After 17 weeks of action, the NFL is now giving 12 teams a shot at winning the Super Bowl. This weekend the wildcards play to start things off. Three of the four games are rematches of last weekend’s games. Two are even at the same place. Should all be great games though. In the NFC, the Cardinals have the worst record in the playoffs at 10-6.
New York Jets at Cincinnati Benglas (Saturday 4:30 PM ET on NBC)
The Jets dominated at home in a game the Bengals just didn’t seem to care to win. Not sure why Carson Palmer even played this one. Chad OchoCinco went down with injury but will play this weekend. Will he be effective though? Injured and being covered by Darrelle Revis is not a winning combination. The Bengals should have a better handle for Brad Smith who ran all over them and turn up the pressure on rookie Mark Sanchez. I think the Jets have the confidence and with Thomas Jones can control the clock. Their defense puts enough pressure on the Bengals to keep them rattled. I think the Jets will have the gameplan to keep the Bengals defense off balance with a mixture of all their options.
THE PICK: Jets 17, Bengals 13
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (Saturday 8 PM ET on NBC)
The Eagles are too good to get beat three times in one season by the same team. The Cowboys seemed a little too confident following their win last week. It was a huge win but the Eagles are a good team and won’t be humiliated two straight weeks. I look for them to come out with a renewed focus and will get an early lead and put pressure on the Cowboys to start making plays. The Eagles will win and put the Wade Phillips firing back as a headline in Dallas.
THE PICK: Eagles 27, Cowboys 24
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots (Sunday at 1 PM ET on CBS)
I think this is the toughest game of the weekend to predict. Losing Wes Welker is a huge blow to the Pats. He’s the go to guy for that offense and now they’ve going to have to count on Randy Moss to show up every play. Baltimore hasn’t shown the same shutdown defense this year it has over the past several years. Their offense has been better though and that could prove to be the difference. With no Wes Welker and Tom Brady banged up, I’m going with a mild upset.
THE PICK: Ravens 26, Patriots 23
Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals (Sunday at 4:40 PM ET on FOX)
Green Bay went to the desert last week and blew out the Cardinals. Arizona didn’t have anything to play for and started pulling players early so Matt Leinart could continue to show how he’s more of a UFL QB than NFL caliber. Green Bay has been on a roll the second half of the season but it’s been against inferior competition. They’re gonna keep this one close though. The Cardinals will step it up a notch at home this weekend and win it.
THE PICK: Cardinals 34, Packers 31
My preseason Super Bowl pick was Chargers over Eagles so i’m sticking with it.
