NFL Playoff Picks: Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants in Wild Card Showdown

Easily the toughest game throughout the wild card round to pick in this weekend's NFL playoffs is the Atlanta Falcons-New York Giants game. Eli Manning and Matt Ryan will square off for the chance to most likely face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field next week in the divisional round.

Neither team has been a world beater in 2011 and both teams have endured hot and cold streaks throughout the regular season.

The Atlanta Falcons were preseason favorites to win the NFC and make a run at the Super Bowl. The New York Giants were expected to finish third—maybe second—in their division due to all of their injuries.

Atlanta rode the waves that came at them in 2011 and finished the season with a respectable 10-6 record. New York squeezed their way into the playoffs after winning their last two games after losing the previous five of six.

Nobody is talking about the Atlanta Falcons, but fear not, because we'll preview this weekend's best matchup.

Michael Turner vs Brandon Jacobs/Ahmad Bradshaw

Compare and Contrast:

Michael Turner has recorded yet another 1,000-yard rushing campaign during the 2011 regular season. Turner has rushed for 1,340 yards on 301 carries.

He's averaging 4.45 yards per carry entering the playoffs for the Atlanta Falcons and has seen the end zone 11 times this season while carrying the ball.Turner also had six games with 100 rushing yards or more during the regular season for the Falcons.

Atlanta likes to rely on Turner establish the run and set up the play action for their offense.

Compare Turner's production to Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

Jacobs and Bradshaw have both seen their fair share of carries during the regular season. Bradshaw has 171 carries for 659 rushing yards. Jacobs on the other hand has 152 carries for 571 rushing yards.

Their total production combined has recorded less total yardage (1,230) than Turner. Jacobs and Bradshaw have also been less efficient with their carriers averaging 3.8 and 3.9 yards per carry.

Both teams like to use their running backs to establish the run game early and dictate the pace of the game. Being able to run the ball effectively in the playoffs separates the haves from the have-nots.

Edge: Atlanta Falcons 

I like Turner's ability to get the tough yards, break off a big run and his ability to produce in the screen game.

Roddy White vs Victor Cruz

Compare and Contrast:

The Atlanta Falcon's go-to wide receiver Roddy White has had a routine year by his standards. White hasn't received a ton of publicity during the 2011 season but he had another 100-catch,1,000-yard plus season.

White hauled in 100 receptions, which was second in the league overall only behind Wes Welker (122). The veteran wide receiver also recorded 1,296 receiving yards during the 16-game regular season.

Although fans in Atlanta expect this type of production from the Pro Bowl wide receiver, it's still a remarkable testament to just how good Roddy White really is.

On the other side of the field you have Victor Cruz.

The New York Giants' sleeper at wide receiver has come alive in 2011 in Broadway-like fashion. Victor Cruz made the cut after training camp and seized the most of his opportunity this season.

Cruz has arguably supplanted Hakeem Nicks as the go-to receiver for the Giants thanks to his 82-catch, 1,536-yard explosion on to the New York stage. Cruz sits third behind Calvin Johnson and Wes Welker in total receiving yards for the 2011 regular season.

Pretty impressive for a guy who only started seven games this season and probably should be making a trip to Hawaii in February.

Edge: New York Giants

The New York Giants' big play wide receiver has been the spark plug this team needed to eek their way into the playoffs. Although Roddy White is a Pro Bowler and a reliable wide receiver, Cruz gets the nod for his timely big plays and his ability to shock the Giants to life during games.

His salsa skills did not factor into this decision, however smooth they might be.

Atlanta Falcons O-Line vs New York Giants D-Line

Compare and Contrast:

The Atlanta Falcons offensive line have gone under some scrutiny by their playoff opponents this week. They have been called out for their "cheap" tactics and will have to fend of the angry New York Giants defensive line.

Atlanta's O-line has already been involved in controversial scuffle this season after facing Ndamukong Suh and the Detroit Lions.

The Falcons do boast a Pro Bowl tackle in Tyson Clabo that will be forced to deal with Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck all afternoon on Sunday afternoon.

Alternatively the New York Giants' defensive linemen seem to be working themselves up into a frenzy after watching film this week. Justin Tuck spoke about the Falcons' offensive line and their "reputation."

Tuck stated this week,

"

"Yeah we’ve seen it. We know they have that quote-unquote ‘reputation’...They just want to get you fired up and get you to retaliate and draw a cheap penalty...But it’s tough to ignore it, but you have a chance to get them back and have to take advantage of it"

"

With Pierre-Paul's continual emergence as a superstar and the added motivation, the Giants' D-line will be coming after Matt Ryan relentlessly on Sunday,

Edge: New York Giants

Prior to the quotes coming out of the Giants' practice facility this week I still probably would have picked their D-line over Atlanta's offensive line. Now with all the anger and "dirtbag" comments flying around, I'm definitely siding with them in this matchup.

Playing in New York

Compare and Contrast:

The Atlanta Falcons have an average road record. They ended the season 4-4 on the road away from their cozy confines in the Georgia Dome.

Of which, they lost two of the three games versus playoff opponents on the road. The lost to the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints, but they had a quality win versus the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

The New York Giants home record is not any better than Atlanta's road record. New York was 4-4 this season when the New Meadowlands was clad with blue.

In total, the Giants had five victories during the regular season in north New Jersey. Their fifth, of course, came in their Week 16 triumph over intercity rivals the New York Jets.

Edge: Atlanta

The New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons have played a total of 20 times throughout their history. Both teams have notched 10 wins apiece.

The difference is that Atlanta has won seven of nine on the road during their all-time series with the Giants.

Matt Ryan vs Eli Manning

Compare and Contrast:

Matt Ryan (aka "Matty Ice") has quietly led the Atlanta Falcons to the No. 5 seed in the NFC. Despite having a better record than his wild card opponent, Ryan will likely have to lead his team to victory on the road throughout the entire postseason in order to book a trip to Indianapolis.

Ryan's numbers were nothing to balk at after throwing for 4,177 passing yard with a 61.3 completion percentage. He has thrown for more yards on the road than at home, however, he has also thrown less touchdowns and more interceptions as well.

In his only career game against the New York Giants, Matt Ryan threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns in a loss on the road in 2009. He has not enjoyed a ton of success against NFC East opponents in general having only won two of six games, but will try to change that on Sunday.

Eli Manning has not so quietly led the New York Giants through their roller coaster season to an NFC East title and the No. 4 seed in the NFC. Manning has enjoyed one of the better—if not the best—years of his career in 2011.

Manning ended the season just 67 yards shy of joining the 5,000-yard club. With 4,933 yards passing, 29 touchdowns and a 61 percent completion rate, Eli Manning vindicated his preseason comments about being a self-prescribed elite quarterback.

He was the driving force behind this team all season and that will not change in the postseason. From the start of the season the New York Giants and their injury-depleted roster would only go as far as Manning could take them. He's done a more than adequate job thus far.

Edge: New York Giants

As much as I like Matt Ryan, you have to give the nod to Eli Manning. He's having possibly the best season of his career and has the playoff experience. Not to mention he's also won a Super Bowl.

Winner

As much as I like the New York Giants and Eli Manning, I think the hype surrounding their last two wins have overlooked their flaws.

The beat a dysfunctional New York Jets team and a Dallas Cowboys team that hasn't figured out how to win in December and January since the mid-1990s.

The Atlanta Falcons have gone under the radar all season and have been getting minimal attention even just two days before their wild card showdown with the Giants. They were preseason Super Bowl favorites for a reason and nothing on their team has changed since the preseason to suggest they couldn't make a run.

Their huge gamble on Julio Jones seems to be paying dividends and this team has the personnel across the board to shake things up in the NFC.

Certain teams just have a particular team's number. Atlanta's road record versus the Giants seems to be the deal breaker for me. Winning seven of nine games at New York is a stat you should not just cast aside.

Atlanta wins a close, entertaining matchup Sunday afternoon at one o'clock.