The NFL playoffs kicked off with four very interesting and surprising games in the wild card weekend.
Cardinals over Falcons
Playing in the franchise's first home playoff games since 1947, the Cardinals’ aerial attack took a bit of a backseat to their running game. Surprising the fans, media and Falcons, the Cardinals ran the ball just enough to keep Atlanta's defence honest. That gave Kurt Warner all the time he would need to play pass-and-catch with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The win over the Falcons went a long way to answer all the critics who felt the Cardinals were an undeserving playoff team. The Cards get a tough match-up next week when they take on Panthers in Carolina.
Chargers over Colts in OT
Without a doubt, the most shocking and surprising game of the weekend. After taking heat all week for having a home playoff game with a mediocre 8-8 record, the Chargers went out and extended their win streak to five games. The Chargers snapped the Colts’ nine-game win streak and earned a ton of respect in the process. Darren Sproles overcame an endzone fumble to steal the show offensively and ended up scoring the game-winning touchdown. The cockiest quarterback in the NFL, Philip Rivers, just received some more ammunition to feed his California-sized ego. Norv Turner beat Tony Dungy again as the Chargers booked their ticket to Pittsburgh for next week’s game against the Steelers.
Ravens over Dolphins
Joe Flacco became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game on the road. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the Ravens defence held the Dolphins to only 52 yards rushing. Once again leading by example, Ray Lewis led all Ravens defenders with nine tackles. The Ravens’ all-world defence was equally good against the pass as they intercepted Chad Pennington four times. The Ravens defence is so good that they are beginning to look capable of winning games all by themselves. Despite all of this, rookie head coach John Harbaugh still gets no respect. Up next, the Ravens are in Tennessee to take on the Titans.
Eagles over Vikings
Under the tutelage of veteran coordinator Jim Johnson, the Eagles defence was just way too much for Tavaris Jackson to handle. The game was basically over when Asante Samuel returned a Jackson interception 44 yards for a touchdown. Donovan McNabb and Bryan Westbrook made some key plays on offence and Andy Reid can let that grizzly beard of his keep on growing. It is hard to believe that McNabb is the same guy that Eagles fans were ready to run out of Philadelphia after their tie with the Bengals. I can only imagine just how nuts the atmosphere is going to be at the Meadowlands when the Eagles arrive to play the Giants.
Offensive Game Ball
I was tempted to give it to the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald after his six receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in Arizona's win over the Falcons. At the end of the day, Chargers running back Darren Sproles stands out above everyone else this past weekend. The tiny 5-foot, 6-inch dynamo was practically unstoppable in the Chargers’ upset win over the Colts. Filling in for the injured LaDainian Tomlinson, Sproles had 328 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns including the game winner. That just so happens to be the third-best all-purpose yardage total by a single player in NFL playoff history.
Defensive Game Ball
This is the biggest no-brainer of wild card weekend -- Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens. Cementing his status as the best safety in the NFL, Reed had a massive game against the Dolphins. Reed had two interceptions and returned one of them for a 64-yard touchdown. Reed now has five interceptions in his last three playoff games. Even more impressive, Reed now has an incredible 10 interceptions in his last seven games.
Special Teams Game Ball
I hate to give it to a kicker, but San Diego Chargers punter Mike Scifres had an epic game Saturday night against the Colts. Scifres had six punts for a huge 52.7-yard average. One of his punts was a 67-yard cruise missile that had Al Michaels running out of adjectives. Because of Scifres’ heroics, Peyton Manning and the Colts offence were forced to start four drives within their own 10 yard line.
Coaching Game Ball
You have to give all the credit in the world to Andy Reid and the Eagles coaching staff in their win over the Vikings. However, my coaching game ball goes to Norv Turner. For a guy who gets ripped around the NFL by the media and fans, Turner came through Saturday night against the Colts. That's two straight years that Turner and the Chargers have beaten the Colts in the post-season. When you beat someone like Tony Dungy and a team like the Colts two years in a row, that really says something.
Stiff of the Week
There was the Falcons’ Matt Ryan and his two interceptions and a fumble. You have the Vikings’ Tavaris Jackson with his brutal performance against the Eagles. And of course there's the Dolphins’ Chad Pennington. The NFL's comeback player of the year was assaulted by the Ravens defence and tossed four interceptions in an ugly outing. I hate to do this to a nice guy like Pennington, but four picks in a playoff game is completely unacceptable and he gets the label as the "Stiff of the Week".
