Quick Game-Day Notes

I wanted to post the NFL Expert Picks - Divisional Playoffs from ESPN before the games get underway today.  By the looks of it, Golic, Hoge, Mortensen, Schefter & Schlereth all have the same teams winning as I do.  Smart men.

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.

2009/2010 NFL Playoff Predictions

It's one day before the 2010 NFL Playoffs begin, which means one thing - PREDICTION TIME.

Wild Card

AFC

New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

• The Jets run game will simply be too much for the Bengals, and Ochocinco and the Bengals offense will get shut down for the second game in a row. Even without Cedric Benson, the 37-0 loss last week to the Jets has to be in the back of their mind. If Benson has a good game the Bengals have a chance, but I still see the Jets defense stifling the Bengals. Jets win on the road.

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

• Last time around saw a close game between the two teams, with the Patriots winning 27-21 at home. Brady and the Pats are a different team come playoff team, even without Welker, and Brady hasn't lost a game at home since 2006. Look for Moss to re-emerge in the playoffs with a big game. Patriots win at home.
  

NFC

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

• The Cowboys have been on a roll lately, going 3-0 with 2 shut-outs in their last three games of the regular season. In order for the Eagles to have a chance, Brian Westbrook needs to re-emerge onto the scene and help McNabb and Jackson on the offensive side of the ball. Like the Bengals, the Eagles face a team in the first round of the playoffs that shut them out the previous week, which no matter what anyone says, is never good for the psyche. The Cowboys seem to be finally running on all cylinders. Cowboys win at home.

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

• The Packers have been one of the most impressive teams in the second half of the season going 7-1 in their last 8 games, their only loss being a 1-point defeat @ Pittsburgh. Arizona usually rises to the occasion in January and won't make it easy, but the symmetry and balance with which the Packers are playing with right now will be too much for the men from the desert. Look for Packers tight end Jermichael Finley to roam free down the middle of the field and have a big game. Packers win on the road.

Subsequent Picks
My picks, prior to the playoffs starting:

Wild Card - Jets over Bengals, Cowboys over Eagles, Patiots over Ravens, Packers over Cardinals.

Divisional - Colts over Jets, Cowboys over Saints, Chargers over Patriots, Packers over Vikings.

Conference - Chargers over Colts, Packers over Cowboys.

Super Bowl - Chargers over Packers.