Wednesday, January 5, 2011WIld Card Weekend-Analysis and Predictions for Sundays games

I'm going to talk about both games on Sunday. I have a friend that is a huge Chiefs fan(Mike Mott) and another good friend(Mike Trescher)that is a Packer fan. I know both of them have been eagerly awaiting my opinion on these games so here it goes:

Ravens @ Chiefs
The first game of the day is a good one. Before the season started, the Ravens were a trendy pick to get to the Super Bowl and here they are playing on the road, on wild card weekend. Not exactly what all the experts had predicted before the season started. Afterall, they added the final piece to the puzzle in Anquan Boldin to go along with another year of experience for Joe Flacco and Ray Rice. Although finishing the season with a 12-4 record, Pittsburgh won the AFC Central and the Ravens had to settle for a wild card. Ray Rice did not exceed my expectations this year after his YPC went down from 5.3 to 4.0. That had a lot to do with opposing defenses game planning to stop the versatile back. I expected more out of Joe Flacco this year, afterall, they did add a top 10 WR in Boldin but Flaccos stats were very similiar to last years. Theres no reason why the Ravens shouldn't have finished in the top 10 in passing yards, but as it turned out, they finished 20th! On the defensive side of the ball, the Ravens gave up some yards this season, primarily against the pass. They gave up a whopping 225 yards a game, which was ranked 21st in the NFL.

The Chiefs came into the season on nobodys radar! They had only one playoff appearance in the last 6 years. Todd Haley hired Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator in the offseason and that was a great move. They ranked 1st in rushing yards per game and Matt Cassel finally came into his own as the year went along. Many Chief fans had given up on this guy but I didn't. I knew the 11-5 record he posted in New England was no fluke. He just needed to be in the right system and needed to be surrounded with a good running game. Speaking of the running game, Jammal Charles was the engine to the car this year. He set carrer highs in almost every category, including a robust 6.4 yards per carry! Dwayne Bowe finally had his coming out party after being one of the most disappointing WR's in the NFL the past 4 years. He averaged 73 yards a game and had a career best 15 touchdowns! The Chiefs defense had a huge turnaround this year. They added a ton of talent in the draft the last 3 years. Eric Berry was a beast in college and he's a beast in the NFL. Good pick KC!

It's time for my bold prediction. When I look at the Chiefs schedule and look at who they have beaten, its not impressive at all! They have beaten the likes of Cleveland, San Francisco, Buffalo, Seattle, Arizona, St Louis and Denver. Not exactly great wins. So, Im not sure how good the Chiefs are yet. A win against the Ravens would prove a lot to me. The Ravens are ranked 5th in the NFL against the run and thats the Chiefs strength so thats a great matchup to watch. I don't think Ray Rice will be a difference maker in this game and I think there will be opportunites for Matt Cassel in the passing game and I think the Chiefs get it done at home, 21-16.

Packers @ Eagles
The Packers come limping into this game after finishing the season 3-3 in thier last 6 games. The have had a ton of injuries this season. Im amazed that they are even in the playoffs after losing so many key contributors. And the credit has to go to the players that have stepped in for the injured players and Dom Capers. I wasn't aware of how good Dom Capers was as a defensive coordinator but he has proven to me that he can come up with a gameplan to stop what the other team does best. He should be on Coach Bellichicks staff because thats what New England has been about for years. I have my doubts about Mike McCarthy as a head coach in the NFL. He is too pass heavy and he makes the most bone-headed decisions. If the Packers plan on winning any games on the road in the playoffs, they have to get some production out of the running game. I believe the defense will be fine with Clay Matthews, Woodson and company doing thier thing.

I view the Eagles as the most dangerous team in the playoffs. They have so much talent on offense and its almost impossible to take away everyone. You take away Jackson and Maclin then they will beat you with Vicks legs and McCoy rushing the ball. And don't forget about Brent Celek because he's capable of having a 100 yard game as well. The Eagles are ranked 5th in rushing and 9th in passing, respectively. If the Eagles have a weakness, its on defense. They are ranked 15th in both pass defense and rush defense. I remember when Javid Best rolled up 230 total yards in a week 2 loss against the Eagles. So, they definitly can be run on.

When I look at this game, I look at the matchups and who has the most advantages. I think the Packers defense will hold pretty well against this Eagles offense. Vick will get his yards but the packers have to stop McCoy from running wild. If they don't, it could be a long day for the Packers. Aaron Rodgers will have some opportunities in this game with the deep ball. His WR's will have to help him out and make some plays. In the end, I think the Packers defense will the difference in this game and they go on the road, in a hostile environment and pull out a close game...Packers 27-Eagles 23