Wild-Card Saturday!

Now that the 2011 NFL regular season has come to a close, Its time for the Playoffs! We have some first timers, some teams that haven't sniffed the postseason for over a Decade, and of course your usual playoff contenders. So lets get started.

Cincinnati @ Houston (Saturday 4:30pm EST)

Since 2008 we have will of had five rookie QB's start a playoff game. Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan in 2008, Mark Sanchez in 2009, and now Andy Dalton and T.J. Yates. No not Cam Newton (Hint this is why he should not win rookie of the year,) but that's a different story.

What Andy Dalton has done for the Bengals this year is probably the best thing Bengals fans have witnessed since Chad Ochocinco's River Dance celebration in 2007. It's been two years since the Bengals last playoff appearance (2009), and that ended with a 24-14 Bengals loss to the New York Jets.
This year I expect different results from a new and improved Bengals team. Their ranked in the top 10 overall in every defensive category, and have a quarterback that can and will do anything that is asked of him.

You know I'm serious when I put a picture up
of Dalton beating my boy Ray Lewis.

Now lets look at the Texans, a better overall team then the Bengals? I would say yes, but the real question is can we trust T.J. Yates to get it done? My answer. Naahhhhhhhhhh.

T.J. Yates is a rookie out North Carolina, a 7th round draft pick who had no expectations of playing this year. With all that being said he has done a decent job filling in for the injured Matt Schaub and the injured Matt Leinart. He's helped the Texans to their first playoff birth in franchise history. Yates won his first two starts by a total of eight points, one of which was a last second touchdown pass versus none other than the Cincinnati Bengals.

Yate's last three starts didn't end to well. Yates went 0-3, and lost by a total of 19 points. Kind of ironic in his five career starts, both of his wins came against playoff teams (Cincinnati and Atlanta,) where as both of his losses came against non playoff teams (the Panthers, Colts, and Titans.) Yates has done a great job of not turning the ball over, only three interceptions in his five starts. So that's not the reason why I think the Texans will lose this game.

Arian Foster, Ben Tate, Andre Johnson, Jonathan Joseph are some big time names off this Texans roster. If the Texans have any shot at this game, they will have to carry the load.

The reason why T.J. Yates will not win this game is simply because, of the fact T.J. Yates hasn't been asked to do much. In his five starts he has thrown for 300 yards just once, as a matter of fact it came against this Bengals team. Yates has thrown a total of three, just three touchdowns in his five starts, and has equaled his touchdown pass numbers with interceptions. Oh by the way I haven't even mentioned the fact that T.J. Yates only threw four passes last week against the Titans due to a shoulder injury. Yet you still want him to be your starter in your first playoff game ever? Houston brought veteran Jake Delhomme weeks back, and I saw him run this offense last week versus Tennessee. He lead the Texans right down the field, no huddle offense, and threw a dart to receiver Bryant Johnson. Down one Houston is going for the two point conversion and the Win. Untill a false start by the tight end killed their momentum, which resulted in the next snap being to high for Delhomme to handle.

Even with this game being in Houston, and the fans being all hyped up for their first playoff game. I have Cincinnati winning this football game. If head coach Gary Kubiack decides to go to Jake Delhomme weather it's to start the game or later in the game maybe their will be a different outcome. But until then the Bengals will have their first playoff win since 1991. By the way their last playoff win came against Houston....the Oilers that is, Cincinnati won 41-14, and until tonight that will remain their only playoff victory in the last two decades.

Final Score: Cincinnati 20 Houston 17


Detroit @ New Orleans (Saturday 8:00 EST)

To say Matthew Stafford was a pro bowl snub is a little overdoing it. Eli Manning has been great if not better than Stafford this year. Including breaking his brothers record for most touchdowns passes in the fourth quarter with 15. The fact that their is not enough room on the roster for Matt Stafford is why he wasn't picked, but if their could be a fourth spot given to quarterbacks, no doubt it should go to him.

The Lions have had a great season which includes four fourth quarter comebacks, and their first playoff appearance since 1999. Unfortunately they get the Saints at home in their first appearance. You can expect a high scoring game with over 33 attempts from each quarterback.

The Lions will put up a fight, but in a hostile environment like New Orleans. I just can't see Detroit pulling it off, however that's not to say that the Lions have no chance in this game.

In order for the Lions to win this game they must

• Unleash Megatron. CJ has had a record setting year posting 16 touchdowns, 1,681 yards, on only 96 receptions. Getting Mr. Johnson the ball shouldn't be a problem for Detroit, as Megatron is averaging over 17 yards per catch.



Ndamukong Suh and Cliff Avril.

• Detroit's front four must get pressure on Brees, meaning at least 5 sacks from their D-Line. It's going to be hard with two all pro guards on the Saints end, but it's known that when Drew Brees is pressured, that's when he has his off games. With Ndamukong Suh taking on the double teams, Detroit's Cliff Avril (11 sacks) and Kyle Vanden Bosch (8 sacks) will bring most of the heat. However Suh's sack numbers from last year have rapidly declined. Going from 10 sacks his rookie year to only four this year. Suh most also control his anger....Just Sayin.
• Protect #9. We all know Matthew Stafford is Injury Prone, and if the Lions OL allows the Saints to get pressure on Stafford. Their going to make sure to get a good lick on him. Will Smith, Shaun Rodgers, Sedrick Ellis, Aubrayo Franklin man the Saints defensive line, and together weigh over 1,250 pounds.
• Do not get beat deep. Drew Brees likes to throw the ball down field to guys like Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, and Jimmy Graham. It seems like 9 out of 10 times he is successful with it. If the Lions can prevent Breesus from completing anything over 40+ yards, their chances legitimately increase.

As for the Saints I believe they will win this game. They have the sixth best rushing attack in the league with Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, and arguably the best free agent pick up this season in Darren Sproles. Drew Brees has been here before, he's experienced, hungry for a second ring, and coming fresh off a record setting season with the most passing yards in a single season with 5,476.

This defense hasn't been great this season, but neither has Detroit's. However one thing this Saints D is good at, is forcing turnovers. New Orleans is stacked with a great secondary guys like Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Roman Harper (sometimes,) and I'll even throw Patrick Robinson out there because, I think the kids got tremendous potential.

Detroit has got a load in front of them, but as I said before Detroit can win this game. They CAN win it...but they won't, their not going into the Super dome, and steeling one from the Saints. But The Lions will continue to progress, and as the years go bye. To say the least "I'm scared" of the Detroit Lions, but the Saints aren't.

Final Score: Saints 42 Detroit 29