Wildcard 2009 Preview

Jan 03

All Wildcard teams enter the playoffs with a win in Week 17. Well, most needed the win to – at least – secure their spot in the seedings or to make the playoff at all. What’s more remarkable is that all but one (Arizona) didn’t lose more than one game in their last 5 games. So here are my previews and tips game by game:

Atlanta Falcons (11-5 – Streak 3W – Last 5: 4-1) at Arizona Cardinals (9-7 – Streak 1W – Last 5: 2-3):
The playoff experienced Veteran Kurt Warner vs the Rookie Matt Ryan, plus the homefield advantage should make the Cardinals the favorite. But Warner had difficulties during the last quarter of the season and the Cardinals lost 3 out of their last 5 games. All time low was the 7-47 in New England in the snow. But that’s not to expect in Arizona Well, Ryan is not just a Rookie, he’s the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he’s supported by the strong Falcons running attack.

My Tip: Falcons !

Indianapolis Colts (12-4 – Streak 9W – Last 5: 5-0) at San Diego Chargers (8-8 – Streak 4W – Last 5: 4-1):
In my eyes the two strongest teams in the AFC in the last quarter of the season. The Colts unbeaten in the last 9 Games, the Chargers unbeaten in the last 4 games, with Philip Rivers 2nd best Quarterback in the league (and, since Drew Brees and the Saints didn’t make the playoffs, the best remaining in the playoffs) and the finally strong again LaDainian Thomlinson vs Payton Manning who definitively had a bad start into the season but since 9 games he seems invinceable… The question will be: Will the not-so-stable Chargers Defense be able to stop or at least slow down Peyton Manning and the Colts attack and can LT carry his high performance vs the Broncos into the Wildcard game.

My Tip: Colts

Baltimore Ravens (11-5 – Streak 2W – Last 5: 4-1) at Miami Dolphins (11-5 – Streak 5W – Last 5: 5-0):
The Baltimore Ravens with Joe Flacco another Rookie QB who led his team into the playoffs in 2008 after a miserable 2007 season vs Chad Pennington and the Dolphins. Pennington, who quitely played himself among the top 5 NFL Quarterbacks behind the wild “Wildcat” attack and a strong running game and a imho still underestimated Defense. The Ravens are no longer just a “Ray Lewis” Defense with an Offense, which “just shouldn’t lose the game”, but are also win games with the offense. It will come down to the question of how much will the Ravens have to commit defensively to stop the run, and will they then still be able to stop Pennington and the passing attack?

My Tip: Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1 – Streak 1W – Last 5: 4-1) at Minnesota Vikings (10-6 – Streak 1W – Last 5: 4-1):
The Eagles are on a high, and their relentless blitzing Defense vs the young inexperienced Travaris Jackson, who’s just in the game due to injury of Gus Freotte, the only chance would be if Adrian Peterson’s rushing could stop the Eagles from blitzing Jackson all game long. If not it will be a long day for the Vikings. On the Eagles offensive side, Donovan McNabb is totally renewed after he got benched at halftime vs the Ravens. Tip to the Hat for Andy Reid for that move. And, if healthy, Brian Westbrook is an additional threat on the ground and at the receiving end through the air as well.

My Tip: Eagles !