2011 NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Weekend Cheat Sheet

Well, another NFL regular season has wrapped up. As usual, it went all too fast and I can't believe we're already into the postseason, especially considering around six months ago, we were unsure if there'd even be a season.

With the end comes the beginning of one thing...PLAYOFFS! For my NFL newbies, I've put together a quick 'n' dirty cheat sheet so you can chime in on this weekend's conversation.

Important: this weekend, unlike most, there will be NFL football on both Saturday and Sunday. So you gotta be ready for a whole weekend of football!

Saturday, January 7, 4:30 pm EST
Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans
This game features the surprising Bengals (9-7), with their ginger-maned rookie quarterback, Andy Dalton and their, well, distractionless 2011 squad. I say distractionless, because you don't even have to be a huge NFL fan to remember the days of Ochocinco and TO. Lately, their biggest distraction has been seeing how high Jerome Simpson can flip into the endzone. You've got to credit the Bengals' coach, Marvin Lewis, who turned what was expected to be another disappointing season into a relatively successul one.

The other side of the ball features the Texans, who are making their first-ever playoff appearance. That's something to celebrate. Granted, playing in the same division as the Peyton-less Colts and the hapless Jaguars did help. But the Texans proved they are a team that subscribes to the "next man up" philosophy. Except that recently, they've took a tumble, losing their past three quarterbacks and having to start their fourth of the year. Third stringer TJ Yates, who hurt his non-throwing shoulder on Sunday, is appearing likely to play. Not sure if that's good or bad, seeing I don't know much about this guy having seen him in so few games...

My prediction? Bengals win, 27-24. I'd prefer the Texans win so we can face them at M&T on the 15th, but I just don't see them pulling it out with all the injuries.

Saturday,  January 7, 8 pm EST
Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints
Well this is one game where I really don't have anything against either team. You've got the good ol' Lions, who haven't made the playoffs since the 90s, and the Saints, who bolster a roster of many "good guys," a la Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham. So basically, do you cheer for the surprise story of the NFC, the underdog in this situation, given how hard it is to win in New Orleans? Or do you go for the favorites, knowing you may not have a huge problem seeing the Saints in the Superbowl again. I imagine this will be a high-scoring affair, pitting two pass-heavy offenses (led by Brees on the Saints and Matt Stafford on the Lions) against each other.

My prediction? Saints win (you're welcome, Lily!), 45-36 (yeah, pulled that second number out of my ass). The Saints are unstoppable at home, but I do hope it's a close, exciting game, being in the nighttime spot!

Get enough rest on Saturday night? I didn't think so. Onto Sunday!

Sunday, January 8, 1 pm EST
Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants
I hope to write another entry on this topic soon, but this matchup has a 10-6 team (Falcons) going on the road to play a 9-7 team (Giants). This discrepancy isn't so terrible, but remember last year's Saints (11-5) going on the road to play a mediocre (or so we thought) Seattle Seahwaks at 7-9? Something just doesn't seem right about a team in a tough division finishing in second place at 10-6 going on the road to face a "lesser" opponent. But that's for another time. This matchup is about two teams that have been slightly schizophrenic all season. You've got prettyboy "Matty Ice" for the Falcons versus ELISHA (Eli) Manning on the Giants. One thing you can look forward to, if the Giants lose, is seeing the Manning pout. I imagine this will be a closer game, and another high-scoring affair.

My prediction? Falcons win, 33-30. I almost flipped a coin, though. The Falcons, who play in a dome most of the season, aren't as used to the cold, windy temperatures that they'll face in New Jersey (yep, stadium is not actually in New York!). However, the Giants have been so unpredictable this season, that I really just don't know if I can trust them...

Sunday, January 8, 4:30 pm EST
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos
Well ladies, I don't think I need to help you on this one. Tim Tebow vs. Ben Roethlisberger. Religious devotee versus former accused rapist. Need I say more? In both of their defenses, Tebow has shown toughness and character throughout his up and down ride to a season. He led his, what we originally thought was hopeless, Denver Broncos to six wins in a row. Which was abruptly cut short by Tom Brady, as they lost their final three in unadmirable fashion. But, since the rest of the Broncos' division is just...unfort...they backed into the playoffs. Then you have the Steelers, who show another reason why I think the seeding should be re-thought. They're 12-4, and they're playing 8-8 Broncos in Denver. Whatever. You've got a limping Big Ben, starting running back out for the year, and numerous other injuries. I don't think this will be a high-scoring affair, especially since the combined amount of points scored by each team last week was 16. Then again, I can never really count out Big Ben (I'm a Ravens fan, need I say more?) nor can I count out Tebow (religious powers on his side).

My prediction? Steelers win, 16-10. Wow, do I really have 3/4 of all road teams winning this weekend? Let's see how that holds up...

Stay tuned next week as I preview the divisional matchups!

Happy Purple Friday!
Lauren

Saint of the Week: Jimmy Graham

In 2010, my New Orleans Saints drafted a basketball player. Jimmy Graham found his way to New Orleans as the 95th pick overall!  But his road there was a long one...

  

Part of what made me a football fan originally, was feeling personally invested in the players (i spent a good chunk of my time at Tulane interning at the Superdome & N.O. Arena).  Sometimes pure athleticism can make you root for someone, but sometimes, it helps to know their story (um... could anyone root against Michael Oher after the blindside?!).

Jimmy (yea... I like to think we are tight like that) had a pretty rough time of it as a kid.   I won't go into detail, because i think his future is the important part... but long story short, he had a mom who didn't treat him well, and he landed in a group home by the age of 11. He had to deal with older kids beating up on him (we aren't talking your cute sibling rivalry) sometimes until his eyes were swollen shut (yea, kids are mean).  In high school, a church youth counselor took him into her home, and he really started to shine... his grades went up, and he became a basketball star.   By the time he finished high school, he had earned a basketball scholarship for college.  

Graham played basketball for the Miami Hurricanes while earning his degree with a double major in marketing and management (smarty pants!)  He stuck around to take graduate classes so he could play a season of football.  He finished his first season as a tight end with just 17 receptions, but 5 touchdowns!   The whole basketball player turned football player might sound a bit strange, but it isn't as odd as you might think (can we say... Tony Gonzales?!) Plus, the Saints had Shockey and Thomas, so they felt they had the breathing room to develop Graham's rawer talent, and give him the tools he needs to become truly great player. 

My-oh-my did they made a good decision!  In his first NFL game in his home state (North Carolina), Graham caught a 19 yard touchdown pass to score his first NFL touchdown.  He finished his first season (2010) with 31 catches for 356 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Not too shabby!  But it really wasn't until this year that he truly hit his stride.  In his first 12 games, he had 75 catches for over 1,000 receiving yards.  This made him the first tight end in Saints history to have more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

  

 

DUNK

Graham, a true athlete, gets bonus points for playing through a lot of pain last week against the Titans, a game the must have confused for flag day... (come on guys, clean it up),  and caught five passes for 55 yards. He almost added a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but officials ruled that his toe apparently dusted the out-of-bounds grass. 

But even more than his accomplishments on the field... I am inspired by his character.  According to Graham, he and his biological mother are "slowly rebuilding their relationship", and he is paying it forward, working with and inspiring kids in the foster system. 

With Kids in the America Foster Care Program

Now THAT that is CHARACTER.   Glad to see yet another member of the Saints club who is a role model, not just an athlete. 

Hugs & Touchdowns,
Lily