NFC Divisional Playoffs Weekend Preview

drew+brees

Man I love playoff football.  I wish I could be watching the Cowboys, but we can’t all be winners. This weekend, much like the last is filled with great matchups, but it will have a tough time living up to the excitement last weekend.  I got both my games wrong last weekend, but I did call the Chargers.  Too bad I’m not writing the AFC column.   Let’s get to the games.

New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks

There’s one fact more important than any other when it comes to this game.  The Seahawks are playing at home. The analysts will have you believe that fact makes this game over before it starts. I’m not so sure, but let’s look at what each team has to do to win. The Seahawks will have to keep possession of the ball. The big news of Harvin being back is great, but I think they would do best to not force his implementation. I think the Seahawks just have to stick to what has gotten them here.  If Marshawn Lynch doesn’t get at least 30-35 touches, the Seahawks are not going to win.  As much as people are in love Russel Wilson, this team is built more on the defense and the fun attack.  I think Russel Wilson is awesome but he just really has to protect the ball and not try to do too much, the Saints defense lives on turnovers.  And that’s exactly what they’re going to need to win.  New Orleans’ defense isn’t great but they can be really dangerous when they get going down hill. If Drew Brees and the Sean Payton offense can get a two score lead early, look for the risk of turnovers to increase.  In order to win the Saints have to recreate the gameplan they used last week against the Eagles.  They’ll have to focus on the run for the first half of the game, and if they get a lead they should look to Drew Brees’ arm to seal it. It’s sort of a reversal of most gameplans, but I think it’s what will work best against an aggressive Seahawk’s defense.  I bet against the Saints last week, but this week I have a feeling they’ll do the “impossible”.  It almost seems too obvious that the Seahawks will just win out at home.  The Saints are 9 point underdogs which makes for great bulletin board material. Look for a surprise onside kick and a win by the Saints.

Saints win 35-30

 

 

San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are the surprise team of the playoffs.  No one picked them to be here, and no one picked them to get the bye. What’s tough for them is that they have the hardest matchup in this round.  The Niners look scary.  Kapaernick is playing great.  The defense is in rare form and playing second only to the Seattle defense. But the Panther’s defense is playing great as well.  This is pretty much a mirror match up.  Which makes picking a winner that much harder.  There’s one attribute that separates these two teams and might be the deciding factor. That’s the experience factor.  the Niners and more importantly their quarterback has been here before.  I think that will be the deciding factor when all is said and done.  The Panthers will put up a damn good fight; I picture this one coming down to the final possession.  Look for Kaepernick to run in the winning TD.

Niners win 24-22

Matt Cargile

About Matt Cargile

Matt Cargile is the Editor in Chief of rookerville.com. He also works in finance, but refuses to read any news printed on pink paper. He is a child at heart with adult means. His childhood dream was to either become a magician or the leader of the next great empire and somehow both these things make complete sense. He's contradictory in nature, but is always consistent.

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