The NFL Play-Offs:
It’s play-off time, for those who aren’t usually enthralled by the
regular season games in the NFL, this is the time it becomes really worth it to
stay up late (if you live in this part of the globe (Nigeria/Africa)) to catch
a gripping game that can go either way and offenses or defences really step up
to the plate. It’s where the road to the Superbowl or an early exit can be as
real as 1 game away.
But before we get caught up in the prospect of edge of your seat, make
or break football, let’s stop to find out what teams made it this far and what
lies ahead on the road to Lucas Oil Stadium for SuperBowl
XLVI
Wild Card Round:
4 games – Eight teams square off to earn the right to play in the
division playoffs
This time the teams/matchups have:
1.
Cincinnati Bengals V
Houston Texans
This is the Texans’ 1st playoff
game in franchise history and The Bengals are also a surprise in the Playoffs
this season. This game also sees 2 rookies square off Bengals Andy Dalton v Texans
T J Yates.
The Bengals have run for more
than 100 yards as a team in 9 straight games, Thanks for the most part to Cedric Benson and -Bernard Scott. The Bengals have already lost to the Texans this
season and will be seeking revenge; they have also not been able to beat a team
with a winning record this season.
The revenge factor may well be their biggest motivation, plus
they know where their mistakes against the Texans were the last time out.
The Texans are celebrating already, their 1st
playoff appearance is certainly worth the champagne but their opponents are not
exactly a daunting opponent.
The Texans D has been awesome 2nd
ranked overall behind the Steelers and ahead of the Ravens and a running game
bettered only by The Broncos. If the Texans can eliminate the errors that have
plagued them recently and stick to what they have been good at all season, then
a win and another milestone appearance is certain.
My prediction:
The Texans get it right, keep it tight and
get the win against a Bengals team that will be pumped up for the game too.
2.
Pittsburgh Steelers V
Denver Broncos
This matchup is very tantalizing, maybe not
as much offensively as the Lions V Saints matchup but for the fact that the
Tebow Mania goes up against the famous Steel Curtain (Yes – Black & Yellow
(x4))
The Steelers have the league’s top ranked
defense while the Broncos have the league’s top ranked rushing offense. The
Broncos however go into this crucial match very cold having lost their last 3
games with Tebow going very very cold. Tebow is the most inaccurate starting
passer in the league and his last appearance was one of the worst passing displays
from any QB for a while.
This is the Broncos 1st Playoff
appearance since 2005, they are 1-6 all time in Wild Card Games. They have lost
the last 3 and the Steelers will be looking to pile on the misery.
If Tebow and the Broncos can manage to run
effectively against the best D in the league (Tebow and McGahee have combined for 1,859 yards on 371
carries, scoring 10 of the team's 11 rushing touchdowns. The Steelers are
giving up more rushing yardage this year than usual (97 yards per game), but
they have allowed just 1 rushing TD in the past 7 games) and at the same
time magically get Tebow to become a good passer come Saturday, then the
Broncos have a great chance of coming out on top.
Everyone is talking about the Steelers D but
FYI Broncos pair Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller combined for 21 sacks this
season. The pressure from this pair on tip toe Big Ben may be crucial even
though Von Miller is playing through injury with a cast on his arm at the
moment.
The Steeelers on the other hand are more concerned
going into this game with the injury issues they suddenly face. Safety Ryan
Clark out with a Sickle Cell condition that prevents him from playing at high
altitudes, Rashard Mendenhall out with a torn ACL and Big Ben Roethlisberger is
struggling with a sprained ankle but is typically likely to play. All indicators point to a Steelers win,
traditional great defense with offense that can be explosive with WR Mike
Wallace, TE Heath Miller and the veteran WR Hines Ward. The running game will
also depend on Isaac Redman filling in for the injured Mendenhall
My Prediction:
Just because everyone is off the Tebow Mania
band wagon, I’m jumping on it. Tim has said he will take Elway’s advice and
pull the trigger. If you don’t but a ticket you don’t win the lottery, coupled
with the Steelers injury problems my bet is on the Broncos wining against all
the odds.
3.
Atlanta Hawks V New York
Giants
Matt Ryan is searching for his 1st
playoff win with the Atlanta Falcons, Eli Manning is hot at the moment
following an elite display against the Cowboys in their Playoff game before the
playoffs.
For the Giants , the fact that they
are hot at the moment is what they have going for them. Victor Cruz is looking
like speedy Gonzalez. Eli Manning is playing like Drew Brees, well maybe not
but he’s playing really good and the offense is really clicking. Manning set an NFL record with 15 fourth-quarter TD
passes and his fourth-quarter passer rating of 110.0 was the NFL's second-best
mark. He was also 67 yards short of 5,000 yards in the regular season.
His season was notable since he led
the Giants to five victories when they trailed in the final period.
The same cannot be said for the defense with
an average of 25 points allowed per game. A team that can get to Eli Manning
will put an end to their run. Notable also is the fact that the Giants running
game ranks last in the league, once again, getting to Eli is key to victory.
Justin Tuck called the Atlanta Falcons
Offensive Line ‘Dirtbags’, Atlanta Left Tackle Will Svitek didn’t mind at all.
The Falcons have the 6th best rush defense in the league. The dirty
birds will have to get Eli Manning in the dirt to win this, that’s because at
QB they have a man in Matt Ryan who enters off
his best season, throwing 29 TD passes to tie the Giants' Eli Manning for
the league's 6th-highest total. That figure, along with Ryan's 4,177 yards and
92.2 passer rating are career bests, with receivers Roddy White and
rookie Julio Jones combining
for 2,252 yards and 16 TDs.
My
prediction:
The Atlanta Falcons win
this due to their better all round game, I see the younger Manning brother
being punished but it will be close.
4.
Detroit Lions V New
Orleans Saints
This match up is set to be an offensive
festival as these 2 teams can certainly put up the numbers. It’s Drew Brees
(who by the way just broke Dan Marino’s 1984 single season passing record)
versus Matt Stafford.
The New Orleans Saints are an offensive
force both on the ground and in the air. Averaging 467.1 overall yards per game
and 334.2 passing yards per game (both league highs), 132.9 rushing yards per
game (6th in the league) 34.2 points scored per game (2nd
only to the Green Bay Packers). The combination and relationship between Head
Coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees is as rosy as the numbers we just saw. One thing
is for sure, this team can score, almost at will. Darren Sproles and Pierre
Thomas provide huge threats on the ground, WR Marques Colston and TE Jimmy
Graham have been sweet targets for Brees all season too.
Getting to Drew Brees is not the easiest
feat either, the Saints Offensive Line have only allowed a sack for 1 out of
Drew Brees’ 266.9 dropbacks (league best). This is largely due to their 3
offensive linemen going to the Pro Bowl Jermon Bushrod, Jahri Evans and Carl
Nicks.
The Saints are not the worst team on defense
either, allowing an average of 21.2 points per game (13th in the
league) and a rush defense ranked 12th in the league.
This game would be over before
is started but the Detroit Lions are formidable in offense as well. 5th
in the league in total offense yards gained per game (396.1) and 4th in average points scored
(29.6) and passing yards as well (300.9).
The Lions rushing game does leave a
lot to be admired though, ranked 29th in the league in average
rushing yards per game. Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson will have to make sure
that the link between them remains intact if the Lions wish to have any chance
of beating the heavily fancied Saints.
More importantly, the Lions will
need to avoid the penalties they committed that effectively cost them the game
the last time both teams met. They will also need to find a way to run the ball
and effectively too, keeping Drew Brees off the pitch will be key, getting to
him when he’s on it too.
My
prediction:
Stopping the saints is not impossible
but it is easier said than done. The Lions will discover this come Saturday.
Saints win.
Time will tell if I’m spot on or way off the mark – Happy New Year –
Let’s Play Football!!......
Timi Adesanya – Head; Projects &
Strategy – Tactics IQ Limited
In case you were wondering, the following Teams have earned byes to
the next round, I will analyse/discuss them in the next post when they will be
in action:
1.
The New England Patriots
2.
The Baltimore Ravens
3.
The Green Bay Packers and
4.
The San Francisco 49ers
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