NFL Wildcard Weekend Preview

In The First Game on Saturday, Matt Hasselbeck leads the Washington Redskins against Todd Collins and the Washington Redskins.


Here Is Your Preview of the NFC Wildcard Weekend.
SATURDAY GAMES
REDSKINS AT SEAHAWKS 4:00 PM EST NBC
This game has so much meaning to the Redskins. They mourned the loss of teamate Sean Taylor, and Todd Collins has become the Redskins starter for the first time in ten years. The Running game will be vital to the success of both teams as Shaun Alexander and Clinton Portis will both get their names called early and often. This game, like every, will be won in the trenches. I give Seattle the edge in that category, but the sheer emotion the Redskins will be playing with makes this a game that could go either way. That being said, I'll take Seattle because I think the veterran leadership will help Seattle advance to the NFC Divisional Playoff game.
SEAHAWKS OVER REDSKINS

JAGUARS AT STEELERS 7:00 PM EST NBC
This game really is another one I'm looking forward to. The Jaguars have been called "the team you don't want to face in the playoffs." The Steelers have the misfortune of facing that team. The Steelers do have Homefield Advantage, but their running game will be hurt because Willie Parker is lost for the season. Both of these defenses are scary good. This game may end up coming down to the kickers.I think this game, like the Seahawks-Redskins game, will come down to the running game. I'll go with Jacksonville because I think Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew will run for good yardage.
JAGUARS OVER STEELERS

SUNDAY GAMES
GIANTS AT BUCCANEERS 1:00 PM EST FOX
This game will be great. Two great defesnes for both teams. Jeff Garcia has been a thorn in the Giants side, as he led playoff vicotries against the Giants in 2003 and last season. Garcia once again gets the chance to rub salt in the wound. The Giants scored 35 points against the Patriots, the most points the Patriots had given up all season, but The Patriots came back from a twelve point defecit, their lagest of the season, to beat The Patriots 38-35. Eli Manning will always have the label "He's not as good as his brother." The first step to erasing that monkier would be a victory over the Buccaneers. This game will come down to the passing game. Whichever Quarterback can keep the turnover column at zero will be the one picking up the win. I think the Buccaneers can be that team.
BUCCANEERS OVER GIANTS

TITANS AT CHARGERS 4:00 PM EST CBS
This game has a questionmark associated with it. Who will start at quarterback for the Titans? Vince Young or Kerry Collins? If Vince Young is at the helm, the Chargers will have to look out in case he wants to run. If Kerry Collins starts, the Chargers will not have to worry about Collins running. Both of these teams have great defenses that will bring the heat early and often. The key for both teams will be the wuick pass to countract the blitz. The Tennesee defense will have to be on their toes again LaDanian Tomlinson, if he gets some daylight, he is off to the endzone. When these two teams played earlier in the season, LaDanian Tomlinson scored the game winning youchdown in overtime. I think The Chargers will win again.
CHARGERS OVER TITANS

Watch the games this Weekend!

NFL Preview: NFC West

Shaun Alexander is the best running back in the NFC, and he will help Seattle win the NFC West again.



The Seattle Seahawks in 2006 compiled a 14-2 record and advanced all the way to the Super Bowl. where they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The following Season, they advanced to the NFC Divisional Playoff Game, where they were defeated by the Chicago Bears on a last second, game winning Field Goal. Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander, and Deion Branch headline the best offense in the NFC West. The defense in Seattle is pretty good as well, headlined by LineBacker Lofa Tatupu and CornerBack Kelly Herndon is the also one of the best in the NFC. There is no doubt in my mind that Seattle will win the NFC West again.

Prediction: 12-4, 1st Place.

So, how did teams like San Francisco, St Louis, and Arizona fare in their efforts to keep up? Keep Reading.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers: San Francisco is on the rise. The team mant did not expect to win five games won seven games, including a thrilling barnburner of a game on the NFL Network where San Francisco, trailing by 17 points, scored 24 unanswered point to take the victory 24-17. It was the Greatest Game in the History of Thursday Night Football, and the greatest finish to a game nobody saw since "The Heidi Bowl."

San Francisco has lost Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner, as he is now the Head Coach of the San Diego Chargers. Alex Smith really took a step forward last season, as he really got comfortable throwing to Tight End Vernon Davis. The 49ers Defense continues to get better, and San Francisco has a shot to get above .500 this season.

Prediction: 9-7 2nd Place.

ST. LOUIS RAMS: The Saint Lous Rams have made some improvements, the biggest being the acquisition of Kick Returner Dante Hall from Kansas City. Hall needs just one more return touchdown to become the all time leader in returns for touchdowns. Marc Bulger is till in St. Louis, as is Torry Holt and Issac Bruce. Marshall Faulk is retired, but the Rams have the perfect guy to fill his cleats in Steven Jackson. He's gonna be something, provided the hard turf of the Edward Jones Dome doesn't tear up his knees. The Rams don't have much of a defense anymore, but their offense is still there, and Offense, as always, is how you win in St. Louis. That Being said, The Rams are going to have Jackson rush for 1,000 yards, and Marc Bulger will light it up in the passing game. I just don't trust their defense, and that will be their downfall.

Prediction: 7-9, 3rd Place.

ARIZONA CARDINALS: The Cardinals' New Stadium in Glendale, Arizona will be the site for Super Bowl XLII. The Cardinals have a lot of upside offensively, with second year man Matt Leinart, Running Back Edgerrin James, and Wide Receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The Cardinals have also brought Ken Whisenhunt from Pittsburgh, replacing Dennis Green as head Coach. Arizona has the offense. However, they have no defense, and this team, like Moses and the Israelites, will be stuck wandering in the desert for the Promised Land.

Our Next, and Final NFL Preview takes us to the NFC South. Will the Saints go Marching In for another division title? Is Jeff Garcia going to revitalize the Sinking Ship of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Has the Michael Vick Saga Doomed Atlanta for years to come? Find out in the next(and last)NFL Preview.