Pigskin Prognostications, Divisional Playoffs

The Colts broke my heart, but the Cardinals are still in it, so we're optimistic over here. Time to put on the ol' Jake Plummer Cardinal jersey.

Titans 21, Ravens 17 - Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth should be well rested, which should help keep the Tennessee D-line fresh throughout the game. However, Baltimore doesn't live off its offense (though it's better than it has been since its Super Bowl days), so Tennessee shutting 'em down shouldn't matter much. What will matter is how well Baltimore's D handles Tennessee's offense. Tennessee's offense is much more traditional than Miami's, so Baltimore should have an easy time planning against it; stopping it, however, is a different matter, as Titan RB Chris Johnson is the big home-run hitter that Miami didn't have. Like Adrian Peterson, he'll explode at least once for a touchdown (or for monster yardage). Unlike Minnesota, Tennessee's got an experienced quarterback who's been efficient throwing the ball, and--unlike Miami--Tennessee's got a quarterback that can launch it downfield and not underthrow his receivers (as much as I like Pennington, his underthrows killed the Fish today), and Collin's efficiency, experience, and rocket arm are why I like Tennessee in this one.

Panthers 27, Cardinals 24 - Carolina beat Arizona earlier this year, but it was close; I expect this one to be close, too. Carolina's DeShaun Williams' running style is somewhat similar to what Atlanta runs in that Williams thrives off the cut-back. If Arizona can manage to maintain the gaps against Williams--just like they did against Turner--while remembering to attack and pursue the other great Carolina RB (Jonathan Stewart, who's much more of cut-once bruiser), then they'll likely win. Of course, over the last half of the season, teams have been trying to stop the two-headed panther, and they haven't been very successful.

Giants 24, Eagles 17 - Eli Manning is much better than Tavaris Jackson. Much better.

Steelers 28, Chargers 14 - Let's see how San Diego fares against this defense.