Wild Card Weekend

The NFL playoffs open up with the #3 and #4 seeds taking on the Wild Card teams in each conference.  The top seeds are off with a bye this week, but there's still plenty of talented teams to cover (well, except for Seattle).  Let's take a look at each match-up to predict who's going to advance and which teams will get to start preparing for their off-season.

New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks
Is there even a chance that this game will be close?  Sorry Seattle, but at 7-9 it's an atrocity that you even get to host a playoff game.  Qwest field is a tough place to play in, but don't expect Drew Brees to get rattled.  He should have a huge day against a pretty ordinary pass defense.  All the injuries they have at running back could hurt them in the long run, but they have plenty of weapons for this game.
The Seahawks need a miracle to win this one, which isn't happening unless it turns out that Charlie Whitehurst actually is Jesus.
Saints 35 - Seahawks 13

New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts
Is it bad that I want both of these teams to lose?  We saw this match-up in last years AFC championship game and the outcome was the same as it was just about every time Manning faces the Jets.  Rex Ryan will try to blitz Manning all day.  When that doesn't work, he'll blitz some more.  Unfortunately, that plays exactly into what Manning wants him to do.  The difference this year is that Manning is missing a lot of his weapons that he needs to exploit this (Collie, Clark).  Revis should be able to essentially take Reggie Wayne out of the game, so it's up to the other Colts receivers to step up.  I'm not sure how much I trust Pierre Garcon to do that, so Manning may be forced to look to some of his lesser known receivers.  Tamme could have a big day.  While he's no Dallas Clark, he proved to be a reliable option, and the Jets safeties have trouble containing Tight Ends.
The Jets will need to control the clock by running the ball down their throats to keep Manning off the field as much as possible.  Sanchez isn't going to win in a shootout with Manning.  The problem is, the Jets running game isn't as good as it was last year.  LT faded drastically down the stretch and Shonn Greene never stepped up.  For as bad as the Colts run defense was this year, they did get a lot better down the stretch.
The Colts come in on a roll, winning their last 4 games of the season to claim a playoff spot.  The Jets on the other hand have looked inconsistent and sometimes disastrous in the second half of the season.  Indy has all the momentum heading into this game.  The only way the Colts blow this game is if Manning starts throwing interceptions at the same rate he did earlier this season.
Cots 24 - Jets 17

Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs deserve some credit for unexpectedly winning the AFC West, but they rode the league's easiest schedule on their way to claiming the division.  They played well at home, but are coming off an embarrassing home loss against Oakland to finish the season.  Matt Cassel has not looked the same the past few weeks since coming back from appendectomy surgery, with Week 17 easily being his worst game of the year.  He had an unexpectedly good season, but he hasn't reached the elite level of QBs.  KC needs to feed Jamaal Charles the ball as much as possible.  Thomas Jones looked awful down the stretch and seems unlikely to help much, yet they continue to split carries.  Charles is their most explosive playmaker, so he gives them their only chance to stay in this game.
Flacco is boarderline as an elite level QB.  He needs to be more consistent.  He has a winning record in the playoffs for his career, but hasn't looked very good doing it.  Sometimes he still seems overwhelmed, but the Chiefs defense, as improved as it was this year, isn't good enough to throw Flacco off his game.  Ray Rice should run wild, similar to what he did in last year's playoffs against the Patriots.
For what it's worth, I'll be rooting for the Chiefs because I'd rather the Patriots play them in the next round instead of Baltimore, but I have a feeling I'll be left disappointed.
Ravens 23 - Chiefs 20

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Green Bay was a popular early season pick to go to the Super Bowl, but they were hit hard with injuries and barely managed to get into the playoffs as a Wild Card.  They don't even try to pretend that they have a running game.  As good as Aaron Rodgers is, it's tough to move the ball in such a one dimensional offense against good teams.  Greg Jennings is likely to burn Asante Samuel when he gambles at least once for a big play, but Samuel is just as likely to pick off a pass when he guesses right.
Michael Vick has been one of the biggest stories of the season.  He sat out the final week of the season with a bruised thigh, but should be good enough to go for this game.  The Packers have to try to contain Vick as a runner and make him beat them as a passer.  They also may need to hold a safety back to play over the top to protect against big plays from DeSean Jackson.  It's tough to defend both threats at the same time.  They also can't forget about Shady McCoy.  The Packers can stop the run, but he's dangerous as a pass catcher out of the back field too.
Green Bay is the more complete team, but the Eagles have the most dangerous weapon on the field with Vick and have home field, giving them a slight edge.
Eagles 31, Packers 28