NFL Division Playoffs: Divide and Conquer

The NFL playoffs move into their second round this weekend with divisional matchups that pit winners from the Wild Card round against top seeds who enjoyed last week off. For any of those Wild Card winners to get to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, they’ll have to run the table on the road from here on out. This weekend, that won’t be easy.

Saturday’s first game however, presents possibly the best chance for a road team to get a win. The Baltimore Ravens (11-5, 1-0) travel to Tennessee (13-3, 0-0) to face the AFC’s top seed, who beat them 13-10 in a defensive struggle in Week 5. The Ravens then went 10-2 the rest of the season and bring a dominating defense, led by linebacker Ray Lewis, and ball hawk Ed Reed, who has 10 interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two touchdowns in his last seven games.

Tennessee has balance on offense and defense and can run the ball, although their ground game has been inconsistent in recent weeks and they will be without center Kevin Mawae. Quarterback Kerry Collins is enjoying a phenomenal late career resurgence, but the last time he faced the Ravens in the post season was in Super Bowl XXXV when Baltimore beat the Giants 34-7. He may have a similar outcome.

In the late game, the Arizona Cardinals (9-7, 1-0) travel to Carolina to play the Panthers (12-4, 0-0), looking for just their second playoff game in franchise history. Their defense has been very spotty against the run and will face a solid two-pronged Panthers running game with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, and a potent passing game with QB Jake Delhomme and the always dangerous receiver Steve Smith. The Cardinals lost to the Panthers 27-23 in Week 8 and are 0-5 when traveling to teams on the east coast.

Sunday has the battle for bragging rights along the New Jersey Turnpike as two NFC East rivals face off for the third time this season. The Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1, 1-0) visit the NFC’s top seed, the New York Giants (12-4, 0-0). They’ve both won on the other team’s field, Giants winning Week 10, 36-31; the Eagles took Week 14, 20-14. Expected winter storms will not be a factor. Establishing the run will. The Giants will have a healthy Brandon Jacobs back, while Philly runs behind Brian Westbrook.

The last game of the weekend has San Diego (8-8, 1-0) without injured running back LaDainian Tomlinson, traveling to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers (12-4, 0-0). Darren Sproles had to carry the load for the Chargers last week in their overtime win over Indianapolis, but he’ll be facing the NFL’s Number 1 defense. Ben Roethlisberger had last week to recover from a concussion suffered in Week 17. With a clear head and some winter weather, they should have the edge against the team from Southern California.

I went 2-2 in last week’s picks. My predictions are in bold:

NFL Divisional Playoffs

Saturday, January 10, 2009

AFC

Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans

NFC

Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers

Sunday, January 11, 2009

NFC

Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants

AFC

San Diego Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers