The 2011 NFL playoffs are finally underway, after several hectic weeks of regular season football. There are many great teams with high expectations entering the playoffs, such as the Packers, Patriots and 49ers. However, every year, an unexpected team makes a deep run and upsets at least one highly favored team. As for this year, I suspect that team will be the New York Giants. In Week 13, New York almost pulled off an upset against the heavily favored Packers, losing by just three points. They enter the playoffs with back to back wins against the Jets and Cowboys, two highly regarded teams in the league. The Giants will play the Atlanta Falcons at home in what should be a great game. Out of the AFC, watch out for the deadly Cincinnati Bengals. Though they lack experience, that team has the heart and soul needed to win the Super Bowl. Without further ado, I present the Wild Card Round Preview:
Bengals at Texans: Sadly for the Texans, they enter the playoffs with three straight losses, one of which coming against the 2-14 Colts. However, the Texans had clinched a playoff spot in Week 14, so they did not necessarily need to try due to the risk of injury. Ironically, the most recent win for Houston came against the Cinciannati Bengals. This weekend, the Bengals must play on the road in order to advance. They have an extremely inexperienced team this season, led by rookies AJ Green and Andy Dalton. However, the same could be said for Houston, who have just clinched their first playoff birth in franchise history. On paper, Houston has the edge with a slightly better defense and a better running game. However, their cold streak may hurt themselves against the determined Bengals. In the end, it should be a close game, but I think the Bengals will upset the 3rd seed this Saturday.
Bengals over Texans 24-17 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Steelers at Broncos: It appears as if Tim Tebow's aura has faded; like Houston, the Denver Broncos have lost their last three games. What is the problem? Defenses have finally figured out Tim Tebow. However, it will not get any easier for Denver, as they face the intimidating Steelers defense this weekend. Pittsburgh is ranked 1st in passing yards allowed per game (171.9), 1st in receiving yards allowed per game (186.3) and 1st in total yards allowed per game (271.8). The most important statistic in favor of Pittsburgh is the fact they are ranked 2nd overall in rushing touchdowns allowed (7). Against a team like Denver who relies heavily on their running game, the defense will need play with a sense of urgency. This should be an easy win for Big Ben, even without star running back Rashard Mendenhall.
Steelers over Broncos 24-10
Stand-Out Performance: S Troy Polamalu: 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 Sack
Lions at Saints: There is no team in the NFL doing as well as Drew Brees' Saints. In the past three games, the Saints offense averages 44 points per game. The main contributor? Star quarterback Drew Brees. In 2011, the Saints QB set the record for the most passing yards in a single season with 5,476. Not only does Brees have a cannon for an arm, but he is extremely accurate; Brees led the league this season with the highest completion percentage (71.2). The Saints have the most net points in the league as well (208), a combination of points for and points against. Though the Lions have great offense, there is no way they can compete with the rolling Saints. Detroit is coming off a disappointing loss against the Green Bay Packers , even though Green Bay played 2nd string quarterback Matt Flynn (480 passing yards, 6 touchdowns). If the Lions defense can't even control Matt Flynn, there is no way they can handle the amazing Drew Brees.
Saints over Lions: 45-17
Stand-Out Performance: QB Drew Brees: 430 passing yards, 4 passing TD's
Falcons at Giants: After a competitive game against Dallas in Week 17, the Giants are in the playoffs. Sadly, the road is not an easy one for New York fans; Atlanta, led by it's offense, is coming off of a dominating win over Tampa Bay. On paper, the Atlanta defense is better than the defense in New York; they are ahead in nearly every major defensive statistic. The net points are in favor of the Falcons as well, with 52 points compared to -6 for the Giants. However, New York usually is able to match up well against decent teams, and I expect them to make a deep playoff run after defeating the Falcons at home.
Giants over Falcons 27-17
Super Bowl Prediction: Saints over Ravens 34-28
Super Bowl MVP: 375 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD, 2 INT
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| Arian Foster |
Bengals over Texans 24-17 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Steelers at Broncos: It appears as if Tim Tebow's aura has faded; like Houston, the Denver Broncos have lost their last three games. What is the problem? Defenses have finally figured out Tim Tebow. However, it will not get any easier for Denver, as they face the intimidating Steelers defense this weekend. Pittsburgh is ranked 1st in passing yards allowed per game (171.9), 1st in receiving yards allowed per game (186.3) and 1st in total yards allowed per game (271.8). The most important statistic in favor of Pittsburgh is the fact they are ranked 2nd overall in rushing touchdowns allowed (7). Against a team like Denver who relies heavily on their running game, the defense will need play with a sense of urgency. This should be an easy win for Big Ben, even without star running back Rashard Mendenhall.
Steelers over Broncos 24-10
Stand-Out Performance: S Troy Polamalu: 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 Sack
Lions at Saints: There is no team in the NFL doing as well as Drew Brees' Saints. In the past three games, the Saints offense averages 44 points per game. The main contributor? Star quarterback Drew Brees. In 2011, the Saints QB set the record for the most passing yards in a single season with 5,476. Not only does Brees have a cannon for an arm, but he is extremely accurate; Brees led the league this season with the highest completion percentage (71.2). The Saints have the most net points in the league as well (208), a combination of points for and points against. Though the Lions have great offense, there is no way they can compete with the rolling Saints. Detroit is coming off a disappointing loss against the Green Bay Packers , even though Green Bay played 2nd string quarterback Matt Flynn (480 passing yards, 6 touchdowns). If the Lions defense can't even control Matt Flynn, there is no way they can handle the amazing Drew Brees.
Saints over Lions: 45-17
Stand-Out Performance: QB Drew Brees: 430 passing yards, 4 passing TD's
Falcons at Giants: After a competitive game against Dallas in Week 17, the Giants are in the playoffs. Sadly, the road is not an easy one for New York fans; Atlanta, led by it's offense, is coming off of a dominating win over Tampa Bay. On paper, the Atlanta defense is better than the defense in New York; they are ahead in nearly every major defensive statistic. The net points are in favor of the Falcons as well, with 52 points compared to -6 for the Giants. However, New York usually is able to match up well against decent teams, and I expect them to make a deep playoff run after defeating the Falcons at home.
Giants over Falcons 27-17
Super Bowl Prediction: Saints over Ravens 34-28
Super Bowl MVP: 375 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD, 2 INT
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