Wild Card Predictions

Well we have finally reached the playoffs in the NFL. The wild card round will be played this Saturday and Sunday, with three of the match ups being repeats of games in the final week of the regular season. So here we go with a game by game preview and prediction.

The first game on the schedule will pit the New York Jets up against the Bengals in Cincinnati. The Jets throttled the Bengals 37-0 this past Sunday. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this week's score will be closer. The Bengals need to get their offense going and keep the ball away from the Jets corner back Darrelle Revis. While on defense they must slow down the run and put Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez in a position to make plays. If the Bengals do as I say above I have little doubt that they can force Sanchez into at least a couple of turnovers. Predictions Bengals 20, Jets 13.

Game two on Saturday features the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas won their match up against Philly this past Sunday 24-0. As much as I would like to find a way for the Eagles to beat the Cowboys, I really don't see it. The Cowboys are just more talented than the Eagles, plain and simple. The lone hope for the Eagles is that they can get in the head of Tony Romo and he will become a turnover machine. I just don't see it happening, I hate to say. Prediction Cowboys 27, Eagles 10.

On to Sunday where the first game will have the Baltimore Ravens facing the New England Patriots. Now as a Patriots fan I don't really fear the Ravens like I may have in the Past. Their defense isn't as stout as it used to be and the passing game isn't scary either. The Patriots will need to stop the running of both Ray Rice and Willis McGahee, no easy task for this defense. The Patriots defense will also need to play all 60 minutes rather than taking their usual fourth quarter nap. Randy Moss will need to be heard from if the Patriots are to win. Prediction Patriots 23, Ravens 20.

The final game of the weekend will have the Green Bay Packers traveling to the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals. This season has been a nice quiet little coming out party for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and it will continue this weekend. As much as I like Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals I just think that they have too many injuries to overcome and win. The game will be close and Rodgers will lead the Pack to a game winning score late in the fourth quarter. Prediction: Packers 27, Cardinals 24.

Well there they are and if these predictions are as good as my regular season ones we may be looking at a Ravens vs. Cardinals Super Bowl.

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