NFC divisional playoff | Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints
6 p.m. Saturday, KDVR-31
LAST WEEK
Eagles beat Giants 23-20 in wild-card game; Saints had bye as NFC’s second-seeded team.
LAST MEETING
Saints won 27-24 on Oct. 15, 2006, at home.
POINT SPREAD
Saints by 5
HASH MARKS
Saints are in the playoffs for the first time since 2000. … Even missing QB Donovan McNabb for the past seven games, Eagles finished regular season with club-record 6,103 yards on offense.
EAGLES WIN IF
The momentum built over six straight wins continues. QB Jeff Garcia wasn’t as sharp in the wild-card game against the Giants as he was for most of his time as starter, but Westbrook essentially saved the day. Super Bowl-bound teams have someone come through each week; will someone else be the hero in this game?
SAINTS WIN IF
Just one year after a horrible season caused in large part by Hurricane Katrina, the Saints have become the feel-good story of the NFL. There’s momentum, and then there’s destiny. New Orleans has made a great many very good personnel moves to get the ball rolling. Now, it might not stop until the Super Bowl.
KEY MATCHUP
Saints QB Drew Brees vs.
Eagles S Brian Dawkins. The player who has the better day might determine which team gets into next week’s NFC championship game. Brees would have been the league’s most valuable player in any season but the year of L.T., and he was the NFL’s best free-agent signing. Dawkins has been a star for 11 seasons. This year he was second on the team with 93 tackles and four interceptions. Dawkins is still capable of bone-jarring hits – and inspiring his team to victory.
EAGLES PLAYER ON THE SPOT
CB Rod Hood. The replacement for Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard, Hood will have to play well against one of the NFL’s best passing attacks. Brees threw for 4,418 yards and 26 touchdowns, and 10 players had at least 14 receptions. If Saints WR Joe Horn (groin) can play at close to full speed, the Eagles might have matchup problems on the outside.
SAINTS PLAYER ON THE SPOT
MLB Marc Simoneau. Westbrook had a spectacular season and a great playoff game against the Giants, rushing for 141 yards. In the Saints’ base defense, the responsibility of shadowing the elusive runner might fall to Simoneau. In the teams’ regular-season meeting, Westbrook was limited to 72 yards rushing and three catches for 3 yards. A similar performance by Simoneau and the New Orleans defense should result in a victory.
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW
The St. Louis Rams are the only team New Orleans has beaten in a playoff game in 39 NFL seasons. The Saints won 31-28 in December 2000. Horn is the only current New Orleans player to participate in that game.
EAGLES INJURY REPORT
Out: CB Lito Sheppard (elbow). Questionable: RB Thomas Tapeh (knee). Probable: LB Dedrick Roper (knee); RB Ryan Moats (ankle); LB Omar Gaither (shoulder); T Tra Thomas (knee); LB Jeremiah Trotter (knee); S Michael Lewis (knee); RB Brian Westbrook (knee).
SAINTS INJURY REPORT
Questionable: WR Joe Horn (groin); S Omar Stoutmire (knee).
PREDICTION
Saints 24-13
ANTHONY COTTON
AFC divisional playoffs | Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens
2:30 p.m. Saturday, KCNC-4
LAST WEEK
Colts beat Kansas City 23-8 in wild-card game; Ravens had bye as AFC’s second-seeded team.
LAST MEETING
Colts won 24-7 Sept. 11, 2005, at M&T Bank Stadium.
POINT SPREAD
Ravens by 4
HASH MARKS
Colts, in the divisional playoffs for a fourth straight year, join Dallas (1992-95) to win at least 12 games in four consecutive seasons. … Under coach Brian Billick, the Ravens are 55-7 when leading at halftime. … Colts coach Tony Dungy is trying to join Tom Flores and Mike Ditka as the only men to win a Super Bowl as a player and coach. … Ravens QB Steve McNair is one of only four players in NFL history with at least 3,500 yards rushing and 30,000 passing.
RAVENS WIN IF
Their defense does its thing and rattles Colts QB Peyton Manning, who struggled last week against the Chiefs, throwing three interceptions. The Ravens have the league’s top-ranked defense and can apply the pressure up the middle that seems to bother the Colts’ offense more than anything else.
COLTS WIN IF
They can survive the relentless pressure that Baltimore is sure to apply. In last week’s win against the Chiefs, the offense was content to throw passes underneath to RB Joseph Addai and tight ends Dallas Clark, Ben Utecht and Bryan Fletcher – that may be necessary against the Ravens.
KEY MATCHUP
Ravens S Dawan Landry vs. Clark. Lost amid all the other stars on the Ravens’ defense, Landry nonetheless had five interceptions and three sacks during the regular season. While he doesn’t get the publicity of San Diego’s Antonio Gates or Baltimore’s Todd Heap, Clark is one of the most dangerous tight ends in the league and could emerge Saturday as Manning’s primary weapon.
RAVENS PLAYER ON THE SPOT
MLB Ray Lewis. Other players on the Ravens’ defense – Ed Reed, Bart Scott, Adalius Thomas – appear to have surpassed the man who was once the most feared player in the NFL. But Lewis is still the defense’s emotional leader; if he has a big game, it surely will fire up the rest of the unit.
COLTS PLAYER ON THE SPOT
Addai. In his first NFL playoff start, the rookie rushed for 122 yards against the Chiefs. Afterward he spoke of how intense the playoffs were – that will only magnify against the fierce Ravens. While the pressure certainly builds on Manning, Addai could be a valuable safety valve if he has another outstanding effort.
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Since 2000, the Ravens have the NFL’s best home record, 42-14.
COLTS INJURY REPORT
Questionable: WR Ricky Proehl (hamstring); CB Nick Harper (ankle); T Ryan Diem (shoulder); DE Robert Mathis (hip); LB Gary Brackett (ankle); S Bob Sanders (knee); G Ryan Lilja (knee); RB Joseph Addai (chest); T Daniel Federkeil (hip).
RAVENS INJURY REPORT
Questionable: TE Quinn Sypniewski (wrist); T Jonathan Ogden (toe); G Keydrick Vincent (groin). Probable: S Gerome Sapp (Back); LB Adalius Thomas (ankle).
PREDICTION
Colts 20-17.
ANTHONY COTTON
