AFC WILD CARD WATCH
By Andrea de Vera
OnlineTickets.com
Chargers. Steelers. Jaguars. Titans. They’re all in. But only two teams will come out of the AFC Wild Card weekend to face either the Patriots or Colts in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
#5 Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) @ #4 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) Sat., Jan. 5 @ 8 p.m.
Lookin’ Good: Aside from the picture-of-perfection Patriots, there’s no scarier team in the playoffs than the Jaguars. QB David Garrard is practically mistake free with only 3 INT, while Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew have combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards this season.
Seen Better Days: The injury-riddled Steelers can’t catch a break – no pun intended – with the loss of Pro-Bowl RB Willie Parker, DE Aaron Smith, OT Marvel Smith, OT Max Starks, and S Ryan Clark, among others. Moreover, the Steelers don’t have much of a home-field advantage since the Jags are the only team to win inside Heinz Field this season.
Edge: Jaguars. The Jags are rockin’ while the Steelers are rollin’ – downhill – with a depleted lineup and three losses in their last four games – including their Week 15 loss to the Jaguars. Had the Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens (5-11) in Week 17, Pittsburgh would have faced #6 Tennessee in the first round.
#6 Tennessee Titans (10-6) @ #3 San Diego Chargers (11-5) Sun., Jan. 6 @ 4:30 p.m.
Lookin’ Good: After a slow 1-3 start, the Chargers have turned their season around, winning 10 of their last 12 games. Pro-Bowl RB LaDainian Tomlinson has dominated the ground game with 1,474 yards rushing – tops among NFL running backs – while TE Antonio Gates and CB Antonio Cromartie provide plenty of spark on offense and defense, respectively.
Seen Better Days: It’s no secret that the Titans got a little help from their friends – namely the Colts, who rested their starters in Week 17 – to win 16-10 and claim the #6 seed by the slimmest of margins. The Titans also lost Vince Young in the third quarter to a strained right quadriceps, leaving Young’s return up in the air.
Edge: Chargers. With L.T. back to his ol’ 2006 MVP-winning ways and a defense as dominant as ever, the Chargers (winners of six games straight) are heading into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
AFC Divisional Playoffs: After AFC Wild-Card winners are determined, #1 New England Patriots will host the lowest remaining AFC seed, while #2 Indianapolis Colts will host the highest remaining AFC seed.
#4 Steelers, #5 Jaguars, or #6 Titans @ #1 Patriots (Sat., Jan. 12)
#3 Chargers, #4 Steelers, or #5 Jaguars @ #2 Colts (Sun., Jan. 13)
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