I've done NFL playoffs predictions for a couple of years on my LJ. Why should this year be any different? As always, I'm predicting head-to-head, not against any spread.
Atlanta at Arizona: You heard it here first, people. This will be the most exciting game in the wild card round. This will be a shootout. Look for Michael Turner to rack up a ton of yards and Matt Ryan to continue not looking like a rookie. Look for two of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin (if healthy), and Steve Breaston to go for over 100 yards and a TD. I think Arizona takes the shootout win, only because an experienced QB and the league's best WR corps is built for just such a game.
Indianapolis at San Diego: Two teams on hot streaks. Two QBs playing lights out. Two defenses that have been stepping up as of late. Two best players on San Diego's offense are questionable (Tomlinson and Gates). Advantage: Indy.
Baltimore at Miami: I'm freaking going to this game! Hell yeah! These two teams are very similar: two starting-quality RBs, swarming defenses, new head coaches that completely changed the organization's attitude. The difference maker? Chad Pennington is a -year veteran who has been to the playoffs 3 times and won 2 playoff games. Joe Flacco is a rookie for whom "playoffs" has meant games against Delaware State, Northern Iowa, and Southern Illinois. Miami takes it in a low-scoring slugfest and I love every minute of it.
Philadelphia at Minnesota: This one is the toughest one for me to call. Partially because I haven't really been following either team very closely, partly because both teams have been pretty schizophrenic this season. The key matchup of the game is Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota o-line vs. Philly's front seven. If Philly can contain AP to a reasonable number of yards, they win since I don't trust Tavaris Jackson at all. If AP runs wild, a stingy Vikings D can play prevent and get a victory in front of a hometown crowd. In the last 4 weeks, Philly's D has held Clinton Portis to 70 yards and Brandon Jacobs to 52. Philly holds AP to 90 yards and a TD and gets the win on the road.
