The NFL Playoffs continue this weekend with the AFC and NFC Divisional Round matches going on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday, January 15
AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers - The Ravens and Steelers split the two games against each other this season. Each team won on the road and the Steelers are the AFC North division champions.
Ben Roethlisberger rates an edge at quarterback over Baltimore's Joe Flacco simply because of the experience he brings to the Steelers' offense. Plus the fact he has two Super Bowl rings isn't too shabby either.
Both teams have solid defenses, although Pittsburgh did way better stopping the run in 2010 than the Ravens. The Steelers led the league against the run, giving up just over 60 yards rushing per game.
Wow!
The Ravens do still struggle to score points at times and Flacco may have to step it up a notch in Heinz Field on Saturday if the Ravens are going to win the game.
No matter the winner, expect a hard hitting battle between these two fierce rivals, who respect each other. They just don't like each other.
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons boast a great home record in the Georgia Dome, including a win over Green Bay back in Week 12.
Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan is 0-for-1 in playoff appearances, having lost at Arizona two years ago as a rookie.
Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers posted his first post-season triumph last week in the thrilling 21-16 win at Philadelphia.
Rodgers is now .500 in the playoffs as Packers' quarterback.
Look for the Packers' defense to bring the pressure against Ryan to try and force mistakes as he looks to hit wide receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins, along with tight end Tony Gonzalez.
The Falcons will need to establish the ground game with Michael Turner leading the way to thwart the Packers' vaunted 3-4 scheme.
As for the Packers, they had a sudden resurgence in the running game last week when James Starks rushed for 123 yards and Brandon Jackson scored a TD on a pass play.
Of course, Rodgers is a solid quarterback and has multiple targets in veteran Donald Driver, James Jones and Greg Jennings, plus tight end Donald Lee.
Atlanta's defense is not as good as the Packers' defense, but it is a solid unit, nonetheless.
Sunday, January 16
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears - Raise your hand if you picked these two teams to be in the post-season divisional round back in August.
Didn't think so.
But they are here and one of them will advance to play in the NFC Championship Game next weekend.
The Bears rate the edge on defense no doubt, because the Seahawks allowed better than 30 points a game down the stretch and also gave up 36 points last week against the Saints.
If they give up 30 points or more to Chicago, the Bears will roll to an easy victory in this one.
Bears' QB Jay Cutler will be starting in his first ever playoff game on Sunday. He will have to be sharp and not throw the interceptions he has been known to in clutch situations during his five-year career.
Seahawks' signal caller Matt Hasselbeck looked like a new man out there last week during the win over the Saints, passing for big yardage and four touchdowns. Only one problem... this ain't the Saints defense he will be facing this time around.
Seattle did beat the Bears at Soldier Field back in Week Six, but the Bears' defense was missing linebacker Lance Briggs in that one. Briggs is a difference make in the defense and Chicago will look to pressure Hasselbeck and the Seattle offense into mistakes.
The Bears must contain Marshawn Lynch, Seattle's running back who scored on that incredible 67-yard run last week to clinch the game for the 'Hawks.
AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
New York Jets at New England Patriots - Don't believe the hype!
With all the trash talking going on between the Jets and Patriots, one would think this is the Super Bowl itself.
The Jets beat New England way back in Week Two, 28-14. However, the Patriots completely gutted the Jets 45-3 in front of a national audience on Monday Night Football in early December.
The Jets' loudmouth Head Coach Rex Ryan isn't forgetting that beatdown either and reminded those who cared to listen that this is all about him and Patriots' Head Coach Bill Belichick.
New England has a huge edge at quarterback where Tom Brady, coming off an MVP-type performance this season, will look to continue his hot streak that started in mid-November and hasn't slowed down one bit since.
Jets' QB Mark Sanchez is 3-1 in his two seasons in the post-season, but it isn't because of him. The Jets defense and running game has been and continues to be the bread-and-butter in the teams' success in the playoffs for the last two seasons.
What it will take for the Jets to win is a solid running game (to keep Brady & company off the field) like they displayed last week against Indianapolis.
If the Jets can run the football and get pressure on Brady, like Baltimore did last year when they blew out the Patriots in the opening round of the playoffs, they can win this football game.
If not, look for Brady to carve up the secondary once again and the Patriots will roll to another easy win.
The picks for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs...
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Green Bay over Atlanta
Chicago over Seattle
New England over NY Jets
Last Week's Record: 1-3
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