NFL Wild Card Preview: Sunday Games

NFL Wild Card Preview: Sunday Games

These articles were written by Marshal Cummings, and posted by me (Billy Montoya.)

Seattle at Washington- Sun 2:30pm ET

Seattle and Russell Wilson head across the country to try and put the fire that is the Washington Redskins rushing offense out…….. of the playoffs that is. Russell Wilson continues to improve each week and over the last 17 weeks he has made leaps and bounds all the way into the post season. Although he is getting all the attention I believe this Seattle Defense is the story. The Seattle D has two giant corners who can really cover some ground. They seem to have more than 11 players on the field at times. These boys are not afraid of contact either. Ask Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers. Colin Kaepernick, the Niners second year quarterback, left his tight end out to dry and he took a punishing blow that put him out for the rest of that game and the next. Marshawn Lynch a.k.a Beast Mode has had quite the year. In fact he is the second leading rusher in the league. A steady dose of Beast mode should keep RGIII off the field and limit the opportunities the Redskins will have at making the jaw dropping plays that fans have grown accustomed to this season. All the things I have listed above seem to make Seattle the clear choice here. That’s why I’m picking Washington. I know what you are thinking Seattle is on a tear and dominated one of the most complete teams in the NFL two short weeks ago in those 49ers. However they have to make the long journey across this great country of ours. That is very taxing on a team, especially after a brutal 17 week season where the Seahawks have had some physical games. Washington should pound Alfred Morris and catch the Seahawks D creeping up with some play action. Look for RGIII to find Pierre Garcon and the rest of the Redskins receiving core to get some big plays on those talented corners I mentioned earlier. RGIII can throw the deep ball as good as anyone in recent memory. This I believe will be the key matchup of the game. RGIII against the Seattle secondary. If he can keep them honest, Alfred Morris should have success against a seven man front. These two will feed off each other for many years to come. Lookout NFL the Redskins have two rookies with some real staying power.

Prediction

Washington 24 Seattle 17

Player of the Game

Robert Griffin III

Indianapolis @ Baltimore

Does Luck finally run out in Baltimore? This game has two stories that should keep these teams motivated. Although Baltimore has hit a slump these past few weeks I believe they step it up for the most motivational player in NFL history. Ray Lewis has announced this will be his “final ride” as a Baltimore Raven. Colts Coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed earlier this season with Leukemia. The support that was shown for him around the league was just beautiful. In his own locker room players shaved their heads to show support. Heck even two cheerleaders shaved their heads to show the beloved coach how much he means to the organization. The better story is Pagano and the Colts. They lost arguably one of the best Quarterbacks in history and went from the worst record in the league to a playoff team. Unfortunately stories can’t win games. I believe Luck does indeed run out of magic and the Baltimore ravens send them home. Look for Ray Lewis to get the Ravens back on track and hold on tight because everyone in that city wants to send Ray Lew off into the sunset with another Ring. How will they do that you ask? Simple Ray Rice, Ray Rice, followed by hey diddle diddle Ray Rice up the middle. The Ravens could be championship contenders if they would just remember they have mighty mouse in the backfield. Joe Flacco one day may be in the upper echelon of quarterbacks in this league but Ray Rice already is a top five back in this league. Let Mighty Mouse take you to the promised land Baltimore. Everyone is sick and tired of hearing how Joe Flacco thinks he gets disrespected. Ray Lewis deserves more from this coaching staff than letting Joe throw him home with an early exit.

Prediction:
Indianapolis 10 Baltimore 27

Player of the Game:
Ray Rice

NFL Wild Card Preview Saturday Games

NFL Wild Card Round Preview: Saturday Games

The most exciting part of the NFL season is just around the corner. For those of us whose teams didn't even sniff a playoff spot, it is still exciting to see the NFL playoffs. For me, I will be pulling for whoever may play the Broncos, and then once they get eliminated (hopefully) it's all just fun to watch after that. With that here's the Wild Card match-ups and some analysis to go along with it!

+Cincinnati Bengals at +Houston Texans- 4:30pm ET on +NBC 

I realize that Houston is a 12-4 team, but this team is the most inconsistent 12-4 team I think I have ever seen. One game they look like potential Super Bowl champions, the next game they can barely beat a non-playoff team, and then get trounced by a playoff team another. I know this is the NFL and any team can win on a Sunday, but this team almost lost to a 2-14 Jacksonville team in Houston. With all that being said, this is a dangerous team that could go off at any time for a large amount of yards and points, while stifling a team with their stout defense. My only worries are that they had two chances to lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs against Minnesota and Indianapolis and lost both games pretty handily. Granted only two times in the last twelve years has a #1 seed won the Super Bowl. Houston should have as good a chance as any if they can get more consistent play out of Matt Schaub, and that should hold true against this Cincinnati club.

Cincinnati has a few weapons on offense and a decent defense, but this is one team in the playoffs that doesn't really jump out at me as a contender. They were playing pretty well to end the season though, winning seven out of their last nine. Andy Dalton has shown that he can win in big situations, but I just don't see this offense outscoring the Houston offense. AJ Green will be the player that can swing this game in Cincinnati's favor, if Houston can't cover him, he will keep the Bengals in this game and possibly win it for them.

I don't see this game as being a high scoring one, even though both teams are capable of putting up a lot of points. I think we will see a steady dose of both Arian Foster for Houston and Benjarvis Green-Ellis for Cincinnati which will eat up a lot of clock and keep the point totals down. I don't see the Bengals pulling this one off, as last week served as a wake up call for Houston. They need to start playing their kind of football or they won't be around in the playoffs long. Houston is too good of a team to lose in the opening round of the playoffs and I think they will handle business to get another chance at New England in the second round of the playoffs. 

Prediction: 24-16 Houston Wins

Player of the game: Arian Foster

Minnesota at Green Bay -8:00pm ET on NBC

This is a repeat of the week 17 match-up in which the Minnesota Vikings won 37-34. Because they played the game just a week ago, the teams should have a better feel for each other. It is integral for the Minnesota Vikings to get up early or at least not get behind by more than a touchdown. I don't believe they can rely on the passing game to win this game with Christian Ponder at the helm. So their formula for success is ride Adrian Peterson all game and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field as much as possible. The formula worked out last week, but had the kicker missed the field goal that sealed the game, I don't think Minnesota would have won in overtime with all the momentum that Green Bay had built up. Keep in mind this game is at Lambeau Field, a very difficult place to play for visiting teams. 

For Green Bay to win this game, they need to get the ball first and put the ball in the end zone right from the beginning. If they can do that and get up by 10 points early, Minnesota won't have a chance to come back without being able to let AP run wild. Green Bay's defense is a major concern to me, Peterson has gone off on them in recent games. This is not a good defense, and is the main reason I don't see them making it all the way to the Super Bowl. I think this game all comes down to who can score first, if Green Bay can I think they win this game. 

Although Green Bay are major favorites, I'm picking Minnesota once again. They are a team that is on a little hot streak going into the playoffs. We've seen this happen before with the New York Giants coming in on a streak and barely making the playoffs. In the last few years it's been the team that has momentum going into the playoffs that usually make a splash. I look for the trend to continue with the Vikings handing the Packers a first round upset, and a long offseason. Adrian Peterson is going to go off again on this poor Green Bay defense, and Ponder will have a decent enough game to keep them ahead. This should be a heavy hitting game that comes down to the last second.

Prediction: Vikings win 31-28

Player of the Game: Adrian Peterson