Can I Get You Another Round?

Finally! The wild card round of the playoffs is over and we can focus on the teams that really matter. Like the Chargers and Vikings. Why the Vikings? Because they have All Day, Adrian Peterson. That's why.

The first round of the playoffs had three games that were not very competitive, and one game that will be a classic forever. I knew what I was talking about when I said I would not be surprised by any of the winners, considering I missed three of my four picks. I have done pretty well picking NFL games this year, but last week was not what I expected.

If I had one lock for any game last week, it was New England defending their home field. But Baltimore won the game after the first play from scrimmage and made the Patriots look like I described them in my earlier post, The Fall of Ego (that's the first time I have plugged one of my posts, so don't hold it against me). RB Ray Rice has exceeded expectations, and appears to be the spitting image of Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew.

I never thought I would see Tom Brady get beat at home in the playoffs, but I have been waiting a long time for it to happen. I was surprised that I wasn't more excited, but I realized the Chargers might have to play the Ravens in the AFC championship. The Bolts can beat Indianapolis in their sleep but can't figure out Baltimore.

The Jets beat the Bengals on the road, and looked great doing so. If I had any guts I would have picked that game correctly, but I went against my better judgment and took the home team. I guess I forgot that you should never bet on the Bengals. But am I right in thinking that you should never bet on the Jets either?

Just making the playoffs was good enough for Cincy and they decided not to show up for the game. Who really knows how good the Jets are since they keep playing teams that are handing them the win. You wouldn't think it would happen in the playoffs, and it looks really bad for the legacy of QB Carson Palmer.

The Cowboys and Tony Romo finally got over the playoff hump and they have cemented themselves as the sexy pick for the NFC championship. Head coach Wade Phillips is safe for another year, and if I have any Dallas fans reading this, I would like to offer some insight on Phillips. He might not be the tough disciplinarian many want, and it might have taken him a few years to make his mark, but the strength of the Cowboys is their defense which he directs. I can tell you, I loved Phillips when he was the defensive coordinator for the Chargers. He put together the best San Diego defense I ever watched play. You would be wise to give him some credit for the job he did this year, regardless of what happens in Minnesota.

It was back to back poor performances for the Eagles, which is the only thing I did see coming last week. As much as I could not believe that I was taking the Cowboys to win a playoff game, I had less faith in the Eagles to rebound from the poor performance against Dallas the week prior. Eagles fans are ready to get rid of Donovan McNabb, which is Philly for you. A fresh start somewhere else might be a good idea, though. Like say...Minnesota?

Then there was the best wild card game of the decade (being just over a week old) with Cardinals QB Kurt Warner growing his illustrious legendary status. He does not lose many playoff games. Everyone in the world was picking the Packers. Green Bay did have a chance to win, but it would have been no fault of Warner's who put up one of the best statistical games ever in the postseason. He already owns most of the records in Super Bowl games.

It looked like a blowout early, but QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers stormed back and had a chance to win. Rodgers lived up to the hype he received before the game. What happened to the Packers defense? Warner, I guess.

On a night where the record for most points scored in a playoff game was broken, it was a defensive play that finally ended the game, albeit in controversy. In the end, 38 year old Warner added to his Hall of Fame resume by throwing more touchdowns (5) than incomplete passes (4), and his team continues to defend their NFC championship crown from last year.

With the Cardinals...Wow. Same guy who went to the Super Bowl with St. Louis. Twice. Can anyone tell me what any other coach or player has done since? How about the team? Someone please tell me Kurt Warner is not a Hall of Famer. I can win that argument in 15 seconds. I wish the Vikings could trade Brett Favre for Warner right now. And I'm a Brett Favre fan.

Sorry for the rant.

I'll end it by saying, I like Kurt Warner.

Continuing...

This week should be even more interesting now that the pretenders are out of the picture. Let's take a look at the matchups.

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

Arizona comes to New Orleans after an emotional win at home and a spectacular offensive output. Don't expect the game this week against the Saints to be much different. The Saints were the leagues most dominate team in the first half of the season, especially on offense. But they faltered down the stretch leaving many to doubt their legitimacy as a contender. Saints QB Drew Brees had another fantastic year leading his team to the number one seed in the NFC, but their spotty play late in the season, added to their long layoff, doesn't bode well for who dat nation.

Brees is still an infant when it comes to the playoffs, just 3-3 lifetime. The Cards might get WR Anquan Boldin back for this game which would improve an offense that just posted 51 points against what was supposed to be a good Packers defense.

I love Brees and the Saints offense, but I'm not sure the layoff was a good thing for New Orleans. They are such a rhythmic team, it's hard to see how time off could help that.

I think Arizona will ride the momentum of their first round victory and beat the Saints in a close one. The Cardinals defense will have to hold New Orleans to 34. In order for the Saints to win they will have to revert to their mid season form. Vegas has the over/under at 57 for this game. I would bet the house on the over. I can't wait to see Brees and Warner go at it.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts

The Ravens put together their best game of the season last week, beating the Patriots convincingly in New England. Now they must go on the road and face Peyton Manning and the top seeded Colts. Indy chose to rest their star players after they secured the top seed in the AFC, and have not played a full game with their starters in several weeks. Many are concerned that the layoff will work against the momentum the Colts built throughout the year.

To me, it was a smart move with a team as old as the Colts. They have veteran players throughout their lineup which makes me think, not only do they need rest, they will be professional enough to be ready to play after the layoff.

Manning does not have the best track record in the playoffs, but it would take an unbelievable achievement for the Ravens to knock off New England and Indianapolis on the road in consecutive weeks.

Turnovers and running the ball were the keys to victory for Baltimore, last week. I think they will have a hard time getting turnovers against Manning, and they surely won't replicate the success they had running the ball. For the Ravens to have a chance, they are probably going to need QB Joe Flacco to step up and play well. Something they didn't need against the Patriots.

I think the well rested, veteran Colts will win this game in a nail biter. I like Manning to cement the win late in the fourth quarter.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings

Once again, Dallas is involved in what most are projecting to be the best matchup of the weekend. Now that they have won in December and the playoffs, the Cowboys faithful are looking for the Super Bowl title.

The main difference this week is they have to do it on the road. Dallas had a great win in December against the Saints in New Orleans. All the other Cowboys wins since have been at home. The strength of the team has been defense, but they have been balanced on offense as well. It doesn't hurt that Romo is not dating a pop star and subsequently playing the best football of his career.

Minnesota comes in well rested with the ultimate veteran Brett Favre. Many teams have found a way to contain the rushing attack of the Vikings by focusing on RB Adrian Peterson every play. Peterson's true greatness is apparent with the year that Favre had. Without the run game consuming so much attention, do you really think Favre would have had his best touchdown to interception ratio? Deciding how to defend the run will be a challenge for Dallas' defense.

The other challenge will be the superb defensive line of the Vikings. With breakdowns in the secondary, the Vikings defensive line kept their defense solid, led by sack machine Jared Allen. The Cowboys have not faced a D line this good all year. The good news for Dallas is that Romo gets rid of the ball faster than any QB in the league, and they run a lot of three step drops which should combat the rush of Minnesota.

I think Peterson needs to get going early by breaking a big run and taking some pressure off of Favre. Peterson hasn't eclipsed the 100 yard mark in his last seven games and it seems like he's due for a breakout. Still, the Cowboys' defense is not an easy place to start.

Another tough one to call, but I think Minnesota wins at home. Expectations should be taken in baby steps for Cowboys fans, and Minnesota plays awfully well at home. The team that gets the most turnovers will win this one.

New York Jets vs. San Diego Chargers

San Diego has been in this position several times. Playing at home in a game they are supposed to win. They seem to have a tougher time as the favorite rather than playing as an underdog.

Over the last 11 weeks of the season the Chargers have been the most consistent team in the NFL, and the leagues best offense. They boast four receivers and tight ends that are 6'4" or taller. QB Phillip Rivers deserved a better look as the league's MVP, and WR Vincent Jackson was robbed to not make the AFC Pro Bowl roster.

The Jets come into San Diego as the Cinderella of the postseason after defying the odds to even make the playoffs. Their good fortune continued when they faced a Bengals team twice in successive weeks that just rolled over and let them have their way. The term "shut down corner" is once again en vogue thanks to DB Darrelle Revis who has shut down every top receiver he lined up against this year. The Jets will look to assert their run game which is rated tops in the NFL, and play great defense, also first in the league.

It is a battle of offense against defense, but the Chargers are more experienced, more talented, and playing at home. They are also healthier than they have been all season. Pro Bowl TE Antonio Gates should provide matchup nightmares for the Jets defense, and the heavy blitzing schemes of Jets head coach Rex Ryan will be countered with screen passes to Darren Sproles. Sooners fans know what Sproles can do with the ball in his hands. Should the game be close in the fourth quarter, Rivers is probably the best closer in the league, with all due respect to Manning.

In the end, I like my Chargers at home. If they protect the ball and hold the Jets to field goals, this one could be over in the third quarter.