NFL Divisional Playoff Preview

The NFL playoffs are here, after a historic regular season that was full of record-breaking performances, as well as a little controversy.

The most obvious storyline this season was the AFC’s New England Patriots and their mission for the first undefeated season since ‘72. Pats’ coach Bill Belichick was put under the microscope after the week one “Videogate” scandal, where the team was found taping the opposing team’s play calls. In the off-season, the Pats managed to build a “dream team” and never looked back, running up the score of every game en route to a perfect season. Odds makers unanimously pick the Patriots as the Super Bowl XLII favorites.

Contending Super Bowl champions, the Indianapolis Colts, turned in another great season going 13-3 and claiming the 2nd seed in the AFC. Peyton Manning and the Colts are quietly biding their time for a second shot at the Patriots after a close loss to the team during the season. The Colts seem to have improved, mainly on defense, despite losing several players from last season’s winning team.

In the NFC, quarterback Tony Romo and the Cowboys stumbled a bit to end the season, but still finished with a 13-3 record, locking up home field advantage throughout the playoffs. With the retirement of Bill Parcells at the end of last season, coaches Wade Phillips and Jason Garret inherited a team loaded with talent.

Outspoken wide receiver Terrell Owens had a terrific season as Romo shined in his first year as the full-time starter, even with girlfriend Jessica Simpson cheering from the stands.

Brett Farve pushed off retirement for yet another season and found the fountain of youth. The 38-year old led the Packers to a 2nd seed and a first round playoff bye. The aging gunslinger became the record holder for most career touchdown passes as he passed former NFL great Dan Marino for number one on the list.

Farve accomplished all this with a void at the running back position behind him for much of the season. It wasn’t until Green Bay turned to rookie Ryan Grant that the team was able to find an adequate runner to stop defenses from loading up against the pass on every down.

The first round of the playoffs began this past weekend with Washington versus Seattle. The Redskins overcame the devastating news of Pro Bowl safety Sean Taylor’s death and united together as a team to win their last four games to secure a wild card spot in the playoffs. The team unfortunately was slated to play the NFC West division winners, the Seattle Seahawks, and fell 35-14. The Seahawks capitalized on two Todd Collins miscues by returning both interceptions for touchdowns to seal the victory. The Seahawks will now take on the Packers for the right to return to the NFC Championship.

The New York Giants have been on a hot streak of late, almost upending the Patriots and their perfect season in the last game of the season. While they struggled out of the gate early against the Tampa Bay Bucs, this momentum carried over to the whole game. The Giants, led by a resurgent Eli Manning, upset the Bucs 24-14. Manning completed 20-of-27 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. The Giants must now travel to Dallas to challenge the top-seeded Cowboys.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had the task of playing the Pittsburg Steelers in the wild card weekend match up. The Jaguars saw their 28-10 third quarter lead evaporate before their eyes and needed a last-second field goal to pull out a 31-29 win.

The Jack Del Rio-led team seems to have constructed the perfect playoff team. They boast one of the best rushing attacks in the league, have one of the most consistent quarterbacks in David Garrard and can shut down opposing rushing attacks with a dominate defensive front seven. The Jaguars will battle Goliath next and the team must find a weak link in the Patriots’ armor to advance to their third ever AFC championship game.

In the final game of the first round, the San Diego Chargers and Philip Rivers came alive in the second half to hold off the Tennessee Titans 17-6. Rivers sealed the deal on his first playoff victory leading the team to 17 points in the second half, totaling 292 total yards and one passing touchdown. The Chargers are now headed to the RCA Dome to take on Manning and the defending Superbowl champs.

If the season is any indication, this weekend’s divisional round of the playoffs will definitely showcase some of the best match-ups of the year and maybe even a few upsets.