Wild Card Round Recap &
Divisional Playoffs Forecast

Wild Card Round Recap

While going a perfect 4-0 in picking winners last week, I earned the dubious distinction of going 0-4 vs. the spread. Hey, "that’s how the smart money gets that way!" Recapping the four games the common thread seems to have been MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.

Kansas City could’ve beaten Indy and let them off the hook. No one, least of all, a certain Peyton Manning, ought to feel any great sense of victory after Saturday’s win. Ty Law picked off Manning twice, his first gave the Chiefs first and goal at the 9, yet they came up empty! Kansas City, and their inept coach Herm, advertised their offensive game plan during the week (LJ up the middle, to the right…). So Coach Dungy (Herm’s best friend) prepared for Plan "A", and LJ went nowhere. So much for Plan "A". The problem for the Chiefs was that the "brain trust" failed to draft a Plan "B". It doesn’t take an "X’s and O’s" film strategist to see that Trent Green has not fully recovered from the serious concussion he sustained in Week 1. He’s a fine QB when healthy, but even a casual observer could see that his offensive line was unable to adequately protect him. KC would not have even made the playoffs but for the yeoman work of Damon Huard. So, even a dope could figure that a QB change could’ve only helped the pathetic KC offense. But noooo…Huard twiddled his thumbs while the Chiefs went down. Some guys are meant to be NFL coaches while others (having been given more than one opportunity) proved that they aren’t capable of managing a Pop Warner B squad.

In Seattle, the ‘Hawks were giftwrapped a victory courtesy of Romo’s fumbled snap on a chip shot field goal try at the end of the game. Both teams were really deficient in their defensive secondaries, so it was no surprise that it ended up a one-point game. Dallas had their opportunities, but a couple of key drops by the "glue-fingered TO" didn’t exactly help matters. Most folks tend to remember the crucial faux pas and pass judgment rather than all of the steps leading up to the fateful blunder. Were it not for the fourth quarter defensive lapses, the Cowboys could’ve won.

On Sunday afternoon, the Patriots played well against the Jets, but the final score of 37-16 was deceptive. The Jets played far better than the final score indicated. It was a typical (Belichick-era) Patriot win. No flashy plays, just plain smart football. The Patriots took the opening kickoff and methodically took it to the house… After having been humiliated by New York at home on November 12th, there was no way, NO WAY that the veteran players would allow that to happen twice. The Jets have a nice team with a bright future. Mangini acquitted himself well in his rookie year, but The Master had the better of it on Sunday.

The final game of the first round featured the Giants at Philly. The G-Men struck early when Manning hit Burress over the middle for a quick TD. After that, the Giants had two\more possessions with great field position, but were hampered by stupid penalties. Meanwhile, the Eagles had a rough start with three consecutive "three n’ outs". After the Giants had favorable position and stalled, the Eagles got the ball back and didn’t record a first down until there was 1:30 remaining in the quarter. On the second play of the second quarter Brian Westbrook broke a spectacular run off right tackle for a 49-yard touchdown to tie the score. On the next possession, the Eagles’ defense asserted themselves. After stuffing Barber on a run, Manning was picked off by Sheldon Brown. The Eagles took it right down the field, but couldn’t punch in for six, Akers’ gimme field goal put Philly up 10-7. The Giants got the ball back and marched downfield on the strength of two great catches by Shockey and a 45 yard run by Barber, but ran out of gas. Feely’s short field goal tied the score at 10. Things got a tad chippy ‘twixt the lads on the Eagles’ next possession, and they were falling like dominoes out there for a moment. Garcia led the offense down the field and hit "Strike-A-Pose" Stallworth with a 28-yard touchdown pass over the middle to put Philly on top 17-10. Late in the third, Akers extended Philly’s lead by banging through a 45 yarder. New York got terrific field position on their next possession on a highly questionable pass interference call against the Eagles secondary. From their own 30, Manning went for the downs. Burress was streaking on an in-route when it appeared as if pushed off the defender, setting up shop at the Philly 14. The G-Men got it to the 6, but were dee-nyed by the Yiggles. Feely’s chip shot brought the Giants to within a touchdown. Midway through the fourth (with the rain coming down hard) the Giants put together another drive and got to the 23 before getting flagged three straight times, pushing it back to the 43. Manning then hit Burress twice to grab a first down at the 13, and on the following play hit Burress over the middle to tie the game at 20 with five minutes left. Philly got the ball at their 33. Westbrook broke another off right tackle for 11. Garcia rolled right and hit the tight end, Schobel at midfield. Westbrook carried for another first down. Following the two minute warning, Westbrook banged a 16 yard run up the middle to the Giants’ 20. By this time, the G-Men had burned all their timeouts. Philly worked the clock down to three seconds. Enter David Akers in the cold January rain. Exit, New York. Final Score: Philly 23, Giants 20.

Divisional Playoff Preview

At Baltimore -4 Indianapolis 41.5

Once upon a time, there was a team from Baltimore whose uniforms were identical to the visiting team from Indianapolis. The bond between the community and it legendary team was incredible, much like the people of certain Borough had with their baseball team. And very much like that baseball team, the owner stole their beloved team from the community and moved away for greener pastures.

Baltimore got another franchise ten years ago when they lured the old Cleveland franchise to Chesapeake Bay, but is it really the same? At least the owner chose to give the old Browns a new identity and allowed the new Browns’ franchise to retain the Browns’ historical records. Not so with the despicable Irsay Crew: they moved into the Ding-Dong Dome in Hoosier Land and kept all that was sacred to the Baltimoreans to themselves. For example, there are records that

actually state: "John Unitas, Indianapolis Colts" (nearly vomited typing that phrase).

The Baltimore Colts were a true American Phenomenon. Among their alumni re: Unitas, QB, Lenny Moore, RB, John Mackey, TE, Raymond Berry, WR, Art Donovan, DT, Gino Marchetti, DE, Bubba Smith, DE, Billy Ray Smith, DE, Mike Curtis, LB, Ted Hendricks, LB…when Elway thumbed his nose toward the direction, it was pretty much the end. Memorial Stadium may have been torn down, but the legacy of the Colts and the memories of their great players burn brightly in the hearts of any football fan old enough to remember.

Outside of Baltimore’s new stadium there’s a large statute of John Unitas, hopefully he’ll be crackin’ a cold Schlitz up there in Football Heaven having a few laughs with some of his cronies. Meanwhile, back here on the planet Ray Lewis, Steve McNair, Jamal Lewis, Trevor Pryce and the Black N’ Purple Gang will be waiting (Can you just hear Bobby "Blue" Bland singing, "I pity the fool…" You can’t? Then get the wax outta yer ears!). There’s nothing good that can happen for the visiting team who’s looking to win in their former hometown, especially when they wear the uniform of the BALTIMORE COLTS. The only question is who Peyton will blame for the defeat.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 26, Indianapolis 20.

At New Orleans -5 Philadelphia 49

David Akers’ last second field goal kept the Eagles’ playoff hopes alive. Now they travel down to The Big Easy where the Saints eagerly await their arrival. These are two teams that are hard to root against. But somebody’s gotta win, and I’m going with Philadelphia, and here’s why: Statistically, both teams are remarkably similar. The only advantage Philadelphia has is with more playoff-tested coaches and players. What the Saints have accomplished this season has been amazing, from being orphans last year to hosting a home playoff game for the first time in their history. The Saints may be ready for the playoff event, but are the ready for the game?

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 27, New Orleans 24.

At Chicago -8.5 Seattle 37

The last time these teams got together the Bears slammed Seattle, 37-6. But the Bears haven’t been the same team since they went up to New England. They have problems with the D-Line and at QB. Everybody on the Seattle side owes Tony Romo a big wet kiss for getting them to Chicago. Since the ‘Hawks compliment of injured players has returned, everyone’s been waiting for the offense to kick it into high gear. Wait ‘til next year.

Projected Final Score: Chicago 24, Seattle 20.

At San Diego -5 New England 46.5

The local yahoos and the pundits are all predicting an upset, certainly there’s ample reason, after all it’s Philip Rivers’ first playoff game and Schottenheimer’s playoff history hasn’t been entirely successful. And if anyone out there can develop a scheme to beat the best, it’s Belichick. But San Diego is a complete team on both sides of the ball, a virtual juggernaut of young, talented players who won’t feel any degree of intimidation by an older, more experienced team. On this day, talent wins out over experience.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 31, New England 24.