The NFL Season kicks off this week. In last week’s column, I revealed who I believe will be in the playoffs. Now I will run through the postseason game-by-game.
Let’s begin with the first round matchups in the AFC which I believe will be between the Indianapolis Colts at the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Houston Texans. While the Colts have a good offense, I don’t think they will score enough points on the stout Ravens defense. Ravens win 20-17.
On to the Pittsburgh/Houston matchup. Texans finally get past the Colts in the division and get a home playoff game, unfortunately for them, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the visiting team. Texans have home field, but the Steelers are a better team, Steelers win 24-13.
Next up is the first round matchups in the NFC putting the Dallas Cowboys at the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints at the Arizona Cardinals.
I am particularly interested in the Cowboys/Eagles matchup. Two good teams that absolutely despise each other, should be lots of fun. The Eagles’ “Dream Team” will pull it out, 42-31.
Last year the Saints were shocked when they traveled to Seattle and lost in the opening round of the playoffs. I feel that the Saints will be more prepared this year when they travel to Arizona. Saints win easy, 35-17.
Now onto the second round in the AFC, the matchups will be the Pittsburgh Steelers at the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens at the San Diego Chargers.
As much as I want the Steelers to go into New England and knock out the Patriots, I just don’t see the Pats losing after a first round bye for two straight years. The Patriots squeak by the Steelers 27-23 to move onto the AFC Championship.
The Ravens will go from playing Peyton Manning in round one to playing Philip Rivers in round two. This will be a tough task, even for the great Ravens defense. I see big things out of the Chargers this year, they will handle the Ravens in an ugly game. Chargers win 14-13 to move on to the AFC Championship, where the Patriots will be waiting.
Round two of the NFC playoffs will be extra exciting where the matchups will be the New Orleans Saints at the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles at the Atlanta Falcons.
The defending champions will play host to a good Saints team. Should be a fun game, but I think the Saints will be pulling off some magic again this year. I see the Saints upsetting the defending champion Packers at Lambeau Field. The Saints win 24-20 and move into the NFC Championship.
Last year the Falcons were routed at home after their first round bye, this year they will be playing host to the Eagles. The “Dream Team” will be left dreaming that they would make it to the NFC Championship. Falcons are more prepared this year, blast the Eagles 38-24, setting up an NFC South NFC Championship game.
Championship Sunday will, like always, be exciting. This year’s matchups will be the San Diego Chargers at the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship and the New Orleans Saints at the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship.
Lets start with the AFC Championship. It wasn’t that long ago when the Patriots knocked the Chargers out of the playoffs, what seemed like, every year. This will be a fun game, an exciting game, and most certainly a nerve racking game.
Who’s the winner? Well, let me first say this, I couldn’t imagine being a Chargers fan and losing to the Patriots again. I believe that the Chargers will pull this one out. San Diego wins the AFC Championship 23-21, finally getting over the hump and moving into the Super Bowl.
Who will they face in the Super Bowl? Well that will be decided by either the Atlanta Falcons or the New Orleans Saints. Two very good teams that know each other very well. It is hard to pick a winner in this game, mainly because I only see the Falcons having 1-2 more wins than the Saints during the regular season anyway.
As I write this piece right now, I am trying to decide who will pull through in this game. I really like the Falcons this year, I truly believe that they will be one of the best teams in the entire league. But I still think that secondary will be too weak against the Saints. Not sure how good I feel about this pick, but I am going to go with the Saints winning 34-28.
This brings us to our Super Bowl matchup, that is the New Orleans Saints versus the San Diego Chargers.
I believe there are many who think the Saints will make it to the Super Bowl, but I may be going out on a limb here with the Chargers.
I think this will be a very explosive and back and forth Super Bowl, it will most likely come down to the end. But when it’s all over I see the San Diego Chargers coming out on top, winning 41-37. I think we are in the year of the Chargers. I like their team and I think they are poised for a memorable season. Let’s just hope they don’t have a slow start at the beginning of the season.
Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Barrow High School graduate and mass communications major at the University of West Georgia. You can e-mail comments about this column to trollason@yahoo.com.
