Time to make some picks for the NFL playoffs, which start today with the Wild-Card round.
Today
Bengals (10-6) at Texans (12-4), 4:30 p.m. NBC
The Bengals are coming in riding high, having went 7-1 in the second half of the season -- only loss was to the Cowboys on a last-second field goal -- to snag the No. 6 seed in the AFC. The Texans are trending downward, having lost three of four after an 11-1 start. Still, Houston had a chance to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win last week in Indianapolis but the Colts controlled much of the game and won, 28-16. In Week 16, the Texans were blown out 23-6 by Minnesota in Houston. Two weeks before that, New England routed Houston 42-14 in a much-anticipated Sunday night showdown in Foxborough. A lot of recent criticism has centered around quarterback and former UVa star Matt Schaub and rightly so. The last four weeks, he has just one touchdown but three interceptions. Houston will have to get a solid game from him against a tough Bengals defense that improved as the year went on and hasn't allowed more than 20 points since giving up 31 to Denver on Nov. 4. It could be tough for Houston running back Arian Foster to get it going so he is going to have to get some help from Schaub and the passing game.
These teams actually met in the Wild-Card round last year in Houston as well and Texans backup quarterback T.J. Yates led the team to a 31-10 home win in the franchise's first playoff game. He wasn't spectacular but he was better than Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton, who threw three interceptions. The Bengals are a young up-and-coming team with lots of talent on both sides of the ball, with Dalton, wide receiver A.J. Green, and tight end Jermaine Gresham leading the offense. New acquisition BenJarvus Green-Ellis has picked up 1,094 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He is probable in this game after suffering a hamstring injury last week. On defense, rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict leads the team with 127 tackles. He was undrafted because of some character issues but has ended up being a steal for the Bengals.
The Bengals have the playoff experience necessary to win now. Dalton and Green are no longer rookies and the defense is playing better than ever. That coupled with the Bengals being hot and the Texans being cold leads me pick Cincinnati.
Bengals 24, Texans 17
Vikings (10-6) at Packers (11-5), 8 p.m. NBC
The temperature will be in the 20s or lower for much of this game. The question is will it cool down the red-hot Vikings, who have won four games in a row? Adrian Peterson carried the team almost literally to a 37-34 victory last week over the Packers in Minnesota in a must-win game for the Vikings. It was amazing to see him try to break Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season rushing record and he ended up just nine yards shy as he went for 199 yards. The Packers gave up over 200 yards to AP in the first meeting between these teams, but the Packers won, 23-14.
Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder shouldn't be overlooked in this matchup. He had a solid game last week -- 16 of 28 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. There is no secret to what Minnesota is going to try to do in this game, though: Run it right at the Packers defense, which is 17th in the NFL in rush defense. Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews has, however, vowed that the defense would not give up 200 yards to Peterson a third time. I think they will do a better job of containing Peterson and Ponder is going to have to make some plays for the Vikings and the few times he gets that chance could determine the outcome of the game. The weather elements will favor the physical running style of the Vikings over the finesse style of the Packers. Green Bay's running game, though, has improved from last year to this year, and is ranked 20th in the NFL. The Pack will need to get that going a bit to help out Aaron Rodgers and the passing attack.
I think this game has the potential to be a classic like last week's contest. I just feel better about the Packers in this one at Lambeau. Last week, the Metrodome was rocking and the Vikings were the more desperate team AND they had Peterson going for 2,000 yards and the rushing record. They had lots of mojo on their side. This game will be a bit tougher and I find it hard to believe the Packers will turn around and lose to the Vikings, at home this time, for a second time in six days.
Packers 27, Vikings 24
Sunday
Colts (11-5) at Ravens (10-6), 1 p.m. CBS
Baltimore stumbled down the stretch but won the AFC North. Indianpolis ended up just one game shy of a division title but has the better record in this matchup. The Colts struggled all season on the road, posting a 4-4 mark, as compared to a 7-1 record in Indy. Those four wins came against Jacksonville, Kansas City, Tennessee, and Detroit. Indy lived off close wins this year, winning nine of 11 by a touchdown or less. All of their losses except one was by double digits. I'm not sure if the Colts can handle the Ravens in Baltimore.
I would like the Ravens more if they had finished the regular season better but their only win in their last five games was a blowout of the Giants, who finished the year weakly. Baltimore lost last week at Cincinnati 23-17 in a game that didn't mean much. On Dec. 16, the Ravens were blown out, 34-17, by Denver in Baltimore. The Ravens also suffered close losses to the Redskins (31-28) and Steelers (23-20). Before that series of losses, the Ravens weren't lighting the world on fire, either. Baltimore picked up a pair of three-point wins over San Diego and Pittsburgh. The Ravens haven't looked great since smoking the Raiders 55-20 on Nov. 11.
I like the way Indy is playing right now but I'm going to pick Baltimore. It must feed Ray Rice the football. Simple as that. Let QB Joe Flacco manage the game. He doesn't need to win it. The Ravens must do a better job of establishing the run and they can do it against the Colts, who rank 29th in the NFL in rush defense. Baltimore should also get an inspirational lift from the return of linebacker Ray Lewis, who announced a couple days ago he is going to retire after the season. I think Baltimore, as average as it is playing, might make a run this year based on trying to get the future Hall of Famer one more Lombardi Trophy.
Ravens 23, Colts 20
Seahawks (11-5) at Redskins (10-6), 4:30 p.m.
Another matchup where the Wild-Card team has a better record than the homestanding division winner. The Redskins earned the right to host a playoff game by clinching the NFC East crown with a 28-18 victory over the Cowboys last Sunday night. The 'Skins are on a seven-game winning streak. Seattle has a win streak of its own, having won five in a row. The Seahawks last lost at Miami on Nov. 25. Before edging the Rams at home last week in a game that didn't really matter, the Seahawks ran off three of the most impressive wins in a row in NFL history -- 58-0 over the Cardinals, 50-17 over the Bills, and 42-13 over the 49ers. Seattle's problem all year has been winning on the road. It went 3-5 on the road but two of those wins came in the latter stages of the season.
FedEx Field will no doubt be rocking for the Redskins, who are hosting their first playoff game since 1999. It is Washington's first appearance in the playoffs since 2007, when it lost to Seattle in the Wild-Card round. In fact, the Seahawks also knocked the Redskins out of the playoffs in 2005 in the Divisional round. The Redskins' last playoff win was in 2005 vs. the Bucs. Washington won its last home playoff game in 1999 vs. the Lions.
The best matchup in this game is obviously Robert Griffin III vs. the Seattle defense, which ranks sixth against the pass and 10th against the run. How much will Griffin be able to move around? He was still not himself against the Cowboys because of lingering effects of of his sprained knee. He picked up 63 yards rushing and it probably could have been more, but he seemed more inclined to dive to the ground after getting a first down rather than taking a hit. Part of that could have been him being smart, or he was hurting. It's hard to know. Alfred Morris set the single-season rushing mark the for the 'Skins last week. If he can keep his sensational rookie year going then that can take some pressure off Griffin. Together, Morris and Griffin help make up the best rushing offense in the NFL.
The other thing to watch in this game is to see how well the Redskins defense plays. It has done better down the stretch but was still 30th against the pass this year. It can stop the run, however, and must slow down Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch. Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has gotten better as the year has gone on. He can be relied on more and more as a passer. The 'Skins must test him though and make him beat them.
Though both of these teams are on win streaks, neither have beaten many impressive teams and I think overall this is great matchup. Seattle housed the 49ers, but that was at home and it won't have that deafening home crowd behind it. The Redskins will, however, and I think it will help carry them to a victory. The offense will do just enough, and the defense will be able to slow down the Seattle offense just enough. It could come down to the foot of Redskins rookie kicker Kai Forbath, who made 17 in a row to start his career before missing his one and only attempt last week vs. Dallas. Surely he will be on target this week, right?
Redskins 24, Seahawks 23
Today
Bengals (10-6) at Texans (12-4), 4:30 p.m. NBC
The Bengals are coming in riding high, having went 7-1 in the second half of the season -- only loss was to the Cowboys on a last-second field goal -- to snag the No. 6 seed in the AFC. The Texans are trending downward, having lost three of four after an 11-1 start. Still, Houston had a chance to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win last week in Indianapolis but the Colts controlled much of the game and won, 28-16. In Week 16, the Texans were blown out 23-6 by Minnesota in Houston. Two weeks before that, New England routed Houston 42-14 in a much-anticipated Sunday night showdown in Foxborough. A lot of recent criticism has centered around quarterback and former UVa star Matt Schaub and rightly so. The last four weeks, he has just one touchdown but three interceptions. Houston will have to get a solid game from him against a tough Bengals defense that improved as the year went on and hasn't allowed more than 20 points since giving up 31 to Denver on Nov. 4. It could be tough for Houston running back Arian Foster to get it going so he is going to have to get some help from Schaub and the passing game.
These teams actually met in the Wild-Card round last year in Houston as well and Texans backup quarterback T.J. Yates led the team to a 31-10 home win in the franchise's first playoff game. He wasn't spectacular but he was better than Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton, who threw three interceptions. The Bengals are a young up-and-coming team with lots of talent on both sides of the ball, with Dalton, wide receiver A.J. Green, and tight end Jermaine Gresham leading the offense. New acquisition BenJarvus Green-Ellis has picked up 1,094 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He is probable in this game after suffering a hamstring injury last week. On defense, rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict leads the team with 127 tackles. He was undrafted because of some character issues but has ended up being a steal for the Bengals.
The Bengals have the playoff experience necessary to win now. Dalton and Green are no longer rookies and the defense is playing better than ever. That coupled with the Bengals being hot and the Texans being cold leads me pick Cincinnati.
Bengals 24, Texans 17
Vikings (10-6) at Packers (11-5), 8 p.m. NBC
The temperature will be in the 20s or lower for much of this game. The question is will it cool down the red-hot Vikings, who have won four games in a row? Adrian Peterson carried the team almost literally to a 37-34 victory last week over the Packers in Minnesota in a must-win game for the Vikings. It was amazing to see him try to break Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season rushing record and he ended up just nine yards shy as he went for 199 yards. The Packers gave up over 200 yards to AP in the first meeting between these teams, but the Packers won, 23-14.
Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder shouldn't be overlooked in this matchup. He had a solid game last week -- 16 of 28 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. There is no secret to what Minnesota is going to try to do in this game, though: Run it right at the Packers defense, which is 17th in the NFL in rush defense. Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews has, however, vowed that the defense would not give up 200 yards to Peterson a third time. I think they will do a better job of containing Peterson and Ponder is going to have to make some plays for the Vikings and the few times he gets that chance could determine the outcome of the game. The weather elements will favor the physical running style of the Vikings over the finesse style of the Packers. Green Bay's running game, though, has improved from last year to this year, and is ranked 20th in the NFL. The Pack will need to get that going a bit to help out Aaron Rodgers and the passing attack.
I think this game has the potential to be a classic like last week's contest. I just feel better about the Packers in this one at Lambeau. Last week, the Metrodome was rocking and the Vikings were the more desperate team AND they had Peterson going for 2,000 yards and the rushing record. They had lots of mojo on their side. This game will be a bit tougher and I find it hard to believe the Packers will turn around and lose to the Vikings, at home this time, for a second time in six days.
Packers 27, Vikings 24
Sunday
Colts (11-5) at Ravens (10-6), 1 p.m. CBS
Baltimore stumbled down the stretch but won the AFC North. Indianpolis ended up just one game shy of a division title but has the better record in this matchup. The Colts struggled all season on the road, posting a 4-4 mark, as compared to a 7-1 record in Indy. Those four wins came against Jacksonville, Kansas City, Tennessee, and Detroit. Indy lived off close wins this year, winning nine of 11 by a touchdown or less. All of their losses except one was by double digits. I'm not sure if the Colts can handle the Ravens in Baltimore.
I would like the Ravens more if they had finished the regular season better but their only win in their last five games was a blowout of the Giants, who finished the year weakly. Baltimore lost last week at Cincinnati 23-17 in a game that didn't mean much. On Dec. 16, the Ravens were blown out, 34-17, by Denver in Baltimore. The Ravens also suffered close losses to the Redskins (31-28) and Steelers (23-20). Before that series of losses, the Ravens weren't lighting the world on fire, either. Baltimore picked up a pair of three-point wins over San Diego and Pittsburgh. The Ravens haven't looked great since smoking the Raiders 55-20 on Nov. 11.
I like the way Indy is playing right now but I'm going to pick Baltimore. It must feed Ray Rice the football. Simple as that. Let QB Joe Flacco manage the game. He doesn't need to win it. The Ravens must do a better job of establishing the run and they can do it against the Colts, who rank 29th in the NFL in rush defense. Baltimore should also get an inspirational lift from the return of linebacker Ray Lewis, who announced a couple days ago he is going to retire after the season. I think Baltimore, as average as it is playing, might make a run this year based on trying to get the future Hall of Famer one more Lombardi Trophy.
Ravens 23, Colts 20
Seahawks (11-5) at Redskins (10-6), 4:30 p.m.
Another matchup where the Wild-Card team has a better record than the homestanding division winner. The Redskins earned the right to host a playoff game by clinching the NFC East crown with a 28-18 victory over the Cowboys last Sunday night. The 'Skins are on a seven-game winning streak. Seattle has a win streak of its own, having won five in a row. The Seahawks last lost at Miami on Nov. 25. Before edging the Rams at home last week in a game that didn't really matter, the Seahawks ran off three of the most impressive wins in a row in NFL history -- 58-0 over the Cardinals, 50-17 over the Bills, and 42-13 over the 49ers. Seattle's problem all year has been winning on the road. It went 3-5 on the road but two of those wins came in the latter stages of the season.
FedEx Field will no doubt be rocking for the Redskins, who are hosting their first playoff game since 1999. It is Washington's first appearance in the playoffs since 2007, when it lost to Seattle in the Wild-Card round. In fact, the Seahawks also knocked the Redskins out of the playoffs in 2005 in the Divisional round. The Redskins' last playoff win was in 2005 vs. the Bucs. Washington won its last home playoff game in 1999 vs. the Lions.
The best matchup in this game is obviously Robert Griffin III vs. the Seattle defense, which ranks sixth against the pass and 10th against the run. How much will Griffin be able to move around? He was still not himself against the Cowboys because of lingering effects of of his sprained knee. He picked up 63 yards rushing and it probably could have been more, but he seemed more inclined to dive to the ground after getting a first down rather than taking a hit. Part of that could have been him being smart, or he was hurting. It's hard to know. Alfred Morris set the single-season rushing mark the for the 'Skins last week. If he can keep his sensational rookie year going then that can take some pressure off Griffin. Together, Morris and Griffin help make up the best rushing offense in the NFL.
The other thing to watch in this game is to see how well the Redskins defense plays. It has done better down the stretch but was still 30th against the pass this year. It can stop the run, however, and must slow down Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch. Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has gotten better as the year has gone on. He can be relied on more and more as a passer. The 'Skins must test him though and make him beat them.
Though both of these teams are on win streaks, neither have beaten many impressive teams and I think overall this is great matchup. Seattle housed the 49ers, but that was at home and it won't have that deafening home crowd behind it. The Redskins will, however, and I think it will help carry them to a victory. The offense will do just enough, and the defense will be able to slow down the Seattle offense just enough. It could come down to the foot of Redskins rookie kicker Kai Forbath, who made 17 in a row to start his career before missing his one and only attempt last week vs. Dallas. Surely he will be on target this week, right?
Redskins 24, Seahawks 23
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