As I stated earlier this week, if the wild card games proved anything, it's that the NFL playoffs are fine just the way they are and we don't need a seventh team in each conference. But that's an argument for another day. And whatever they end up doing to Wild Card Weekend in the future, it doesn't look like they have any plans to change Divisional Playoffs Weekend anytime soon. Which is a good thing. Because this is often the weekend that produces some of the best football we'll see all season (as well as some of the worst when mediocre wild card teams manage to win).
This year is no exception. Take for example, our two No. 1 seeds, who seem to be on a collision-course for the Meadowlands. Except Denver's three losses this season were to New England, Indianapolis and San Diego. The Broncos are going to have to beat two of them in order to get to the Super Bowl. Same thing in the NFC. The Seahawks lost to the 49ers and the Colts, as well as a Cardinals team that almost made the playoffs, and the four teams left have all played (and beaten) each other. We're gonna have some fun rematches.
Saints (12-5) at Seahawks (13-3): Seattle-When these two met at Qwest Field on a Monday night a month ago, many figured it would be to determine who was going to be the 1-seed in the NFC. And the Seahawks absolutely dominated the Saints, who ended up losing three of their last five to slip to a wild card. As a result of that New Orleans wild card, the matchup that we all originally thought would take place in the NFC Championship Game is actually happening a round early...and that only thanks to the Saints' first road playoff win in franchise history.
What New Orleans did at the end of the game to beat Philadelphia was impressive, but that 12th Man in Seattle is a completely different animal. As good as Drew Brees and the Saints offense are, they're not going to be a match for that Seahawks defense. Or that crowd, which is going to be especially amped up knowing all they need is two home wins to get to the Super Bowl. That week off is going to help the Seahawks, too. Just as much as playing on two different coasts in back-to-back weekends is going to negatively impact the Saints. And let's not forget the game's in Seattle. The Cardinals proved that it's possible for the visiting team to win there, but it's still the most difficult place to visit in the entire NFL. Especially if Seattle gets out to an early lead, I can see this one going the same way as the regular season meeting. Either way, the Seahawks are the better team and should find a way to pull it out.
Colts (12-5) at Patriots (12-4): New England-Remember when these two met in the playoffs every year? Well, believe it or not, this once-annual postseason showdown hasn't happened since the 2006 AFC Championship Game, the one with that ridiculous Colts comeback. (It's also the only game this weekend that isn't a regular season rematch.) Speaking of ridiculous Colts comebacks, "Wow!" is all I have to say about last week's game. When Kansas City was up 44-38, I said to myself, "Watch the Colts drive down and score a touchdown here." Sure enough, that's what happened, and Andrew Luck got his first playoff win.
Now Luck gets to write a new chapter in the Colts-Patriots playoff rivalry. And I doubt he's intimidated by Tom Brady. I can also guarantee that Indy's not intimidated one bit by New England. This is what happens when you have wins over both of the top seeds and the defending NFC champions on your season resume. I sense your typical Colts-Patriots playoff game will take place here. Tough and physical with the quarterbacks on full display. But it's going to be a cold night in New England, which I think will be the difference. Brady's used to it. Luck's used to his comfortable dome. That's all the advantage the Patriots need to advance to their third straight AFC Championship Game (who would've thought we'd be saying that when the season started).
49ers (13-4) at Panthers (12-4): San Francisco-The most intriguing matchup of the weekend features a matchup of the two best defenses remaining. And it was the regular season meeting between these two that proved once and for all that the Carolina Panthers are for real. They went into San Francisco and held the defending NFC champs without a touchdown in a 10-9 victory. That's what launched the Panthers into the position to earn a first-round bye and a home game in this weekend's rematch.
As good as the Panthers' defense is, though, Carolina's chances probably rest on Cam Newton. How Newton performs against that San Francisco defense in his first-ever playoff game is the key. If he plays well, the Panthers might have a trip to Seattle (where that defense gives them a pretty good shot) in their future. But I'm not sure I can put that much confidence in Newton, who's never had this much weight on his shoulders. Colin Kaepernick, on the other hand, has proven time-and-again that playoff pressure doesn't faze him. Case in point, last weekend's game-winning drive in Green Bay. Sure the 49ers are traveling for the second straight week, and this time they have to fly cross-country. But the 49ers are more than capable of handling that. They're also out to atone for their performance the first time they played Carolina. I think this'll be the most competitive game of the four. In the end, though, San Francisco wins the battle of the defenses.
Chargers (10-7) at Broncos (13-3): Denver-Show of hands, who else is pissed that the Chargers won and ruined Peyton vs. the Colts in the playoffs? I'm sure Denver's more than OK with that, though, because San Diego's a much more favorable matchup. I say this even though the Chargers beat the Broncos--in Denver--in Week 15 and are the hottest team in football right now. They also had perhaps the most impressive performance of the entire Wild Card Weekend, going into Cincinnati and easily beating a very good Bengals team.
Denver's a different story, though. The Broncos might've split with the Chargers this season, but everyone knows Denver is the far superior team. Last year, of course, the Broncos had the No. 1 seed and lost in double overtime to a Ravens team that went on to win the Super Bowl (and, if the Eagles rule holds, San Diego will win this year's Super Bowl). They don't forget that, and they know that anything less than a Super Bowl appearance will spoil Peyton Manning's magical season. Denver has some flaws on the defensive end, but the week off is really going to come into play here. The Broncos are an older team, any rest they can get is a benefit. When the Chargers beat them, it was on a Thursday night, so they were coming off a short week. It's a different story this time. Great job by the Chargers to get into the playoffs, and to come away with the win last week, but like the Tebow Broncos two years ago, they'll get blown out in the Divisional round by a much stronger division champ that had the week off.
Last Week: 2-2
Playoffs: 2-2
Season: 169-90-1
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