Wild Card Saturday

By Dan Rodgers

This is an interesting year for the NFL because all four Wild Card teams have better records than the team that is hosting them, except one. The Jets have a better record than the Colts by a game, the Ravens by two games over the Chiefs, the Saints by four games over Seattle, and Green Bay has the same record as Philly but beat them earlier this year.

This means that if the team the better record (or tiebreak) were to host, all four Wild Card teams would be hosting the division winners this week.

Game 1

Saints (-10) @ Seahawks - This is an interesting game because everyone is all over New Orleans since Seattle is, record-wise, the worst playoff team in NFL history. A lot of the Saints offensive weapons are banged up, with TE Jimmy Graham inactive and RBs Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory on IR. I don't think this will matter too much because Brees could turn me into a 1,000-yard receiver. I expect for Reggie Bush to make some big plays in the passing game on a few screen plays. The screens, dump-offs and other short passes will act as the Saints rushing game today because of the injuries to the running backs.

The Seahawks will look to run-run-run and keep Brees off the field. Lynch has had some fumbling issues this year as he did twice in the regular season game against the Saints. I don't think it will work because the Saints should force Hasselbeck to beat them...which he won't.

My Prediction: Saints (-10) 34 Seahawks 16


Game 2

Jets (+2.5) @ Colts - In a rematch of last season's AFC Championship game, the Jets look to avenge their loss. The Colts are definitely not the same team as the only playoff team they defeated this season was the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts run defense has vastly improved in the last four games and will look to continue that against the smashmouth run game of the Jets led by Shonn Greene. The Colts will hope to stop him and LT to force Mark Sanchez to beat him like they did last season. Sanchez did have some success against Indy's defense throwing for over 250 yards and two touchdowns in last year's contest.

I think the Jets will find some success but the game will be determined by Manning. Reggie Wayne will take a vacation to Revis Island like he did last year, so Manning will have to use other targets like Jacob Tamme, Blair White and Pierre Garcon. Dallas Clark and Austin Collie are both out which should make the Jets feel a bit better.

My Prediction: Jets (+2.5) 24 Colts 23

Rodgers That