SportProjections.com

Jan

4

Playoff Predictions for Wild Card Weekend

Filed Under NFL | 

Washington at Seattle (-3.5) – The Seahawks are as good as it gets at home. They outscored their opponents 217-111 this year and went 7-1 at home. The Seahawks should win this game, but you can’t measure the emotion and unity of this Redskins team since the loss of Sean Taylor. The team has played as if it were in the playoffs since week 14. No team has come within 8 points of the Redskins in their last four games. Will Todd Collins continue to play like a Pro Bowl quarterback for another week? We’ll really believe in the ‘Skins if they can accomplish their biggest task in Seattle. The Redskins should keep it within 3 points regardless of the result. Pick: Washington +3.5

Jacksonville (-2.5) at Pittsburgh – These teams played each other only three weeks ago with Jacksonville winning 29-22 in Pittsburgh. The Jags scored a touchdown with 1:57 left in the fourth quarter to seal the game after giving up a 22-7 lead to start the fourth quarter. Ben Roethlisberger struggled, completing less than 50% of his passes in the game. He struggled even though Willie Parker ran for 100 yards on only 14 carries. This time, Parker is injured and won’t play. This doesn’t bode well for the Pittsburgh offense. The Jags should keep the pressure on Big Ben and win this game by at least three points. Pick: Jacksonville -2.5

NY Giants at Tampa Bay (-2.5) – This game really comes down to one match up… Jeff Garcia vs. the Giants secondary. Jeff Garcia should be 100% healthy, while the Giants secondary is banged up and not at 100%. Joey Galloway should have a huge game as the Giants have struggled against speed receivers all year. The Giants need to put plenty of pressure on Garcia to take pressure off the secondary. Luckily, they have Umenyiora and Strahan. One interesting note is that Garcia is the first QB to ever face a team 3 times in the playoffs while playing for 3 different teams. Garcia beat the Giants with the 49ers and the Eagles; can the Giants stop that trend? Pick: NY Giants + 2.5

Tennessee at San Diego (-10) – Can Tennessee overcome the injury bug that has plagued it over the last couple of weeks? Vince Young will give it a go, but he may not play the whole game. Kerry Collins is an adequate back-up, but who will he throw to? Bo Scaife and Roydell Williams are both out for the game against the Chargers. Look for San Diego to load the box to stop the run and force Tennessee to beat them with the pass. Norv is looking to get the Chargers a playoff win for the first time since we can remember. Look for him to rely on LT to carry the load. The Titans will give the Chargers everything they have, but it won’t quite be enough. Pick: Tennessee +10

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