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01-05-2008, 03:34 PM
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Will anyone knock off New England?
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By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.
The Patriots are the obvious favorite as the NFL postseason approaches, but are they a lock to get to Arizona and win Super Bowl XLII? Below are my playoff predictions all the way through the Super Bowl, so read on to see whether New England's quest for a prefect season will be derailed.
AFC Wild Card Weekend
No. 5 Jacksonville over No. 4 Pittsburgh
Jacksonville won in Pittsburgh in Week 15 and these teams know each other well. They have similar styles and this should be a very physical game. The Jaguars are built to win in cold weather in January and can adapt their style to play in any situation. They are hitting on all cylinders, while the Steelers' running game is in shambles and they must depend on QB Ben Roethlisberger and the passing game. The Pittsburgh defense is not its usual dominant self, either, and Jacksonville will out-physical Pittsburgh in its own stadium, maintaining a reputation as the team nobody wants to play this postseason.
No. 3 San Diego over No. 6 Tennessee
This is a good matchup on paper for the Chargers, but the Titans gave them all they could handle in Tennessee late in the season and these teams do not like each other. San Diego is finally playing aggressive defense and creating turnovers, while LaDainian Tomlinson and the run game are operating at a high level. Defensive pressure will be the key to this game. If the Titans have a great day against Chargers QB Philip Rivers they have a chance to win. On the other side, San Diego' defense will make life miserable for either Vince Young or Kerry Collins. Tennessee cannot score a lot of points and the Chargers will win this game by scoring early and forcing the Titans to play catch-up.
NFC Wild Card Weekend
No. 6 Washington over No. 3 Seattle
The Redskins enter the playoffs on a roll and with renewed confidence, while the up-and-down Seahawks come into the postseason with a lot of question marks. Washington has balance on offense and an effective, blitzing defense, while Seattle depends on QB Matt Hasselbeck and a pass-heavy offense. The key to this game is the Seahawks' ability to run the ball well enough to at least keep the Redskins honest. Seattle is tough to beat at home, but look for a great game plan from the Washington coaches to steal a win and keep the Redskins in the playoffs.
No. 5 NY Giants over No. 4 Tampa Bay
The Giants head to Tampa Bay with confidence and much better production from quarterback Eli Manning, even after a Week 17 loss to the Patriots. They have offensive balance and a terrific pass rush that could give Jeff Garcia fits. The Bucs rested their players in Week 16 and 17 and lost both games, so can they turn the switch back on? The difference in this game will be the Giants' pass rush, which will get to Garcia and create some sacks and bad decisions that propel the Giants to the next round.
AFC Divisional Playoff
No. 1 New England over No. 5 Jacksonville
This is not an easy task for the Patriots. Their interior run defense has struggled over the last month and now they get a heavy dose of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars would love to keep QB Tom Brady and the high-flying New England offense on the sidelines by using their own ball-control offense. However, they are not equipped to score a lot of points and get in an offensive shootout and that's exactly what the Pats will do -- score early and make Jacksonville play catch-up. This is a dangerous game for New England, but the Patriots just have too much talent to lose this early.
No. 2 Indianapolis over No. 3 San Diego
This has a chance to be a great game as the Chargers are a team that will not be intimidated by playing at Indianapolis. They have an excellent defense that can give Colts QB Peyton Manning fits, and San Diego has a run game that can keep the explosive Colts offense on the sidelines. We know the offense will move the ball and make plays, but the pressure is on the Indianapolis defense to fly to the ball and make plays versus LT. Manning will play a smart, clean game and Rivers will make a couple of critical mistakes as the Chargers are shocked by the defensive speed of the Colts.
NFC Divisional Playoff
No. 6 Washington over No. 1 Dallas
This will be the upset of the playoffs as the Redskins repeat their dominating Week 17 performance against Dallas. Cowboys QB Tony Romo will continue his uneven play and make a couple of costly bad reads versus the blitzing Washington defense. The Redskins will grind this one out with a physical performance on both sides of the ball and shock the Cowboys in Dallas.
No. 2 Green Bay over No. 5 NY Giants
The Packers are tough to beat at home and will be ready for this game. The key for both teams will be pass protection because both defenses have excellent pass rushers. The Packers are much better at playing tight man-to-man schemes than the Giants, however, and that will be an advantage on defense. If the weather is a factor we know the Giants can run the ball effectively and we are not sure if the Packers can do the same when it matters most. Look for Green Bay QB Brett Favre to use the short passing game to move the ball, while Manning will come back to earth against an underrated Packers' defense.
AFC Championship
No. 1 New England over No. 2 Indianapolis
This is the rematch everyone is waiting for between the two best teams in the NFL. Both offenses are prolific and both quarterbacks are unparalleled when it comes to reading defenses and finding the right matchups. The Pats have to be a little worried about their recently suspect run defense, and coming off a physical game a week earlier against Jacksonville they could be ripe for a big day by Colts RB Joseph Addai. Manning vs. Brady will be a classic, but Brady will make a couple more key plays in the passing game to survive. And look for New England WR Wes Welker to be the X-factor in this game.
NFC Championship
No. 2 Green Bay over No. 6 Washington
The Packers get the game they want, avoiding a trip to Dallas and instead playing at home in mid-January. The Redskins are the Cinderella story of the year and their play in December and January has been nothing short of spectacular. The Packers' pass rush and pass defense will be the difference in this game, however, and tight coverages will force quarterback mistakes for the Redskins. Favre, on the other hand, will read the blitzes and make excellent decisions in the short passing game to lead the Packers to Arizona for the biggest game of all.
Super Bowl XLII
New England over Green Bay
This has a chance to be a classic Super Bowl. Can it get any better than Brady vs. Favre? For all their talent the Pats are a team with a lot of aging veterans, and the two-week break between the championship games and the Super Bowl will be needed if they are to put together one more great performance. This will be a contrast in styles with the Packers' short-passing game trying to match the Patriots' wide-open attack and vertical throws, although both offenses will spread the field with exotic formations and pre-snap movement. That will put a lot of pressure on each defense and force the secondaries to go further into their depth than they are probably comfortable with. The final result will come down to which quarterback makes the least amount of mistakes and does the best job of managing the game. In that kind of situation, it's hard to bet against Brady. This will be an close, entertaining game but in the end the Patriots will secure a 19-0 record and their place in history.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
Will anyone knock off New England?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.
The Patriots are the obvious favorite as the NFL postseason approaches, but are they a lock to get to Arizona and win Super Bowl XLII? Below are my playoff predictions all the way through the Super Bowl, so read on to see whether New England's quest for a prefect season will be derailed.
AFC Wild Card Weekend
No. 5 Jacksonville over No. 4 Pittsburgh
Jacksonville won in Pittsburgh in Week 15 and these teams know each other well. They have similar styles and this should be a very physical game. The Jaguars are built to win in cold weather in January and can adapt their style to play in any situation. They are hitting on all cylinders, while the Steelers' running game is in shambles and they must depend on QB Ben Roethlisberger and the passing game. The Pittsburgh defense is not its usual dominant self, either, and Jacksonville will out-physical Pittsburgh in its own stadium, maintaining a reputation as the team nobody wants to play this postseason.
No. 3 San Diego over No. 6 Tennessee
This is a good matchup on paper for the Chargers, but the Titans gave them all they could handle in Tennessee late in the season and these teams do not like each other. San Diego is finally playing aggressive defense and creating turnovers, while LaDainian Tomlinson and the run game are operating at a high level. Defensive pressure will be the key to this game. If the Titans have a great day against Chargers QB Philip Rivers they have a chance to win. On the other side, San Diego' defense will make life miserable for either Vince Young or Kerry Collins. Tennessee cannot score a lot of points and the Chargers will win this game by scoring early and forcing the Titans to play catch-up.
NFC Wild Card Weekend
No. 6 Washington over No. 3 Seattle
The Redskins enter the playoffs on a roll and with renewed confidence, while the up-and-down Seahawks come into the postseason with a lot of question marks. Washington has balance on offense and an effective, blitzing defense, while Seattle depends on QB Matt Hasselbeck and a pass-heavy offense. The key to this game is the Seahawks' ability to run the ball well enough to at least keep the Redskins honest. Seattle is tough to beat at home, but look for a great game plan from the Washington coaches to steal a win and keep the Redskins in the playoffs.
No. 5 NY Giants over No. 4 Tampa Bay
The Giants head to Tampa Bay with confidence and much better production from quarterback Eli Manning, even after a Week 17 loss to the Patriots. They have offensive balance and a terrific pass rush that could give Jeff Garcia fits. The Bucs rested their players in Week 16 and 17 and lost both games, so can they turn the switch back on? The difference in this game will be the Giants' pass rush, which will get to Garcia and create some sacks and bad decisions that propel the Giants to the next round.
AFC Divisional Playoff
No. 1 New England over No. 5 Jacksonville
This is not an easy task for the Patriots. Their interior run defense has struggled over the last month and now they get a heavy dose of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars would love to keep QB Tom Brady and the high-flying New England offense on the sidelines by using their own ball-control offense. However, they are not equipped to score a lot of points and get in an offensive shootout and that's exactly what the Pats will do -- score early and make Jacksonville play catch-up. This is a dangerous game for New England, but the Patriots just have too much talent to lose this early.
No. 2 Indianapolis over No. 3 San Diego
This has a chance to be a great game as the Chargers are a team that will not be intimidated by playing at Indianapolis. They have an excellent defense that can give Colts QB Peyton Manning fits, and San Diego has a run game that can keep the explosive Colts offense on the sidelines. We know the offense will move the ball and make plays, but the pressure is on the Indianapolis defense to fly to the ball and make plays versus LT. Manning will play a smart, clean game and Rivers will make a couple of critical mistakes as the Chargers are shocked by the defensive speed of the Colts.
NFC Divisional Playoff
No. 6 Washington over No. 1 Dallas
This will be the upset of the playoffs as the Redskins repeat their dominating Week 17 performance against Dallas. Cowboys QB Tony Romo will continue his uneven play and make a couple of costly bad reads versus the blitzing Washington defense. The Redskins will grind this one out with a physical performance on both sides of the ball and shock the Cowboys in Dallas.
No. 2 Green Bay over No. 5 NY Giants
The Packers are tough to beat at home and will be ready for this game. The key for both teams will be pass protection because both defenses have excellent pass rushers. The Packers are much better at playing tight man-to-man schemes than the Giants, however, and that will be an advantage on defense. If the weather is a factor we know the Giants can run the ball effectively and we are not sure if the Packers can do the same when it matters most. Look for Green Bay QB Brett Favre to use the short passing game to move the ball, while Manning will come back to earth against an underrated Packers' defense.
AFC Championship
No. 1 New England over No. 2 Indianapolis
This is the rematch everyone is waiting for between the two best teams in the NFL. Both offenses are prolific and both quarterbacks are unparalleled when it comes to reading defenses and finding the right matchups. The Pats have to be a little worried about their recently suspect run defense, and coming off a physical game a week earlier against Jacksonville they could be ripe for a big day by Colts RB Joseph Addai. Manning vs. Brady will be a classic, but Brady will make a couple more key plays in the passing game to survive. And look for New England WR Wes Welker to be the X-factor in this game.
NFC Championship
No. 2 Green Bay over No. 6 Washington
The Packers get the game they want, avoiding a trip to Dallas and instead playing at home in mid-January. The Redskins are the Cinderella story of the year and their play in December and January has been nothing short of spectacular. The Packers' pass rush and pass defense will be the difference in this game, however, and tight coverages will force quarterback mistakes for the Redskins. Favre, on the other hand, will read the blitzes and make excellent decisions in the short passing game to lead the Packers to Arizona for the biggest game of all.
Super Bowl XLII
New England over Green Bay
This has a chance to be a classic Super Bowl. Can it get any better than Brady vs. Favre? For all their talent the Pats are a team with a lot of aging veterans, and the two-week break between the championship games and the Super Bowl will be needed if they are to put together one more great performance. This will be a contrast in styles with the Packers' short-passing game trying to match the Patriots' wide-open attack and vertical throws, although both offenses will spread the field with exotic formations and pre-snap movement. That will put a lot of pressure on each defense and force the secondaries to go further into their depth than they are probably comfortable with. The final result will come down to which quarterback makes the least amount of mistakes and does the best job of managing the game. In that kind of situation, it's hard to bet against Brady. This will be an close, entertaining game but in the end the Patriots will secure a 19-0 record and their place in history.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.