NFL 2007 Forecast: Wild Card Playoffs

And then there were 12...

After two grueling weeks of training camp, four weeks of "auditioning" and fine-tuning in the pre-season, and sixteen weeks of waging war on the gridiron battlefields across America, the NFL tournament is finally upon us.

Due to total domination, intricate timing, and/or other teams' misfortunes, these twelve franchises are the cream that has risen to the top and will compete for a chance to travel to Glendale, AZ and lay claim to the "cordon bleu" of the NFL: The Vince Lombardi Trophy.

A quarter of this Dynamic Dozen will go home after this weekend and join the other teams that didn't make the cut.

Who will it be? Can the smoldering Giants and Redskins each knock off a division champion or will the home teams prevail? Will the Steelers strike sweet revenge on the Jaguars who humiliated them in Week 15? Is it possible that the wobbly-kneed Titans can withstand the Chargers assault in southern California?

If this regular season was any indication of what this year's playoffs have in store, then it won't matter who wins. You will, no doubt, be thoroughly entertained or hospitalized.

• Washington Redskins (9-7) at Seattle Seahawks (10-6): NBC, 4:30pm EST, Saturday - Since 2001, Seattle is 45-15 (including 3-1 in the playoffs) at Qwest Field whose cantilever roofs hovering over the sidelines are each 760 feet long which is the length of three 747's end-to-end. This creates sound traps which ricochets the crowd noise back onto the field and has created a "12th Man" for the fans bringing confusion and frustration to opposing teams. Washington has had its share of obstacles to hurdle this season which is why their here in rainy Seattle. This Redskins team has a mountain of momentum and when it collides with this canyon stadium and its fans, it will be like a clasp of thunder pounding a mountain side. Coach Joe Gibbs is 5-1 vs. Seattle with his only loss coming two years ago in the playoffs in Seattle. The inspiration of Sean Taylor continues. EDDIE'S PICK - WASHINGTON
• Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): NBC, 8:00pm EST, Saturday - In regards to RB sensation Willie Parker being out for the year with a broken leg, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, "Whoever hoists that Lombardi Trophy in a month or so will have had injury issues and will have found ways to overcome it. We don't dwell on that. It's as much a part of the game as blocking and tackling. The healthy guys play and the standard of expectation doesn't change." Expectations will be sky high tomorrow night as Pittsburgh will look to exact revenge on J-town who throttled Pittsburgh 29-22 in Week 15. Jacksonville is hitting on all cylinders going in to Heinz Field, which shouldn't be in its "pending lawsuit" state, but the Steelers should be more than ready for them. Plus, history is on their side. Jacksonville has not won a playoff road game in eleven years, and no team has ever beaten Pittsburgh on its home turf twice in the same season in the 75-year history of the Black and Gold. EDDIE'S PICK - PITTSBURGH
• NY Giants (10-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): FOX, 1pm EST, Sunday - On January 5th, 2003, the NY Giants stormed into San Francisco and exploded to a 28-14 at halftime. Out of nowhere, QB Jeff Garcia engineered the second-biggest playoff comeback in NFL history as the Niners scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and won 39-38. Then, on January 7, 2007, the NY Giants went to Philadelphia in an attempt to slow down the surging Eagles, but came up short 23-20. The injured Donovan McNabb watched on the sidelines as Jeff Garcia led the charge. This Sunday, the Giants head to south Florida to face the Bucs and their field general, Jeff Garcia, who has played very well and consistent. The Tampa defense has been stalwart all year and will have its hands full containing the Giants rushing attack which has shredded opposing defenses the last few weeks. The key in this game will be which QB has the better game as the inconsistent Eli must find a way to steer through this Tampa D while Jeff Garcia will have to watch the Giants various pass rush schemes. These two teams have never met in the playoffs. EDDIE'S PICK - TAMPA BAY
• Tennessee Titans (10-6) at San Diego Chargers (11-5): CBS, 4:30pm EST, Sunday - In one of the most physical wars this season, San Diego rallied from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to squeeze past Tennessee 23-17 in overtime on December 9th in Music City. Four players were fined a total of $32,500 and LB Shawn Merriman accused Tennessee of playing dirty. The bad blood from that last meeting will no doubt carry over into this wild-card contest in San Diego as both teams are known for playing very aggressive and with much heart. San Diego's defense finished fifth in points allowed at 17.8 points per game and led the league with 30 interceptions. The Titans defense played suffocating defense earlier in the year but their performance tapered off a bit the last half of the season. Not only is the memories of the last game on the Chargers' mind, but Tennessee's offense is decimated by injuries as QB Vince Young is a game-time decision, WR Roydell Williams broke his ankle in practice this week, and Young's favorite target, TE Bo Scaife, has a lacerated liver. San Diego has won five straight vs. Tennessee --- make it six. EDDIE'S PICK - SAN DIEGO

STANDINGS

Cris Colllinsworth: 13-3, 177-79

Cris Carter: 14-2, 172-84

Bob Costas: 9-7, 169-87

Eddie Chinn: 11-5, 168-88

Dan Marino: 9-7, 167-89

Chris Mortensen: 13-3, 164-92

Sean Salisbury: 11-5, 161-94