NFL NUGGETS : Defense carries Giants, Steelers to playoff wins
Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009
STEPHAN SAVOIA Associated Press Troy Polamalu and the Pittsburgh Steelers play the San Diego Chargers today in the AFC playoffs.
There are a couple of great games on tap today. I wonder who the refs will give them to? I'll try to put away my disdain for NFL officiating today and enjoy couple of hard-hitting matchups. Cinderella teams Philadelphia and San Diego will try to upset homestanding powerhouses New York and Pittsburgh. Buckle up your chin straps.
Philadelphia at New York (noon, FOX - KFTA, Cox 8)
The New York Giants, without Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Plaxico Burress, are still the favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions. There's no team in the NFL that better exemplifies winning with a strong defense and a running game. As long as Eli Manning doesn't screw up the game, the Giants are going to be hard to beat.
When Brandon Jacobs is healthy, there's not a more intimidating runner in the NFL. I watched the 260-pound freight train steamroll my Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. Combine Jacobs with the explosive Derrick Ward and you've got a twoheaded running monster that's scarier than anything J.J. Abrams could come with.
Luckily for Philly fans, the Eagles defense seems to get better every week. I'm a big fan of veteran safety Brian Dawkins, who's still delivering big hits in his 13th season.
On offense, the Eagles go as QB Donovan McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook go. If the Giants try and cover Westbrook on passing routes with a linebacker like Antonio Pierce, then Westbrook will run wild today and the Eagles will win.
To me, the Eagles' glaring weakness is a lack of capable receivers (other than Westbrook). Rookie DeSean Jackson is speedy and shifty, but still drops too many passes. KevIn Curtis belongs in the slot, rather than outside.
Philly's lack of reliable pass-catchers finally catches up with it today ... Giants 28, Eagles 14.
San Diego at Pittsburgh (3:45 p.m., CBS - KFSM, Cox 5)
I'm also going to put aside my disdain for the Pittsburgh Steelers to make an objective pick. You have to respect what that defense has accomplished this season.
Pittsburgh is allowing the fewest points per game of any NFL team, against the toughest schedule in the league, no less. That's scary good.
The Steelers might have their hands full today with Chargers QB Phillip Rivers, who continues to play good football. Rivers' accurate arm and San Diego's improving defense powered the team from a 4-8 record to the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
I'm hearing a lot of talk about running back Darren Sproles, San Diego's tiny titan, but I'm not hearing much about Pittsburgh RB Willie Parker. A healthy Parker will make all the difference for QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has often looked like a punching bag in the pocket this season.
Defense rules the day and Pittsburgh advances to the AFC Championship game on a late field goal ... Steelers 17, Chargers 16.
Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.
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