Super Sunday Has Arrvied!

Welcome back, Sportz Freaks to a very special Super Bowl edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk! That's right, it's Super Bowl Sunday and dare I say that this is the biggest Super Bowl match up in quite some time. The Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of an unprecedented 6 Super Bowls, will head down to North Texas to do battle with the winner of the first two Super Bowls, the Green Bay Packers. Both these teams have quite a historical background, but they also have interesting stories in the 2010 season.

The Steelers, winners of two championships in the last five seasons, began the year with much doubt. Their fearless QB, Ben Roethlisberger, was suspended for the first four games of the year, and he city of Pittsburgh was anxious to see if their team could remain in the hunt with a backup. Yet, the Steelers marched through their early-season adversity and won their first three in a row, and five out of their first six. Pittsburgh went on to achieve a 12-4 record and earned the #2 seed in the AFC, as well as a first round bye. After downing hated division rival Baltimore in the first round, and edging the New Jory Jets in the AFC Title game, the Steelers are headed to their 8th Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

Meanwhile, Green Bay is on a mission as well. Early Super Bowl favorites, the Packers got off to a bit of a slow start, and needed to win their last two in a row to sneak into the playoffs. From there, it was a dominant run over the Eagles, Falcons and Bears to get back to the big game. Aaron Rodgers has been nothing short of phenomenal, and the Pack have scratched and clawed their way from the 6th seed in the NFC to make their 5th Super Bowl appearance.

Tonight's game matches two of the most storied franchises in NFL history, and it's sure to be a classic. This article will cover each team, position by position, in an attempt to predict who will emerge victorious in Super Bowl XLV! So let's get things started, shall we?

Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers, both under 30 years of age, have proven themselves to be fantastic leaders for their respective clubs. Rodgers has been absolutely incredible this season, especially in the playoffs. In three games, Rodgers has thrown for 788 yards (262.6 ypg) and six touchdowns, just two picks, as well as a rushing touchdown. Although Roethlisberger's numbers are never pretty, the man always seems to find a way to get it done. Two weeks ago in the AFC title game, Big Ben went an atrocious 10-19, for 133 yards and two interceptions. Despite those horrendous stats, Roethlisberger still managed to hook up with Antonio Brown (who?) for 14 yards and seal a Pittsburgh victory, sending them to the Super Bowl for the third time in the Roethlisberger era. Both quarterbacks also have the added edge of being able to run the ball, so there's always that factor. If asked which quarterback will have a better game statistically, I'd say that it's Rodgers without a doubt. If asked who the better quarterback will be at the end of the game, I honestly couldn't tell you. This one's a toss-up, and though Big Ben has the experience, I believe Rodgers will emerge as the top dog as far as quarterbacks go.

Winner: Green Bay

Running Back

Green Bay's running game has been given a spark.. or Stark, if you will. James Starks has seemingly come out of nowhere, running for 263 yards in three post-season games, and one score. In addition to this, the Pack also relies on big man John Kuhn in short yardage situations. The two-headed dog has certainly made some noise in the playoffs. On the flipside, Rashard Mendenhall has been fantastic in two post-season games, rushing for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Although Starks is flashy, and Kuhn is a powerhouse, I have to give the nod to Mendenhall, as he has been consistent all season, and he has produced the most where it counts: the endzone.

Winner: Pittsburgh

Wide Receiver

This one's an interesting match up of some veteran wide outs in Donald Driver vs. Hines Ward. Then, of course, there's Greg Jennings and Mike Wallace. The Green Bay receivers have accumulated the higher totals, but this is reflective of the dominant performances strung together by Aaron Rodgers. However, I'm going with Pittsburgh once again here as I believe Wallace is one of the more explosive receivers in the game today, and Ward is a wise veteran who always comes up with the big play. Point for black and yellow.

Winner: Pittsburgh

Tight End

The Packers haven't had much in the way of a tight end this year since losing Jermichael Finley early. This is one position where Pittsburgh is sure to have the edge, as Heath Miller has accumulated 544 yards and two scores this season, and just as with Ward, he always seems to make the catch when it counts the most. Once again, the nod goes to Pittsburgh.

Winner: Pittsburgh

Offensive Line

Here's another close one for ya. In the 2010 regular season, Aaron Rodgers was sacked a total of 31 times. And Roethlisberger? 32. Both defensive units will be bringing the pressure, and it's going to be up to the O-line to get things done. It's another toss-up, but I'll give the slight edge to Green Bay, as I think Rodgers has the speed to make his line look better. He may be pressured just as much, if not more, but I believe Big Ben will eat turf more often in this one.

Winner: Green Bay

Defense

It's #1 vs. #2. Pittsburgh has long been a strong defensive team, but it's Green Bay's defense who has helped propel the Pack into the big game. Polamalu is a machine, and Harrison's punishing defense is sure to make an impact. On the other side, Clay Matthews has made quite a name for himself this year as well, and there's always the threat of Charles Woodson. Both defenses have the threat of explosive plays, and despite how close the other positions have been so far, I believe this one's an even closer match up. I'm going with a toss-up here.

Winner: Toss-up

Kicking/Special Teams

This is another arrea I feel Green Bay is going to struggle, as they have shown this post-season that they aren't quite as good as the rest of their team. All you have to think back to is three weeks ago in Atlanta, when they gave up a 100 yard return for a score. On the flip side, I believe Green Bay trusts Mason Crosby far more than Pittsburgh trusts Suisham, but then again the game is indoors so we may see more kicking than we have in recent weeks. If the Pack can cover kicks and punts well, which I believe it can, then they'll stay in the game. The one man to be fearful, though, is Antwaan Randle El. I believe that if it comes down to a clutch kick, however, that Crosby is a far more reliable candidate and so I will go with Green Bay here.

Winner: Green Bay

Coaching

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has slowly begun making quite a name for himself in his brief tenure with the Steelers. He has shown confidence in his team, but has also done so in a quiet manner. He gets things done effectively, and always has his team ready to play. Mike McCarthy is making his first appearance in the Super Bowl, and though he has coached his team through three tough games so far, he still makes some decisions which leave something to be desired. I'll go with Tomlin.

Winner: Pittsburgh

And so now it comes down to the winner. Green Bay's got the quarterback, the O-Line and the special teams, while Pitt has the receiving, defense and coaching. This is sure to be a classic match up between two of the most historic franchises in all of sports. But when it's all said and done, who will emerge victorious? I've been picking the Super Bowl winner for seven years now, and until last year my mark was undefeated. This includes the Giants upset of New England three years ago. However, last year I made the mistake of discrediting the underdog in New Orleans, and saw no way for the Saints to top the Colts. This year, seeing how the Steelers are back in the title game for the third time in six years, and how they're 2-0 in that span, the experience factor is a bit lopsided. That being said, I believe the Packers bring something different to the table, something neither Seattle or Arizona had in each of Pitt's first two wins in this past decade. Just as the Giants were in Super Bowl XLII, and the Saints were last year, I believe the Packers are a team of destiny and despite the fact that many of their players are here for the first time, I see the Pack getting it done in an extremely tight contest. I'm going with Green Bay.

Winner: Green Bay-27 Pittsburgh-24

Enjoy the game, everyone!!!

Round 2 Under Way: NFL's Divisional Playoffs Set

Welcome, once again sportz freaks to another edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. Last week was a rough one for this sportz freak, as I went 1-3 in picking the Wildcard match ups. Let's hope this week goes much better, as there are four new games, and I start with a clean slate. Last weekend, the Packers, Jets, Ravens, and Seahawks all got by their first round opponents and get ready for round 2 against those teams who received a bye week. The Pack will travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. The Jets head to New England to face bitter foe New England, while the Steelers host their nemesis, Baltimore. And finally, the stunning Seahawks, who upset the defending champs at home last week, will head to Chicago to face Jay Cutler and the Bears. It should be another interesting weekend of games, so let's get to pickin!

AFC: #5 Balimore Ravens (13-4) @ #2 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

This, to me, is easily the most difficult match up of the weekend to predict. The Ravens and Steelers are almost twins when you put them on paper. Their records are identical, their styles mirror one another, and they have met twice before in the playoffs. There's nothing left to hide for these AFC North foes, so now it's a matter of who wants it more. The Steelers have gotten the better of Baltimore in their last two postseason meetings, although the two teams split during the regular season. The Ravens went into Heinz Field in week 4 and edged the Steelers 17-14, but Pittsburgh returned the favor in week 13 with a 13-10 victory in Baltimore. So not only are the head-to-head victories equal, but the combined scores for both these teams is 27-27. This is sure to be a tug-of-war once again, and of course one that will be full of hard-hitting. Now onto the game: The Ravens and Steelers both bring a fierce defense to the table. Ed Reed, who is still struggling emotionally with the recent ongoings of his brother, is likely to have another impactful game against Big Ben and the Steelers. On the other side, Troy Polamalu is set to return for the Black and Gold, and that is sure to give the Pittsburgh defense a huge boost. Offensively, the Ravens were clicking last week in Kansas City. That was, however, against a far inferior defensive unit. Flacco and company need to keep the ball moving if they are to have any shot in this one. Ben Roethlisberger, on the other hand, has been down this road many times before. Big Ben always seems to get the job done when it comes not only to the playoffs, but especially against the Ravens. Pittsburgh finished the regular season on fire, winning six out of their last seven games, with their only loss in that stretch coming at home to the Jets. The Steelers had a tough time against teams who made the playoffs this year, splitting with Baltimore, defeating the Falcons, but losing to the Saints, Pats, and Jets. The only team who matters now, however, is Baltimore. As if the similarities already stated between these two teams weren't enough, the Ravens won six out of their last seven games as well, and their only loss was that against the Steelers. Even when you match up opposing players, these two teams are almost identical. Flacco vs. Roethlisberger? Toss up. Rice or Mendenhall? Pick em. Mason or Wallace? Who knows? In their first match up, it was an all-ground assault, with McGahee scoring once and Mendenhall twice. The lone passing TD went to TJ Houshmandzadeh in the final seconds. The second time around, Flacco struck through the air first, but after several field goals from both sides, Big Ben hit Isaac Redman for the winning score. So who will make the big play in this one? It's going to come down to whoever makes the least mistakes, and the Ravens have a bad habit of making those in Pittsburgh. I've gone with Baltimore twice before in this situation, and been disappointed both times. Will the third time be the charm? I like the Ravens to give the ball to Rice and keep Big Ben off the field. So long as Flacco doesn't throw a costly pick, I think Baltimore is headed to the AFC title game.

Prediction: Baltimore-20 Pittsburgh-17

NFC: #6 Green Bay Packers (11-6) @ #1 Atlanta Falcons (13-3)

The "team of destiny" is ready to play again, as the Packers travel down to Atlanta to face the first place Falcons. Last week, Green Bay went into a hostile environment in Philadelphia defeated the Eagles on a Michael Vick interception at the end of the game. Now they'll take on Matt Ryan, who is looking for the first post-season victory of his career. Aaron Rodgers got his last week. These two teams met in week 12, with the Falcons edging Green Bay 20-17. That game literally went back and forth, as the Falcons and Packers traded scores all the way until the 0:09 second mark, when Matt Bryant kicked the game-winning field goal. Aaron Rodgers threw for 344 yards and a score in that game, while Matt Ryan was far less impressive: throwing for just 197 and a touchdown. Michael Turner dominated in that gam, however, running for 110 and a score, while the Packer's best rusher was Rodgers himself, who ran 12 times for 51 yards and a touchdown. Rodgers had a great game in Philly last week, and unless the Falcons make some serious defensive adjustments, Rodgers will do so once again. The Falcons are red hot coming into this game, winning 9 of their last 10, including victories over Baltimore, Green Bay, New Orleans and Seattle. The Packers rolled into the post-season too, winning their last two games to get in, and then edging the Eagles last week. As far as head-to-head match ups are concerned, Matt Ryan vs. Aaron Rodgers is sure to be another epic. Michael Turner had a huge game last time around, but can he do it twice? For Green Bay, James Starks and John Kuhn provide a balanced attack on the ground, with Starks playing the role of the speedy back and Kuhn the role of the tank. Starks ran for 123 yards in Philly, although he failed to reach the endzone. At wiedout, the Falcons have Roddy White and... wellm Roddy White. Their only other threat at receiver at this point is Tony Gonzalez. That could prove to be a huge problem, as Charles Woodson will surely blanket White, leaving just the future hall of fame tight end to catch passes. The Packers have a rather large arsenal, including Donald Driver, James Jones, and Greg Jennings. I think if the Falcons have any chance to win, it's going to rest on the shoulders of Michael Turner. If he can run well, as he did last time, and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field, then Atlanta could roll in this one. However, I believe the Packers will adjust defensively, shut him down and Aaron Rodgers will toss a few more touchdowns in a Green Bay victory.

Prediction: Green Bay- 27 Atlanta-20

NFC: #4 Seattle Seahawks (8-9) @ #2 Chicago Bears (11-5)

Yes, the Seattle Seahawks live to play another game. After shocking the world last weekend by defeating the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, the Seahawks will now look to keep their momentum rolling as they head to Chicago to take on the 2nd seeded Bears. Oddly enough, the last time these two teams met, Seattle got the better of them, winning 23-20 in week 6 at Chicago. In that game, Hasselbeck threw for 242 yards and a touchdown, but the impressive stat lies in that he was not sacked nor intercepted the entire game. Cutler, on the ontherhand, was taken down six times by the Seattle defense. The star of the game, however, was Mike Williams, who caught 10 passes for 123 yards. Williams is truly having an amazing season, and it's not a stretch to think he may have another big game this Sunday. Another big key in the Seahawks victory was a strong run game, as both Justin Forsett and Marshawn Lynch found pay dirt. That splitting of carries is long over now, however, and it's the machine Marshawn Lynch, who steamrolled the Saints defense in one of the heartiest plays I've ever seen last week. The Bears key to success will be containing Lynch, but they must also look out for Matt Hasselbeck, who tossed the ball 35 times for 272 yards and a remarkable 4 touchdowns a week ago. The Saints' defense isn't quite the same as Chicago's, but if Hasselbeck plays half as well as he played against New Orleans, the Seahawks could be in store for another big upset. Another thing Chicago needs to do is protect the ball. Cutler needs to limit his mistakes, as does Matt Forte. I think the Seahawks match up well offensively with the bears, but defensively they leave a lot to be desired. What it comes down to, then, is how well the Seattle Offensive line can protect Hasselbeck. If they can keep Peppers and Urlacher from wreaking havoc, then Seattle is in good shape. If not, the Bears could have a field day. Last week, I discussed Seattle's mediocre record, and mentioned how they had only beaten one team who made the playoffs. Well, now they've beaten two. The Seahawks are hot at the right time and they just may be primed for another upset. The Bears played very well at the end of the season, however, as they won seven of nine, with their losses coming at the hands of the Patriots and Packers. This game is actually a whole lot more even than you might think, but there's one player in this game that I think will make all the difference. Devin Hester is the ultimate playmaker. Whether he's running back punts or kickoffs, or he's catching a big pass for a touchdown, Hester has the ability to turn a whole game around in one play. Although Marshawn Lynch played that role a week ago, the Seahawks just don't have that big-time playmaker that can match up with Devin Hester. Not to mention the fact that Seahawks' head coach Pete Carroll said he has no problem punting to Hester. Looks like the win last week may have caused Carroll to quite literally lose his mind. Punt it to Hester? That's asking for a loss, my friend. I think the Seahawks stick with them early, but the Bears will pull away late, possibly because of Hester or a big defensive play. I'll take Chicago.

Prediction: Chicago-31 Seattle-17

AFC: #6 New York Jets (12-5) @ #1 New England Patriots (14-2)

Another AFC game in which two teams will meet for the third time? This should be a dandy. Waaaaaaay back in week 2, the Jets defeated the mighty Patriots at home by a score of 28-14. The Pats then went on to win their next five in a row before stumbling in Cleveland, and then won eight more in a row. Talks regarding home-field advantage for the Falcons in their dome are well-waranted, but there is perhaps no stronger team at home right now than the New England Patriots. They have not lost in Foxboro all season, and the Jets are going to have to go in to this hostile territory and win if they want to go back to the AFC title game. What is even scarier is how dominant New England has been in this eight game stretch. They rocked Pittsburgh 39-26 on the road (although the game was not as close as the score reflects), beat the Dolphins 38-7, the Bills 34-3, and the Bears 36-7. Of course, who could forget the 45-3 thumping they put on these very Jets a month and a half ago? The Pats aren't just winning, they're winning big. The Jets sort of stumbled into the playoffs, but got a huge victory over the perennial playoff-bound Indianapolis Colts. With that monkey off their back, the Jets now focus their attention on an even more familiar opponent. In the Jets' victory in week 2, Mark Sanchez was phenomenal, throwing for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Brady was his usual self, throwing for over 200 yards and two scores, but threw two costly interceptions. Sanchez protected the ball, and the Jets won. He will need to do the same this Sunday if the Jets have any shot of moving on. In that week 2 loss, the Patriots also had a miserable time running the ball, as their lead rusher was Kevin Faulk, who ran five times for an abysmal 22 yards. The Pats totaled just 52 yards on the ground in that game. The Jets, however, did a nice job of splitting carries between Tomlinson and Greene. Neither back went over 100 yards, but they kept the bal moving, and more importantly, kept Brady off the field. I am actually going to toss out the 45-3 drubbing from week 13, as this game needs to be forgotten by both teams. The Jets need to move on and forget it ever happened, while the Patriots need to make sure that victory doesn't provide an overconfidence of sorts. But unfortunately, as I bring up overconfidence, I am forced to mention the Jets' continued use of trash talk. I'm all for talking a big game, but I think this time they may have gone too far. Once again, Rex Ryan has made this game all about him, as he says it's "Rex Ryan vs. Bill Belichick". Now granted, this is a big coaching match up, but this is the second straight week in which Ryan has made the game revolve around him. This does not include the additional bashing that Antonio Cromartie put on Tom Brady. The Jets are in a good position right now, and they need to realize when enough is enough and just play the games. As for the game itself, Sanchez needs to be good for the Jets to have a chance, while Tom Brady is literally unstoppable right now. The ground game leans toward New York, but the Pats have an improved backfield now with Danny Woodhead and Benjarvus Green-Ellis splitting carries. As far as receivers go, I'd say this is a toss-up. The Jets' have the bigger names, but the Pats have a plethora of weapons including Welker, Woodhead, and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. The Jets's defense gets the nod here as well, although the Pats defensive unit has played extremely well in the past few months also. This will come down to whichever quarterback limits their mistakes the most, an right now Brady is mistake-free. Sanchez could have a good game, but I believe a mistake or two will give the Pats the win.

Prediction: New England- 33 New York Jets- 19

And that does it for this week's edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. Hopefully, I'll fare much better than I did a week ago, as I hope to at least draw even at 4-4 for the first two rounds. Once again, put me down for a nice helping of Baltimore, Green Bay, Chicago and New England. Enjoy the games, everyone!

Let The Games Begin! : Breaking Down the 2011 Wild Card Weekend

Welcome back, sportz freaks! It's been many months since my last post, but with the 2011 NFL playoffs about to begin, I felt it was only fitting to once again post my yearly predictions. This year's playoff pool is loaded with a ton of talented teams, as well as one not-so-talented team. But hey, rules are rules, right? Anyway, there are four intense match ups slated for this weekend, and I'm here to break each one of them down for you and give my prediction as to who will come away victorious. So let's get started, shall we?

NFC: #5 New Orleans Saints (11-5) @ #4 Seattle Seahawks (7-9)

Yes, you read those records correctly. This past Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks became the first franchise in NFL history to make the post season despite a losing record in the regular season. Many complaints have risen as a result, and I could sit here and give my take on the situation. However, the bottom line is that the Seahawks won their division, and under the current rules, that guarantees the birds a playoff spot. An even bigger issue people have with this rule, however, is that not only does Seattle get to play a second season, but they get to host a playoff game. And despite their 7-9 record, a game in Seattle is a huge advantage to the hawks, just as a game in the dome would have benefitted the Saints. The question is, just how much will the noise of Qwest Field affect the defending Super Bowl champions? These two teams met in week 11 in New Orleans, with the Saints cruising to a 34-19 victory. In that game, Seahawks Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 366 yards and a touchdown. With Hasselbeck slated to return this weekend, the Saints defense may have something to worry about. Matt's counterpart, Drew Brees threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns in that game, despite two interceptions. Clearly, these two quarterbacks are poised to go off on the opposing defenses, but now it's a matter of which team's running game can step up their game. The defending champs will be without leading rusher Chris Ivory, as well as Pierre Thomas for the remainder of the playoffs. That leaves former Heisman (sort of) trophy winner Reggie Bush to carry the New Orleans running game. Marshawn Lynch will be the go-to guy for the Seahawks, though he only accumulated 36 yards on the ground in their first meeting. Can Bush lead the Saints back to the big game? The Seahawks have won their last four home playoff games, so many believe this will be nowhere near as big a landslide as it should be. That being said, I believe Drew Brees is far too great a threat for the Seahawks to handle, and he will light them up for another 300 and a pair of touchdowns. I like the Saints by double-digits.

Prediction: New Orleans 33-14

AFC: #6 New York Jets (11-5) @ #3 Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

So, we meet again. The confident New York Jets are traveling to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in the post season for the second year in a row. Will lightning strike twice in the dome, or can the brash Rex Ryan lead the Jets past Peyton and the Colts? These two squads haven't met since last year's AFC Championship game, where the Colts got the best of New York by a score of 30-17. It's no secret that the Manning-led Colts are far less dominant than they have been in previous years, however. A team that went 13-0 before its first loss last year had to win its last four in a row just to make the post season this time around. The Jets aren't quite as intimidating as they were last season, either. Their defense has dropped in just about every category, and their overall swagger has declined as a result. New York does have two wins against teams in the playoffs this year, with victories against the Pats and Steelers. The Colts, on the other hand, have just one victory against this year's post-season pool, with a 19-9 win over the Chiefs back in week 5. This is opposed to two losses to the Patriots and Eagles. However, the defending AFC Champs appear to have hit their stride at the right time, having won four straight to win the AFC South. It wasn't an easy ride, either, as the Coltd average margin of victory in the past month is just a mere five points. But wins are wins, and the Colts have strung together a nice little streak here as they head into the postseason. The Jets stumbled a bit down the stretch, having lost three of their last five. They did manage to take down the Steelers in Heinz Field, however, as well as capping their season with a beatdown of the Bills at home. So the Jets, having finished one game better than the Colts in the regular season, will have to travel as well. That's t he NFL for ya. The Colts have just managed to get their running game going, and LT proves to be a great threat for Gang Green. Of course, Peyton's experience far outweighs that of Jets' QB Mark Sanchez, although this is Sanchez's second straight postseason trip. I believe the biggest factor in this game will be whether or not the Colts defense can shut down the New York run game and force Mark Sanchez to to go the air. If they can do that, I expect they'll win. If not, the Jets could take this one. But as with the case of Drew Brees, I think Peyton Manning is enough of a playmaker to get the job done. I'll take Indy in a very close contest.

Prediction: Indianapolis 24-20

AFC: #5 Baltimore Ravens (12-4) @ #4 Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)

Once again, we have a case where a team with a better record traveling to its opponent. The Ravens finished their 2010-2011 regular season with a stellar 12-4 record, as opposed to the Chiefs who finished just 10-6. Kansas City is a fresh face in the postseason, as they haven't been in the playoffs since 2003. The Ravens are far more experienced, having made the postseason four out of the last five seasons. That might lead one to believe that this should be a slaughter. Let's not get carried away just yet. Matt Cassel has had one hell of a season as the Chiefs starter, and with big time play makers such as Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe in their arsenal, Kansas City's offense is nothing to laugh at. The problem with the Chiefs has been their remarkable lack of consistency. Kansas City just might be the most difficult team to figure out in this year's post-season, as one week they will win in grand fashion and another get hammered 31-0 by the Chargers, or 31-10 by the Raiders. The Chiefs are also lacking as far as their strength of schedule. They recorded just one win against a playoff team, that being a 42-24 victory over the lowly Seahawks. The Ravens have beaten the Jets, Saints and Steelers, while losing to the Pats and Steelers. Baltimore poses a great threat in that they are strong both offensively and defensively. With Joe Flacco under center and Ray Rice in the backfield, as well as playmakers Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin playing receiver, their offense is truly well-rounded. And of course, their defense is as strong as ever. The Chiefs may be able to match them offensively, but their defense may prove to be a problem as they look to stop Rice and company. I think KC will hang with them early, but a costly turnover or two will lead to their inevitable downfall.

Prediction: Baltimore 37-20

NFC: #6 Green Bay Packers (10-6) @ #3 Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

The last game of the weekend takes place in a familiar location to the postseason, Philadelphia. The Eagles have won their last four Wildcard Weekend home games. Way back in week one, the Packers recorded their first win in Philly in fifty years. The question is, can they do it again? Many may remember that Green Bay was all over the Eagles in their first match up before Michael Vick entered the game and closed the score 27-20 in a game in which they fell just short of a miraculous comeback (which the Eagles are no stranger to this season). Green Bay comes into this game having won three of its last five, including its last two in a row. Three weeks ago, t he Pack's season was pronounced dead, and it was thought that they had no hope of making the playoffs. However, two straight wins as well as some help from some other contenders have paved the path to the postseason once again. In fact, the circumstances surrounding the Packers playoff berth have been so great that many are calling them a team of destiny. The Eagles, on the other hand have lost two straight to Mediocre Minnesota and Dallas, although Kevin Kolb played against the Cowboys. The birds had a shot at gaining a first round bye in which they would have had more than enough time to rest banged up quarterback Michael Vick, as well as DeSean Jackson. That being said, both Vick and Jackson were given an extra six days to rest as they did not play in week 17. The Pack were 3-3 this season against teams that made the playoffs, with wins over Chicago, the Jets, and of course, Philadelphia. Their losses came at the hands of the Bears, Falcons, and Patriots, although Matt Flynn was the quarterback in that one. The Eagles have beaten both the Falcons and Colts this year, with their only loss to a playoff team coming against the Packers. It is clear from this that despite their identical regular season records, Green Bay's Schedule was far more difficult than that of Philadelphia's. Both team's defenses have struggled this season, but the Eagles' 'D' has been just plain bad in recent weeks. Another issue the Eagles face is their offensive line, who have allowed fifteen sacks in the past four weeks. However, the majority of those guys were given week 17 off as well, so perhaps they'll be healthy enough to protect Vick. If not, it's going to be a long day for Philly fans. The key for the Eagles is stopping Aaron Rodgers, which I'm not sure they can do. However, with a healthy O-line, the Pack might have just as difficult a time preventing Vick and Jackson. I think this is going to be a shootout, but I think Michael Vick is too much of a playmaker for the Packers to handle and he will find a way to lead the Eagles to victory.

Prediction: Philadelphia 34-31

Well that does it for this week's edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. It should be an interesting weekend of games. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as the 2011 NFL Playoffs get started! Tune in next week as I predict the Divisional playoff match ups!