Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints + Divisional Playoffs Preview

After a first round bye, the New Orleans Saints (10-6) will host the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) after a first round playoff victory over the Giants. From the Superdome, FOX will broadcast the game at 8 P.M., with Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnson and Tony Siragusa making the call.

Jeff Garcia vs. Saints’ defense- Garcia had a decent game against the Giants, but he’ll need to play a lot better against the Saints. Last week, the entire offense came out very flat, and Garcia was a huge part of it. He couldn’t make accurate passes and the offense took a while to get going. That can’t happen again. Garcia needs to come out firing early and get on track much quicker. In the regular season, Garcia only had two games with a QB rating lower than last week’s playoff game (one of which was his three passing attempts against Atlanta,) so he figures to play better than he did last week. Although the Saints defense is one of the best in the league when it comes to passing yards, they’re among the league’s worst in giving up passing touchdowns, so Brown and Stallworth shouldn’t have a problem finding the endzone. New Orleans has a pretty good pass rush, so the Offensive Line is going to have a better week than they did last week. They’re led by Will Smith, a great Defensive End who can play the run as well as he gets to the QB. With solid contributions from the rest of the line and Linebackers, Garcia could see some heat. Eagles *

Brian Westbrook vs. Saints’ front seven- Despite stomach cramps that could’ve hindered his performance, Westbrook ran for a career high 141 yards against the Giants and almost single-handedly put the game away late in the 4^th. With the possibility of not having Thomas Tapeh, who has emerged as a very good lead blocker for Westbrook, the running game could be hampered a little bit, but I don’t expect it to take much of a hit. If Correll Buckhalter has to step in and play Fullback, it’ll open up more chances to get both involved in the game and create more problems for the defense, which has enough to begin with. In the previous meeting, Westbrook had a decent game, but wasn’t really too involved. With the increased dedication to the running game, Westbrook and Buckhalter should have chances to run all over a defense that has been more than generous against the run. The Saints are tied for second last in the league in YPC against, but what’s saved them this year is their offense. They force teams to play catch up and throw the ball and get away from the run, so the weakness hasn’t been fully exploited. Eagles **

Eagles’ WR/TE vs. Saints secondary- Donte Stallworth was injured the first time these two teams met, and Hank Baskett had to start in his place. Naturally, Baskett did not have a single catch and was in a slump which resulted in several dropped passes. With Stallworth in a rhythm and Baskett playing better in addition to Reggie Brown, the Eagles have a bunch of weapons for Jeff Garcia to utilize. In the first meeting, Brown showcased his big play ability, catching six passes for 121 yards and scoring two touchdowns. The Saints could have trouble defending all of these targets with a relatively weak defensive backfield. McKenzie is a solid player, but other than that, the unit is inconsistent. They don’t make many big plays, and the Saints were near the bottom of the barrel in interceptions this season. Eagles **

Eagles’ Offensive Line vs. Saints’ Defensive Line- After having a great season, the line a slow start against the Giants and will need to pick it up a bit against the Saints. They got off to a slow start in the running game, and they really got no movement off the line of scrimmage to open lanes for Westbrook. At times, they also struggled in pass protection, both with technique and with defensive schemes, and they need to be more prepared. The Saints are better at getting after the Quarterback than the Giants are and blitz their Linebackers frequently, so they have to communicate and set up schemes to make sure everyone gets picked up. Tra Thomas needs to play with better technique blocking Will Smith. Against the Giants last week, he was often standing straight up without bending the knees at all, which I’ll admit is a tough thing for someone as big and banged up as he is to do. Against Smith, he’ll be blocking a big end with great athletic ability, and standing up won’t cut it on Garcia’s blind side. Hollis Thomas will be back, and that’ll bring a boost to the New Orleans’ line. He improves the play of those around him, and will be a key player in the game. He both rushed the passer and stopped the run the first meeting, so Shawn Andrews and Jamaal Jackson need to prove how great they are this time around. Eagles *

Drew Brees vs. Eagles’ defense- Drew Brees had a great season resurrecting New Orleans football after a serious shoulder injury he suffered in his last game as a Charger. He drew consideration for MVP after leading the Saints’ turnaround, but in the end, fell well short of former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson. Brees is in a great situation. Sean Payton has done a brilliant job designing an offense for him and his weapons, and it’s led to them almost overachieving. Brees is one of the best Quarterbacks at making reads and decisions, and he does it so quickly. The team utilizes a lot of three step drops to keep Brees clean and put pressure on the defense. In the first meeting, the only time Brees was touched was when the Eagles had 12 guys on the field, and he had no trouble completing nearly ¾ of his passes along with 3 scores. The Eagles need to get a push up the middle to disrupt his timing and tip some passes. Brees is a smaller player and has a low release point, so the Defensive Linemen need to get their hands up and make it difficult to make throws. In the backfield, the Eagles should consider tighter coverage to try and mess up the timing of the quick drops, or the Saint receivers will be running free again. Saints **

Deuce McAllister vs. Eagles’ front seven- Finally staying injury free, McAllister broke the 1000 yard plateau again this season, and re-established himself as a great dual threat. McAllister has always had success against the Eagles, even though in the last meeting, he had a pedestrian day. Slowing down this versatile running attack will be tough. Deuce is a tough inside runner who can wear down a defense. He hits the hole hard and is tough to tackle. For a change of pace, the Saints will bring in Reggie Bush. He’s playing much better than he was in the last meeting, and the Eagles are going to have to work a lot harder to stop him too. On the Eagles side, the front seven went back to November form against the Giants, after several weeks of looking strong against the run. Tiki Barber ran over the Eagles’ defense all game long, just as he has his entire career. Tiki is better than Deuce and Bush are, but they’re still difficult to stop, and it’ll be a huge challenge for Jim Johnson. Saints *

Saints’ WR/TE vs. Eagles’ secondary- With the status of Joe Horn up in the air (and early indications lean towards him not playing), things get a bit more even. The Eagles will be without Lito Sheppard, so Rod Hood will once again step into the starter’s role, where he hasn’t really performed like people may have expected after last season. The attention will turn to Marques Colston, a big rookie with big talent. He has great size and great hands and really knows how to get open. The Eagles need to do a better job against him than Plaxico Burress, but fortunately for them, Colston hasn’t developed a mystique about him where he draws PI every time he doesn’t catch a ball. Devery Henderson will once again be in the starting lineup. He’s a great deep threat and is one of the fastest players in the league, but he’s pretty inconsistent. He drops too many passes and can’t really be counted on. Copper is a solid slot guy, and the Saints get little from their Tight Ends, due to injuries and lack of talent. Brian Dawkins needs to have a big game. He’ll have to both keep an eye on Colston if he starts catching a lot of balls, but he’ll probably see a lot of duty over the top on Henderson’s side to prevent the big plays. Saints *

Saints’ Offensive Line vs. Eagles’ Offensive Line- The Saints came into the year with a questionable line, but they emerged as a solid unit in 06. Jamaal Brown played at an All-Pro level, Faine did a fine job of replacing LeCharles Bentley, and Jahri Evans was a pleasant surprise at guard. They do a very good job of protecting Drew Brees, and knocking D-Linemen’s hands down on quick pass attempts. That’s critical to a three step drop offense. Batted passes have to be avoided, and it starts up front. In the running game, they’ve been solid. McAllister and Bush have had success this season. The Eagles Defensive Line needs to get off the ball quickly and get penetration. They have to get in Brees’ face and make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket. They have to clog running lanes and cause Deuce and Bush to run laterally, where our athletes like Gaither and Dawkins can run them down and clean up. They need to play much better than they did against the Giants, in all facets of the game. Push

Saints’ Homefield Advantage vs. Eagles- This isn’t as much of an edge as people think it is. The Saints are only 4-4 at home, and they’ve dropped 3 or their last 4, not counting the game where they played all of their backups. It’s only an advantage because playing at home in any playoff game is. There’s nothing special about it. It’ll be loud, the fans will be excited and they’ll want to play well in front of their fans. Saints *

The Bottom Line- I’d really like to avoid making the homer pick here, but I can’t pass up the chance. I don’t think the Eagles are going to come out flat this time, I think they’re going to get off to a fast start which will allow their defense to try and get after Brees a bit. Eagles 27, Saints 24

Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens

From M+T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf will broadcast this AFC Divisional Round playoff at 4:30 Saturday on CBS.

The Colts come in to Baltimore looking to get that monkey off their backs. After an opening round win against the Chiefs in which Peyton Manning struggled at times, the offense will have to bounce back against one of the best defenses in the league. The running game was a key factor for the offense in beating the Chiefs, and Joseph Addai will have to have another good game to make sure the Colts have a balanced attack. The Colts tend to struggle against the 3-4 defense, which allows coordinators to bring a larger variety of blitzes and give the offense a lot of different looks. The problem is the Offensive Line often times has trouble picking up the blitzers and identify where the pressure is coming from. The Ravens don’t quite run a 3-4, but they have several unique formations that really make the O-Line think before the ball’s snapped. Communication will be critical.

The Ravens will look to have success against what’s usually a bad defense. The Colts played great against the Chiefs, holding Larry Johnson in check and forcing Trent Green to beat them downfield, which they failed to do. Offensively, the Ravens can run the ball just well enough for it to make a difference. The team leaned on Jamal Lewis once again, who finally reached the 1000 yard mark against after an off year. He didn’t have a very good YPC, but he’s a strong runner between the tackles, and the prototypical back that can beat the Colts. For a few carries a game, Lewis will be relieved by former Denver back Mike Anderson and Musa Smith, who is decent at catching passes out of the backfield. These two run well after Jamal has worn the defense down a little bit. In the passing game, the Ravens rely on a lot of short passes, and hope Steve McNair completes a high percentage and doesn’t turn the ball over. Mark Clayton is emerging as a tough guy to stop, and he’s great getting yards after the catch. Defensively, the Ravens are a great unit. They’re strong, physical and athletic. They have so many formations and so many looks that it’s going to be tough to prepare for even Peyton Manning.

The Bottom Line- The Ravens are great at sacking the Quarterback and protecting their own. Peyton will lose this one, and it’ll be unfortunate when people call it a choke. Ravens 20, Colts 17

Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears

From Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver make the call of the #1 team in the NFC at 1:00 PM Sunday on FOX.

The Seahawks should consider themselves lucky to be alive after a botched field goal attempt by Dallas allowed Seattle to hold on to a 1 point margin. Seattle’s banged up on both sides of the ball, and they really didn’t play well in the first round. They developed no rhythm in the passing game and could never really establish the run until they were killing the clock late in the game. They were fortunate to have a turnover in Dallas’ endzone and they were able to take advantage of great field position the next drive. Seattle’s offense is going to have to play better. They’ll be going up against a much tougher defense that won’t be forgiving to a team that can’t move the ball consistently. Hasselbeck and his receivers have to get on the same page quickly this week and they have to get out to a fast start. They need to play much better against the same Bears who destroyed them earlier this season and force them to pass. The Seahawks defense will need to apply a lot of pressure to Rex Grossman and force him to make mistakes. Even he can tear up a defense if he has time to throw, and Seattle will need to get in his face.

The Bears will be fresh and ready to go after mailing it in week 17 and having the bye week. As the #1 seed in the NFC, they’re going to be expected to perform like it, even though they’re not playing as well as they were earlier in the season. The Bears defense, which has been relied on by the team for two years now, is hanged up and not playing as well as they’re capable of. They’re giving up a lot against the pass, mostly because their best pass rusher, Tommie Harris, is on Injured Reserve. Their ends will have to play much better to disrupt the timing of Hasselbeck and prevent him from taking advantage of the depth they have at the WR position downfield. Against the run, penetration will be the key, which will allow stars like Urlacher and Briggs to make plays in the running game like they’ve done all year. After Devin Hester gets the ball back to the offense, the Bears will look to hit the Seahawks with a steady dose of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. The Seahawks have been weak against the ground game this year, and Chicago hopes they can play their typical game and run down the clock and defense with their tough runners. If they fall behind early, it could get ugly though. Rex Grossman cannot be relied on to bring a team back, and the Bears should hope to limit his attempts deep downfield.

The Bottom Line- There’s a reason they were so great in the regular season, and there’s a reason the Seahawks struggled to win the NFC West. Bears 24, Seahawks 14

New England Patriots @ San Diego Chargers

From Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms broadcast what should be the game of the week, at 4:30 PM Sunday on CBS.

The Patriots played a great game against their rivals in the first round, and really looked impressive on opening weekend. They were efficient on offense, took advantage of most of their opportunities, and only allowed one big play through the air. Against the Chargers, they’re going to have to do a great job of keeping Brady on his feet. He’s been hurting a bit, so it’ll be even more important to make sure the Chargers don’t get free shots at him. They have a great pass rush led by All-Pro Shawne Merriman, and also have several other key contributors. The Chargers have a great defense, and every point against them will have to be earned. The Patriots defense is nothing to sneeze at as well. They boast one of the best points per game against averages in the league, and they’ll have to contain the best RB in football, as well as a solid passing game that can beat you if you’re paying too much attention to the run. The Patriots will have to play almost a mistake-free game to win, and they have to really play their best football of the season.

The Chargers are sitting with the best record in the league at 14-2. They’re hot riding into the playoffs on the back of the league MVP. In his first year starting, Philip Rivers played just as well as Drew Brees ever did. He was efficient, effective and mistake-free. He did not turn the ball over, which was a Drew Brees staple for a couple years. He eventually began developing chemistry with his great Tight End Antonio Gates and has also been working well with second year receiver Vincent Jackson. Of course, the focus is on LT. He can do it all. Between the tackles, on the outside, catching, throwing, he’s unstoppable. The Patriots will be lucky to contain him. On defense, the focus has to be on pressuring Tom Brady. He’s great at hitting open guys when he has time, and Merriman will have to be his usual self. I’d like to write more, but I’ve gotta get to work.

The Bottom Line- The Chargers are so good they’ve reached the point where people only criticize them. Chargers 28, Patriots 24

Sit back, and enjoy a great weekend of football. Go Birds.