NFL 2008 RSS
"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)
Saturday, CBS, 4:30 PM ET
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.
READ ON >> Ravens at Titans - Full Preview, Analysis, Review & Prediction
Arizona Cardinals (10-7) at Carolina Panthers (12-4)
Saturday, FOX, 8:15 PM ET
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?
READ ON >> Cardinals at Panthers - Full Preview, Analysis, Review & Prediction
Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)
Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET
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.
READ ON >> Eagles at Giants - Full Preview, Analysis, Review & Prediction
&nsbp;
San Diego Chargers (9-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
Sunday, CBS, 4:45 PM ET
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.
READ ON >> Chargers at Steelers - Full Preview, Analysis, Review & 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
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE – JANUARY 10-11
(All times Eastern)
Saturday, January 10
Baltimore at Tennessee, 4:30 PM (CBS)
Arizona at Carolina, 8:15 PM (FOX)
Sunday, January 11
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1:00 PM (FOX)
San Diego at Pittsburgh, 4:45 PM (CBS)
RELATED ARTICLES NFL PLAYOFFS 2008 DIVISIONAL WEEKEND
NFL 2008 PLAYOFFS RANKINGS
Once teams are ranked for the playoffs, positions do not change:
American Football Conference
1. Tennessee Titans (AFC South Division champion)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North Division champion)
3. Miami Dolphins (AFC East Division champion)
4. San Diego Chargers (AFC West Division champion)
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. Baltimore Ravens
National Football Conference
1. New York Giants (NFC East Division champion)
2. Carolina Panthers (NFC South Division champion)
3. Minnesota Vikings (NFC North Division champion)
4. Arizona Cardinals (NFC West Division champion)
5. Atlanta Falcons
6. Philadelphia Eagles
NFL 2008 Playoffs Divisional WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday, January 3
NFC: Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals, 4:30 PM ET (NBC)
AFC: Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers, 8:00 PM ET (NBC)
Sunday, January 4
AFC: Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM ET (CBS)
NFC: Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings, 4:30 PM ET (FOX)
NFL 2008 WEEK 17 RESULTS (Sunday, December 28)
(Home team in CAPS)
ATLANTA 31, St. Louis 27
PITTSBURGH 31, Cleveland 0
New England 13, BUFFALO 0
Oakland 31, TAMPA BAY 24
CINCINNATI 16, Kansas City 6
ARIZONA 34, Seattle 21
GREEN BAY 31, Detroit 21
BALTIMORE 27, Jacksonville 7
HOUSTON 31, Chicago 24
Miami 24, N.Y. JETS 17
INDIANAPOLIS 23, Tennessee 0
PHILADELPHIA 44, Dallas 6
MINNESOTA 20, N.Y. Giants 19
SAN FRANCISCO 27, Washington 24
Carolina 33, NEW ORLEANS 31
SAN DIEGO 52, Denver 21
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