NFL 2008 Divisional Playoff Round Analysis

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The 2nd Round of the NFL Playoffs: 4 Games & All 4 Rematches

Nineteen points.

Add up the point differential in the 2008 regular-season meetings of the teams playing in this weekend's four NFL Divisional Playoffs, and you get the grand total of -- 19 points.

And that's not in four games, but five, because one of this week's matchups is a division rematch.

Think the games in "Rematch Weekend" this Saturday and Sunday could be close? Could be!

"We're familiar with them," says San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner, "and they're familiar with us."

Norv is speaking about the Chargers' foe this Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he could be describing the opponents in all four games this weekend.

"We know them well, which is a good thing," says New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck of the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles, who he will be facing for a third time this season. "But they know us well, too."

Tuck summarizes the whole "you-look-familiar" weekend, which has some great storylines:

  • - When Baltimore plays Tennessee, a rookie QB -- the Ravens JOE FLACCO -- matches against the NFL's elder statesmen amongst QBs in the playoffs, the Titans Kerry Collins (14 seasons).
  • - Arizona at Carolina features two former Amsterdam Admirals quarterbacks (NFL Europe, 1998) -- the Cardinals Kurt Warner, the Admirals starter, and his backup at the time Panthers QB Jake Delhomme.
  • - When the Eagles head up the New Jersey Turnpike to visit the Giants, they won't feel daunted. The Eagles have won five of the last eight at Giants Stadium, including one this season.
  • - The last time San Diego and Pittsburgh met (November 16, 2008), the Associated Press 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Steelers LB James Harrison, had four tackles, a sack, a safety and an interception for a 33-yard return.

Last Sunday's wins by sixth-seeded Baltimore and Philadelphia in the Wild Card round mark the second time in four years that both sixth seeds won in the first round. In 2005, sixth seeds Pittsburgh and Washington won, with the Steelers going on to win Super Bowl XL.

Six of the eight remaining Playoff teams start a quarterback who has previously started in a Super Bowl (Kerry Collins, Jake Delhomme, Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb, Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner). That number tops the previous NFL high of five such quarterbacks in 1993 (Troy Aikman, Jeff Hostetler, Jim Kelly, Joe Montana, Phil Simms).

The playoff field in the AFC boasts the top three scoring defenses in the NFL (Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Baltimore) as well as the top scoring offense in the AFC (San Diego).

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

Both teams excel in the turnover battle, finishing second (Tennessee, plus-14) and third (Baltimore, plus-13) this season in NFL turnover differential. They are also quite similar on defense. Linemen who call for double-teams; quick linebackers who can rush or drop back into coverage; and ball-hawking secondaries.

The Titans Kerry Collins -- who can become the first QB in history to win at least one playoff game with three different clubs (Carolina Panthers, New York Giants) -- was intercepted only seven times this season. Problem is, he goes against a defense led by S Ed Reed that topped the league in pickoffs with 26.

But it certainly won't be all defense.

Ravens at Titans - Full Analysis & Prediction [...]

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

Given the choice, the Cardinals would rather throw the ball. "We've been successful throwing the football all over the field this year," says Arizona QB Kurt Warner, leader of the NFL's second-best passing attack.

However, in last week's 30-24 Wild Card win over the Atlanta Falcons it was their defense and running attack which advanced the Cardinals to the next round.

The Panthers love running the ball. And they've been successful doing that, ranking third in the NFL. "I love that we're able to run the football," says Carolina QB Jake Delhomme, who is 5-2 in the playoffs.

How will it all play out, especially in Carolina where the Panthers are undefeated this season?

Cardinals at Panthers - Full Analysis & Prediction [...]

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)

The top-seeded New York Giants, champions of the NFC East, face their division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, for the third time this season with a berth in the NFC Championship Game on the line.

The Giants are 7-1 at home this season while the Eagles are 4-4-1 on the road, including their 26-14 Wild Card victory over the Vikings last week in Minnesota. The Giants lost to the Vikings in Minnesota 20-19 in their regular season finale.

The Eagles have now won 5 of their last 6 while the Giants have lost 3 of their last 4 after an 11-1 start.

Eagles at Giants - Full Analysis & Prediction [...]

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

When San Diego travels to Pittsburgh on Sunday it will mark the first time in the NFL playoffs since Denver (top offense) faced Baltimore (top defense) in the 2000 AFC Wild Card round that a conference's top scoring offense goes against the top scoring defense.

Last week, RB Darren Sproles playing for an injured La Dainian Tomlinson produced the third-most combined yards ever in an NFL playoff game -- 328 -- including the winning 22-yard TD romp in overtime.

Rivers (No. 4 overall) joins the Steelers' BEN ROETHLISBERGER (No. 11) and Giants' ELI MANNING (No. 1) as the top three quarterback picks in the 2004 NFL Draft who will be active on Sunday. Between them, they have two Super Bowl titles, four Championship Game appearances, and a 12-6 (.667) playoff record.

Chargers (9-8) at Steelers - Full Analysis & Prediction [...]

NFL Wild Card Weekend Results (January 3-4)

(Home team in CAPS)

Saturday, January 3
ARIZONA 30, Atlanta 24
SAN DIEGO 23, Indianapolis 17 (OT)

Sunday, January 4
Baltimore 27, MIAMI 9
Philadelphia 26, MINNESOTA 14

Related

Carolina Panthers Regular Season Review - NFL 2008