Familiar foes will face off this week’s Divisional Playoff games. We’ve seen every matchup this week sometime during the regular season, and in the case of the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, this will be their third meeting this year. Their won’t be a lot of surprises, being unprepared is inexcusable, so these games will come down to turnovers and who executes better.

NFC

The Panthers are hoping to return to the Super Bowl.

Saturday, 01/10/09 – Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers – The Carolina Panthers having been trying to maintain the standard set by the 2002-03 Super Bowl Panthers. Although they came close in 2006, they have never had as real of chance as they have this year to return to the Super Bowl. DeAngelo Williams ran for over 1,500 yards this season and rookie Jonathon Stewart added another 800+ yards, giving the Panthers a dangerous running attack that will take pressure off quarterback Jake Delhomme. The Arizona Cardinals are the recipient of playing in a horrible division, but they did have a nice season and an impressive Wild-Card win at home against the Atlanta Falcons last week. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner threw for almost 1,500 more yards than Delhomme, but he does not have a consistent running game to back him up. The Cardinals didn’t know what to do two weeks ago when they played the New England Patriots in the snow. When they realized they couldn’t throw the ball they just rolled over and played dead, didn’t even attempt to make snow angels… 

Sunday, 01/11/09 – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants – The Giants better watch themselves, because the Eagles are in the same boat as the they were in last year ( a Wild-Card team that got hot and won three straight road playoff games to get to the Super Bowl). The Eagles are one down and two to go, and the fact that they have already defeated the Giants at the Meadowlands will give them a lot of confidence going into this game. If the Giants offensive line lives up to it’s reputation, then quareterback Eli Manning will have all day to look for someone open that’s not Plaxico Burress. Eli is on the brink of doing what is older brother Peyton has not, win two Super Bowls. For the Eagles sakes, perhaps somebody should sit Donovan McNabb down and explain to him that there are no ties in playoff games (it also wouldn’t hurt to explain to head coach Andy Reid that his grizzly beard does not flatter him).

AFC

Titans RB Lendale White has been called a lot of things, but never "fast."

Saturday, 01/10/09 – Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans – After defeating the Miami Dolphins in Miami, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis pretty much said that the Ravens won because of God. In the grand scheme of things, I really don’t think God cares who wins a football game. I heard Lewis comment this week that God doesn’t love the Tennessee Titans either. Once I see dark clouds and thunder showers solely over the Titans bench, then I might take Lewis’s comments as the gospel truth. Until then, I’ll take the upstart Titans to defeat the Ravens in a true defensive battle. Statistically speaking, the Ravens and Titans are almost identical, but that’s why they play the game! What is most surprising about what this year’s Titans did is that they didn’t do it with Vince Young, they did it with Kerry Collins. For those of you wondering if your cable or satelite transmission is having troubles whenever LenDale White runs the ball, rest assured that he is that slow and your television viewing equipment is fine.

Sunday, 01/11/09 - San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was lit up the last game of the season and left the game with a concussion. In a game that meant nothing, some might question why Roethlisberger was even in the game. Then again, if he was held out and then started this game slow, then others would question why he didn’t play that last game. What matters now is that he is playing on Sunday and the Steelers are at home, where the only team to beat them was the Colts, who the Chargers sent packing last week. While the Colts had a much improved defense, it didn’t match the toughness and physicality of the Steelers’ defense. Chargers little man Darren Sproles ran wild last week in San Diego, and just might get the starting nod again this week with an ailing LaDainian Tomlinson. The biggest factor in this game will be mother nature, and snow is in the forecast. The Chargers see snow just as often as the Steelers see the Pacific Ocean…

Tags: NFL

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