The Wild Card round is over and we’re down to the NFL’s great eight. For the first time in NFL history, all four road teams were favored in the Wild Card round. From a betting standpoint, Wild Card home dogs had been a 75% winning proposition. When the smoke had cleared, we had a split with the home dogs sweeping Saturday and the road faves sweeping Sunday.
One of the big storylines of last week revolved around both rookie phenom QB’s, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Matty Ice was 26-40 for 199 but threw two critical picks in 30-24 loss to the Cardinals. Flacco was more fortunate in getting bailed out by his defense after a 9-23 and 135 performance in 27-9 win over the Dolphins. Flacco tries to become the first rookie QB in NFL history to win two playoff games this week as the Ravens visit Tennessee.
Experience at quarterback would seem to be key in looking at this week’s playoff matchups. Of the eight quarterfinalist, six have QBs with Super Bowl experience. Three have won. Not only was Ryan outplayed last weekend by veteran Kurt Warner, there’s no doubt Donovan McNabb’s superiority of an overmatched Tarvaris Jackson was key in getting the Eagles through.
The only other QB left standing without Super Bowl experience is Philip Rivers, possibly the hottest hand left in the dance. Rivers, who was somehow snubbed for the Pro Bowl, lead the league in TD passes and quarterback rating. Rivers is different animal as he’s in his fifth year and took Bolts to the Championship Game last year. He almost willed San Diego over MVP Peyton Manning and the Colts.
This week’s quarterback matchups:
Joe Flacco and Kerry Collins: All Flacco’s done is win, sometimes with numbers that would make you wince. The rook from Delaware has shown some ability to scramble. Will handing off and counting on defense be enough here ??? Collins is the ultimate game manager who had a shot at the ring with the Giants. He’ll need to be flawless against Reed/Lewis and the Blackbird offense.
Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme: Warner is a former MVP that has won it all as a Ram. The Cards rediscovered a running game in their first home playoff win since they played in Chicago. The Cards and Warner have struggled on the road, coming East, and in the cold. Delhomme was a victim of Tom Brady in 2004. An altogether different player at home. This is his game to lose.
Donovan McNabb and Eli Manning: McNabb has been to four NFC championship games and a Super Bowl winning one NFC championship. He can be very good or very bad. Eli was nearly perfect in the Giant’s improbable playoff run last year winning four road games and thwarting the Patriot’s shot at history. Eli too can be very good or very bad.
Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger: Rivers may not be the most well liked in the league but he’s arguably the hottest on the hottest teams. Rivers was nails last year despite blown out knee and coming up just short. Bolts playing best ball of the year at right time. Last we saw Big Ben, he was motionless on a body board for 14 minutes. He’s home, supposedly OK, not off best season by any means and has won it all before. ???
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