NFL WildCard Playoffs Pre-Game Analysis: Philadelphia at Minnesota

Minnesota Do's and Don't's:

Speedy Viking wideout Bernard Berrian - with CBs behind - is a view Brad Childress has to hope to see a 1 or 2 times this weekend.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Do your best to pop big plays downfield early and often for Bernard Berrian. The speedy wideout has started to slowly earn the mammoth-contract he earned this past offseason. The guy is also capable of making the 12-15 yard catch, too. While Philadelphia has the best safety in the NFC (Dawkins, of course), Assante Samuel can be beaten downfield without help. It won't be easy, but Berrian has enough speed to break open a route or two. One of the best luxuries of a stud RB like Adrian Peterson is a defense's relaince on stacking the box with an 8th or even 9th defender.

Do allow Antoine Winfield to play wherever he is most comfortable on the field. As talented a cornerback in the NFL, I no longer consider him to be more hype than hope. Poor analogy aside, Winfield can play the run extrmely well and is the type of guy who could slide into the slot and shadow Brian Westbrook. Tough job, but you know he's more than up to it.

Don't allow Donovan McNabb to get too comfortable in the pocket. If McNabb is rattled early and starts chucking ground balls, the Vikings can turn the pressure on the wideouts and tight ends to get open or for McNabb to force a pass or two; especially if the rush D shuts down Westbrook/Buckhalter.

Don't worry about Adrian Peterson and his recent bout of fumbilitis. I don't need to ellaborate. Except...feed your workhose. Forget about next week. There's no reason APete doesn't demand 30+ carries on Sunday afternoon. Wait, I just ellaborated. Dang.

Don't make any mistakes in the punting game, especially when DeSean Jackson is involved. Avoid allowing punt returns tacking on any unnecessary points in a game that is likely to be decided by one posession or less.


Philadelphia Do's and Don't's:

If McNabb starts well, this game will be over well before halftime. Mark it down.
Credit: CNNSI.com

Do what has been working as of late. Feed Westbrook and Buckhalter until it works, even if it's in the passing game. If the Vikes rush D is up to the task, slip in screens for each back and allow DeSean Jackson a go or two in the Wildcat formation. Open it up...with diversity.

Do your best to put the game on Tavaris Jackson's shoulders. With your secondary playing so well, stack the box and put as much pressure as possible on Adrian Peterson. The fumble "issue" has to be somewhere in the back of his head (I think). Not to mention, a lot of players on this team (especially at the skill positions on offense) haven't seen the NFL Playoffs yet.

Do not target LJ Smith on big plays in the redzone. He sucks. A lot. A whole lot. Now I needed to ellaborate.

Do not push David Akers too far if the game is on the line. He's far from clutchless (especially in the playoffs); yet, I question any kick he has over 45-yards. McNabb is no master of the 2-minute offense, so keep that in mind.
Note: With that in mind, I'm predicting Akers hits a game-winner from 44 yards. Boo ya!

Do not gameplan for McNabb to throw 30+ times. The best case scenario will be a 20-27, 200+, 0 turnover type day for Donovan McNabb. Take care of the ball, control the field, and rely on the experience you have at the QB position.

Key Matchups:

When Minnesota has the ball...
Tavris Jackson vs. Jim Johnson

Tavaris, do your best to be extra prepared for the blitz. Of course, there's no way of knowing when and where Jim Johnson is going to send his defenders. Nevertheless, Jackson better know two words by heart: check down. Whether it's Shiancoe, Chestor Taylor, or (preferably) APete, know exactly who might slip through an open seam and be able to make defenders miss downfield.

When Philadelphia has the ball...
Brian Westbrook vs. Minnesota LBs

All too often in the past few weeks, Brian Westbrook has burned opposing defenses for HUGE plays downfield while be matched up on the outside with a not-so-speedy LB. Memo to the Vikings: do your absolute best to avoid that at all costs. Especially on short and 2nd scenarios.

Intangibles

My Best Friend...
Brad Childress and Andy Reid love each other. They're the bestest of friends. How sweet, right? Not so much. I'm wondering which Kornheiser-esque scenario plays out after Sunday: student outdoes mentor or mentor outdoes student.

1st Quarter Box Score
This is the key to everything. Seriously. Whomever has dictated the pace in the first 15 minutes will win this game. I expect a 14-0/10-3 score one way or another. If the Eagles can't score early, they won't score late. Ditto for the Vikings.

Final Score Prediction
Philadelphia wins 26-24

Tuesday FourCast: Week 12

You can't write a better script than what happens in the NFL on a weekly basis. This season has been far from disappointing. If I were Siskel and Ebert, I'd give it two thumbs up. If I was IMDB, I would give it an 8.5 out of 10. Right now, the only football movie that could top it is Goldie Hawn's "Wildcats" (yes, that was sarcasm).

1. Role Models

We've all heard Charles Barkley say, "Athletes are not role models." We've also heard him say "Knucklehead". About a year ago on Monday night football, he called Donovan McNabb "Fuhntastic". Yesterday, however, McNabb was T-R-B-L, Turrrrrible. Andy Reid felt the same, and yanked McNabb for the second half in favor of Kevin Kolb. Wait. That was Reid who told him right? No? Reid had an assistant coach deliver the bad news? To steal a term from Sum, that was some serious douche-baggery. Kevin Kolb played like a knucklehead. Altogether, in Philly's case, the athletes (and coaches) are not the role models. They are the juveniles in need of a role model. Look for McNabb to be throwing passes in Minnesota next year, and for Reid to be working in a broadcasting booth. As for Kolb and the Eagles...good luck.

2. Quantum of Solace

Like your average Bond flick, the Titans are going to start off taking on all evil and prevailing. Then Bond hits a snag. He makes a mistake. He gets caught. His love interest is murdered. The Titans made their mistakes. The Jets caught them with their pants down. Luckily nobody was murdered. The question now remains: Do the Titans come back like Bond and conquer their opponents in the end? Or, will they veer off the path and play down to the level that one looking at their roster on paper would think they would play? The NFL is a league of copy-cats. For the Titans' sake, hopefully teams can't take much away from the strategy used by the Jets.

3. Twilight

Every love story starts with two people. While this isn't your traditional love story, it does start with two people. On one hand you have Matt Cassel. After back to back 400 yard games, this free agent to be has every GM with a bad QB situation in love. On the other hand, you have Kurt Warner, who continues his Cinderella season towards an MVP trophy. The league and fans have fallen in love with Warner again. Both will receive nice contracts going into next season. Warner with the Cards, Cassel with another team (the Jets look like the most likely candidate). But, will either (or both) suck the blood out of their teams next season? Kurt Warner is a concussion away from being Steve Young, and Matt Cassel could be a system QB.

4. Madagascar 2

The kids love this one, and speaking of kids, if you caught the nation's top college game last week, you saw a kid you will love. Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford led the Sooners to the annihilation of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. While I've been high on Michael Crabtree, Bradford spent this season climbing up my charts. If he decides to go into the NFL draft (he is a redshirt sophomore), I can see him going as the #1 pick overall. Bradford made NFL throws in Saturday's game, and looked like an NFL QB. Only problem is, it looks like he might end up in Detroit.

Clement's Weekly Picks and Prognostications...Week 12

A lack of an introduction can only help me at this point.
Oh wait, was this an intro???

...

NFL Picks: 31-17 [Yes, I was one of "those" who lost a pick due to the Polamalu-non TD. Stupid zebras. Picks are on a roll, by the way.]
Upset Specials: 8-8 [Should've gone to that Skins/Cowboys slobberknocker.]

You might not see a better catch this season than this one. Don't believe me? WATCH.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports (assist to YouTube)

Philadelphia Eagles @ Baltimore Ravens (-1 1/2)
Not taking the road dog here. It's likely time Reid, McNabb, or both go. Fear not, they'll both have plenty of suitors. As for the game, Ray Lewis won't fear the tiny Iggle backs. Ravens win a crucial game for their playoff hopes.

Minnesota Vikings @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-2 1/2)
Not liking the Jags or the Vikes much after last weekend. If the Jags can't rush the ball, they won't be able to pass it to win. David Garrard might be the next Jeff Blake. That's not a good thing, by the way.

Washington Redskins @ Seattle Seahawks (+ 3 1/2)
Could Sean Alexander return to Seattle as a starter for Skin fans? If he does, they're likely to lose this game traveling west. I trust CP will suit it up and Santana Moss will catch a big play or two. It'll be close, but not FG close.

Upset Special #1
Indianapolis Colts @ San Diego Chargers (- 2 1/2)
A lot of public money will hit Indy early and often. San Diego - even at home - doesn't have anything left in the tank that scares people. Indy is clicking. Despite Norv having Dungy's number, Peyton and co. are playing too well. Bob Sanders needs to play though.

Upset Special #2
NY Giants @ Arizona Cardinals (+3 1/2)
Jacobs should be fine; however, Vegas knows something in this spread the average eye doesn't. Ballhawking safeties like Rolle and Wilson might make Eli regret a pass or two. He's gotten away with a few too many close-INTs this season. I'm taking a real shot here...at least for that spread - as small as it seems - not to last. (Deep breath)

Upset Special #3
San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys (-11 1/2)
Either Dallas guts out this win (barely) in the closing minutes OR Shaun Hill struggles big time and Big D wins by three touchdowns. Dallas isn't ready for Romo to throw a parade of TDs. TO needs a 2-TD day badly though. I fear that because I'm up against him in fantasy. More deep breaths to come shortly...

Top Ten Fantasy Insights of the Week...You Didn't Expect
1) Kurt Warner is likely on one of the top team's in your fantasy league.
2) Tom Brady isn't.
3) Peyton Manning is back. The idiots who traded him will pay.
4) LT will not be #1 next year. Adrian Peterson has that locked up.
5) Andre Johnson owners (me!) are panicking.
6) Anquan Boldin owners aren't.
7) Coles and Cotchery won't each have a good fantasy week the rest of the way. Good luck with that!
8) Santana Moss can't be started until he's 100%.
9) Kevin Boss owners might see a few more doughnuts this season.
10) NFC North defenses are mad unpredictable.

See ya next week...

Tuesday FourCast: Week 11

This was a week of some crazy storylines in the NFL. Now while Scott Green’s horrendous call causing a $66 million swing in betting on the Steelers/Bolts game doesn’t quite match up to a worm-eating freak who carries a clock, this weekend still brought back my childhood (and subsequently, college-hood) memories of that great non-sport: Professional Wrestling.

1. Do You Smell What the Rock is Cooking?

The Sunday Night Football game on NBC brought us a crappy performance by the Cowpokes matched by an even crappier performance by the Portises, er, Redskins. For much of the first half of this yawn-fest, the Skins led 7-0. But Dallas , arguably, caught a break on what appeared to be a fantastic punt by Ryan Plackemeier. The ball nestled at the 1-yard line, and did not appear to be moving from that spot. Yet, out of nowhere, Rock Cartwright bolted onto the scene to down the ball. Unfortunately for the Redskins, the Rock’s overzealousness caused his “roody poo, candy ass” to be in contact with the goal line at the moment he downed the football, resulting in a touchback. Could Dallas have scored the equalizing TD on a 99-yard drive instead of an 80-yard drive? Possibly, but starting out of your own endzone is always a daunting task.

2. The Mega Powers

You know how the classic tag team match goes in pro wrestling. The match starts off fairly even, or possibly in favor of the good guys … but then the heels take control. The good guys start to get pummeled a little bit. For a few quarters of the Titans and Jags game on Sunday, Titans fans saw this playing out. The Jaguars were beating the undefeated Titans 14-3 at half time thanks to 2 MJD touchdowns. It looked as though the Jaguars had figured out that vaunted Tennessee defense. But Jack Del Rio’s boys forgot one thing … like true champions, Jeff Fisher and Kerry Collins say their prayers, eat their vitamins, and kick some ass! Collins came out after the break and threw 3 touchdown passes, and the Tennessee D stepped up, helping guide this season’s mega powers to a 24-14 win and a 10-0 record.

3. The Power of the Warrior!!!

Sometimes people will say something that will leave you scratching your head. That “something” could be a crazy white man, hopped up on steroids with paint on his face, saying “Dig your claws into my organs!! Stretch into my tendons!! Bury your angers into my bones, for the power of the Warrior will always prevaiilllll!!!” Or, it could be a 10-year veteran NFL quarterback saying that he didn’t know the NFL rulebook allowed for ties. Yes, I know a more renowned blog (*cough*PFT*cough*) has already beaten Donovan McNabb’s gaffe into submission … but I can’t let this go. It’s inexcusable for a veteran QB who has been to multiple Pro Bowls, to the Super Bowl, and eaten thousands of cans of Chunky’s Chicken Noodle Soup to be that dense as to the rules and regulations of his profession. Perhaps years of hearing nothing other than “throw the screen pass” from Andy Reid have had the same affect on McNabb’s brain than the ‘roids had on the Warrior’s grape-nuts.

4. This is Where the Power Lies ... Brotherrrrrrr!!!

Okay, okay. So the '49ers and Cardinals are not powerful groups (especially the '49ers), nor do they represent evil (except for the Bidwell's wallet). However, for thousands of Rams fans from the glory years of the late 1990's and early 2000's, three of the greatest heroes were Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Mike Martz. They were three of the integral parts of the "Greatest Show on Turf." Now, in two of the past three weeks, these three have faced their former team, and have shattered the hearts of their ex-fans. In week 9, Kurt Warner took his Cards into St. Louis and dismantled his ex-team in front of the same fans who cheered him to two MVP awards. This past weekend, Bruce and Martz thrashed their ex-team ... at least they had the decency to do it in San Francisco. This trend of former beloved players returning to face against their old teams and old fans is nothing new ... but for that 16 year old kid, who 7 years ago screamed from the stands wearing a blue and gold #80 jersey, it will always hard to be difficult to cheer against his former idol ... even if that player is now on the dark side.