Wow, the NFL has gotten really uncreative these past two weeks. All the games have been rematches of games that happened during the regular season. But I'm not complaining because rematches are usually better then the first game, and when you couple that with the fact that this weekend is usually the best of the NFL season, well, let's just say I'm looking forward to Sunday, as should you. So, without further ado, here's a quick look at who will be listening to some Will Smith and will be going to Miami.
Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals. Sunday. 3 pm. FOX.
This game being played in Arizona is yet another example of why the NFL playoff structure doesn't make sense. Philly beat the Cardinals in Week 13 by a score of 48-20 and had a slightly better record then the Cards, yet the game is in Arizona. However, it is what it is, and the game is being played in the desert, regardless if I agree with the way the NFL does their playoff structure.
Anyways, onto the game and off of my vendetta against the NFL and their playoff systems and draft order (the loser of this game will select before the Patriots despite the Pats missing the playoffs). The first game wasn't even close as the Eagles won by 28, had 20 more first downs, and almost 200 more total yards of offense. Brian Westbrook had 4 touchdowns (2 each on the ground and 2 in the air), and Donovan McNabb threw for four total touchdowns. On the other hand, Kurt Warner threw three interceptions, but that wasn't the most telling stat. Arizona rushed for only 25 yards in the game. Let me repeat that, 25 yards.
You have to be able to run to win in the playoffs, and the Cards haven't been able to run in years. Philly has also looked pretty incredible since that first game (except against Washington) and should continue to roll. It's amazing that the Eagles will likely make it to the Super Bowl for the city of Philadelphia, a city so long associated with losing in sports, just a few months after the Phillies won the World Series. Is Philly going to be the new Boston, dominating the three major sports? My guess is no, but that might be because 76ers are still terrible.
Eagles 34, Cardinals 17
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers. Sunday. 6:30. CBS.
As you've probably heard a great deal this week, these two teams played twice this season and the Steelers won both games by a combined 7 points. Like the first two meetings between these teams, I see a close, smash mouth, down to the last second, defense dominated game. However, I do see major difference in this game from the first two; a Ravens win.
Yes, I know that no starting rookie QB has ever made the Super Bowl, but at the same time, no rookie had ever won two playoff games in a season. Going into last season, no team had ever gone 16-0 in a regular season, and no NFC 5-seed had ever won the Super Bowl and BOTH things happened last year. It may not have happened before, but that doesn't mean it can't happen in the future.
The main difference in this game as I see it from the first two games is what happened in Week 17 in the Steelers-Browns game. I'm sure Browns fans don't want to hear they helped the city that stole their franchise, but they did. Ben Roethlisberger suffered his third concussion in that game, and I see that having some effect on this game. In a game that will be close, I don't like the team with the recently concussed quarterback, especially when the other team has the best safety in the game in Ed Reed, who will probably have a pick-6 in this game since he always seems to have one.
Ravens 17, Steelers 13
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