NFL Playoff Predictions

The 2008 NFL Regular Season is over and we look towards the playoffs. 32 teams entered the season with a chance to get here now only 12 remain. Here is the seedings.

AFC:
1.Tennessee Titans(AFC South Champs)
2.Pittsburgh Steelers(AFC North Champs)
3.Miami Dolphins(AFC East Champs)
4.San Diego Chargers(AFC West Champs)
5.Indianapolis Colts(Wild Card)
6.Baltimore Ravens(Wild Card)

NFC:
1.New York Giants(NFC East Champs)
2.Carolina Panthers(NFC South Champs)
3.Minnesota Vikings(NFC North Champs)
4.Arizona Cardinals(NFC West Champs)
5.Atlanta Falcons(Wild Card)
6.Philadelphia Eagles(Wild Card)

Here are my predictions:

Wild Card:
Cardinals over Falcons-I feel that Atlanta's defense looked sub-par against a bad Rams offense and that Kurt Warner will have a good day. That takes nothing away from Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, however. I feel they will play well too. Give it like a 27-24 score or something like that.

Colts over Chargers-L.T. is hurt and I feel that Indy is on fire.

Dolphins over Ravens-Since losing to Baltimore in October, Miami has been on fire winning 8 of 9. I feel it continues though look for a good game from Flacco, McGahee, McClain and Co.

Eagles over Vikings-Donovan McNabb has been hot late in the season when he needs to be. I feel that Tavares Jackson cannot carry Minnesota to a victory and A.P. will not be enough.

Divisionals:
Colts over Titans-I am not going by the 23-0 game yesterday. I'm going by the fact that I feel that Kerry Collins cannot carry the Titans at QB especially if Indy's "good" defense shows up. It will be close and low scoring.

Steelers over Dolphins-This could be different if and only if Big Ben is too banged up to play and the real Byron Leftwich shows up. Truth be told, Miami can win this game. Look for it to be close twas if it happens.

Eagles over Giants-The Giants seem like a different team passing the ball without Plaxico. I noticed this in the Eagles and Cowboy games. Now they can still run the ball with Ward, Jacobs, and Bradshaw. However, the last time they met, Philly shut down the Gleesome Threesome. If the real Philly shows up(the one from September and the one from December). They will win this game.

Panthers over Cardinals-The last time they met, it was REALLY close. Arizona probably should've won, truth be told. I think it'll be close again but Carolina pulls it out late.

AFC Championship:Steelers over Colts-The last time they met, Pittsburgh didn't have Willie Parker. I think adding him creates a new dimension in this Steeler offense. I also feel that Peyton will struggle in the cold Pittsburgh winter and Big Ben will play better.

NFC Championship:Eagles over Panthers-I'm getting skeptical on this Panther defense. They got mauled by Derrick Ward and they got demolished late by the Saints. I don't think Carolina wins. I think, however, it will be close and it will be high scoring. I think whoevers defense makes a stop wins late.

Super Bowl XLIII:Eagles over Steelers-Philadelphia has been determined to get there and I feel that this year IS the year for Philly. Remember the heartbreaks in the 2001, 2002, and 2003 NFC Title games and the even bigger heartbreak of Super Bowl XXXIX? Not going to happen again. Philly wins and I believe that McNabb either retires or gets a new contract. They remind me of last year's Giants.

Playoff Facts:

• For the 2nd year in a row and 4th time in 2 years, San Diego will be facing Indianapolis. As the rivalry between class(Indy) and ass(Phillip Rivers) continues.
• The last time Miami was in the playoffs was against Baltimore in the 2001 NFL Playoffs. Miami lost 20-3. This is also the third meeting in a year and a few day span between the two. Miami ended their losing streak last year beating the Ravens 22-16 in OT while this year the Ravens won 27-13.
• Kerry Collins will be making his first playoff start since the 2002 Playoffs where he started for the Giants agains the 49ers.
• Kurt Warner will be making his first playoff appearence since Super Bowl XXXVI.
• This is only the 2nd time in 25 years that Arizona has made the playoffs.
• Donovan McNabb will be making his first playoff start since Super Bowl XXXIX.
• The Minnesota Vikings have not hosted a playoff game since the 2001 Divisional Playoff game against New Orleans.
• The last time the Vikings were in the playoffs, they lost 27-14 to Philly.
• The last two times Carolina has made it to the playoffs, they reached the NFC Title Game.
• The New York Giants will be hosting a playoff game for the first time since the 2000 NFC Title Game.

Enjoy the 2008 NFL Playoffs. It all kicks off Saturday at 4:30pm as the Cardinals take on the Falcons on NBC.