Debate amongst yourselves which weekend features better football, Wildcard or Divisional Round. I would usually pick the round of 8, but 3 of last weekend's 4 games threw down the gauntlet for this round to match or surpass the excitement. Regardless, we see the 4 teams that enjoyed first round buys today and tomorrow and the story lines get richer and more intense as we continue the journey to Dallas. So.......
1. Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh- Round III of the Battle of the AFC North. Anyone who thinks Troy Polamalu is not the single most important player on the Steelers roster, even more so than Big Ben need only to look at one of the plays of the year when number 43 stripped Joe Flacco of the ball and gave the Steelers and emotionally charged win over their Charm City rivals. I find the Ravens offense the most frustrating to watch but last week a key piece emerged, TE Todd Heap. If Ray Rice does what he does and Heap can be the "go to" weapon he was last week, I like a Ravens upset. Regardless, it should be a dandy as these 2 behemoths go at it again in Pennsylvania.
2. Green Bay vs. Atlanta- Throw out 13-3, the Pack is now everyone's playoff darlings and the superb regular season record of Atlanta's Birds doesn't matter. 'Tis true, everyone starts the playoff 0-0 but where is the love for this team from Dixie? You would think it almost not worth playing today the way the media has scrambled for space on the GB bandwagon. Defensively, Green Bay is peaking at an opportune moment, last week's game evidence that they are getting key contributions from all 3 parts of their defense. They also found a running game, but I have a feeling about Atlanta. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and perhaps an inspirational leader in Tony Gonzalez. They are the NFC leaders and I like them by a field goal to host the Championship game next Sunday.
3. Seattle vs. Chicago- Does lightning strike twice? Cinderella one step closer to the ball? Ahhhh....nope, methinks it all dies here at Soldier Field tomorrow. The Bears are so easy to be critical of largely because their leader and QB, Jay Cutler, by design or circumstance seems to be one of the most unlikable guys in the game. But this is a team with some strength and despite Cutler's propensity to kill success with his decisions, I like their defensive pieces and enough Matt Forte and Devin Hester to make it a safe bet plane tickets can be booked for Georgia next Sunday- Count me in on Da Bears, by 7 at least.
4. NY Jets vs. New England- Forget the football, lets just go to Sound Byte Bowl 2011. Ok... Rex Ryan is a fat ass windbag and he empowers his players to be as well. But admit it, his flapping gums have give this game some extra jam- even though it did not need it. Bill Belichick, known to all as the NFL version of the Galactic Emperor no doubt has been quietly savouring this one since the Jets slipped by the Colts last week. Now its game time, and I just don't see Gang Green spending a weekend in New England and not getting thumped. I like Brady, Belichick, and a cast of real nobodies in this game, maybe not 45-3 like the Monday night pasting of last month but still a New England "V" and a chance to say, "Look who's talking now". Pats by 4
Explanations, self congratulations and everything else in between as we diagnose Monday.
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