Wildcard Playoff Results
Upsets rocked the AFC as the wildcards both came out of their respective road games with victories. In the NFC the results were exactly the opposite; only the division winners remain in contention.
New York Jets 24, Cincinnati Bengals 14 (predicted: New York Jets 16, Cincinnati Bengals 24)
In some ways I’m not really surprised the Jets won, mainly because they were playing the perenially underachieving Bengals. Nobody can quite figure out what Carson Palmer was thinking on his attempt to Chad Ochocinco that was intercepted by Darrele Revis, but with all of 85’s talk leading up to the game it wouldn’t surprise me if he was trying to force the ball on “someone’s” urging. Both Palmer and Ochocinco are going to retire without a playoff victory. Why is Marvin Lewis still the head coach in Cincinnati? Based on this year’s performance they should get him out and promote Mike Zimmer. Or at least find someone that has some idea of what to do on offense.
Philadelphia Eagles 14, Dallas Cowboys 34 (predicted: Philadelphia Eagles 42, Dallas Cowboys 38)
Dallas put on a pretty convincing show against Philadelphia for the second straight week. Wade Phillips probably saved his job and Tony Romo can finally begin to shake the stigma of “The Hold.” The Cowboys now travel to New Orleans for a rematch with the Saints, and look like they’re the NFC’s hottest team.
Baltimore Ravens 33, New England Patriots 14 (predicted: Baltimore Ravens 17, New England Patriots 23)
Literally from the first play of the game the Ravens dominated the Patriots in almost every way imaginable. Ray Rice opened the contest with an 83-yard touchdown run. On the Patriots’ first possession Terrell Suggs stripped the ball from Tom Brady, a turnover on which Baltimore scored another touchdown. Baltimore was so dominant that Joe Flacco attempted 10 passes, completed four, and the Ravens still won by three scores. Anyone who had doubts about New England during the season had no idea it would be this bad, as playoff success has been the hallmark of the Brady/Belichick era. The Patriots enter the offseason with pressing questions throughout the entire organization.
Green Bay Packers 45, Arizona Cardinals 51 (predicted: Green Bay Packers 35, Arizona Cardinals 31)
Give credit to Aaron Rodgers for coming back from a 14-0 deficit and forcing the game to overtime. Unfortunately it was also Rodgers’ turnovers at either end of the game that resulted in the Packers’ loss. Final-play facemask or not, getting stripped in overtime is almost as inexcusable as the defense allowing a season-high 51 points. Rodgers, meanwhile, seems to be the new (pre-playoff victory) Tony Romo.
Not a good start for me. 0-4 in playoff predictions so far.
Leave a Reply