The NFL regular season is over, and now the real football games begin. Here’s my take on this weekend’s matchups.

Saturday, January 9
New York Jets (9-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
The Jets blasted the Bengals last week 37-0, but you can throw that game away. N.Y. was playing to get in the postseason, while Cincy just wanted to get through the game without injuries….mission accomplished. The Bengals will be at full speed, and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco will come back with a vengeance after not catching a pass in a game for the first time since 2003.
Cincinnati 24 – New York 21

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) at Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
The Eagles put up a goose egg in Dallas last week, but there’s something about the playoffs that bring out the best in Philly. On the other hand, the Cowboys seem to wilt when it counts, and I’m not exaggerating. They haven’t won a playoff game in 13 years….better make that 14 after Saturday’s matchup.
Philadelphia 20 – Dallas 10

Sunday, January 10
Baltimore Ravens (9-7) at New England Patriots (10-6)
This game is pretty simple to me. New England is without its top receiver, Wes Welker, because of a knee injury, and quarterback Tom Brady is gimpy, suffering from an assortment of injuries. The Patriots will need their other big receiver, Randy Moss, to step up…but it won’t happen. Ray Lewis and the rest of the Ravens defense will jump all over New England.
Baltimore 17 – New England 10

Green Bay Packers (11-5) at Arizona Cardinals (10-6)
This rematch of regular season finale will be a sign of the changing of the guard. Quarterback Aaron Rogers is playing better than anyone expected in just his second year starting, throwing for more than 4,000 yards again. Old man Kurt Warner hasn’t been too shabby himself. He did lead the Cardinals to the Super Bowl last season, and he’s poised to lead them to another one this year, but Arizona will run out of gas in the desert on Sunday.
Green Bay 30 – Arizona 24

Damon Ford is a former journalist who is now a public relations professional working in the public and private sectors in Charlotte. He was 9-7 in predicting Panthers games.

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