NFL Playoff Preview

I have probably mentioned this before, but other than week 1 of the NFL season this is the best weekend the NFL has to offer every year. Having all the top 4 teams in each conference playing on national television is awesome. Rematches and veteran leadership are the factors during the weekend. Hope for another great NFL weekend! On to my preview with picks.

Ravens at Titans 4:30 Sat.

If you like defense this is a great start to your weekend. With Kevin Mawae, the all-pro center, out this week the Ravens run defense looks a lot better than when the Ravens lost to the Titans back on week 5. He is easily a big piece to the running game puzzle for the Titans "Smash and Dash" RB combo of Lendale White and stud rookie Chris Johnson. Another key to the game is definitely Kerry Collins. He has to prove that he'll be able to hit receivers on key 3rd downs and not let Ed Reed and the Ravens D make plays to set up points for rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. Personally for Collins this would be a nice redemption game having lost to the Ravens in the Super Bowl back in '01. If Flacco and the Ravens pull it out this weekend, he will be the first rookie to win his first 2 playoff games. Expect alot of blitzes out of the Titans on third downs disrupting the rookie qb. Should be a good one!

Titans 17 -10 (-3)

Cardinals at Panthers 8:15 Sat.

Will somebody explain to me why this is the Saturday night game? Usually the NFL will have the better match up on Saturday the night cap. Now we get to watch the worst match up on paper out of all four games. The stats are not in line for a Cardinal victory this weekend. One, the Cardinals are 0-5 on the east coast this season. Two, the Panthers are undefeated at home this season. And three, the weather looks to be cold, windy, and wet which does not favor a pass happy offense in the Cardinals. One key and one key only to this game, can the Cardinals stop the run for the second consecutive week against the duo of DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart? I don't think so. Look for the Panthers to be very sharp Saturday night and putting the Cardinals away early in their quest to get back to the Super Bowl.

Panthers 31-17 (-10)

Eagles at Giants 1:00 Sun.

In the weekends sexy match up between division rivals, the Eagles look to knock off the defending champs at home something that they already did this regular season. The health of Brian Westbrook looks to be a mild concern for the Eagles who have rested the versatile RB all week. One thing that really bothers me about the G-men this post season is not having a big time receiver to rely on like Plaxico Burress, who had big time catches in the Super Bowl run a year ago. The running game of Earth, Wind, and Fire for the Giants is key this week to a victory. If they cannot run the ball against the blitz happy Eagles, the Giants could find themselves behind early, which plays right into Donovan McNabb and the Eagles hands. If I had a guess though, the team with the ball on the last possession of the game will ultimately win the game.

Giants 21-20 (Eagles +4)

Chargers at Steelers 4:30 Sun.

In the weekend finale, it features another intriguing match up between two different style defense, both of which keeps quarterbacks on their toes and lives for making plays that could change a game. With running back Ladainian Tomlinson likely out for another playoff game, the Chargers will rely heavily on the passing game and free-agent-to-be Darren Sproeles. The keys to the game will be the weather and the health of Ben Roethisberger. If the weather is like is usually is this time of year in Pennsylvania, the Chargers are in trouble. I am going to keep a close eye on Big Ben and how he makes an impact during the game early on. If you told me 4 weeks ago that the Chargers were going to be in the playoffs and playing on the road in Pittsburgh with LT out, I wouldn't give them any chance at this game. But, with their supporting cast playing excellent as of late and Norv Turner's 12-1 career record in the months of December and January with the Chargers they are looking as sharp as any team in the playoffs right now. If the Steelers can slow down Sproeles, they will win the game, if not the first turnover in the second half will be the deciding factor.

Steelers 21-17 (Chargers +6)