NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Let me start off by saying Happy New Year from all of us at Sports Monarchy and we hope you had a safe and enjoyable New Year. But it's time for the NFL Playoffs! The single greatest sports postseason time and it's not even close. The Road to New Orleans starts NOW!

(6) Cincinnati Bengals @ (3) Houston Texans - Saturday 4:30 p.m.

Here we go again. The Bengals face Houston for the second straight year in the playoffs, but this time things are a bit different. The Bengals are a different team, and so is Houston. I'm gonna go out and say I don't like the chances of this Texans team. Losing 3 out of their last 4 games, dropping from #1 to #3, and just having no momentum at all rolling in the playoffs. I knew Houston was overrated, but I never knew they would lose the #1 seed.

What Houston should be worried about is themselves. Over the last few weeks, they've shown that they can't stop the run and Cincy knows how to run that football. This Bengals pass rush is relentless, they lead the league in sacks and  we've seen that Schaub doesn't perform well under pressure. Their defense will create stops and give Dalton plenty of opportunities to score. But the Bengals aren't exactly perfect. They have a habit of leaving points on the board and missing opportunities. Houston is gonna put up points and Bengals can't beat them by scoring Field Goals. They're going to need to take advantage of the opportunities their defense will no doubt give them.

The X-Factor in this game is Matt Schaub. If Houston falls behind, can Schaub bring them back? Arian Foster can only do so much. I don't trust Schaub. Houston is a good team, but if Cincy goes up by 10-14 points and the game is put in Schaub's hands, I don't think he can get the job done and bring them back. The Bengals are rolling into the playoffs with momentum and Houston is not.

Last season, Houston had all the emotion and momentum for their first playoff game in front of their hometown and the young Cincy team coming in didn't know what to expect. This season, the Bengals know what they're doing out there. Dalton's not gonna throw 3 picks again. The Dalton/Green combination are gonna get over the hump.

Prediction: Bengals defeat Texans

(5) Indianapolis Colts @ (4) Baltimore Ravens

Who would've thought that after winning 2 games last season, The Colts would make the playoffs and be this good on top of that? They're playing without a lot of emotion and fire which makes a young team like this very dangerous. And let's not forget how good Andrew Luck has been playing. Sure he leads the league in interceptions, but the man produces results and has 7 game winning drives. If people think the Colts will be easy to beat, they might want to think again. The Ravens often give up many big plays due to their defense not being as good as they were earlier on in the season. And even if the Colts fall behind, you know Luck has that comeback factor. Ravens can't defend the pass like they used and stop the run like they use to. Also, Joe Flacco is inconsistent. He hasn't exactly been perfect his last few games and Freeney and Mathis will make sure to put on the pressure. The Colts pass defense has a very underrated gem in Vontae Davis. The pick up from Miami boosted the Colts Pass D and he's shown up in the last few games.

BUT, here is where The Colts may falter. For starters, it's been well documented that Indy can't stop the run. They gave up how many yards on the ground against Kansas City? And also, the Colts offensive line still needs work. They can't seem to protect Andrew Luck as good as they would like to and the Ravens pass rush are a bunch on Monsters and with Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs coming back, the job got a little harder. Don't think they won't get to Luck. And don't forget you got Ed Reed lurking back there. You CAN throw on this Colts team. They give up just as many big plays and don't get off the field on 3rd down as often. Luck is going into a hostile environment in Baltimore and it's gonna be hard to play in that building especially considering the fact that he's a rookie QB.

The Colts are 2-0 against The Ravens in the playoffs. Baltimore is a different team come playoff time, but this Colts team will not go quietly. The Colts are getting a bum rap heading into the playoffs and I'm calling for the upset. The Ravens aren't as good as people think they are. They're lucky Cincy didn't steal the division from them. Flacco is an average QB, their secondary is suspect, Luck is the real deal, and if this Colts team played with the same fire like they did against Houston, it'll be over. Indy is not to be taken lightly, Baltimore is in trouble.

Prediction: Colts defeat Ravens

(6) Minnesota Vikings @ (3) Green Bay Packers

Adrian Peterson has had an AMAZING season. He almost broke Eric Dickerson's record and could very well be the MVP when all is said and done. But, it all ends here. The Vikings have played so hard down the stretch and fought so hard to get to the playoffs, but Green Bay isn't not going to let Minnesota come into Lambeau and get a win. Granted, playing in Lambeau isn't as intimidating as years past, but Aaron Rodgers is no scrub. It's a playoff game against a divisional opponent and you know you have to be ready.

In the Packers case, they have to be ready for Adrian Peterson. He ran for 200 on them in Lambeau and this past Sunday in Minnesota. If they can't contain him, they won't win. And how could I forget Christian Ponder? If The Vikings fall behind, can Ponder make the plays to bring them back? I don't think he can. Not in the playoffs. Not in Lambeau Field against Green Bay. Ponder is gonna put up the points. He's not a total scrub now. The Vikings are gonna put up the points, but if they have to play from behind, it won't work out too well no matter how well Peterson plays.

The Vikings defense has played well. I'll give them credit for that. But I don't think they can play well enough to defeat Rodgers at home. Their passing attack is still deadly, and the Vikings aren't the best at covering sometimes. Even when they led 20-7 on Green Bay, they still gave up 34 points. Rodgers will get his points and spread the field with his weapons. They can't run the ball that well and that could come back to haunt them because in the playoffs, you have to run the ball to milk the clock.

I have a feeling this is gonna be a shootout Saturday Night. Both teams will put up the points. It's going to come down to the last possession like this past Sunday and I trust Rodgers with the ball in his own homefield than Ponder. After being one and done after a 15-1 season last season must still hurt and they're not about to get one and done again. The Vikings have had a great season led by A.D. but it all comes to an end this Saturday Night.

Prediction: Packers defeat Vikings

(5) Seattle Seahawks @ (4) Washington Redskins

This is most difficult game to choose out of the four. Two GREAT Rookie QBs facing each other in Washington's first home playoff game since 1992 (?) The last time the Redskins were in the playoffs, they faced the Seattle Seahawks in 2007.

It's really tough to call this one. Redskins have the edge because they're at home and the crowd was rabid Sunday Night. The Seahawks were only 3-5 on the road this season and you really don't know what you're gonna get from them. I like the way the Seahawks play defense, LOVE the way Wilson plays, protects the ball and doesn't make mistakes and the overall performance of this team and how they seem to get better each week. The one staple I like about Seattle is that they love to score early and often. They want to set the tone of the game in their own way. If they can take the crowd out of the game and go up by double digits early, they may have a chance to get the win here. Their front 7 can cause pressure, bring the heat, their corners are athletic, versatile and have great coverage schemes.And I forget to include Marshawn Lynch and how big of a role he's gonna play.

BUT, I really don't know if I can give them the win here. The Redskins are at home with the #1 rushing attack in the NFL thanks to RG3 and Alfred Morris. They're the most exciting team to watch. And what people haven't noticed is during the Redskins 9 game winning streak, they got Pierre Garcon back. People don't realize how HUGE that was for the Redskins offense. Garcon gives the offense a bigger body in the passing game allowing them to stretch the field a little more and be more creative. Another X-Factor is RG3's health. The Cowboys contained RG3's running for the most part, but got shredded by Alfred Morris. The Seahawks defense is better and will be prepared.

I know that the playoffs are a new season, but the Seahawks remind me of the Saints. BEASTS at home, but fall flat on the road. The Seahawks are legit, but this isn't gonna be easy. Seattle is already favored to win this game, but the Redskins are better than most people give them credit for. If this game was in Seattle, then it'd be no contest, but I don't like Seattle's chances of getting the W in RG3's house.

Prediction: Redskins defeat Seahawks


Four great games, four difficult predictions. In short, I have the Bengals, Colts, Packers and Redskins. Should be a GREAT weekend of Football.

Your input is always welcome. Feel free to Comment.


By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete