For guys that absolutely live for fantasy football, it’s been a weird and difficult week the past seven days without it. Some of us start to ponder on our starting lineups, then quickly blackout. We are found hours later sucking our thumbs in the fetal position with snot bubble seeping out our noses, dreaming of next season.
Hey, it happens to the best of us. Nothing to be ashamed of.
However, we still do have more meaningful pigskin action this weekend with the start of the NFL playoffs. The 16-0 Patriots, reigning-champion Colts, high-powered Cowboys and rejuvenated Packers will get a chance to join us on the couch with a beer in their hands this weekend as they wait to see who they go against next week.
The Weekly Forecast will preview the entire weekend on the gridiron and give out predictions of the outcomes.
Saturday, Jan. 5 4:30pm ET
#6 Washington @ #3 Seattle (-3.5)
Aired on NBC
Low 40s, windy, 100% chance of rain
Winner plays at #2 Green Bay
Following the tragic death of S Sean Taylor, the Redskins lost a heartbreaker 17-16 game to Buffalo, then rattled off four straight wins with Todd Collins behind center to squeak into the playoffs. The veteran quarterback, who had completed just one pass in the past four seasons, has quietly posted a 106.4 QB rating with a strong 5-0 TD-INT ratio. He had not started a game since Dec. 2, 1997, but looks like a poised veteran back there now. They’ll travel across country to Seattle to take on the 10-6 Seahawks.
The Redskins are led by RB Clinton Portis, who rushed for 1262 yards – his fifth 1,000-yard campaign in six seasons. He scored 11 TDs, while posting career-bests of 47 receptions and 389 yards. When the Skins win, they win because of their stingy defense and ball control offense. They finished No. 8 overall in D – fourth-best vs the rush (91.2). In their current four-game win streak, Washington’s defense has surrendered just 13.3 PPG and a league-best 71.8 rushing yards.
Seattle will have their famous “12th man” behind them as their thunderous home crowd has led their franchise to a stellar 22-4 record at Qwest Field since 2005. They’ve also won their last three playoff home games, including last year’s 21-20 victory over Dallas when Tony Romo fumbled the snap in the closing seconds to set up the game-winning field goal.
Due to an inconsistent running game, Matt Hasselbeck has been the Seahawks' savior this season. He threw for 3966 yards and a 28-12 TD-INT ratio in 2007, and has four decent wide receivers. Deion Branch (calf) is expected to play, while D.J. Hackett, Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson will man the WR spots. Engram led the bunch with 94 catches and 1147 yards, while Burleson found the end zone a team-high nine times. Washington’s secondary prides themselves by being one of the elite pass defenses in the game though, featuring all former top-10 selections.
Former MVP Shaun Alexander is a shell of his former dominance, so expect Seattle to use Maurice Morris as well. With the in climate conditions, the ground game will likely play a decision part in the outcome of this contest. Whoever controls the ground game will likely take this first-round matchup. Look for Alexander the Great to live up to his nickname this weekend.
Prediction: Seattle 20 – Washington 13
Saturday, Jan. 5 8pm ET
#5 Jacksonville (-2.5) @ #4 Pittsburgh
Aired on NBC
High 20s, 0% chance of rain
Winner plays at #1 New England
According to the hype, this is expected to be the best game of the week. Despite being a Florida team, the Jaguars are built for cold weather and seem to have infinite interchangeable parts. The Jags defeated the Steelers 29-22 in Week 15 and are the heavy favorite, regardless of the fact they’re playing on the road. They will attempt to become the first team to win in Pittsburgh twice.
The Steel City started out like gangbusters, going 7-2. However, they’ve stalled recently, evidenced by their 3-4 record in the second half. They also lost their heart and soul when Fast Willie Parker went down with a season-ending broken leg. He was leading the NFL in rushing when he went down with his injury in Week 16. Meanwhile, the Jags went 6-2 in the second half with their only defeats coming on a three-point loss to Indy and Week 17’s pointless loss to Houston. It’s obvious who has the momentum, but will that be enough?
Jacksonville finished No. 2 in the NFL in rushing (149.4 YPG) and will look to pound revitalized Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew early and often. They finished with 224 rushing yards in Week 15 vs PIT, so expect a lot more of that same 1-2 punch. Taylor, who was snubbed for the Pro Bowl again this season, has come through with five consecutive 100-yard games. Breakout stud David Garrard (2509 passing yards, 18-3 TD-INT ratio) manages an amazing game behind center and will make his first career playoff start. Only Tom Brady (117.2) and opposing QB Ben Roethlisberger (104.1) were more efficient than the former career backup.
Big Ben is, without a doubt, a winner. He’s a force to be reckoned with, even without FWP. The combination of Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington and Heath Miller will be his top targets, while Najeh Davenport will take over the ground game chores. They finished No. 3 overall in rushing with 135.5 YPG, but Davenport doesn’t have nearly the same talent as Parker so expect Roethlisberger to utilize the pass attack.
Pittsburgh is a proud franchise, so you can count on that they won’t lay down. This will likely come down to the last drive of the game – expect the red-hot Jags to come out of top by a slim lead.
Prediction: Jacksonville 31 – Pittsburgh 24
Sunday, Jan. 6 1pm ET
#5 New York Giants @ #4 Tampa Bay (-3)
Aired on FOX
56-75 degrees, 0% chance of rain
Winner plays at #1 Dallas
It’s been seven years since the Giants have won a playoff game, and Jeff Garcia has defeated New York twice in that 0-4 stretch; once with the Niners in an amazing upset and again last season with the Eagles. With San Francisco, Garcia erased a 38-14 lead to help the Niners win an improbable 39-38 game on Jan. 5, 2003. He’ll look to do it again in Tampa Bay as the Bucs and G-Men face off on Sunday afternoon.
"I don't think that I really look at those games as feeling like I - or believing that I - have an edge up on the Giants," Garcia said. "It is not like that at all. I feel like what we did those days we were able to make enough plays to win the football game, but it is going to be a battle."
The highly efficient veteran field general posted a stellar 94.6 QB rating with Tampa this year, seventh overall. He’ll be pressured heavily Sunday with the Giants’ dominating defensive line, led by Osi Umenyiora (13 sacks), Justin Tuck (10 sacks) and Michael Strahan (nine sacks).
After injuries to Mike Alstott, Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman, the Bucs got some unexpected firepower from RB Earnest Graham, who rambled for 898 yards despite sitting out the Week 17 finale vs Carolina. Veterans Joey Galloway and former Giant-Ike Hilliard combined for 1700 yards receiving for the Bucs – they will command the pass attack.
New York will feature the sporadic Eli Manning, who finished with a less-than-strong 20 interceptions. However Eli shows up on Sunday will dictate how the G-Men perform. He can be great some games and look absolutely lost in others. Tampa ranks No. 2 overall in defense (278.4) and tops overall in passing (170.5), so he’ll be tested. Minus Jeremy Shockey (broken leg), Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and emerging TE Kevin Boss will be his favorite targets.
The Giants ground game was been remarkable this season led by 260-pound bruiser Brandon Jacobs, who rushed for 1,009 yards in his first year as the primary back. Reuben Droughns (six TDs) and up-and-coming Ahmad Bradshaw (8.3 avg.) will back him up in case on injury, so expect NY to give the Bucs their toughest test on the ground.
Prediction: New York 23 – Tampa Bay 16
Sunday, Jan. 6 4:30pm ET
#6 Tennessee @ #3 San Diego (-10)
Aired on CBS
48-59 degrees, 80% chance of rain
Winner plays at #2 Indianapolis
The Titans snuck into the playoffs by defeating the Colts in the last game of the NFL regular season schedule. They’ll take on the dangerous Chargers – winners of 10 of their past 12 games, including six straight. Tennessee has the lowest-ranked offense among all postseason squads, both point-wise (18.8) and yards-wise (311.7), and they are also very banged up with injuries. Vince Young was able to take place in the majority of Friday’s practice, but is still unable to go full speed due to a sore right quadriceps. He’s being called a game-time decision.
"I did say early he's a quick healer," coach Jeff Fisher said of Young. "He's been that way. He can overcome some difficult things rather quickly, so we're very optimistic at this point."
LenDale White has not practiced all week as well. He missed Wednesday and Thursday because of the death of his grandmother, and sat out Friday because of a sore knee. He is expected to start. Leading-WR Roydell Williams (broken right ankle) and TE Bo Scaife (lacerated liver) are both out for the duration of playoffs also. That means Ben Troupe and Ben Hartsock will have to pick up their games at TE, while Justin Gage and Eric Moulds will get more reps at WR.
San Diego is led by perennial All-Pro LaDainian Tomlinson in their offense; as L.T. goes, so do the Bolts. They knocked off Indy in Week 10 23-21 – as the Colts erased an early 23-0 deficit. Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard FG with 1:31 and Peyton Manning threw a franchise-record six interceptions for Indianapolis. Three of those INTs came from Pro Bowler Antonio Cromartie, who led the NFL with 10 picks on the season. Darren Sproles also took a punt and the opening kickoff back for a TD in this thriller.
Prediction: San Diego 30 – Tennessee 10