Fifth Down, Wild-Card Weekend

Batted .500 this weekend. Good if you're a baseball player, but for football....

Falcons 30, Cardinals 20 - You know, if Arizona had any semblance of a running game, they could win this one, 'cause Atlanta can't stop the run well. Loss. Well, Arizona did find a running game, and their defense did an excellent job staying in their gaps and stopping Atlanta's cut-back runs. This Cardinal club that most said was the worst playoff team ever--looks like they could--could--make it all the way. Actual score: Cardinals 30, Falcons 24

Colts 34, Chargers 17 - I believe San Diego is going to find that Indianapolis's pass rushers are much better than any they've face these past four weeks. Loss. Peyton, oh Peyton, when you're back's against your own end zone, and you've got no backfield protection, and the opposition is blitzing, why--oh why--do you PUMP FAKE?!?! Mercy. Actual score: Chargers 23, Colts 17

Ravens 17, Dolphins 14 - Baltimore's going to be favored pretty highly, and I'm picking them, too, but I'm picking them because Flacco's the real deal, and his receivers have improved much throughout the year, not because of their vaunted defense (which, it should be said, should be vaunted). Miami's faced--and defeated--tough defenses this season. They keep things close: they run the ball well, and they play ball control, and they don't allow teams to notch big plays. Baltimore does, too, though, and their running game--and their D--has been better than Miami's throughout the season. Win. Miami did play ball control--they won time of possession pretty handily--well, but that was about it--offensively. Actual score: Ravens 27, Dolphins 9

Eagles 20, Vikings 10 - I think Tavaris Jackson will have a much tougher go of it than McNabb will. Much tougher. However...the Eagles don't have the toughest run defense in the league, and Minnesota sports the league's best runner, so, I think the Vikings will keep it close for awhile. Win. Minnesota kept it close for a long while, and their defense played an outstanding game, but Tavaris Jackson let 'em all down. All except the Eagles. Actual score: Eagles 26, Vikings 14.