Sunday's NFL Divisional Playoffs

Written by Red Coffman on January, 11th 2008 | 0 Comments

AFC - NFC Sunday Playoffs

San Diego Chargers @ Indianapolis Colts:
1:00pm EST: 1-13-2008

Line: Chargers (+8.5) @ Colts (-8.5) Over/Under (47)

Key to the Game: The Chargers ability to put pressure on Peyton Manning using what will turn out to be 5 players on most downs. That’s it, that’s the key. If the Chargers can continually cause pressure on Manning without bringing the house, they will hurry his decision making, disallow longer routes, and throw off timing - all without allowing gaping holes in the secondary. That last part is key. Many teams can put pressure on Peyton, but only if they blitz multiple guys for multiple positions. And everyone knows, with big holes, this already potent receiving corps can put up big numbers and make life miserable for opposing defenses.

If-Then Possibilities: If the Chargers win, it will be the 3rd time they’ve taken it to the Colts in the last 4 meetings between these two franchises. If the Colts win, they will see the lights of the AFC Championship game for the 2nd time in the last 4 seasons. If the Colts win, it will also set up a possible showdown between what many think are the two best teams in the NFL, that is of course, if the Patriots can take care of business against the Jaguars. If the Colts win, it will be their 3rd straight home playoff win. If the Colts lose, it will be the 3rd time in 4 seasons in which they were ousted in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

History: The Chargers have won each of the last two meetings with the Colts. They’ve covered three straight contests with the Colts. The last time Indy beat San Diego was at home, in overtime, and they won by 3. There have been 5 meetings since the 1998 season, each have been decided by less than 10 points. All but one have been decided by one score. Three have finished within 5 points. This is one heck of a match-up, and this always seems to be a close game.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys:
4:30pm EST: 1-13-2008

Line: Giants (+7.5) @ Cowboys (-7.5) Over/Under (46.5)

Key to the Game: The New York Football Giants need to be able to slow down the Cowboys’ offense. That’s the key. With the “big play, high risk” attitude the Cowboys defense takes into every game, you can almost assure yourself that the Giants will score some points. And if it’s been anything like the last few weeks, the Giants will be precise and efficient of offense. So all they have to do is slow the Cowboys attack. I know, easier said than done, but New York has played well defensively of late, and they have the pass rushers to cause more than a few problems in Tony Romo’s backfield. Will the 3rd time be a charm for the Giants?

If-Then Possibilities: If the Giants can pull the upset in Big D, it will be the first time New York has beaten Dallas in three attempts this season. The last time a team beat an opponent three times in one season was back in 2004 when St. Louis pulled that trick on the Seahawks. If the Cowboys win, they will surely be hosting a home game against either the Packers (which would be a rematch from earlier in the season) or the Seahawks (which would be a rematch of the “Tony snap-fumble fiasco” wildcard game in last season’s playoffs). If Dallas wins then we probably won’t have to hear anything about how Jessica Simpson jinxed the Cowboys, and of course, how she’s obviously the anti-Christ. If the Giants win then TO could very well implode into a mass of absurd statements and claims that make his teammates feel uncomfortable with him to the point of a possible divorce. If both teams lose, I would be thrilled - plus, that would make history, would it not?

History: There is lots of history between these divisional rivals. Dallas won both games against New York this season, running their winning streak against the Giants to three straight games. Dallas is 2-0-1 in those three. Prior to the Cowboys’ three losses, New York had won four of five. New York is 4-2-2 against the spread in over the last 8 games against Dallas. This game has finished over the total in 3 of the last 4 and the over is 3-0-1 in those games. The away team has won 3 of the last 4 games overall, and 5 of the last 10.

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