NFL Playoffs Wildcard Weekend Rundown

Here’s a quick run-down of this weekends playoff games.  They begin this afternoon at 4:30pm with the NY Jets (9-7) taking on the Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) at Paul Brown Stadium in Cinci.  Both teams can run the ball and both have very good defenses.  This will be a tough game fought in the trenches.  Vegas has the odds at 3 in favor of the Jets and the O/U at 34.5.

In the second contest of the day, the Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) travel south to play the Dallas Cowboys (11-5) at the new Cowboys Stadium at 8pm.  The Eagles will most likely try and shorten the field and attempt to establish some rhythm early and try and control the pace of the game.  Dallas and Tony Romo will need to limit turnovers and try and get the ball to Witten as often as possible.  Philly will probably bring a lot of pressure against Romo so he will need to protect the ball.  Barber and Jones could have a big game if Witten can’t get free.  Vegas has the odds at 4 in favor of the Cowboys and the O/U at 45.

Sundays games begin with the Baltimore Ravens (9-7) going to Foxboro to take on the New England Patriots (10-6).  Pats top receiver Wes Welker is out for the playoffs and Baltimore will need to double team Randy Moss to help render Tom Brady’s air attack useless.  New England will need to stop the run or Ray Rice and Willis McGahee will eat them for lunch.  Should be a good game.  Vegas has the odds at 3.5 in favor of the Patriots and the O/U at 43.

The last match-up of this weekend brings the Green Bay Packers (11-5) to the southwest to take on the Arizona Cardinals (10-6).  The Packers are the hottest team in the NFL heading into the playoffs and the Cardinals are coming in pretty banged up.  The Packers should win this one easily.  Vegas has the odds at 3 in favor of the Packers and the O/U at 47.5.

I’d like to see the Eagles beat the Cowboys and the Packers take out the Cardinals so that next weeks game has the Packers visiting Minnesota.  Enjoy your weekend!