Over the past decade, I have had a personal interest in almost every NFL playoff season. Why? The Eagles. My wonderful, never-break-your-heart Philadelphia friggin Eagles… always making noise and qualifying for “The Tournament” as Bill Parcells likes to call it (sidenote: ESPN dropped about 3 Parcellisms during their playoff preview tonight before the first commercial break. Needs to stop). Part of me is thankful that they missed the playoffs this year so I can enjoy the next month as a football fan instead of kidding myself that this team could get through New Orleans or Green Bay… because quite honestly, they would have no shot whatsoever. Maybe next year, but not this year. Too many holes. But I’m glad they finished strong at 8-8 and locked up a brutal schedule next year. Awe-summmm. Anyway, this year’s set of teams is very intriguing, and it’s oddly relieving that I can enjoy it without the impending sense of heartbreak.
Every week of this year’s playoffs, the Voodoo team – Voodoo Brown, Darren DeGaetano, CJ Sullivan, and Mike Procopio – is going to weigh in on each matchup. Whether you’re a fan of these teams or a fan of football, you can never get enough analysis. Here are our Wildcard Weekend predictions…
Voodoo Brown: These two coaches have done tremendous jobs getting their teams into this position, but I’m really impressed with the job Kubiak has done. Houston lost their best pass rusher, best WR for a majority of the season, starting & 2nd string QB for the year, their best RB for a good portion of the season, and they still won their division (yes their division is terrible, but still). If it wasn’t for Harbaugh in San Fran, Kubiak might win the Coach of the Year with what they’ve been dealt. I think this team has been through too much adversity to be tripped up by the Bengals, who by the way have only had 2 wins this year against teams .500 or better: Arizona (8-8) and Tennessee (9-7). I’m going with Houston.
Houston 27, Cincy 13
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Darren DeGaetano: Houston sputtered in to the playoffs, down to their third string quarterback. Here’s hoping the Texans return the favor and sit any Bengals family members way up in the nosebleeds. (The Bengals put T.J. Yates’ family in the nosebleeds seats during their completely undersold game earlier in the year.) Bengals QB Andy Dalton has played well and Cincy’s defense will be too much for the young Yates.
Cincy 20, Houston 17
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CJ Sullivan: Both of these teams backed their way in at the end of the season. The difference is that the Texans actually planned their route. Houston’s crowd will be ready for their first playoff game in franchise history and the Texans will roll.
Houston 27, Cincy 9
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Mike Procopio: The smart money here is on the Bengals. However, I think the Texans defense causes Andy Dalton to make a mistake at a crucial time. Whether it be a late interception or a strip sack, the Texans find a way to win this. Arian Foster and Ben Tate both have huge games and Mr. Yates does just enough not to lose the game. I’ll take the Texans.
Houston 23, Cincy 17
Voodoo Brown: When the Saints play in the Superdome at night on prime time, it is simply hard core football porn. There isn’t one team out there, not even the Green Bay Packers, that can stop them. They would hang with them, but they wouldn’t be able to stop them. It’s an absolute onslaught of black, gold, and voodoo madness in that dome. It’s a real shame that the Lions have to play their first playoff game in over a decade in Nawlins. I think the Lions will hang though, they are a relentless pass-first team with a gunslinger of their own. We’re in store for an exciting game full of highlights & big plays. But the Saints have too much firepower and are smarting from last year’s early exit in Seattle. Going with the Saints here.
New Orleans 48, Detroit 37
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Darren DeGaetano: This game will be closer than most people think. The Lions have the firepower to keep the game close and they should cover the number. The Saints’ defense has weaknesses in the secondary and I expect a high scoring game.
New Orleans 37, Detroit 34
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CJ Sullivan: I’m not sure how many consecutive night games the Saints have played at home, but it seems like a lot. Is the Superdome not available before 6pm? Does Harry Connick Jr. have the next 4 months of matinees rented out? Either way, the Saints are slaughtering anyone who enters there.
New Orleans 49, Detroit 27
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Mike Procopio: Drew Brees is having a fantastic year. It is an MVP calibur year if you think about it. He also threw more than any other quarterback in the league basically and ran up the score on plenty of teams when the game was in hand. Refer back to Tom Brady in 2007, so no gripes there. This team is poised to win it all, and I think they do. This Detroit team is not the same one who the Saints beat up on in the Superdome a month or so ago. However, the I think Saints win here, and win big.
New Orleans 38, Detroit 17
Voodoo Brown: I’m almost hoping the Giants win this week so the Eagles have another week to talk Spagnuolo in to coming to Philly to be their D Coordinator. If the Giants lose, then they might snatch up their old Superbowl DC hero in order to make an upgrade. I think that the Falcons WILL expose this awful Giants D, but Eli will sling it as well against that average Falcons D. Should be an exciting game with two QBs that play extremely well in the final minutes, expect some last minute drama in this one.
Atlanta 34, New York 31
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Darren DeGaetano: Both teams have played well down the stretch but I think the Falcons are more rounded offensively. Expect a nice balance of Michael Turner runs and Matty Ryan tosses. The Falcons WR duo of Roddy White and the rookie Julio Jones will be the difference.
Atlanta 34, New York 24
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CJ Sullivan: I have no idea if these 2 clubs are the hottest teams going into the playoffs or complete frauds. Probably a little bit of both, but at least the Giants have been here before.
New York 24, Atlanta 17
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Mike Procopio: Matt Ryan needs to win a playoff game to be considered an elite quarterback. We’ve heard this song and dance for a while now. I think the key to this game is Michael Turner. If they can establish the run things will open up for Julio Jones, Roddy White, and the ageless Tony Gonzalez across the middle. BTW, his wife may be the hottest athlete wife I’ve ever stumbled upon. My lord what a smokeshow. The big question here is can the offense line slow down the express train which consists of Tuck, JPP, and Osi? I’m taking the Falcons.
Atlanta 34, New York 27
Voodoo Brown: Berger is limping. Isaac Redman is Pitt’s RB (not much of a downgrade, actually). How healthy is Polamalu? Ryan Clark can’t play in Denver’s altitude. So many obstacles coming together at once. And then you bring in the mystique of Denver, and Tebow, and these improbable wins. This feels like an upset brewing. In all actuality, the Steelers are too dinged up to make a serious Superbowl run this year. So they will lose at some point in the playoffs. So why not this week? Tebow’s MO during their hot streak of 6 wins was to play 3 terrible quarters of unwatchable football, then turn in a spectacular 4th quarter that took their opponents by surprise. Well, the Tebow works in mysterious ways, and I think I know his new trick. Play 3 GAMES of unwatchable football, then turn in ONE spectacular game that will knock the reigning AFC Champs out of the playoffs. That would make the season a success for the home crowd. My brain says Pitt wins, my gut says Denver for the reasons listed above, PLUS they are a 8.5 point home dog!
Denver 20, Pittsburgh 17… in Overtime. Why not?
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Darren DeGaetano: The Steelers will be without RB Rashard Mendenhall, safety Ryan Clark and QB Ben Roethlisberger’s ankle has not recovered and taken away his best quality, escapability. Couple that with a strong Denver pass rush and I think the Broncos could actually keep this game close. I expect it to be tight and unwatchable.
Pittsburgh 13, Denver 6
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CJ Sullivan: This game is the classic 1st round upset that happens every year. A terrible division winner that limps into hosting a playoff game by default to a former champion that is riding in on name only. It is an exact replica of Seattle versus new Orleans of last year, minus the Jesus frenzy.
Denver 22, Pittsburgh 17
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Mike Procopio: A beat up Big Ben, Mendenhall starting nine months of rehab, Ryan Clark having a serious blood issue when it comes to altitude, and the Tebowmaniacs going bonkers in Denver may be just enough for the Broncos to beat the Steelers. I’ll pound the under all day on this game. Field position and special teams are going to be very important in this affair, and I’m going with the Broncos here.
Denver 17, Pittsburgh 13
