Week 2 of the NFL playoffs

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Week 2 of the NFL playoffs

By Damon Ford – January 15, 2010

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Four teams ended their seasons with a loss during the NFL Wild Card weekend, and now with the Divisional playoffs upon us we welcome four new teams to the mix. Will the bye week they enjoyed make a difference in the final scores on Saturday and Sunday? Maybe, maybe not; but here’s how I see things shaking out over the weekend.

Saturday, January 16
Arizona Cardinals (11-6) at New Orleans Saints (13-3) – 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX
The Cardinals scored 51 points last weekend with quarterback Kurt Warner accounting for five touchdowns. Saints quarterback Drew Brees hasn’t played a down in two weeks, and he wasn’t playing all that well toward the end of the season. Unfortunately for New Orleans, Arizona will continue its high-scoring ways.
Arizona 34 – New Orleans 24

Saturday, January 16
Baltimore Ravens (10-7) at Indianapolis Colts (14-2) – 8:15 p.m. ET, CBS
The Colts players are itching to get back on the playing field, but they’ll be facing a Ravens team that had tremendous success on both sides of the ball in its upset of the New England Patriots. And guess what? The two Ray’s – Lewis and Rice – are ready to lead Baltimore to another one in Indy.
Baltimore 24 – Indianapolis 21

Sunday, January 17
Dallas Cowboys (12-5) at Minnesota Vikings (12-4) – 1 p.m. ET FOX
After winning their first playoff game in over a decade, can the Cowboys make it two in a row? Brett Favre and his crew will have a lot to say about it, but that brings us to the next big question. Will the Vikings be able to handle the Dallas defense? I don’t think so.
Dallas 31 – Minnesota 21

Sunday, January 17
New York Jets (10-7) at San Diego Chargers (13-3) – 4:40 p.m. CBS
The Chargers were probably one of the hottest teams in the league down the stretch. The Jets, who have won three straight, haven’t been bad either. This game may come down to quarterback play….New York’s Mark Sanchez has been playing like a veteran, BUT he’s still a rookie….advantage San Diego.
San Diego 27 – New York 17

Damon Ford is a former journalist who is now a public relations professional working in the public and private sectors in Charlotte. He is 1-3 in predicting NFL playoff games.