I posted my picks for the wild card round last week, and failed at my goal of the perfect playoffs.  In reality I counted on 3-1, instead fell to 2-2 after the Westbrook screen in the Philly game.  However, I was correct in saying at some point in that game you would feel like if you were the coach of either team it would be an improvement.  Now onto this weeks picks.  I'm not even going to bother guessing totals since at this point anything can happen.

 

 

Buckle up your chin straps for this contest, because this is going to be a good old fashioned smashmouth football game.  The teams are pretty much mirror images of one another.  Both teams have outstanding defenses, great ground attacks, and QB's considered to be game managers that have been able to make plays to win games.  

 

When there is a matchup like this I generally side with the team who has the best player on the field.  It would be very hard to argue that on Saturday Ed Reed will not be the best player on the field.  Compound that with the fact Tennessee's passing game is comparable to the Miami passing game, and the fact is Kerry Collins is still Kerry Collins expect him to pick one off.  We all know when Ed Reed has the ball in his hands he is a threat to go to the house.  There will not be much relief in the ground game, last contest was the Titans worst rushing output of the season.

 

Injuries should also play a roll in this game, with the two highly touted defensive lineman for Tennessee Vanden Bosch and Haynesworth being banged up, they are unproven of their level of performance.  Even if they are good to go, look for conditioning for the big guys to be a factor later in the game.  Most importantly is the injury to C Kevin Mawae.  A veteran of his caliber can not be replaced at this position, especially against this defense.

 

Last game the refs kept the Titans alive on a horrible blow to the shoulder err....head by Terrell Suggs on the game-winning drive.

 

 

 

I am the biggest hater of this Arizona Cardinals team on this site probably, so my opinion may come across as biased.  They will not be able to jump the snap count on the road (yes they were jumping the snap count not getting off the ball, evident by the number of offsides penalties).  They are not facing a lifetime backup running back who carried the ball almsot 400 times this year (might have overlooked that last week).  They face the best duo of RB's in the league.  It was a freak of nature play that turned around that Atlanta game.  Once they fell behind, contrary to what I beleive Matt Ryan turned into a rookie.  Jake Delhomme,  though not an amazing talent, is a poised veteran and has Steve Smith (who is still running past the Arizona secondary from last game) to throw to.  Arizona also does not have the luxury of facing the 24th ranked rush defense like they did last week, or having a great receiving duo cause Boldin will be a shell of himself this week if he is out there.

 

Most important stat for me Carolina 8-0 at home, Arizona 0 for the East Coast.

 

 

 

Does anyone really think they know what will happen in this game?  You are kidding yourself if you wager substantially on this game with any confidence.  Unfortunately for people like myself, it is tough to take a game off at this stage of the season.  The coaching difference is probably the greatest in this game out of all the other games on the board.  To me that is enough to win a game of this magnitude between two divisional rivals.  Aside from that, this game a is deadlocked.

 

 

 

How many times will the disallowed touchdown that costed most bettors be brought up this week?  I had San Diego big that game, and I felt like I hit the lottery.  Not only was the last touchdown disallowed, but San Diego was outplayed on a massive level that game.  The team is beat up after playing 5 straight playoff games and unlike Indy, Pittsburgh will hit them in the mouth.  LT is probably a no go, Gates is still banged up.  The receivers are already thin, and now we know what Vincent Jackson does to bounce back from a no show game, get picked up for DUI.

 

A lot is being made of Darren Sproles.  No team has ever known going into the game they needed to key in on this guy, which I think helps explain some of the productivity.  This is the Pittsburgh D though, nothing comes easy against them.  Unlike the Colts, the Steelers play a 3-4 which means there will be more speed to combat Sproles.  The playing surface is also a Sproles equalizer.  Every football game in the state of Pennsylvania has been played on that field, and it resembles a practice field more than a NFL field.  I'm not sure of what the final record turned out to be, but how did west coast teams end up faring on the east coast this year.

 

The only thing that worries me is that if this becomes a field position game, San Diego Punter = Amazing

                      Pittsburgh Punter = Horrific