NFL Playoffs Predictions (Wild Card Round)

Wild Card Match ups

AFC:

Chargers over Titans

-We don't have to look too far back of when the Titans and Chargers played. In fact week 14's match up between the two teams the game ended in a hard fought battle in overtime with a 23-17 Super Charger victory. The game did provide fans with some controversy as Chargers pro bowl linebacker Shawn Merriman blasted Titans stud quarterback Vince Young and alleged that Titans Coach Jeff Fisher put a bounty on his head or should I say legs. The game was a very defensive game in the first half as the Titans lead 3-0 at half time. That's when L.T. carried the Chargers in the second half and overtime and compiled nearly 150 yards and the game winning overtime touchdown. That game was in Tennessee and in that game Lendale White ran for 130 yards. Guess what? Those two x factors wont be in the wild card game. White is out and the game is in San Diego where the Chargers are very tough to overthrow there. In addition, Titans quarterback Vince Young is banged up bad with a quad injury and is a game time decision. The Chargers are playing their most efficient ball of the year and this sums up to a Charger victory easily. Expect Young to play, but be ineffective because of the injury which translates to a sufficient chance of seeing backup Kerry Collins. Chargers win in something like a 38-14 route.


Jaguars over Steelers


Another rematch of the regular season. Expect an old fashion gridiron bang em up and hit em game. The conditions in Pittsburgh and Heinz Field are suppose to be nasty. Wiat, doesn't this feel like deja vu all over again? Yes it does, same conditions as per say week 15's match up between the two clubs. Well in week 15 The Jags looked like Michael Johnson. Yeah I said Michael Johnson because they ran all over the Steeler defense. Jaguar backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones Drew combined for 224 rushing yards, mommy wow, the Jags are some world beaters now!!!! At that time the Steelers were 7-0 at home. Same setting minus Steelers pro bowl running back Willie Parker. Parker has 100 yards in that game but he wont be playing this weekend. Possibly out his All Pro safety Troy Polamalu. And even if he plays he will be about 60 percent. While I do not believe the Jags will run for 200 plus yards on the Steelers this time around I expect Parker's absence to be the reason why the Jags win in a close, old fashioned football game 17-13.


NFC:

Seahawks over Redskins

Perhaps the most difficult game to pick. Yes, the Redskins are the second hottest team in the NFL behind the 16-0 Patriots and yes Joe Gibbs and his ball club have united since the funeral of Safety Sean Taylor. And yes I know that Gibbs won three super bowls with three different quarterbacks. But Todd Collins has not faced a defense like the Seattle Seahawks and have not endured a hostile environment like Qwest field in Seattle. The Seahawks defensive features four pro bowlers and are led by Patrick Kerney who will put a great amount of pressure on Collins due to an above average Redskin offensive line. The biggest thing going for the former NFC Champs is that they played in the Super Bowl two years ago and they know how to win in the playoffs. Look for the Seahawks to win 28-14. They will force Todd Collins to beat them by placing eight men in the box to impede the production of Redskin back Clinton Portis.


Giants over Bucs


Eli Manning is not a winner! Eli Manning throws too many interceptions, he can't win the big ones. Didn't big brother Peyton endure this as well when he lost his initial three playoff games. Well Eli is no Peyton but the Giants have an abundance of momentum going for them after nearly stopping the Patriots from going undefeated in the regular season. The Bucs have rested their starters for three weeks so at least in the first half of the game the Buccs will not have a rhythm. Whats even worst is that the Bucs are not exactly an explosive offense. Hell, I don't think they can even be an explosive offense on xbox 360 or Playstation 3 football games. Both defenses are very good and the Giants offense is way superior and now have a healthy Plaxico Burress. That spells trouble for Ronde Barber who essentially said Plaxico is no Randy Moss. Moreover, the Bucs defensive line is small and can be ran on by a big, powerful back like Brandon Jacobs. Giants win 24-13 in this one.