There are only three more football Sundays left. You ready? After yesterday’s fierce competition, today’s match-ups feature one probably-lopsided battle between the Patriots and Texans following an intriguing Falcons/Seahawks battle.
We get a double-header between Raj and David as their two teams face off to see who keeps going next week. As always, drop your own predictions and leave comments as the games take place.
Viva la Football!
5 Reasons The Atlanta Falcons Will Win (David D.)
1. The Seattle Seahawks are playing their second-consecutive cross-country road game, flying 3,000 miles on two straight weeks with a start time of 1 pm EST. That’s 10am PST. This doesn’t bode well for the road-weary Seahawks. The Seahawks are the fifth West Coast team to play two consecutive East Coast road games in the playoffs. The only team to win both games was the 89′ LA Rams.
2. Thanks to the diarrhea field over at Washington, the Hawks’ sack leader, Chris Clemons is out. Replacing him is a 22-year-old rookie and a newly-signed Patrick Chukwurah who hasn’t played in the league since 2007. If the Seahawks can’t generate a rush on Matt Ryan, it’ll be a long day at the office.
3. While the Seattle secondary is tops in the league, I have yet to see a team that can handle Degeneration Catch aka Roddy White and Julio Jones. The best receiver tandem in the league is going to show why they’re so special.
4. One reason Russell Wilson has been so effective for Seattle is his ability to toss the rock without committing turnovers. However the Falcons are responsible for picking off Peyton Manning three times in one quarter and Drew Brees five times in one game. Expect some turnovers for the Falcons’ underrated D.
5. The Falcons have to win. They just do. It’s hard to imagine a team going through this many playoff failures in a row. This is the year Atlanta has to take their shot at the title and the team knows it. Expect an inspired performance from the Dirty Birds.
Final Score: 27-20, Atlanta
5 Reasons The Seattle Seahawks Will Win (Raj)
1. Atlanta’s coming into this game with a lot of pressure on their shoulders. The Mike Smith-Matt Ryan combination has had a history of success in the regular season, but they’ve never won a playoff game together. If Seattle wins, Mike Smith may have coached his last game for the Falcons. Don’t think he doesn’t know that and don’t think it won’t affect his coaching abilities.
2. Russel Wilson is the new Matty Ice. Clutch game after clutch game (last week included) and with luck clearly on his side of the ball, he won’t shy away as the stage gets bigger and bigger.
3. Some people say they don’t believe in momentum, but Seattle is the easily hottest team in football right now (remember the ’07 Giants who barely made the playoffs?) and with a well-balance everything, they’re the team nobody wants to see right now.
4. Like he did against Washington, Marshawn Lynch will be the anchor of the team again. Where Atlanta’s Michael Turner won’t be able to help them manage the clock, Beast Mode will make sure the Seahawks stay in control.
5. The reason Michael Turner won’t be able to help the Falcons manage the clock is Seattle’s cornerback duo, Brandon Brown and Richard Sherman. The best secondary combination in the league will contain Roddy White and Julio Jones, allowing the rest of the defense to close in on ATL’s running back for most of the game.
Score: 20-6, Seahawks
5 Reasons The Texans Will Win (David D.)
1. Let’s press rewind. A couple of years ago the Patriots crushed the Jets 45-3 only to have Rex Ryan’s team show up in the playoffs and shut Tom Brady down to the tune of a 28-14 upset. The regular season blowout isn’t a guarantee for success.
2. Wade Phillips is one of the best defensive minds in the league. The Texans got caught in man coverage a lot in their drubbing at the hands of Bill’s squad. He’ll make adjustments and try to get a bit more zone and disguised packages this time around to confuse Brady long enough to let J.J. Watt put some pressure.
3. The Texans’ success depends on how well Matt Schaub plays. The Patriots are going to put up points and Schaub will need to match their scoring with some inspired passing of his own. He is responsible for a 500-yard passing game this season so it’s possible.
4. The wildcard for the Texans’ defense is Johnathan Joseph. He was returning from an injury the last time these two teams played and was still recovering as evident by him getting burned on a few plays. If he’s able to disrupt and grab an interception, things will look up for Houston.
5. The Patriots run defense is so good mostly because they can build huge leads throughout the season. However, at the end of the season in a close game against the Jags, third-string running back Montell Owens had more than 100 all-purpose yards and a TD. If the game stays close, Arian Foster can eat some clock and punish the Pats defense.
Final Score: 31-30, Texans
5 Reasons The New England Patriots Will Win (Raj)
1. Just like he did during their regular season matchup, Tom Brady will take Arian Foster out of the game early, rendering the Texans running game useless.
2. The Texans played like sh*t against an even sh*ttier Bengals team last week. They deserved to lose and they know that. Momentum is completely against them and their free-fall from the NFL’s wonder team will finally hit rock bottom against New England.
3. Houston’s red-zone offense has looked atrocious the past few weeks and the Patriots will capitalize with at least one endzone interception.
4. Aqib Talib will get under Andre Johnson’s skin and throw him off all game. Matt Schaub, who’s already been looking pretty shaky, will have an even tougher time throwing the ball.
5. Bill Belichick. Need I remind you that the Patriots are blessed with the greatest coach of our generation? Gary Kubiak is overmatched on all fronts.
Score: 31-17, Patriots