NFL Divisional Round Preview

Firstly, I stand corrected; somehow ESPN have managed to get the FOX games which they didn't use to in previous years. It means ALL playoff games will be shown to New Zealand viewers.

After a wild wildcard weekend, the top 2 teams from each conference of the regular season (at least) begin their run to the Super Bowl this weekend.



Sunday
New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers, 10:30am

The Saints are definitely the form team in the NFL at the moment but they now face what is potentially their toughest test yet - a trip away to San Francisco in January to face the most rugged team in the NFL outside the AFC.






The two things on the Saints' side are their recent experience in playoff football - the 49ers haven't been in the playoffs for 10 seasons until this - and the fact that teams with one of the best defensive records in the regular season don't often progress far in the playoffs - take the Atlanta Falcons last season and the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, for instance.

The 49ers have had a brilliant season and first-season coach, Jim Harbaugh has done wonders for this once mighty franchise and the future is looking bright again. If they are to beat the Saints, they'll have to rely on the same defensive qualities and running game that got them here.

Inside the Superdome, the Saints are virtually unbeatable but away from it with the elements a factor, the Saints are a bit more earthly. But Drew Brees is playing so well right now that they seem like a team with destiny in sight and peaking at the right time of the season.

Prediction: Saints to win and it could be surprisingly comfortable. 

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, 2pm

Tim Tebow has done it again eh? The Steelers thought they got the Broncos at the right time but alas the team from Denver realised they were in the playoffs and played as apt.

The fact is any win from here on will be better than the last as not only does it obviously get the Broncos closer to the Super Bowl, it would have been a result no one would have predicted with the odds still highly stacked against them.

Quite frankly it would be stupendous if the Broncos beat the Patriots at home. The Patriots may have lost their last two home playoff games but surely won't lose a third in a row. They also have the edge of having witnessed what the Broncos could do to the Steelers and prepare for them having had the bye last weekend.

As for the Broncos? Well they just need to keep doing what they've been doing and believing in themselves. It's been a remarkable run for Tim Tebow win or lose this weekend - although most of the American media are just hoping it could continue to Baltimore or Houston the following weekend.

Prediction: Patriots to end the Tebow dream run. And it could be quite comfortable.

Monday
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, 7am

Two very rugged sides with powerful running games take on each other with the Ravens playing their first home playoff game in a long while. The Ravens have been awesome at home and it would be quite an upset if the Texans with their inexperienced third string quarterback, TJ Yates win here.

The Texans have achieved their goal for the season; making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They've achieved what would have been their next goal: winning a playoff game for the first time in franchise history. Now is time for the next goal: a Super Bowl appearance and naturally the challenge just gets harder. But lose this weekend, and the Texans will be a better side for it.

In fact, it is the Ravens with more to lose - home advantage and with the Steelers out, they have become  hot favourites to win the AFC Championship.

Expect a lot of big hits and injuries with Rice v Foster being the main contest to watch.

Prediction: Ravens to win quite comfortably.

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers, 10:30am

It's Act 2 of the New Yorkers v the Pack. It's also Act 2 of Eli Manning v Lambeau Field for a Super Bowl spot; Manning of course played Brett Favre's Packers for the 2007 NFC Championship title.

The Packers were a bit lucky to win Act 1 this season at the Meadowlands and the Giants will be out for revenge where it hurts most. And the defence is in excellent form too - which may not bode well for the injury-ravaged offense linesmen and Aaron Rodgers.


The Packers D is still struggling at this stage of the season - however, it was said to be "struggling" at this stage last year and the Pack still won the Super Bowl. And the Pack have also had the bye week to fix the issues that prevented them from going 16-0 in the regular season.

Prediction: Packers to win. Just.