“D” is the name of the game

Wildcard weekend showcases playoff

Defences

VUTHANA SUON STAFF

The 2005-06 National Football League playoffs were off and running last weekend with the Wild Card games and continue this weekend with the divisional match-ups. After a tough regular season, four of the 12 teams who qualified for the post-season saw their years come to an end this week. Wild Card weekend saw the road team prevail in three of the four games, while two teams failed to produce any offence at all and the defences were the story in a third game. Meanwhile, the hapless fans in Cincinnati, who haven’t seen their team play in the playoffs in over 15 years, were dealt a devastating blow early when they witnessed the team’s quarterback taken down in the first quarter.

Washington Redskins 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10

So how about them Redskins? In a battle of NFC wildcard contenders, the ‘Skins set a new playoff record, winning a playoff game with only 120 total yards of offence. Was it a matter of an inept offence, or great defence? In this case, it was the latter, as Tampa Bay is rated as giving up the fewest yards per game in the league. Regardless, the red-hot ‘Skins have been on a roll since the start of December and carry a six-game winning streak to the next round.

New England Patriots 28 Jacksonville Jaguars 3

If there’s one thing we all should learn, it’s that come playoff time, Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots will show up and play at a championship calibre. In a 28-3 rout of the Jaguars, the Pats helped dispel any notions they were past their prime. Credit New England’s defence, as they stepped up and shut down the Jags’ offence, combining for six sacks on quarterback Byron Leftwich, who looked rusty after coming back from injury, and his replacement David Garrard.

Carolina Panthers 23

New York Giants 0

Welcome to playoff football, Eli Manning. Forcing Manning to just 113 yards, and limiting running back Tiki Barber to just 41 yards on the ground, the Panthers shut down the Giants vaunted offence (ranked fourth in the NFL), en route to an easy 23-0 win. Throughout the regular season, much was said about the resurgence of the Giants, but in facing the Panthers, they were taken down a few notches. Carolina exposed the Giants, forcing turnovers and mistakes, and held the advantage in time of possession, holding the ball for over 42 minutes to the Giants 17:15.

Pittsburgh Steelers 31

Cincinnati Bengals 17

The Bengals’ season was effectively over with the injury to quarterback Carson Palmer. He tore his ACL/MCL while completing his first pass of the game on the Bengals second possession of the game. Without Palmer the Bengals looked lost. The Steelers, using their playoff experience (the Bengals last made the post-season in 1990), took advantage of the injury, teaching the Bengals what it means to be a playoff contender. In a decisive 31-17 win, the Steelers maintained composure, even when they fell behind, compared with the Bengals, who were more like the “bungles” without Palmer, highlighted by a botched field goal in the third quarter.

Predictions for

Divisional Playoffs

Washington at Seattle –

The Redskins’ inability to put points on the board will doom them against the Seattle Seahawks, as league MVP running back Shaun Alexander will show the Redskins what a real contender can do. (Suon – Seahawks; Lamb – Seahawks)

New England at Denver –

Without the familiarity of their home field in Foxboro, the Patriots will be in for a tough test against the Broncos, and their depleted roster will finally take its toll. The Broncos win a close one. (Suon – Broncos; Lamb – Patriots)

Carolina at Chicago –

Expect a low-scoring affair in this one, as the game will be played in a cold Soldier Field in Chicago. Both teams are outstanding on defence, but Carolina holds the edge in a close game, due to their playoff experience. (Suon – Panthers; Lamb – Bears)

Pittsburgh at Indianapolis –

The Steelers visit an Indianapolis Colts team who flirted with perfection this season. For the first time in the Peyton Manning era, the Colts have a defence that is every bit as good as their explosive offence. Pittsburgh will be in tough and may make the game close, but the Colts fought hard for home field advantage and they won’t go down in their first game of the post-season. (Suon – Colts; Lamb – Colts)