sportsfanIQ

Arizona at New Orleans (-7)

Last week's 96-point explosion was record setting; that is, until possibly this game.  I'm sure most have seen the mind-numbing numbers, but for effect, let's review a few that stuck out.  Kurt Warner had more TDs (five) than incompletions (four); there were 124 plays for 1,024 total yards; 62 first downs and one blatantly obvious, yet missed, roughing the passer call. (Sorry, I had to get that in there.)  Arizona managed to expose the second-ranked overall defense of Green Bay and now has the twenty-fifth rated New Orleans in their sight.  For the regular season, the Saints allowed 357.8 YDS/G through the air, while the Cardinals threw for 344.4 YDS/G, not including last week.  Though the Saints led the league in points per game (31.9), the Cardinals, evidently, can score at will as well (23.4 PTS/G for the regular season).  Last year the Cardinals led the entire post-season in PTS/G (29.5), while averaging 373.3 YDS/G.  The Saints all year have been imagining a home field march to the Super Bowl.  The one foe that poses a challenge to their stampede is Arizona.  Although I think the Saints move on, seven points is a lot to offer.  I'll take the high-flying, point-producing team from Arizona and the 7.  

Baltimore at Indianapolis (-6.5)

For the sake of Jim Caldwell, the Colts better hope they win it all.  After letting up to end the year in 2005, Indianapolis fans saw their beloved Colts suffer a divisional loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champs - Pittsburgh Steelers.  Fast forward to this matchup and there may be a little deja vu surfacing.  The Ravens can expect a lot of Peyton Manning, who comes in with the second rated aerial attack (282 YDS/G), and the worst rated ground game (80.9 YDS/G).  But since Baltimore is fifth against the run and eighth stopping the pass, knowing Manning, don't be surprised if Indianapolis goes against reasoning and establishes the run early.  FYI, though, Joseph Addai led the Colts with 828 yards on 219 attempts (ouch).  It's an age-old adage: a solid defense and running game wins in January. (The Colts had the eighteenth overall defense in the regular season.)  Judging from last year, however, when the Steelers averaged just 2.9 yards a carry and were second only to the Cardinals (8.5) in yards per passing attempt (7.7), perhaps the Colts can throw their way to Miami after all.  I like them to move on, but I expect Ray Lewis and the Ravens to keep it close.  Ravens plus 6.5.

Dallas at Minnesota (-3)

Since losing in Week 14 to the San Diego Chargers, thus continuing their December woes, the Dallas Cowboys have won four straight, giving up just 31 points and collecting nine turnovers in the process.  Of the four remaining NFC teams, the Cowboys' regular season provided the toughest journey. (Their opponents were a combined 125-131.  The Ravens had the hardest in the AFC with an opposing combined record of 134-122.  The overall worst was the Saints at 109-147.)  As for Minnesota, if they expect to win in January, Adrian Peterson better get going fast, and literally not drop the ball.  For the year, Peterson's handled the rock 314 times, including 43 receptions, and has lost six fumbles. (The three Cowboys' backs combined have only lost three.)  John Elway rode off into the sunset behind the running of Terrell Davis.  If Favre wants to do the same, it's up to number 28 to step it up.  I'm not sure he will.  I like Dallas to win outright.  Give me the Boys plus the 3.

NYJ at San Diego (-7.5)

How'd the Jets' number one defense and running game fare last week? (BTW, please see the age-old adage above.) For the offense: 171 yards on the ground and 2 TDs.  For the defense: a subpar 171 yards given up on just 22 attempts, but they did force two turnovers.  Mark Sanchez was efficient, going 12 for 15 with 182 YDS and a touchdown.  His QB rating (139.4) was second only to Kurt Warner's ridiculous 154.1.  The matchup that pins the fifth passing offense of San Diego (271 YDS/G) against the number one passing defense of New York (154 YDS/G) is intriguing.  But I'll be watching to see if the Chargers, who allow 117.6 yards on the ground, can stop the Jets' running attack (172.3 YDS/G).  Cincinnati knew what they had to do, and failed.  San Diego, regardless of how many games they've won consecutively, know the same thing - stop Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene.  If they can do that, they'll be one win away from their first Super Bowl since the 1994 season.  I've been saying a Saints/Chargers Super Bowl for a while now, so I won't back down now.  Jets keep it close for three quarters, but San Diego moves on by at least 10.  Chargers minus 7.5.