Predictions: After Wild Card Weekend - 2-2

After the first-round of NFL playoff games - 'Wild Card Weekend,' my predictions for the 4 games ended up 2-2... Let's recap.


Correct
Sanchez and the Jets beat Bengals, 24-14
Mark Sanchez played a superb for the Jets in just the rookie's first playoff game, completing 80% of his passes and finishing the game with a passer rating of 139.4. The game featured two quarterbacks from the same college program, the University of Southern Cal, and saw the younger Sanchez greatly outperform his USC counterpart Carson Palmer.

The other big performer[s] was the Jets defense, frustrating Carson Palmer and the Bengals passing attack, recording 3 sacks, 2 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 INT. The Bengals were simply too one-dimensional in the loss, unable to move the ball through the air a majority of the game.

Cedric Benson had a big game for the Bengals in the loss, but even his 169 yards on the ground weren't enough for the Bengals in the end.


Correct
Cowboys romp on Eagles, 34-14
Tony Romo led the Cowboys to their first playoff victory since 1996, dismantling the Eagles 34-14. Romo finished with 23-35, 244 yds and 2 TDs passing. Wade Phillips, the Dallas head coach, had been 0-4 in playoff games with the Cowboys up until this year.

The Eagles simply looked over-matched in the loss, both physically and mentally, as they dropped their only first-round playoff game under Andy Reid. Donovan McNabb went 19-37, 230 yds, with 1 TD, 1 INT, finishing with a passer rating of 68.5.

The Cowboys also got a big game from Felix Jones, who had 73-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter. Jones finished the game with 148 yds rushing and 1 TD.


Incorrect
Rice, Ravens pound Patriots 33-24
Ray Rice scored on his first run from scrimmage, an 83-yard TD run, and the Ravens never looked back. Before the Patriots could look up, it was the start of the 2nd quarter and they were already down 24-0. Rice finished the game with 22 Rush, 159 yds and 2 TDs.

Led by their formula of physical running and defensive play, the Ravens forced 4 turnovers, 3 INTs and 1 fumble recovery - all from Tom Brady, who struggled mightily. Brady finished the game 23-42, 154 yds, 2 TDs and 3 INTs.

While the positives are sure to give the Ravens confidence going into next weeks game, one area of improvement will need to be the quarterback play by Joe Flacco. Flacco, while not needed much in this victory, will need to improve next week on his 4-10, 34 yd and 1 INT performance this week.


Incorrect
Cardinals win shoot-out, 51-45
A playoff record - 96 combined points, a 17-0 lead that was erased, and lots of drama made this an unbelievable game to watch. Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner stole the show, but in the end the Cardinals defense made a big play in OT when the Packers defense could not.

Aaron Rodgers ended the game 28-42, 422 yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT, and 3 Rush, 13 yds and 1 TD. Kurt Warner ended up 29-33, 379 yds and 5 TDs.

The shoot-out made for one of the most impressive offensive displays in playoff history.


New Bracket
My sleeper pick for the Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers, are out. Hmmm... I'll need to reevaluate the teams that remain after this weekend's games. Stay tuned for my picks for next week.