Wildcard Weekend: All Road Teams Will Win

This weekend NFL fans get to sit back and watch four Wildcard Playoff games.

It is the beginning of the roller coaster ride that is the NFL's Super Bowl tournament.

In looking at the games, I have come to a surprising conclusion. The "Road Warriors," look like good bets in all four games.

With all due respect to the Tag Team Champs pictured, the NFL's road teams don't generally fare too well in the playoffs. This weekend will be different though as, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Philadelphia will all come away victorious.

The main reason for this is the playoff format. In this current system, you don't have to be a good team to make the playoffs. You just have to be better than the three other teams in your division. In the case of the AFC and NFC West, 8-8 is good enough.

Don't tell anyone in New England (11-5) that the Chargers (8-8) are HOSTING a playoff game, while the Pats are planning their vacations.

This system would be better off with the three division format of old, having just three division winners, and three Wildcards.

But I digress. This is supposed to be a Playoff Preview, not a forum for bashing the playoff format.

The Clash of the Avians

Kurt Warner and the 9-7 Cardinals, host the 11-5 Falcons this weekend. This photo is pretty much what we'll see from the Cards, as they'll be the first home team to fall.

The Falcons Will Score Plenty

Matt Ryan and Michael Turner should have their coming-out party on national TV this weekend when they roll into Arizona and upset the Cardinals. Despite a 4-4 road record, the Falcons should score plenty as the Cards give up almost 27 points per game. Only the Rams and Chiefs gave up more.

Peyton Armed for Shootout in SD

The 12-4 Colts march into San Diego this weekend and should come away as the second road team of the day to prevail.

The Chargers unimpressive 8-8 record makes one wonder about the system of giving them home field and a better seed here.

Though Rivers and Co. have been hot lately, they have not seen a team as hot as the Peyton Manning-led Colts, during their recent run. The Colts should win.

Will LT be enough against Red Hot Indy?

Tomlinson, Rivers, Gates and Sproles will give the Colts all they can handle. But can a defense that gives up 22 points per game, handle Manning and Co?

The Chargers are probably the best home team playing this weekend. But they face what is possibly the best team in the AFC right now, as the Colts have won nine straight.

Can the Ravens Defense Rise Again?

Way back in Week Three of the NFL season, Baltimore rolled in to Miami and beat up the Dolphins by a 27-13 margin. This weekend they should do it again, becoming the third road team of the Wildcard Weekend to win.

One reason for the loss was that Miami could not run the ball in this first game, getting just 46 yards rushing from their running backs.

Will CHAD Be Enough?

Chad Pennington threw for 295 yards and rushed for 25 yards in the first match-up between these two teams. But the Dolphins only managed 13 points, losing by two touchdowns to the rookie, Flacco and the Ravens in week three.

Will he have a big enough game to win this matchup of 11-5 teams? It looks like a bad matchup from here. Sorry, Miami.

Peterson and the Vikes Take on Philly

The Vikings (10-6) defeated the World Champion Giants this past Sunday, to win the division and streak into the playoffs. Behind elite running back Adrian Peterson, they look on track to take down the Eagles with the help of home-field advantage.

On the surface that looks to be accurate. But if you've seen Peterson fumble, Tavaris Jackson's lack of accuracy in passing the ball, and realize they barely beat the Giants, who played without Jacobs, Plax, and kept Manning out of harm's way for much of the game, you'd realize they aren't as good as they seem.

Can the Eagles Stay Hot?

The Eagles' unlikely road to the playoffs was aided by a Raiders win over Tampa and a Texans win over Chicago. But they put an exclamation point on their Wildcard Berth by demolishing the once-proud Cowboys, 44-6.

This is a team that has beaten the Giants, and also tied the Bengals. As unpredictable as they can be, McNabb and Co. look like they have things back on track, which does not bode well for the Vikings.

In the closest game of the weekend, the Eagles should win and make it a clean sweep for the road teams.

The REAL Goal

Winning a Wild Card game is a great accomplishment for a franchise. Especially if it has been awhile, as it has in Arizona, Miami, and Minnesota. But the REAL goal after all, is winning the trophy...the ring...the Super Bowl.

And in order to do THAT, there are the Panthers, Steelers, Titans, and Giants to deal with the week after. That's when things really heat up.