BY JIM LANG
sportsnet.ca
The NFC playoff picture offers up a historic rival and a game that will feature the old gunslinger against the newcomer in Green Bay. The Cowboys and Eagles need no introductions ahead of their clash as the two teams played just one week ago, a 24-0 win in favour of Dallas. In Arizona, the Cardinals are hoping to start another run to the Big Game against the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers.
SPORTSNET.CA NFL guru Jim Lang breaks down the Wild Card weekend in the NFL and offers up his key match ups and the picks to win.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys 
(Saturday, 8 pm/ET: Cowboys Stadium)
Depending on the day of the week in Philadelphia, Andy Reid is either a coaching icon or the stupidest man in the NFL. Depending on the day of the week in Dallas, Wade Phillips is either a solid NFL coach with a gift for good defenc, or he’s a bumbling fool on the verge of getting fired. However, what both men are is the ultimate NFL survivors. Phillips has been a head coach eight years in the NFL with three different teams. Reid’s resume is even more impressive as he’s been the head coach of the Eagles for a remarkable 11 seasons.
If you’ve ever heard the call-in shows on the WIP all-sports radio in Philadelphia it makes that accomplishment all the more remarkable. The main difference between the two coaches is the relationship with their respective quarterbacks. In Philly, Reid and McNabb practically share the same brain. In Dallas, Phillips is Romo’s boss in name only; when it comes to the Cowboys offence, it's Romo and co-ordinator Jason Garrett who call the shots. Phillips is smart enough to stick to what he knows best, defence.
Key match-up: Jason Peters vs. DeMarcus Ware
In my opinion, the turning point to the Cowboys season took place in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Chargers on December the 13. After suffering a serious neck injury, Ware was carted off the field on a stretcher and gave the thumbs up to the frightened crowd at Cowboys stadium. Next week, a less than healthy Ware sacked Drew Brees twice and the Cowboys have never looked back. In a sport were respect is everything, nobody carries more respect in the Cowboys locker room than Ware. Peters and the Eagles offensive line face the impossible task of keeping Ware and his Dallas mean street posse out of McNabb’s face. Reid might have to go with "max protection" on nearly every passing play to pull that off.
Key match-up: Marion Barber vs. Jeremiah Trotter
Known throughout the NFL as The Barbarian, Marion Barber might not have league leading stats but he is a defensive back's worst nightmare. Barber is a punishing running back and gives the Cowboys a great change of pace from the high-flying passing game of Romo and Austin. Last week, Barber averaged 6.5 yards a carry to clinch the NFC East. If Trotter and his buddies on defence allow that kind of production again, it’s going to be a long day for the Eagles.
The Eagles may use Michael Vick in a few different ways to mix up the offence. |
The Eagles win if:
They actually score some points. The Cowboys defence did a number on the Eagles last week and Donovan McNabb and the offence needs to score a touchdown in the first quarter to have a chance. That means McNabb getting the ball in the hands of DeSean Jackson and letting the little man fly. That also means Andy Reid coming up with a game plan the makes the most of Jackson’s game breaking speed. Considering their backs are against the wall in this one, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Reid install some new wrinkles to the Eagles playbook that feature Michael Vick. Let’s be honest; after what happened last week Reid and the Eagles have nothing to lose.
The Cowboys win if:
Romo is Romo and Austin is Austin. Tony Romo and Miles Austin are tight. Both players were undrafted and unwanted free agents and had to fight and claw their way to the top. Romo and Austin have turned the Cowboys passing game into a bona fide offensive weapon. The Cowboys will also win if they keep playing defence like they have the last two weeks. Back to back shut-outs are very rare in the NFL. But the Cowboys are riding back to back shutouts into this game and the confidence level on defence is sky high. DeMarcus Ware and the Cowboys front seven will make life miserable for McNabb.
Intangibles:
Pressure can do funny things to an athlete. The more pressure he was under, the better Joe Montana played. Now it’s Romo’s turn to take his game to the next level in the post-season. The Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game since 1996 and with rumours swirling that Jerry Jones will fire Phillips if they lose to the Eagles there is no lack of pressure at the Cowboys facility. I don’t know why, maybe its experience, but Romo seems like a different quarterback and a different person this year. If the Cowboys score some points in the first quarter and the defence forces some three and outs then Romo's confidence level will be unassailable. I have been lucky enough to interview Donovan McNabb and I found the man to be instantly likeable. McNabb’s problem is that he gets blamed for everything that goes wrong with the Eagles. Now if the Eagles can slow down the Cowboys offence and score some points early in the game, then maybe they can take the crowd out of the game.
Who wins: The Cowboys
Bill Clinton was President of the United States the last time the Cowboys won a playoff game. That’s a scary thought. Another scary thought is the Eagles themselves. They are a very unpredictable team and there’s no way to truly know which Eagles team will show up. Will it be the one that was shutout with the NFC East on the line? Or will it be the one that destroyed the Giants earlier in the season? I do know which Cowboys team will show up this week, and I really think the Eagles will be helpless to stop them.
Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals 
(Sunday, 4:40 pm/ET: University of Phoenix Stadium)
The injury bug hit the Cardinals at the absolute worst time of the season. Depending how treatment goes and how their respective pain threshold is the Cardinals could be missing both wide receiver Anquan Boldin (ankle) and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee). If Boldin can’t go, then the Packers will roll its coverage and blanket Larry Fitzgerald. If DRC can’t go, then Aaron Rodgers and the Packers passing game will have a field day.
Even if both players are in the lineup, they won't be anywhere near 100 per cent. The Packers come into the game fairly healthy and extremely confident. Under the tutelage of long time defensive guru Dom Capers, the Packers led the entire NFL with a plus-22 in the turnover ratio. In comparison, the Cardinals were a minus five this season. The Packers crossed its version of the Rubicon River back in Week 9 during a dreadful loss to the Bucs. Since that day, in the words of Julius Caesar, the die was cast and the Packers turned their season around. In the last four weeks of the season, the enigmatic Cardinals have lost to the Packers and the 49ers and have beaten the Rams and the Lions.
Key match-up: Charles Woodson vs. Larry Fitzgerald
This has the potential to the marquee match up of the entire Wild Card weekend. Woodson is the odds-on favourite to be named the defensive player of the year in the NFL. Last year, Fitzgerald had the greatest post-season run of any receiver in the history of the NFL. These are two amazing players at the peak of their respective positions. As great as Woodson is, Fitzgerald is more than capable of making him look bad and burning him for a long touchdown. As great as Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner are, Woodson is more than capable of jumping a route and burning them for a key interception.
Key match-up: Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett vs. Packers offensive tackle Chad Clifton
The Packers gave up a league leading 51 sacks this year; the majority of those took place earlier in the season when Clifton was hurt and Rodgers was hanging on to the ball too long. With Rodgers internal clock working much better and Clifton healthy, the Packers have only given up two sacks the last three games. Clifton with have his hands full with the 285-pound Dockett. An underrated defensive end, Dockett had three sacks in Super Bowl XLIII and will be looking to do the same to Rodgers. If the 320-pound Clifton is on his game and keeps Dockett out of the Packers backfield, then Rodgers can put up some big numbers.
Sir Charles Woodson and being awesome need no introduction. |
The Packers win if:
Rodgers gets into a groove. The Packers won seven of its last eight games and Rodgers is a big reason why. Rodgers threw for over 4,400 yards and 30 touchdowns, and took a lot less sacks the last six weeks of the season. He spreads the ball around and makes smart use of Ryan Grant and his running game. The last half of the season the Packers defence really bought into Capers' schemes and took its game up a notch. With the likes of B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews Jr., the Packers haven't allowed a running back to gain 100-yards since Steven Jackson back on September the 27. On top of shutting down the Cards running game, the Packers will look to put pressure on an immobile Kurt Warner.
The Cardinals win if:
Darnell Dockett and the Cardinals defence can get a ton of pressure on Rodgers and throw him off his rhythm. The big danger of all out blitzing Rodgers will be the fact the Cards will open themselves up to screen passes and draw plays. Offensively, the Cards can not be one dimensional. Getting running back Beanie Wells going early is a must to keep the Packers defence honest. If the Cardinals can run the ball, the will force the Packers to put eight defenders "in the box" and that will open up a myriad of passing plays for Warner.
Intangibles:
When I was interviewing Ken Whisenhunt during last year’s Super Bowl in Tampa, I was immediately struck by the man’s intensity. He may not spew saliva like Bill Cowher, but Whisenhunt is not afraid to get in a player's face. Whisenhunt will play the "nobody respects us" card all week long and is prepared to milk it for all that its worth. Nobody respected the Cardinals last year and they damn near won it all. I honestly think there was a devious method to Whisenhunt’s madness during last week’s blowout loss to the Packers. The man who used to work for Cowher has learned a thing or two about motivation and his Cardinals will be foaming at the mouth come game time. Mike McCarthy always strikes me a coach more interested in fanatical preparation than fire and brimstone motivational speeches. McCarthy doesn't have to use any tricks, he just has to get his team ready and they should be more than capable of doing the rest.
Who wins: The Packers
The Cardinals were the team that stunned everyone last year with a remarkable run in the post-season, but there will be no surprises this time around -- they’re good and every team in the league is extra prepared for them. Not only that, every team is hyper-prepared for what Fitzgerald can do to a unprepared defence. The Packers have kind of flown under the radar this year in the NFC. While the football media were fawning over the Vikings, Saints and Cowboys the Packers have quietly gone about their business and come into the post season on a serious roll. The Packers have the edge on defence and Rodgers is every bit as good as Kurt Warner. On top of that, the Packers run the ball better than the Cardinals. Whisenhunt can play the “no respect” card all he likes -- it won’t be enough.
Check out Jim Lang's AFC Wild Card preview and predictions as well. | Read it here
