NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend

Here it is folks, the best weekend in the NFL is upon us. Lets take a look at the 4 matchups and make a few predictions.

Arizona @ New Orleans

The Cards are coming of a WILD Wild Card win against the Packers at home last week where neither team played ANY defense. I like the way that the Cardinals are playing right now. Early Doucett came in for the injured Anquan Boldin and stepped up tremendously scoring 2 TD's. I have to believe that Boldin will be back this week, which means the deathly combo of Fitzgerald and Boldin will be back in action and I believe that will be too much for Sharper and the Saints defense. I also expect Beanie Wells to have a huge game on the ground against a Saints run defense that ranks in the bottom third of the league.

PREDICTION: Arizona 37 New Orleans 28

Baltimore @ Indianapolis

Joe Flacco and the Ravens travel into Lucos Oil to take on the 4 time NFL-MVP Peyton Manning and the Colts. I give the Ravens NO SHOT to win this game. The Ravens are not going to be able to do what they did last week to Brady. Brady had his worst postseason performance in his career, and looked totally confused. Flacco completed only 4 passes last week because...well he could. Manning is not going to hand them the game like Brady did lat week.

PREDICTION : Baltimore 10 Indianapolis 35

Dallas @ Minnesota

The Cowgirls are coming of their first postseason win since 1996 after routing the Eagles in 2 straight weeks. Will this trend of Dallas' hot play continue this week? I believe so. The Minnesota defense has been playing badly of late, giving up 30 points against Arizona and Chicago. With the way Tony Romo and the Dallas offense is playing right now, I dont see the the Vikes stopping them. Brett Favre has had an excellent season (on my fantasy team btw) and I expect him to have a decent game, but this game will come down to the Dallas offense against the Vikings defense.

PREDICTION: Dallas 35 Minnesota 27

New York Jets @ San Diego

The Jets head a little further west than expected this week to take on Phillip Rivers and the Chargers who have won 11 in a row leading up to the playoffs. Mark Sanchez and the Jets ran all over the Bengals 2 weeks in a row to get themselves to a place no one expected to be at the beginning of the season. But you know what, their here, and their playing like they deserve to be too. The defense is playing absolutely outstanding and this matchup favors them well this week. The Chargers are next to last in the NFL in rushing, only the Colts are worse. That has been a liability for the Jets for some parts of the season. I think that Rivers throws at least 40 times Sunday which will play right into the Jets hands. I think Vincent Jackson will be next to join the many on Revis Island. So it will come down to how well the Jets defend Naanee, Gates and Sproles. Heres what you have with that matchup, you have Sheppard on Naanee, I like Sheppard. Then you have a combination of Rhodes and the Jets linebackers on Gates. HUGE edge to Gates there. Look for him to have a big game recieving. If the Jets are going to win this game, they are going to have to put big pressure on Rivers and make him force those passes to the outside and the Jets can not allow checkdowns to go for 5+ yards. The Jets offensively are going to have to play big ball control like they have been with Shawn Greene and Thomas Jones. Sanchez needs to play smart, no turnovers, but he also is going to need to get the ball downfield to Cotchery and "Don't let it hit me in the hands" Edwards.

PREDICTION : Jets 24 Chargers 21

Enjoy the games everyone! Make your predictions in comments.