NFL LOCKS of the WEEK
PLAYOFFS - Wild Card
RECORD: 3-1
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans
DE Michael Johnson
Line: Texans by 4.5
Analysis: Cincinnati finds itself in the playoffs for the second straight season and it faces a common opponent: the Houston Texans. The Texans jumped out to an 11-1 record before stumbling in its last four games, posting a 1-3 record, including a revealing loss to the Patriots in a battle for AFC supremacy. Fortunately, the Texans are still in the playoffs and could have an opportunity to dethrone New England when it really matters. Houston will have its hands full this week with arguably the hottest team in the NFL having won seven of its last eight games and is team that has as good of a pass rush as there is. Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson, and Carlos Dunlap provide matchup problems across the board for any offensive line and will be in Matt Schaub’s nightmares if the Texans cannot get Arian Foster going early on. On the other side of the ball, Houston CB Johnathan Joseph seems to finally be healthy and will be important in his defense of AJ Green, who has been selected to the pro bowl and has caught 11 touchdowns. Look for Cincinnati to avenge their playoff loss last season and continue to quietly play at an elite level.
Pick: Cincinnati by 6
Analysis: Cincinnati finds itself in the playoffs for the second straight season and it faces a common opponent: the Houston Texans. The Texans jumped out to an 11-1 record before stumbling in its last four games, posting a 1-3 record, including a revealing loss to the Patriots in a battle for AFC supremacy. Fortunately, the Texans are still in the playoffs and could have an opportunity to dethrone New England when it really matters. Houston will have its hands full this week with arguably the hottest team in the NFL having won seven of its last eight games and is team that has as good of a pass rush as there is. Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson, and Carlos Dunlap provide matchup problems across the board for any offensive line and will be in Matt Schaub’s nightmares if the Texans cannot get Arian Foster going early on. On the other side of the ball, Houston CB Johnathan Joseph seems to finally be healthy and will be important in his defense of AJ Green, who has been selected to the pro bowl and has caught 11 touchdowns. Look for Cincinnati to avenge their playoff loss last season and continue to quietly play at an elite level.
Pick: Cincinnati by 6
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
WR Greg Jennings
Line: Packers by 8
Analysis: A rematch that will occur just six days after these teams played in Minneapolis, the Packers and Vikings will decide the season series in the wildcard round of the playoffs. The Packers now have home field advantage, and the advantage of not having to play the Vikings as Adrian Peterson goes for Eric Dickerson’s record. On paper, Minnesota’s offense is well-suited to beat Green Bay’s defense as the Packers would prefer to defend the pass; Peterson is averaging over 200 yards/game against the Packers this season and Christian Ponder is taking care of the ball—he has not thrown an interception in three straight games. Still, with Greg Jennings back in the lineup, the Packers have too many weapons on the outside that will give the Vikings too much trouble. Ponder, although efficient, is averaging less than 200 yards/game and Peterson must rush for nearly 200 yards to give the Vikings an adequate offense. Look for the experienced playoff team to prove their superiority, similar to what New Orleans did to the Detroit Lions of the NFC North in this round of the playoffs last year.
Pick: Green Bay by 10
Analysis: A rematch that will occur just six days after these teams played in Minneapolis, the Packers and Vikings will decide the season series in the wildcard round of the playoffs. The Packers now have home field advantage, and the advantage of not having to play the Vikings as Adrian Peterson goes for Eric Dickerson’s record. On paper, Minnesota’s offense is well-suited to beat Green Bay’s defense as the Packers would prefer to defend the pass; Peterson is averaging over 200 yards/game against the Packers this season and Christian Ponder is taking care of the ball—he has not thrown an interception in three straight games. Still, with Greg Jennings back in the lineup, the Packers have too many weapons on the outside that will give the Vikings too much trouble. Ponder, although efficient, is averaging less than 200 yards/game and Peterson must rush for nearly 200 yards to give the Vikings an adequate offense. Look for the experienced playoff team to prove their superiority, similar to what New Orleans did to the Detroit Lions of the NFC North in this round of the playoffs last year.
Pick: Green Bay by 10
Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens
QB Andrew Luck
Line: Ravens by 6.5
Analysis: Andrew Luck, Chuck Pagano, and Ray Lewis provide monster headlines for this wildcard matchup between the AFC North Champion Baltimore Ravens and the fifth-seeded Indianapolis Colts. Lewis has announced that this will be his last season meaning that this could be the last time he ever ties up the laces, which should provide a spark for the Ravens and their fans. Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is not only coaching in his second game since returning from his battle against Leukemia, but he also returns to Baltimore where he served as Defensive Coordinator last season. And Colts QB Andrew Luck leads his team from worst in the league in 2011 to a playoff team this year while orchestrating the league’s seventh best passing offense. He has passed for an impressive 4,374 yards and 23 touchdowns, but has had difficulty taking care of the football throwing 18 interceptions. The Ravens defense ranks 19th in the league in interceptions with thirteen, so Luck may not have too much to worry about. However, Ray Lewis has been called the Peyton Manning of defense, and from a pre-snap standpoint, his presence on the field will be huge regardless of his diminishing level of play.
Pick: Baltimore by 7
Analysis: Andrew Luck, Chuck Pagano, and Ray Lewis provide monster headlines for this wildcard matchup between the AFC North Champion Baltimore Ravens and the fifth-seeded Indianapolis Colts. Lewis has announced that this will be his last season meaning that this could be the last time he ever ties up the laces, which should provide a spark for the Ravens and their fans. Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is not only coaching in his second game since returning from his battle against Leukemia, but he also returns to Baltimore where he served as Defensive Coordinator last season. And Colts QB Andrew Luck leads his team from worst in the league in 2011 to a playoff team this year while orchestrating the league’s seventh best passing offense. He has passed for an impressive 4,374 yards and 23 touchdowns, but has had difficulty taking care of the football throwing 18 interceptions. The Ravens defense ranks 19th in the league in interceptions with thirteen, so Luck may not have too much to worry about. However, Ray Lewis has been called the Peyton Manning of defense, and from a pre-snap standpoint, his presence on the field will be huge regardless of his diminishing level of play.
Pick: Baltimore by 7
Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins
OT Russell Okung
Line: Seahawks by 1.5
Analysis: A battle of the rookie quarterbacks will be the headline in the nation’s capital as the Redskins and Seahawks return to the playoffs. Washington QB Robert Griffin will be slowed by his knee injuries, but will still be an effective runner and passer as evident in last week’s de facto playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks played their first tight game last week after looking like an unstoppable force against the Cardinals, Bills, and 49ers in the preceding weeks. Seattle coach Pete Carroll has his team playing at an unbelievable level at the right time of year, but so does Washington coach Mike Shanahan. The Seahawks have won seven of their last eight games and the Redskins have won seven in a row. The Seahawks rank in the top ten in both passing and rushing defense, but their strength certainly lies in their supremely-talented secondary and their pass defense. The Redskins match up well in that regard with their NFL-leading rushing attack led by RB Alfred Morris, who has posted one of the best rookie campaigns ever from the position. However, after watching Florida struggle to get QB Teddy Bridgewater and Louisville off the field in Tuesday’s Sugar Bowl, I think we will see a similar QB in Russell Wilson punish the Redskin’s league-worst 3rd down defense as the Seahawks continue their tear.
Pick: Seattle by 6
Analysis: A battle of the rookie quarterbacks will be the headline in the nation’s capital as the Redskins and Seahawks return to the playoffs. Washington QB Robert Griffin will be slowed by his knee injuries, but will still be an effective runner and passer as evident in last week’s de facto playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks played their first tight game last week after looking like an unstoppable force against the Cardinals, Bills, and 49ers in the preceding weeks. Seattle coach Pete Carroll has his team playing at an unbelievable level at the right time of year, but so does Washington coach Mike Shanahan. The Seahawks have won seven of their last eight games and the Redskins have won seven in a row. The Seahawks rank in the top ten in both passing and rushing defense, but their strength certainly lies in their supremely-talented secondary and their pass defense. The Redskins match up well in that regard with their NFL-leading rushing attack led by RB Alfred Morris, who has posted one of the best rookie campaigns ever from the position. However, after watching Florida struggle to get QB Teddy Bridgewater and Louisville off the field in Tuesday’s Sugar Bowl, I think we will see a similar QB in Russell Wilson punish the Redskin’s league-worst 3rd down defense as the Seahawks continue their tear.
Pick: Seattle by 6