'08-'09 NFL Playoff Predictions

This is where Minnesota will regret having Jackson. While he is still developing, he just doesn’t make enough plays to win playoff games when the defenses get better and the yards get tougher to come by.

The Eagles have more than enough secondary help to put eight in the box and concentrate against Peterson and Taylor. While Westbrook will find rushing yards hard to come by, he still could score a couple big plays in the passing games. Eagles in a low-scoring affair.

Score: Philadelphia Eagles 20–Minnesota Vikings 10

AFC Championship

New England Patriots (13-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (13-3)

Jacksonville is the team I am picking to come out of the AFC. People still think of Jacksonville as this low-scoring team that can’t put up enough points against the big offenses in the AFC.

Jacksonville scored 411 points, which ranked sixth in the NFL. That was despite David Garrard missing four games with an injury. They finished the season winning six of their last eight games and scored 32 points per game.

Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor are arguably the best running duo in the NFL not in Minnesota, and Garrard really came on in the second half of the season.

The Patriots averaged 32.3 in their last eight games, which compares favorably to the Jaguars. While people remember the 2007 Patriots as this 40.0-point per game juggernaut, the Patriots offense did not play at that level on a consistent basis after the first eight games.

The Jaguars had enough offensive talent to compete with the Patriots in the playoffs last year. The biggest difference was that the Jaguars didn’t have enough receiver speed to exploit the Patriots' secondary, and they didn’t have enough pass rushers to get to Brady.

They tried to address that by adding Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson. Porter is expected to miss training camp, but should be ready for the opener. Harvey and Graves will give the Jaguars players that can get to the quarterback.

The Jaguars have been knocking at the door the last few seasons. Last season was big in that they won a playoff game and should be more comfortable and experienced come playoff time.

Outside the Patriots, the Jaguars played as well as anyone the second half of the season last year. I believe that carries over to this season. This is the year the Jags represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Score: Jacksonville Jaguars 34–New England Patriots 27

NFC Championship

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) at Dallas Cowboys (12-4)

I really didn’t know what direction to go in the NFC. It seems like the NFC is up for grabs every year. No one would have predicted the NY Giants to win the Super Bowl in the preseason, and the ones that did should have abandoned the bandwagon after Week Two.

Yet they not only made the playoffs, but also won three road playoff games and a neutral Super Bowl to capture the Lombardi Trophy.

There are a number of ways you could go with this.

You could pick the Vikings to win it behind a 2,000-yard season by Peterson. You could pick the Saints to rebound with a more consistent offensive approach and a better defense that features Vilma, Ellis, Gay, and McCray.

You could go with the NY Giants to defend their crown. Some expect Seattle to make a final push with Holmgren, although I didn’t have them even making the playoffs.

Here is why I went with these two teams.

Brian Westbrook is 29-years old. Running backs tend to go downhill at 30-years old. This is getting to be his final run as a featured offensive weapon. McNabb is 31 going on 32, and given his health issues, he probably won’t be a 38-year old superstar.

His last years are approaching. Jackson may have been the pick that gives them a breakthrough special-teams player. The defense was very solid in 2007, and Samuel will make them that much tougher.

Reid has a lot to prove after the drama he went through in 2007. The Eagles should be a hungry team in 2008.

This team has a wealth of playoff experience. When that many quality people have something at stake, and not many more years to get over the hump, they usually come through. I thought the Eagles would miss the playoffs, with McNabb needing a year to recover from ACL surgery. I expect them to make another run through the NFC in 2008.

On to the Cowboys.

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