Courtesy: La Ley Sports
Written by:Luis Perez
La Ley Sports gives you the inside scoop for the NFL Wild Card match-ups this weekend.
SATURDAY, JAN. 7
No. 6 Cincinnati (9-7) at No. 3 Houston (10-6), 4:30 ET (NBC)
Reliant Stadium
Call me crazy but I like the Houston Texans. I know a lot of people have doubted a team down to their fourth string quarterback, but at this point I see Jake Delhome as an offensive manager. The way he managed his team to nearly comeback against a desperate Tennessee Titans last week was enough to make me feel comfortable with him under the gun for this wild car match-up. He won’t be the reason the Texans win this game, but he will be the reason they do not lose. Besides, I am not too fanatical about a team that is 9-7, barely made the playoffs and is running their super bowl dreams with a rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton.
* If TJ Yates gets the start for the Texans he has already beat the Bengals this year on a 300 yards and two touchdown performace back in week 14.
The difference maker: The return of Andre Johnson. He makes any quarterback look good, even a guy who was watching week 1 from his couch.
Prediction: Houston 23 Cincinnati 17
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
No. 5 Pittsburgh (12-4) at No. 4 Denver (8-8), 4:30 ET (CBS)
Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Here we go again. Tim Tebow is back in the spot light and so is his undeniable luck. After the Broncos lost their final game of the season they placed their playoff faith to the hands of the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders laid an egg in San Diego thus adding another chapter to the Broncos amazing season. Tim Tebow has it easy though he has the #5 seed coming into his house in the first round of the playoffs... Right? WRONG, If the Broncos found it difficult to score a touchdown against the Cheifs last week in a meaningless game for Kansas City, just wait to see what the Steelers have in store for the Broncos. I would be surprised if Tim Tebow throws under 3 interceptions in this game. I would be surprised if he has over 50 rushing yards, and more importantly I would be surprised if this game is even competitive.
The difference maker: the Steelers run defense, the only way the Broncos have a chance in this game is if Denver can slow down the tempo of the game and run the ball efficiently.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 24 Denver 0
SATURDAY, JAN. 7
No. 6 Detroit (10-6) at No. 3 New Orleans (13-3), 8 ET (NBC)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Detroit comes into this game as they have been all season long and that’s catching the glimpse of a spot light. The Lions who have had a fantastic season have been over looked in their division because of the magnificent play of the Green bay Packers, and now they will be over looked as they meet one of the hottest teams in all of football the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are riding an 8 game winning streak into the playoffs and if the Packers of last year thought us anything, it’s that momentum is everything! Granted this game will probably break playoff passing records thanks to the godly play of both Quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Drew Bress who rank first and second in passing yards this season in the NFC with a combined 10,514 passing yards and 87 touchdowns in 2011.
Difference Maker: Lions pass defense. Terrible would be an understatement when describing the Lions defense (who was missing only one starter) in the last game of the season against Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn. Flynn threw for a record breaking six touchdown passes and 480 yards. If Flynn could do that, you have to think Bress will slaughter the playoff passing record of Bernie Kosars set in 1986 of 489 yards.
Prediction: New Orleans 49 Detroit 38
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
No. 5 Atlanta (10-6) at No. 4 N.Y. Giants (9-7), 1 ET (FOX)
MetLife Stadium
Flacons under Matt Ryan have had four consecutive winning seasons, but are yet to win a playoff game. Atlanta ranks seventh in the league in pass yards per game and just 20th in rush yards per game. With that said they like to throw the ball, and quarterback Matt Ryan has a variety of downfield options in wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones along with tight end Tony Gonzalez. They run enough with Michael Turner to keep a defense honest. With that said Matt Ryan can very easily be running around all day thanks to the return of Osi Umenyiora who is back from an injury and Jason Pierre-Paul who led the Giants with 16.5 sacks this season. The Giants can generate pressure with their front four alone. The Falcons are going to have to use their running backs and tight ends to give left tackle Will Svitek some blocking help.
Difference Maker: Tony Gonzalez, can Gonzalez be more than a secondary passing option for Ryan? In this matchup it is likely that the aging tight end will have to block the pressure of the monstrous front four of the Giants to give Matt Ryan a chance to light up the stat sheets.
Prediction: Atlanta 27 NY Giants 24
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