So after a long and at times strange regular season the playoffs are finally here. Which in Baltimore is partly good and partly bad. Good because the Ravens will host a playoff game for the first time in 5 years, bad because the football season is almost over and that means the Orioles are peeking their heads around the corner. But enough of the birds time to make some predictions for what should be an exciting wild card weekend.#6 Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) @ #3 Houston Texans (10-6)
Out of all the games this is the less intriguing to me, good thing its first so we can get it out of the way. The Bengals season came out of nowhere, most had them finishing last in the AFC North. The rookie combination of Dalton and Green made for some exciting plays in Cincy. The one thing that worries me about the Bengals, they are 1-7 against teams with winning records. Houston might have been the number one seed without the injuries. Jake Delhomme had to make an emergency appearance in week 17. Arian Foster has to be licking his chops after Ray Rice ran for 191 a week ago. Houston should be rocking and lets not forget a T.J. Yates led Texans went into Cincinnati and beat the Bengals earlier this year, it should happen again.
PREDICTION: TEXANS 20-14
#6 Detroit Lions @ #3 New Orleans Saints
Amazing that in the same day we have games with two totally different levels of interest. By the time this game is over it might remind you of a game of Madden you would play with your friends. This game marks the first time two 5,000 yard passers will play against each other in the postseason. Every part of me want to pick the Lions but just last week the Lions let Matt Flynn throw for over 500 yards, in a game you needed to win to have better playoff seeding. So if Flynn can do it, what do you think Drew Brees can do. That being said New Orleans is not known for their defense. Saints win in a shootout.
PREDICTION: SAINTS 40-37
#5 Atlanta Falcons (10-6) @ #4 New York Giants (9-7)
The Giants had to win its last two games just to get into the postseason as the NFC East champs. The Giants might be one of the most head-scratching teams in the postseason. This is the same team that went into New England and beat the Pats, but also lost at home to the Seahawks. One thing that has been overlooked is the tremendous season Eli Manning has had. The Falcons come into the game trying to shake off numerous years of disappointment when it comes to the postseason. Last year the Falcons went 13-3 and were one and done. Matt Ryan needs to start winning playoff games if he wants to be in the same group as the elite, he at least gets one this postseason. I just don't trust the up and down Giants who by the way are just 4-4 at home this year.
PREDICTION: FALCONS 27-21
#5 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) @ #4 Denver Broncos (8-8)
This might be the most watched out of all the playoff games this weekend. People want to see if somehow Tebow can do the unthinkable, well in my opinion he cant. Tebow the last three weeks has a 41 percent completion percentage, 1 TD and 4 INTs. In other words Tebow picked the worst time to play his worst football. Also rumors that Brady Quinn is taking snaps with the first team doesn't bode well for Tebow. Pittsburgh is really, really banged up. Numerous star players are either not playing or coming into the game with some kind of injury. Pittsburgh will lose this game if they make mistakes and makes a lot of them. Avoid the mistakes and they will be playing next week.
PREDICTION: STEELERS 17-6
In the words of a player not in the Playoffs....."CANT WAIT!!!"
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