2011 NFL Playoffs: 20 Bold Wild Card Weekend Predictions and Upset Alerts
We are just days away from the start of the 2011 NFL Playoffs. Things kick off Saturday afternoon with the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints going to Seattle to take on the NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks.
While that game might not have a lot of intrigue, there will be a number of interesting story lines to look out for in every game this weekend.
All told, there are four games this weekend. In addition to the Saints-Seahawks game, the Jets travel to Indianapolis, Kansas City hosts Baltimore and, in perhaps the most anticipated game of the weekend, the Green Bay Packers play the Philadelphia Eagles.
Each game has a bunch of stories that we should pay attention to as the game is going on. These could be things that we expect to happen. They could be things that surprise us and determine how the games will turnout.
Here are 20 bold predictions for each of the four playoff games this weekend.
Drew Brees’ Interceptions
1 of 20
For all the good that Drew Brees has done this year, he has been very interception prone, throwing the second-most interceptions in the NFL, trailing only Eli Manning’s 25.
If the Seahawks can force a couple of interceptions, they can swing momentum in their favor. They will have to win the turnover battle to win this game.
Which Saints Defense Will Show Up?
2 of 20
This has been the biggest question for the Saints for a long time. They seem to win a lot in spite of their defensive shortcomings.
If the defense has a really bad day on Saturday, the Seahawks' offense could capitalize on the opportunity and put up enough points to keep the game close.
Seattle Can’t Let The Game Get Ugly Early...But They Will
3 of 20
The Seahawks lost nine games this year. Their average margin of defeat was by a little more than 23 points.
The Seahawks don’t have a quick-strike offense, so they can’t get behind early. If they do, it will be a long day in the Pacific Northwest.
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The Home Field Advantage
4 of 20
The one thing that really works in Seattle’s favor in this game is their fans. Qwest Field provides one of the great home field advantages in all of football.
Those fans can get loud and make it very difficult for the opposing team to hear. If the crowd noise can overwhelm the Saints early, it can give the Seahawks a chance to stay in the game.
Matt Hasselbeck Will Start For Seattle…But Won’t Finish
5 of 20
Seattle’s quarterback situation has been a mess all year. Matt Hasselbeck has been hurt and missed time twice this season. Even when he has played he hasn’t been anything special, throwing 12 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions.
Charlie Whitehurst hasn’t been great, but he has been good enough at times.
Hasselbeck missed the final game against St Louis, but expect him to be the guy the Seahawks start on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if Whitehurst gets in the game because of injury or poor performance from Hasselbeck.
Mark Sanchez Will Have A Good Game Against The Colts Defense
6 of 20
Mark Sanchez has had a very inconsistent season for the Jets. He only completed 54.8 percent of his passes on the year.
That said, in his last two games against two of the better defenses in the NFL in Pittsburgh and Chicago, he completed over 65 percent of his passes.
Sanchez will have a very good game against a Colts pass defense that ranked 13th in the league.
The Jets Will Not Be Able To Run The Ball
7 of 20
Last year the Jets won with defense and a great running game.
This year the defense has disappointed and the running game hasn’t been the same. They did finish the year ranked fourth in rush yards per game, but something has been missing these last few weeks.
The Colts have traditionally struggled against the run, but they have found their groove in the last three weeks. They held Jacksonville, Oakland and Tennessee to a combined 198 yards on the ground.
The Jets will not be able to move the ball on the ground against the Colts.
Reggie Wayne Will Have A Big Game Against Darrelle Revis
8 of 20
For all the injuries that the Colts have suffered at the receiver/tight end position, Reggie Wayne is still there. He had one of the quietest 100 catch/1,000-yard receiving seasons that you will ever see.
Going up against Darrelle Revis is a daunting task, no doubt.
However, there is something about these Colts receivers on that turf in Lucas Oil Stadium. Reggie Wayne will have at least 100 yards and a touchdown catch against Revis.
Peyton Manning Will Struggle Against The Jets
9 of 20
Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne will have a nice pitch-and-catch against the Jets. The problem is that the other receivers will struggle and as a result so will Manning.
Plus, in the playoffs, Manning’s TD-INT ratio is a very pedestrian 28-19. He will try and force some throws and that will result in a couple of interceptions.
The Colts Will Win The Game
10 of 20
This game will be close, but the Colts will win in the end.
They will force a turnover late and drive to get a score that will put them ahead. They will struggle against a very game Jets team, but they will eke out the victory in the end.
After the loss, Rex Ryan will still predict that the Jets will go to the Super Bowl this year.
Make it Indianapolis 20, New York 13.
Baltimore Will Struggle On Offense
11 of 20
The Ravens rank 20th in the league in passing and 14th in rushing. They are playing a Kansas City team that was average at best in both those categories on defense.
Baltimore will try to establish the run to set up the pass, but they won’t be able to break through the Chiefs' front seven.
With their running game non-existent, Joe Flacco will feel even more pressure and try to do too much, leading to some bad throws and a few turnovers.
The Ravens Defense Will Dominate Matt Cassel
12 of 20
Baltimore was pretty pedestrian in pass defense this year. In 2010, the Ravens ranked 21st in the NFL against the pass, giving up nearly 225 yards per game through the air.
However, they are going up against a Chiefs team that ranked 30th in the NFL in passing. Matt Cassel had a very good year as Dwayne Bowe emerged as a top receiver.
The Ravens can game plan to stop Bowe, which will leave Cassel scrambling to find another option. He will struggle as a result.
The Chiefs Won’t Be Able To Run The Ball Against The Ravens
13 of 20
Kansas City has won this year because of their running game and the ability to control the clock as a result. They led the NFL in rush yards per game with 164.2, led by Jamaal Charles' 1,467 yards and 6.4 average per carry.
The Ravens have a huge defensive line, anchored by Haloti Ngata. That line will control the line of scrimmage, keeping Charles and Thomas Jones from breaking free.
The Winner Of The Turnover Battle Will Win The Game
14 of 20
As is often the case in any game, the key will be which team creates more turnovers.
Baltimore will pressure Matt Cassel and try to rattle his cage early. This will force him into making some bad throws.
Joe Flacco needs to do what he has been doing all year and not worry about the lack of running game. If he does worry, the Chiefs can get him to make a bad throw or two because he’s trying to do too much.
Baltimore Will Win A Low Scoring Game
15 of 20
This game will look like one of those old Ravens games from the early 2000s. Both teams will hit each other in the mouth and keep coming at one another.
The difference will be the quarterback position. Joe Flacco is going to make a couple more plays than Matt Cassel. As a result, the Ravens will win a very hard fought, low-scoring game. Probably a 17-14 final score.
Green Bay Will Get Pressure On Michael Vick
16 of 20
Philadelphia’s offensive line is pretty bad.
Green Bay loves to blitz.
That’s a bad combination for Michael Vick.
Vick is fast enough to avoid the rush, but Green Bay will be able to get pressure on Vick throughout the game. Look for the Packers to blitz on at least half of their defensive snaps to keep the Eagles' receivers from having enough time to get downfield.
Aaron Rodgers Will Pick Apart The Eagles Secondary
17 of 20
Aaron Rodgers has been great this year. He has a quarterback rating over 100 on the season and threw for 3,922 yards.
The Packers' receiving corps is just as good as the Eagles, even though they don’t get the recognition that group does.
The Eagles defense ranked 15th against the pass in 2010.
Rodgers will have a big day against that Eagles defense to the tune of 320 yards passing and 3 touchdowns.
Michael Vick Will Account For At Least 300 Yards Of Offense
18 of 20
The first time that these two teams met in Week 1, Michael Vick wasn't the starting quarterback for the Eagles. Vick came in near the end of the first half after Kevin Kolb got knocked out with a concussion.
In just a little over two quarters in that game, Vick accounted for nearly 300 yards of total offense.
He will have a big day running the ball against this attacking, blitz-happy Packers defense. Look for a big day from Vick against the Packers.
DeSean Jackson Will Have At Least One Play Of 50-Plus Yards
19 of 20
For all of his antics on the field, DeSean Jackson is probably the best big-play receiver in all of football. He averaged 22.5 yards per catch this season.
Jackson is a dangerous threat to take the ball to the end zone every time he touches the ball.
It might be one reception or it might be on a punt return, but either way Jackson will make at least one big play in this game.
Green Bay Will Bring Their Momentum To Philly And Win
20 of 20
In what is the most difficult game of the weekend to predict because the teams are so evenly matched, the Packers will go into Philadelphia and win.
They are playing really well in all phases of the game right now.
The offense is clicking, even without a consistent running game. The defense has gotten better as the year has gone on.
The Eagles do have a little advantage in the kicking game, but this game will be won with offense, not kicking.
It won’t be as high scoring as the Packers-Cardinals game last year, but it could turn into a shootout.
Green Bay wins 34-28.
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