2008-2009 NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview

The road to the Super Bowl intensifies in the 2008-2009 NFL Divisional Playoffs. The elite first-round bye teams of both conferences enter the fray to battle with the Wild Card Round survivors. The eight teams still standing will subscribe to all-out trench warfare as they march towards the ultimate Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy. 

Participants recognize that the subtle intricacies of any NFL Season are long forgotten the moment that a new Champion is crowned. Players and coaching staffs have dedicated their lives to winning the Super Bowl and this intensity will be on full display this weekend. This war of attrition is to be decided by a meeting of the wills. 

Who wants it more?

National Football Conference

Arizona Cardinals (10-7) at Carolina Panthers (12-4)

Saturday, January 10 at 8:15 E.S.T. on FOX

The Arizona Cardinals went 9-7 during the 2008-2009 NFL regular season to win the NFC West division. The Cardinals were rewarded with a playoff game versus the Atlanta Falcons at Glendale, AZ in the Wild Card Round. The victory represented the first home playoff win in the past 61 years for this snake bitten franchise. The Cardinals rode an effective ground game and opportunistic defense to a 30-24 victory over Atlanta in this NFL Wild Card game.  

Arizona must now go on the road to Charlotte to square off against the 12-4 Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Eastern Time Zone is a house of horrors for the 2008-2009 Cardinals. Arizona is 0-5 on the Eastern Seaboard, highlighted by the 47-7 debacle at New England. 

The Carolina Panthers are waiting in the wings to at least repeat the performance of their victorious 27-23 Week 8 matchup versus these Cardinals. Carolina is the NFC's 2nd seed and is one wide-left 50-yard field goal at the Meadowlands from securing home-field advantage throughout the NFL Playoffs. The scrappy ball club embodies grit at every position.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme is a fiery leader that hands off to Carolina's devastating Smash and Dash duo of DeAngelo Williams and James Stewart. Smash and Dash power the NFL's third leading rushing attack. Williams has only been out gained by Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner this season. The feature back rushed for 1,515 yards on only 273 carries. 

Wide Receiver Steve Smith is the Heart and Soul of this franchise. The 5'9 dynamo caught 78 balls for 1,421 for a gaudy 18.2 yards per reception - in spite of missing the first two games of the 2008-2009 NFL Season. The two-game suspension was a team mandate - doled out as punishment for Smith's fracas with teammate Ken Lucas. 

Carolina has not lost at home all season.

The trend will continue this weekend. 

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)

Sunday, January 11 at 1 P.M. E.S.T. on FOX

The 9-6-1 Eagles fell into the final NFC Wild Card slot on the strength of Week 17 collapses by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears. The Eagles carried the momentum of their 44-6 demolition over the Dallas Cowboys into last week's 26-14 win versus the Vikings at the Metrodome. Philadelphia advanced by holding the NFL's top rusher Adrian Peterson largely in-check. The game was sealed by a 71-yard screen pass to Brian Westbrook. 

The Philadelphia Eagles are characterized by a blitz-happy scheming defense, quarterback Donovan McNabb, and Brian Westbrook. 

The New York Giant defense must key upon Brian Westbrook to win this game. The utility back torched the Giants at the Meadowlands in Week 14 for 131 rushing yards and 72 yards as a receiver. Westbrook scored 2 touchdowns on the day - spurring the Eagles to a 20-14 victory.

The Giants will seek to return the favor in this third meeting grudge-match by steamrolling Philadelphia's front-seven behind the NFL's most cohesive offensive line unit.  The Giants are sending two offensive linemen to the NFL Pro Bowl at Honolulu. Center Shaun O'Hara and guard Chris Snee will effectively pave the alleys for the Giant Earth, Wind, and Fire backfield to gash the Philadelphia Eagles for yardage. 

Although the Eagles were able to limit Adrian Peterson to 83 yards, the Giant stable of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw presents a litany of problems. The complimentary backs present variations of power, speed, and pass receiving that will be difficult for Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson to scheme against. 

Philadelphia's 9-lives are set to expire in the Jersey Swamp this Sunday.  

American Football Conference

Baltimore Ravens (12-5) at Tennessee Titans (13-3)

Saturday, January 10 at 4:30 P.M. E.S.T. on CBS

The Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens are ranked second and third in the NFL in terms of scoring defense, behind the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both clubs also field top-ten rushing offenses and relish physical, aggressive football. Baltimore and Tennessee are mirror images of each other.

Who wants it more?

This Tennessee versus Baltimore AFC Divisional Playoff will be determined by quarterback play. Counter intuitively, the vertical aerial game must be established first. The mere threat to pass will soften the opposing defense and open up the creases that will be a rare commodity in this grudge match. Neither rushing attack will be effective against raucous, scheming eight-man fronts across the line-of-scrimmage. 

Which quarterback will make the clutch third down and three throws to move the chains? Which quarterback will exude the sheer confidence and cool to take a shot deep at first and ten? 

I am banking on Baltimore rookie quarterback Joe Flacco over the Titans grizzled veteran Kerry Collins. Although Flacco manufactured a subpar 9-23 135 yard effort versus the Miami Dolphins in last week's NFL Wild Card Round, the small-school Delaware University quarterback appears at ease - unfazed by the magnitude of the NFL Playoff moment on the field.

The pressure falls upon Collins and his top-seeded Tennessee Titans.  

San Diego Chargers (9-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Sunday, January 11 at 4:45 P.M. E.S.T. on CBS

The San Diego versus Pittsburgh AFC Divisional Playoff will be a carbon copy of the Baltimore-Tennessee bracket. These two teams met during the regular season and battled to an 11-10 score at Pittsburgh. The Steeler margin-of-victory was held to one point after officiating wrongly negated a Troy Polamalu touchdown return interception.

The surging Chargers are the current toast of the NFL after dispatching the Indianapolis Colts last week in the NFL Wild Card Round. Quarterback Philip Rivers has led San Diego out of its dreadful 4-8 start into these NFL Playoffs. The young signal caller has quietly put together a masterful season in the shadows of Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, and Peyton Manning. Rivers is the NFL's top rated passer - yet was not invited to the Pro Bowl at Hawaii. 

San Diego's featured running back Ladainian Tomlinson is nursing a groin injury and will be a non-factor for this game. Darren Sproles must recreate some of last week's 328 all-purpose yard magic for the Chargers to be competitive.  

Ben Roethlisberger, ever the Gamer has utilized the Steeler first-round bye to shake out the cobwebs from Week 17's gruesome concussion. Big Ben is ready to throw darts and will be carried by a 2008-2009 Steeler defense that is reminiscent of the Steel Curtain. Pittsburgh's stingy defense leads the NFL with the fewest points and passing yardage allowed. The unit also finished the 2008-2009 NFL regular season second to the Vikings in terms of rushing defense.

Defense wins Championships and the Terrible Towel will be out in full-force at Heinz Field on Sunday for this AFC Divisional Playoff.