NFL Playoffs: Sunday's Wild Card Match-Ups

Written by Red Coffman on January, 4th 2008 | 0 Comments

NFL Wild Card Weekend

New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
1:00pm EST: 1-6-2008

Line: Giants (+2.5) @ Giants (-2.5) Over/Under (39.5)

Key to the Game: Brandon Jacobs is the most important player in Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay. The Giants’ success will ride with the enormous running back for New York. Jacobs will have to pick apart a Buccaneers defensive unit that isn’t necessarily the biggest or the strongest, but quite possibly the most tactical yard-stuffing group in the league. Despite the average opinions that would tell you otherwise, only defense in the league gave up fewer yards per game than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, they were only 17th against the run, and that’s where the Giants will have to try and beat this team. Everyone knows that New York doesn’t stand a chance if they rely on Eli Manning to consistently pass the ball to convert on 3rd downs. Brandon Jacobs and the rest of the Giants rushing attack needs to keep possession and get to 3rd and short, because if they don’t, they’ll come up short on Sunday.

If-Then Possibilities: If the Giants can pull off the upset in Tampa Bay, then it will be the first time New York has won a playoff game since the NFC Championship game in 2001. In fact, the Giants have lost each of their last 4 playoff games, including three straight 1st round losses (’03, ‘06, and ‘07). If the Giants win, and the Seahawks win against Washington, the Giants will play the Cowboys in Dallas next week, which will be the 3rd time those two have faced off this season. If the Bucs win, it will mark their 1st playoff win since they won the Super Bowl in Jon Gruden’s first season as head coach, 2003. If the Bucs win, it will be the 2nd consecutive time that Jeff Garcia has lead his new team to a playoff win in his first season. 

History: The Giants have taken two of the last 3 in this match-up, including a 17-3 home win over Tampa in October of 2006. The Giants are 2-0-1 ATS in the last 3 meetings with the Bucs. These two teams have never met in the playoffs. Plaxico Burress had 7 catches for 86 yards and a touchdown the last time these two faced off. In back-up duty, Brandon Jacobs carried 7 times for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Tennessee Titans @ San Diego Chargers:
4:30pm EST: 1-6-2008

Line: Titans (+9) @ Chargers (-9) Over/Under (40)

Key to the Game: Many will tell you that the key to this game is LaDainian Tomlinson versus the Titans defensive front, but I think that’s a side story. The true key to this one rides with Phillip Rivers‘ ability to capitalize on Tennessee’s extended focus on LT and the Chargers’ rushing attack. LT will get his carries, you know that - but his numbers won’t make or break this game. If Phillip Rivers can’t beat single coverage on the outside, or abscond from the mistakes that killed San Diego earlier in the year, then the Chargers will struggle to beat the physical Titans.

If-Then Possibilities: If the Chargers win, they will face the Colts in Indianapolis next weekend. If the Titans win, they will get to be the lucky next opponents of the New England Patriots. If the Chargers win, it will mark 1st playoff win for the franchise since their AFC Championship win over the Steelers in 1995. If the Titans win, it will be their 6th playoff win in their last 10 chances - it will also mark Vince Young’s first career playoff game, win or lose.

History: The Chargers and Titans went to overtime when these two teams faced off in early December in Tennessee. LaDainian Tomlinson scored a sudden-death touchdown, handing the Titans their 4th loss in five games. Since then, the Titans have yet to lose a game. San Diego has won each of the last 6 meetings since 1993. They have beaten the Titans by at least 6 points in each of the last 5 games, downing the Titans by 20+ in 2004 and 2006. San Diego has covered in each of the last five meetings.

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