Tuesday, January 03, 2006
WILD CARD MANIA!
Here we are, talking about the 2005 NFL Postseason and the Seahawks aren't playing this weekend. Fortunately, the Seahawks don't have to play until Jan. 14-15 (more on the dates later), because of the 1st round bye.
This weekend has the potential to be the best Wild Card weekend in the history of the NFL. You have the 12-4 Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4!) having to travel to Foxboro to take on the 2-time defending world champion New England Patriots. How about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting the Washington Redskins in a rematch of one of the best games of the 2005 regular season? If that's not enough for you, the New York Giants take on the Carolina Panthers, NFC champions of 2 years ago. Now, if those three matchups aren't exciting for you, then I'm sure that the Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals tilt will do the job.
The Road To The Super Bowl goes through Seattle.
The postseason begins Saturday.
2005 NFL POSTSEASON
AFC WILD CARD ROUND
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5, 2nd AFC North) at Cincinnati Bengals (11-5, AFC North Champs)
---This will be the third game between these AFC North rivals. The Steelers won the first matchup in Cincinnati while the Bengals returned the favor in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have won 4 in a row while the Bengals have looked less than stellar in the final two weeks of the regular season. While most people have figured this game to be a Steelers victory, I'm not going to lean that way.
I like the Bengals in a high-scoring shootout, similar to the second game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will run the ball at will against the Bengals' defense. In the end, however, the Bengals will do just enough in the air with Carson Palmer and the solid wide receiving corps of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Bengals 38, Steelers 31
(Cincinnati at Denver in divisional round)
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, 2nd AFC South) at New England Patriots (10-6, AFC East Champs)
---I'm sick and tired of the Matt Jones lovefest here in Arkansas. The Patriots defense will not allow him to go wild. If I wanted to predict my "lock of the week", this game would be it.
Patriots 17, Jaguars 6
(New England at Indianapolis in divisional round)
NFC WILD CARD ROUND
Washington Redskins (10-6, 2nd NFC East) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5, NFC South Champs)
---I love this matchup. You have two teams that can run the ball and play solid defense. As I said earlier, their game earlier this season (TB 36-35 win) was one of the best games of the 2005 regular season.
It's amazing how little respect the Buccaneers are getting this week. Yes, the Bucs have Chris "I can't beat Oklahoma" Simms at quarterback. When you have a running back like Carnell Williams, though, life is definitely alright. The rookie from Auburn has been a huge piece of the Bucs' success in 2005. Against a banged-up Redskins defense, I can see Williams having a big day on Saturday.
Speaking of that banged-up defense, guess who's nursing his sore groin? I'll just say he used to wear #24 for the Seahawks and referred to Seattle as Egypt.
Buccaneers 28, Redskins 20
(Tampa Bay at Chicago in divisional round)
Carolina Panthers (11-5, 2nd NFC South) at New York Giants (11-5, NFC East Champs)
---Which Gulf Coast quarterback would I rather have in this matchup? Louisiana-Lafayette's Jake Delhomme or Ole Miss' Eli Manning? Give me the Ragin' Cajun over the Rebel.
Pray for Jay Feely, especially when he misses a key field goal on Sunday.
Panthers 24, Giants 14
(Carolina at Seattle in divisional round)
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That's right, I'm predicting the NFC South to sweep the NFC East this weekend.
I think it would be hysterical to see both the Giants and Redskins lose this weekend, considering how they're supposed to be better than the Seahawks. Granted, the Redskins beat the Seahawks on Oct. 2, but there's the Josh Brown upright deal...well, I don't want to talk about that. The Giants lost because of 3 Jay Feely missed field goals, not because of the Seahawks' efforts. That's what I've been told ever since November 27.
The Seahawks' first opponent, according to my predictions? Carolina
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What day will the Seahawks play next weekend?
IF WASHINGTON DEFEATS TAMPA BAY
Redskins at Seahawks SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific
IF TAMPA BAY DEFEATS WASHINGTON
Panthers/Giants at Seahawks SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 at TBD (late game)
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Sit back, relax, and enjoy this weekend of football, Seahawks fans.
Bring it on, NFC.
This weekend has the potential to be the best Wild Card weekend in the history of the NFL. You have the 12-4 Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4!) having to travel to Foxboro to take on the 2-time defending world champion New England Patriots. How about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting the Washington Redskins in a rematch of one of the best games of the 2005 regular season? If that's not enough for you, the New York Giants take on the Carolina Panthers, NFC champions of 2 years ago. Now, if those three matchups aren't exciting for you, then I'm sure that the Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals tilt will do the job.
The Road To The Super Bowl goes through Seattle.
The postseason begins Saturday.
2005 NFL POSTSEASON
AFC WILD CARD ROUND
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5, 2nd AFC North) at Cincinnati Bengals (11-5, AFC North Champs)
---This will be the third game between these AFC North rivals. The Steelers won the first matchup in Cincinnati while the Bengals returned the favor in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have won 4 in a row while the Bengals have looked less than stellar in the final two weeks of the regular season. While most people have figured this game to be a Steelers victory, I'm not going to lean that way.
I like the Bengals in a high-scoring shootout, similar to the second game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will run the ball at will against the Bengals' defense. In the end, however, the Bengals will do just enough in the air with Carson Palmer and the solid wide receiving corps of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Bengals 38, Steelers 31
(Cincinnati at Denver in divisional round)
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, 2nd AFC South) at New England Patriots (10-6, AFC East Champs)
---I'm sick and tired of the Matt Jones lovefest here in Arkansas. The Patriots defense will not allow him to go wild. If I wanted to predict my "lock of the week", this game would be it.
Patriots 17, Jaguars 6
(New England at Indianapolis in divisional round)
NFC WILD CARD ROUND
Washington Redskins (10-6, 2nd NFC East) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5, NFC South Champs)
---I love this matchup. You have two teams that can run the ball and play solid defense. As I said earlier, their game earlier this season (TB 36-35 win) was one of the best games of the 2005 regular season.
It's amazing how little respect the Buccaneers are getting this week. Yes, the Bucs have Chris "I can't beat Oklahoma" Simms at quarterback. When you have a running back like Carnell Williams, though, life is definitely alright. The rookie from Auburn has been a huge piece of the Bucs' success in 2005. Against a banged-up Redskins defense, I can see Williams having a big day on Saturday.
Speaking of that banged-up defense, guess who's nursing his sore groin? I'll just say he used to wear #24 for the Seahawks and referred to Seattle as Egypt.
Buccaneers 28, Redskins 20
(Tampa Bay at Chicago in divisional round)
Carolina Panthers (11-5, 2nd NFC South) at New York Giants (11-5, NFC East Champs)
---Which Gulf Coast quarterback would I rather have in this matchup? Louisiana-Lafayette's Jake Delhomme or Ole Miss' Eli Manning? Give me the Ragin' Cajun over the Rebel.
Pray for Jay Feely, especially when he misses a key field goal on Sunday.
Panthers 24, Giants 14
(Carolina at Seattle in divisional round)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
That's right, I'm predicting the NFC South to sweep the NFC East this weekend.
I think it would be hysterical to see both the Giants and Redskins lose this weekend, considering how they're supposed to be better than the Seahawks. Granted, the Redskins beat the Seahawks on Oct. 2, but there's the Josh Brown upright deal...well, I don't want to talk about that. The Giants lost because of 3 Jay Feely missed field goals, not because of the Seahawks' efforts. That's what I've been told ever since November 27.
The Seahawks' first opponent, according to my predictions? Carolina
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
What day will the Seahawks play next weekend?
IF WASHINGTON DEFEATS TAMPA BAY
Redskins at Seahawks SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific
IF TAMPA BAY DEFEATS WASHINGTON
Panthers/Giants at Seahawks SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 at TBD (late game)
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Sit back, relax, and enjoy this weekend of football, Seahawks fans.
Bring it on, NFC.
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