Posts Tagged ‘Divisional Playoffs’
NFL Playoff PreviewÂ
Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)Â
Sunday, 1:00PM EasternÂ
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Bookmaker.com betting line – New York -4, 40 O/UÂ
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Two NFC East rivals are scheduled to battle for the 3rd time this season when the Philadelphia Eagles travel to take on the New York Giants. Both earlier match-ups were decided by less than a touchdown with each time scoring a victory once. However, this game will be much bigger than the previous two battles considering the winner this time will move on to play in the NFC Championship. The Giants were the class of the NFC all season, but face the challenge to hold off a dangerously hot Philadelphia team who has really come on strong in the late part of the year.Â
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New York struggled through the month of December losing 3 of their last 4 games. The Giants offense has really lost their early season form and has struggled to produce points in recent weeks. The Giants own the 3rd best scoring offense in the NFL at 26 points per game. However, New York only averaged 18 points in their final 4 games and it is imperative they get the offense back to top form. The Giants have two running backs that have eclipsed the 1,000 yard barrier on the season in Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs. The Giants strong running game will battle a strong defensive front from the Philadelphia Eagles this season. The Giants running game will need to come up big considering the passing game has been missing in action the latter part of the season. QB Eli Manning highest game total is 191 yards of passing in his last 4 games. The Giants need Manning to be more effective this weekend in a huge rivalry game.Â
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Philadelphia has played as well as anyone in the NFC the 2nd half of the season. The Eagles defense has simply been outstanding in recent weeks. The Philadelphia defense has held teams to a staggering 10.8 points per game in their last 5 outings against some really quality teams. QB Donovan McNabb has got the offense rolling again overcoming some mid-season turmoil that had the offense under the microscope. McNabb threw for 300 yards last week against the Vikings in the Wildcard Playoff Game and he will need another big performance this Sunday. Also running back Michael Westbrook will be a player to keep an eye on for the Eagles. Westbrook has big play capability and could be a difference maker this weekend.Â
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What to watch for…Â
The Giants offense against the Philadelphia defense will be fun to watch. The Eagles defense has to be prepared to stop the run and most-likely will do so especially early in the game. The Giants will need Eli Manning and the struggling passing attack to add some key support. The Giants passing game will be the deciding factor in an anticipated defensive battle.Â
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Pick – NY Giants
Tags: Divisional Playoffs, football, New York Giants, nfl, Philadelphia Eagles, sports
NFL Betting Preview San Diego Chargers (9-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) Sunday, 4:30PM Eastern Â
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Bookmaker.com betting line – Pittsburgh -6, 38 O/U
The Pittsburgh Steelers will host an unlikely opponent in the San Diego Chargers this Sunday to determine who plays in the AFC Title game. The Chargers became the first team win a division by trailing 3 games with 3 weeks to go when they overtook the Broncos to clinch the final Wildcard spot in week 17. San Diego backed up their late season surge last week with a convincing victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers look to shock the world again this weekend when bring their strong offense to battle with the best defense the NFL has seen in many years. Â
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Pittsburgh finished one game behind the Titans in terms of the best record in the AFC this season with a mark of 12-4. The Steelers closed out the season strong and look to be the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. However, we all know how crazy the playoffs are and it is a long time before we can stir up the Super Bowl talk. The Steelers won 6 of their last 7 games to close out the season including an 11-10 low scoring affair over the Chargers. The Pittsburgh defense will look to keep this game considerably low again when they unleash the NFL’s best defense against a strong Chargers offense. The Steelers defense amazingly ranks 1st in 3 of the 4 major defensive categories and 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards allowed. The Steelers defense is among the best to take the field in a long time holding teams to 13.9 points and a mind blowing 239 total yards on the season. This defensive unit will try and shut down the San Diego offense for the 2nd time this season this Sunday.Â
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San Diego came out of nowhere to end the season and all of a sudden they are playing extremely well. However, they will face a big task in overcoming the Pittsburgh defense. QB Phillip Rivers has been outstanding this season throwing for over 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns. Rivers leads a San Diego team that is 2nd in scoring offense averaging a stout 27.4 points per game. Chargers running back and superstar LaDainian Tomlinson has been battling a tendon injury in his groin and his status heading into this week is unclear. However, speedster Darren Sproles took over the job well last week with an amazing 320 all-purpose yards. Sproles single handedly defeated the Colts and will again attempt to be a big factor this weekend. This game will be a classic offense vs. defense showdown and it will be interesting to see which side of the ball prevails.Â
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What to watch for…Â
Darren Sproles will be the spotlight to watch. The Chargers will have a very tough time moving the ball against the Steelers defense. However, a great way to beat good defenses is to make big plays. Sproles gives San Diego that opportunity with his elusive speed and I would keep an eye on the little guy to see if he is as effective as a week ago in Indianapolis.Â
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Pick – Under 38
Tags: Divisional Playoffs, football, nfl, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, sports
NFL Betting Preview San Diego Chargers (9-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) Sunday, 4:30PM Eastern Â
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Bookmaker.com betting line – Pittsburgh -6, 38 O/U
The Pittsburgh Steelers will host an unlikely opponent in the San Diego Chargers this Sunday to determine who plays in the AFC Title game. The Chargers became the first team win a division by trailing 3 games with 3 weeks to go when they overtook the Broncos to clinch the final Wildcard spot in week 17. San Diego backed up their late season surge last week with a convincing victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers look to shock the world again this weekend when bring their strong offense to battle with the best defense the NFL has seen in many years. Â
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Pittsburgh finished one game behind the Titans in terms of the best record in the AFC this season with a mark of 12-4. The Steelers closed out the season strong and look to be the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. However, we all know how crazy the playoffs are and it is a long time before we can stir up the Super Bowl talk. The Steelers won 6 of their last 7 games to close out the season including an 11-10 low scoring affair over the Chargers. The Pittsburgh defense will look to keep this game considerably low again when they unleash the NFL’s best defense against a strong Chargers offense. The Steelers defense amazingly ranks 1st in 3 of the 4 major defensive categories and 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards allowed. The Steelers defense is among the best to take the field in a long time holding teams to 13.9 points and a mind blowing 239 total yards on the season. This defensive unit will try and shut down the San Diego offense for the 2nd time this season this Sunday.Â
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San Diego came out of nowhere to end the season and all of a sudden they are playing extremely well. However, they will face a big task in overcoming the Pittsburgh defense. QB Phillip Rivers has been outstanding this season throwing for over 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns. Rivers leads a San Diego team that is 2nd in scoring offense averaging a stout 27.4 points per game. Chargers running back and superstar LaDainian Tomlinson has been battling a tendon injury in his groin and his status heading into this week is unclear. However, speedster Darren Sproles took over the job well last week with an amazing 320 all-purpose yards. Sproles single handedly defeated the Colts and will again attempt to be a big factor this weekend. This game will be a classic offense vs. defense showdown and it will be interesting to see which side of the ball prevails.Â
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What to watch for…Â
Darren Sproles will be the spotlight to watch. The Chargers will have a very tough time moving the ball against the Steelers defense. However, a great way to beat good defenses is to make big plays. Sproles gives San Diego that opportunity with his elusive speed and I would keep an eye on the little guy to see if he is as effective as a week ago in Indianapolis.Â
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Pick – Under 38
Tags: Divisional Playoffs, football, nfl, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, sports
NFL Playoff PreviewÂ
Arizona Cardinals (10-7) at Carolina Panthers (12-4)Â
Saturday, 8:15PM EasternÂ
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Bookmaker.com betting line – Carolina -10, 48.5 O/UÂ
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NFC Division Playoff action will kick off primetime Saturday night when the Carolina Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals captured a big home victory last week over the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 and look to keep the momentum going. Carolina closed out the season as strong as any in the NFC winning 8 of their last 10 games and they will try to prove they are the team to beat in the NFC. The game features the biggest spread differential of any playoff game this weekend with the Panthers coming in as heavy 10 point favorites. The Cardinals overcame many expectations last week with and will look to do the same again this Saturday.Â
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Carolina sports a premier running attack lead by two great tailbacks DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart. The two backs combined to be the most effective duo in the NFL for over 2,300 yards and strong 28 touchdowns on the ground this season. The Carolina running game ranks 3rd in the NFL averaging 152 yards per contest. The Panthers will try to establish this running game this weekend and keep a dangerous Arizona offense off the field. The Panthers have scored 25 points on average this season and they will need to put up some points against the high power offense of Arizona. WR Steve Smith is the most valuable Panther on the offensive side of the ball and has the big play capability. Smith has racked up 1,421 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns despite missing the first two games this season. Carolina will look for their playmakers to take control in what many consider to be a fairly high scoring affair.Â
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Arizona posted some of the best offensive numbers in the NFL during the first half of the season. Veteran QB Kurt Warner leads one of the best passing attacks in the NFL averaging a crazy 292 yards per game through the air. The Arizona offense also sports the 3rd best scoring offense in the league with 27 points per contest. The Arizona offense will have to be very effective this weekend considering the defense has struggled all season. The Cardinals scoring defense is among the worse in the NFL allowing 26 points per game. However, Kurt Warner will try to led the high power offense into the promise land and earn a right to battle for the NFC Title. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are big wide receivers that are difficult for any team to defend. Both stars have over a 1,000 yards receiving and combine for 23 scores on the year. Keep an eye on these electrifying playmakers as they will try to make some things happen for the Arizona offense.Â
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What to watch for…Â
The Carolina running game will be interesting to watch and will provide some big counter affects. If the Panthers run the ball well, it will keep Arizona off the field and play into their advantage. However if Carolina can not establish a ground attack, then it forces the Panthers into a passing war with one of the best air assaults in the NFL. Carolina needs to be effective on offense and keep the time of possession in their favor. Â
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Pick – Panthers defense holds on to win, but Arizona keeps it within 10. Arizona +10
Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Divisional Playoffs, football, nfl, sports
