It is finally here! I have been waiting all week for these two days! For those who are not sure it is Wild Card Weekend!! Â Four football game, four teams in and four teams out; this is the time where the little boys are weeded out by the men. Â It is true American sports at its best. Â There are four match-ups starting with:
1. Houston Texans vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Playing in Houston apparently with the roof closed (a clear advantage for the Texans who get to decide to open it or not), the Texans have not been looking too great. Their last win was actually against the Bengals when they clinched the AFC South title on December 11th. Â The Texans, like every other team, have been plagued with injuries this season having to go with a rookie quarterback, T.J. Yates. Yates played in that victory and led the team to a come-from-behind victory late in the fourth quarter.Luckily, the Texans got superstar wide receiver Andre Johnson back in the lineup after he suffered a hamstring injury a few weeks back. The Bengals have not won a postseason game since 1991 so they are definitely going to be coming out ready to prove themselves. Â Cincinnati only entered the playoffs because both the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos, after they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Luckily for them, they received some good news on their quarterback, Andy Dalton, who was unsure if he would play after being hospitalized with the flu. However, he feels much better and will be playing.
2. Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints                                        This is definitely going to be one of the most exciting games of the whole year.  This game has two 5,000 passing yard quarterbacks going after each other.  Drew Brees is having an all out dominate year there is not denying that.  He broke a record that has stood for more than 20 years, Dan Marino’s 5,084 yards in a single season. Also, having a breakout year is Matthew Stafford who threw for 5,038 yards.  It does not hurt that he has Calvin “megatron” Johnson on his team who can catch almost anything it is almost disgusting to watch. I think more attention will be given to Detroit’s defense who has been under fire all season because of their “dirty” style of play especially defensive end Ndamukong Suh who was suspended on Thanksgiving after kicking a player in the arm.  It is great to see these two teams who were considered a joke only a few years ago (remember when Detroit went 0-16?) turn things around.  This game is definitely going to come down to heart and who wants it more.
3. New York Giants vs. Atlanta Falcons                                          Of course this is the game I am personally most excited for as a die-heart fan of Big Blue.  After kicking some Dallas Cowboy butt last week, Big Blue is coming into this game with loads of confidence.  It is the first postseason game in the new MetLife stadium (it will really always be Giants Stadium and everyone knows it). Could this really be a 2007 repeat?  Can they do it again? They sure seem to think so. “I would not want to face the New York Giants in the playoffs right now,” running back Brandon Jacobs said. “I got the same feeling (that I had in 2007). There’s a lot of guys that are here that weren’t here a couple of years ago when we went, but it’s the same kind of feeling that I have.”  It is not going to be easy to face an Atlanta Falcons team who is looking for its postseason win for some its members including quarterback Matt Ryan and Pro Bowl tight-end Tony Gonzalez.  This game will definitely come down to the run game something New York has struggled with so unless Eli has another incredible game it does not look good for the Giants, but I have so much faith in this team.
4.  Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos                                   It is not looking too good for the Steelers who seems to be dropping like flies.  It is like everyday that a new player is out with an injury.  The most devastating coming from someone off the field.  Kirby Wilson, Pittsburgh’s running back coach suffered severe burns to 30 to 50 percent of his body from a house fire. Of course, he is in everyone’s prayers and it was announced that his injuries are not life-threatening so I hope he has a speedy recovery and is back on the sidelines next year.  Other significant injuries include running back Rashard Mendenhall who suffered a right knee injury last week, Center MaurKice Pouney is out with a sprained ankle, and safety Ryan Clark is unable to play in the altitude because of a sickle cell trait.  Two of the top Steelers will be playing through injuries as well; Ben Rothlisberger will be playing with a high ankle sprain and Troy Polamalu with a calf injuryIn what seemed to be almost a guaranteed win, things are not looking for Big Ben and the rest of the Steelers.  Is it really still Tebow time?  I thought his time had run up a long time ago, but it appears he may just pull out a win here.  This will make for a great finale to the wild-card weekend.
Let the games begin!
