Broken records, unrivaled milestones and sheer perfection - this year in football has certainly been one to remember, as sports fans have witnessed history throughout the season. After another hard-hitting season, the NFL playoffs are finally here!
Our first of free NFL picks will be a preview of the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Saturday. Aside from a few players being banged up on the Steelers side of the ball, these two teams match-up very well. Both Ben Roethlisberger and David Garrard are mobile QB’s in the pocket who can launch it down field in the face of pressure. The Steelers have one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL behind young running back Willie Parker. Jacksonville has an equally effective rushing game with veteran running back Fred Taylor. Look for these teams to put it on the ground frequently, as both backs have rushed for over 1,000 yards this season. This game should be tightly contested, but Jacksonville comes in with much momentum having won seven out of their last nine games. The predictions are slightly in the Jaguar’s favor for a 2 point victory.
We will stay in the AFC for our next wildcard match-up, as the hot streaking San Diego Chargers play host to the Tennessee Titans. This was actually the last wildcard game scheduled, as the Titans finally pushed Cleveland out of the playoff picture by defeating a resting Colts team. On the other hand, San Diego is without a doubt the hottest team in the NFL other than the Patriots. Though their season started out shaky, the Chargers ended on a positive note by winning the last six games in convincing fashion. Look for Tennessee to put up an effort as they have a solid defensive unit that may be able to stop L.T. a few times. On a larger scale, Chargers Quarterback Philip Rivers has many more offensive weapons that can exploit Tennessee’s secondary. With all of this week’s even match-ups, San Diego over Tennessee by at least 9 should be the easiest of all free NFL picks.
Our wildcard selections for the NFC feature two more exciting games. The NY Giants head into Tampa Bay with their heads held high. This team gave their all against New England, and they were just a few plays short of spoiling perfection. Tampa Bay is looking to leave the last few weeks of their season in the past, as the team lost three out of the final four games. All eyes are sure to be on Giants QB Eli Manning, as many critics believe he has much to prove. Experience should be the factor the enables veteran Buccaneers QB, Jeff Garcia to pull out the win. Tampa Bay vs. NY just might be that one sleeper out of this week’s NFL wildcard games.
The last free football pick will cover the Washington Redskins at the Seattle Seahawks. The Redskins have truly been an amazing story, as the team has gone from tragedy to triumph with a playoff emergence. Washington is sure to make a good game out of this one, having won their last four games of the regular season. The Seahawks have a high powered offense with years of experience. Running back Shaun Alexander has been riddled with injury this year, but still is a very important element in Seattle’s attack. This should be another close one, but Seattle is favored to cover a 3.5 point spread.
The 2008 NFL playoffs are upon us. These four games are sure to lead to even more intriguing match-ups once the more dominant teams take the field.
