February 13, 2012
  • 1/1/09

    nfl

    By Ryan Chatelain

    Beware of road teams on wild-card weekend

    Photo credit: Game Face

    Michael Turner and the Atlanta Falcons visit the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. (Photo by Getty)

    Watch out for the NFL playoff road teams this weekend. All four of them are amNewYork’s picks in the Wild Card round:

    Falcons at Cardinals

    Sat., 4:30 p.m., NBC

    Let’s call Atlanta’s Michael Turner, who led the NFL in rushing attempts with 23.5 a game, “Churner.” He and steady rookie quarterback Matt Ryan spell doom for the Cardinals. Arizona’s high-flying offense, tied with the Giants for the third-best points average in the NFL — 26.7 — looked erratic in the final five weeks of the regular season, averaging just 21.6 points.

    Atlanta 31, Arizona 28

    Colts at Chargers

    Sat., 8 p.m., NBC

    The Chargers are riding a four-game winning streak and are at home. But the Colts, winners of nine straight, are peaking on both sides of the ball. Peyton Manning has completed 82 percent of his passes over the past month, and the defense has held three of its last five opponents to six points or fewer.

    Indy 35, San Diego 17

    Ravens at Dolphins

    Sun., 1 p.m., CBS

    The Ravens rendered Miami’s tricky Wildcat formation ineffective in a 27-13 victory over the Dolphins on Oct. 19. The Ravens’ offense, led by another precocious rookie passer, Joe Flacco, has matured throughout the season, with fullback Le’Ron McLain (10 TDs) emerging as a goal-line threat. As long as the Ravens’ crushing defense plays up to its league-best potential, the comeback Dolphins’ dream season will end on Wild Card Sunday.

    Baltimore 21, Miami 17

    Eagles at Vikings

    Sun., 4:30 p.m., FOX

    The Vikings and Eagles account for two of the NFL’s top four run defenses, meaning the quarterbacks will be key in this matchup. Since returning from a Week 12 benching, the Eagles’ 32-year-old quarterback, Donovan McNabb, has tossed nine touchdowns and just one interception. Meanwhile, inconsistent Tarvaris Jackson has a week-to-week lease on Minnesota’s starting job.

    Phila. 24, Minn. 20

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