew combined for 216 yards and a TD on 37 carries. Jones-Drew also had 5 receptions for 30 yards in the contest not to mention 37 more yards on 2 kick returns. If the run happens to sputter the Jaguars will look to quarterback David Garrard to have another 3 touchdown day as he did on December 16th. So how exactly do you stop a team like Jacksonville that is averaging 24 points a game on the road this season?

It has to start by stuffing the run like Pittsburgh has for the majority of the season allowing only 89.9 yards per game on the ground and 6 rushing touchdowns all year. The Steelers defense overall ranks #1 in the NFL and #2 against the run. Coach Mike Tomlin will want to force Garrard to throw and throw often after seeing their prior matchup where he only completed 51.5% of his passes. Jacksonville's wide receiver corps. are not what you would call superstars, but each knows there job and plays it well. One of the biggest aspects that may hurt the Jaguars is the weather and possibly snow. Warm weathered teams have almost always had problems in the playoffs when there were weather issues and that may wind up being the biggest factor of all.

Pittsburgh's biggest obstacle will be to try and establish the run without running back Willie Parker who was placed on the injured reserve list after breaking his right leg against the St. Louis Rams in week 16. They will rely heavily on Najeh Davenport the big bruising backup who rushed for 123 yards and a score while catching 2 passes for 44 yards and a score after Parker left the game against the Rams. He proved he can handle the load and can make some catches which will be crucial if the Steelers plan on playing next weekend. Doing this against a defense that is no slouch (15 against the pass, 11th against the run) will be easier said than done.

Prediction: Because of the possibility of bad weather this time of year in Pittsburgh a slight edge has to go to the Steelers. Plus the thought of a team going into someone's house twice in the same season and rolling over them would be astonishing. The game comes down to the kick returners, field position, and the field goal kickers. Steelers edge this one out and move on to face New England.

Pittsburgh 16 Jacksonville 13

Sunday, January 6th (1:00 pm eastern) FOX

NFC WILD CARD MATCHUP

New York Giants (10-6) at Tampa Bay (9-7)~ Line: Tampa Bay -2 1/2 ~ The Buccaneers have flown under the radar for the better part of the 2007 season due mostly to the weak conference they won almost by default. They have the worst record of anyone coming into the playoffs, they've lost 3 of the their last 4 (Houston, San Francisco, Carolina), and their offensive squad are all reaching the retirement years (most of them). The Giants are coming off a spectacular finale to a remarkable NFL season and although they came up short in their bid to keep New England from an undefeated season the confidence factor would have to spill over into this game.

The Matchup: Tampa Bay's defense ranked #2 in the NFL only behind the Pittsburgh Steelers. They only allow 170.5 passing yards a game, but almost 108 on the ground. Look for the Giants to pound the ball with running back Brandon Jacobs and control the clock to minimize any Eli Manning errors who has accumulated 20 interceptions on the season (3 in his last 2 games). It will be up to the Buccaneers to try and change the Giants game plan and force Manning to throw at least 30 times. If that can be accomplished there may be a couple interceptions coming their way.

Tampa Bay recovered from losing Cadillac Williams early in the season, Michael Pittman @ Indy and settled in with running back Earnest Graham receiving the bulk of the carries. If the Bucs can't establish the run (Giants rush defense ranks 8th in the NFL) they will have to rely on quarterback Jeff Garcia to post the kinds of numbers he did while taking over for Donovan McNabb in 2006. Garcia is not as mobile as he once was and at age 37 New York may blitz him continuously and try to put him on his back.

Prediction: The Buccaneers come into this game with a substantial amounts of injuries and uncertainties of several players. With Galloway vulnerable, Hilliard, Graham, and Pittman all questionable the offense looks really banged up. The Giants had New England beat last week, out of their six losses this year 4 were to Dallas, Green Bay, and New England. Tampa Bay may be at home, but it won't matter.

N.Y. Giants 24 Tampa Bay 10

Sunday, January 6th (4:30 pm eastern) CBS

AFC WILD CARD MATCHUP

Tennessee (10-6) at San Diego (11-5)~ Line: San Diego -8 1/2 ~ Tennessee came in through the back door and settled in nicely to the #6 playoff spot just in time to travel out to California and face Ladanian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers. The same team the Titans lost to at home on December 9th 23-17 in overtime. With a little redemption at stake, the question on everyone's mind is "how hurt is Vince Young"? After being taken out of the game Sunday night against the Colts it was Kerry Collins, not Vince Young who led Tennessee into the playoffs. So that ultimately could be the deciding factor.

The Matchup: Ranked #5 in the NFL, the Titan's defense is going to have to find a way to contain San Diego running back LaDanian Tomlinson from running all over the them like in their previous meeting when Tomlinson had 146 yards rushing, 27 yards receiving, and 2 touchdowns. It will be up to defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to keep the running game under control and let the secondary focus on tight end Antonio Gates along with wideouts Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson. They will have to get to Charger quarterback Phillip Rivers and do it often in order to stay in this game.

San Diego's defense has been nothing short of spectacular since the 296 yard debacle that was given up to Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson in week 8. They haven't given up more than 17 points in their last 6 games in which they are 6-0. If Young can go most of the game their plan will be to contain him from breaking out of the pocket for easy 3rd down conversions. Their secondary with newcomer Antonio Cromartie (10 Interceptions), Quentin Jammer, and Eric Weddle will be give Young a exceptionally difficult time throwing for big games.

Prediction: Tennessee's offense does not have the make-up to score a lot of points against the San Diego defense. Expect much of the same as the first outing with Tomlinson doing a lot more receiving in this outing.

San Diego 31 Tennessee 17