Day 2 of the opening weekend to the NFL Playoffs is here. Check out my picks for todays batch of NFL Wildcard games after the jump.
San Diego Chargers AT Cincinnati Bengals(9-7) (11-5)
Phillip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers return to the playoffs for the first time in three years and look to continue their resurgence under first year coach Mike McCoy going. McCoy and his staff have reined Rivers in by taking his primary emphasis off of the deep ball and focusing on more short to intermediate routes. The results have been more efficiency and less turnovers. That will be key against an opportunistic and aggressive Bengal defense. Even with injuries limiting their effectiveness and depth, Cincinnati's defense is still formidable. The Chargers need to get Danny Woodhead, rookie wide out Keenan Allen, and Ryan Matthews (who had possibly the quietest 1,200 yard season ever) involved early and their defense most prove that it can get to a mistake prone Andy Dalton.
The Bengals are in search of their first playoff win in over 23 years! As I mentioned previously, Cincinnati's defense is depleted due to several injuries , yet they still are a very capable unit. They need to get to Phillip Rivers and disrupt his timing with his receivers and also limit the impact of Danny Woodhead. On offense Cincinnati needs to protect the ball (I'm talking to you Andy Dalton!), get all world wide receiver AJ Green involved early and often, and put the big play ability of rookie running back Giovani Bernard on display. The Bengals have the weapons to compete and beat pretty much any team in this years tournament and their biggest threat is to their success is...the Cincinnati Bengals.
Prediction: Bengals 24-20
Green Bay Packers VS San Francisco 49ers(8-7-1) (12-4)
Finishing 12-4 gets you a first round trip to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to play the 8-7-1 Green Bay for the San Francisco 49ers, what a consolation prize! The NFL really has to consider changing this, I don't care if the Packers won their mediocre division. Anyway, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick seems to have his best performances against the Packers as seen in this years opening game and their meeting in last years playoff. He may not need to be that spectacular to lead his team to victory this time around but he definitely needs to perform better than he did for the majority of this season. He needs to prove his capable of moving the ball in clutch situations without depending on his feet. With the way the 9ers play defense, San Francisco needs to attack Green Bay's suspect run defense with Frank Gore and allow that to open up the passing game for Anquan Bolden, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree.
Aaron Rodgers is back and all seems right in Wisconsin as the Packers snuck into the playoff's thanks to a great block by fullback John Kuhn and whatever defense Chicago safety Chris Conte decided to run on the Bears last defensive play. Rookie running back Eddie Lacy brings much needed balance to the Packers offense, but his effectiveness is in question due to an ankle injury. Rodgers still should find some success against San Francisco's defense but the Niners have proven time and time again that they can come up with the big play or stop to win a game for their team. Green Bay's biggest question mark is their defense and it will ultimately come down to their ability to limit the 49ers rushing attack and big plays down the seam by Vernon Davis if they want to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
Prediction: 49ers 27-24
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