The NFL playoffs are the best time of the sports season and we have no shortage of good looking games heading into this weekends contests. The quarterbacks involved have a combined 53 playoff wins among them. Let’s take a look at each game.
AFC Divisional Playoff Games:
Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots (Saturday 2:35 pm MST)
Joe Flacco has a knack for playing lights out in the playoffs but can his hot streak continue in Foxboro against a Patriots team entering the post season healthier than they have been in the last couple of years? Tom Brady needs only three TD passes to pass Brett Favre (44) and Joe Montana (45) for the most post-season TD passes. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady also have the most postseason wins by a head coach and quarterback (18) and will look to build on that. Like I said last week you can never count out the Ravens but I think the Patriots are too tough at home this year. Patriots win 31-23
Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos (Sunday 2:40 pm MST)
Hide yo neckbeard! Andrew Luck and the Colts have a pass heavy high-powered offense but will they have enough to out-duel Peyton Manning in his own house? Don’t think so. The Colts lack a running game plain and simple making their offense a bit too one-dimensional. On the flip side Manning’s Broncos have found their ground game after losing to the Rams and starting C.J. Anderson who finished the season with 849 yards 8 TD’s despite only starting in eight games. Broncos win 37-27
NFC Divisional Playoff Games:
Carolina Panthers @ Seattle Seahawks (Saturday 6:15 pm MST)
I warned last week that the Panthers had the hot hand over the Cardinals and very well could pull off the upset… and they did. However, Seattle isn’t down to their 3rd string quarterback and has saved their best football for the right time. The Panthers will also be without defensive tackle Star Lotulelei which isn’t good news for them. Seahawks win 27-13
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers (Sunday 11:05 am MST)
Some are already dubbing this game Ice Bowl II. One fascinating aspect of this game is not just that it’s the Cowboys and Packers but that Tony Romo has been hot lately and the Cowboys sport an 8-0 away record while the Packers are 8-0 at home. What really shakes things up in this game is the calf injury Aaron Rodgers suffered at the foot of Lions DT Ndamukong Suh. Rodgers should be able to play but certainly does not appear to be 100% which could be a factor in the game. Can Eddie Lacy carry the load? We’ll see. Packers win 34-27
