Wild Card Weekend Breakdown

Well we enter a new year with some delightful football, a massive weekend of wild card action.

First of all we need to mention a couple things. Congrats to the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons for proving the entire world wrong and playing well beyond anyone’s imagination, even their own. The Dolphins went from a laughing stock that was 1-15 last year, to a playoff team and AFC East champions, way to "stick it to the man" Miami. Also the Falcons went from losers to winners, from Vick to Ryan, from dog fighting to playoff hopes. On the shoulders of rookie Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and wide out Roddy White the Falcons may make some noise this playoff season.

On to the breakdown of Wild Card weekend. The first game this weekend will be the Atlanta Falcons traveling to Arizona to face the Cardinals. This is the first time the Cardinals have hosted a playoff game since 1947. This game will turn out either of two ways, either we will see an epic shootout where the point total will be close to 75 or a blow out, where one team wins by 21 or more. The Falcons will try and do what they have done all year, surprise the NFL and use Michael "The Burner" Turner as much as possible. Turner is arguably the best off season move by any team and has played like a man possesed, especially last week when he finished the regular season with a 208 yard game. Both teams have a suspect defense but if you have to chose, you have to go with the Atlanta defense, lead by John Abraham. The offense as long as its not snowing favors Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. The weapons for Warner are massive, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and booming onto the scene this year Steve Breaston. The Cardinals at home are always good, while the Falcons on the road are .500 at 4-4. Picking this game was tough for me as I have loved what Atlanta did this season and calling for them being a playoff team before the midway point this season. I have also at one point this season hailed Kurt Warner as the MVP around week 10. But this time I will go with the upset and pick the Atlanta Falcons to win in a shootout. Ryan is on a tear and no one of the Cardinals defense scares me enough to stop Turner and Michael Jenkins and Roddy White. Falcons win 35-28

Next we look at the Philadelphia Eagles at the Minnesota Vikings. I think the Vikings have no chance. Unless Donovan McNabb looks like he did the game he got benched the Eagles should cruise to victory. They are riding a high right now after spanking the Dallas Cowboys by a million the final game of the season, while the Vikings are gaining solace from beating a New York Giants team that played all back ups by two points. We know and the Eagles know how good Adrian Peterson is. He will be a factor but if the Eagles can stop him the Vikings will struggle to put up 14 points. The passing game along with the defense of the Eagles lately will prove to be a huge hill to over come. The key factor for the Eagles will be to hold Adrian Peterson to a modest game and making sure they get enough plays for Brian Westbrook. Westbrook is the key to that offense, as Westbrook goes, the Eagles go. I have the Eagles winning this game, much to the chagrin of us Giants fans, 24-13.

Moving on to the Miami Dolphins at the Baltimore Ravens. The fish from the sunshine state who have swam up the stream to success under the tutelage of Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano will find themselves in a defensive struggle in this one. The Ravens defense is fantastic, (what else is new) and rookie Joe Flacco is playing better than the Ravens could imagine. The running game from the Ravens has been surprising, as Willis McGhee, Leron McClain and Ray Rice have all contributed nicely this year. But it is the defense that paces the Ravens and I just do not see the Dolphins and comeback player of the year Chad Pennington able to beat this defense. However, if Sparano makes some adjustments and fires out the Wildcat version 5.403 they might have a chance. Otherwise I see the Ravens beating the Phins 17-6.

We now transition to the best game of the weekend, the Indianapolis Colts at the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers are feeling good, crushing the now coach-less Denver Broncos in the final game of the season to clinch the division and being the first team ever in the NFL to make it to the playoffs after starting the season 4-8. On the other hand Peyton Manning and the Colts are feeling better, winning the wild card and finishing the season 8-0. Some positive things to note, Ladanian Tomlinson looked like the LT of old in the last game scoring three touchdowns. Phillip Rivers rounded off a solid season and found Antonio Gates in the end zone several times. For the Colts it is still all about Peyton Manning and after the stretch of games he has played over the last two months it is my judgment that he is the MVP of the 2008 season. As far as this game goes, the Colts will know what they are facing as this will be the second time they are facing the Chargers this season. Their previous meeting in week 12 the Colts edged the Chargers 23-20. I foresee another huge game for Manning 300+ yards as the Chargers defense has been horrible all year and ranked in the bottom 10 all year. Rivers and company will be able to keep up offense wise but I think the defense for the Colts will win it. I see at least one touchdown coming from the defense of the Colts and that being the primary reason for the Chargers downfall. This will be a really close game until late I feel, a defensive touchdown by the Colts and late turnovers by Rivers lead to a Colts victory. Indianapolis beats San Diego one more time 27-20.

We now get to see NFL football on Saturday and Sunday so enjoy the games and get ready for some crazy-ness. Those on the bye weeks, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans will all be watching intensely...will you?