Baltimore Ravens (12-4) vs. New England Patriots (13-3)

Ravens – 15th

Patriots – 2nd

Ravens – 3rd

Patriots – 31st

The word redemption comes to mind for both Baltimore and New England.  The Ravens are looking to finally get back to the Super Bowl.  A game that has eluded them for a long time.  They have always had a great defense, but they haven’t had the best of luck on offense.  This is the time for QB Joe Flacco to finally prove all of his doubters wrong.  He has the skill set and the right receivers around him to live up to that potential.  Ravens S Ed Reed was being honest when saying that Flacco was ‘rattled’ in their contest against Houston.  He will have to play his best game of his career if the Ravens are to beat the Patriots.  

The word revenge seems to describe Patriots QB Tom Brady in these playoffs.  Don’t think that he hasn’t forgotten about the last time he played the Ravens in the playoffs.  New England were the favorites that year and were upset at home by the Ravens.  In order for that to not happen again, the Patriots need to take advantage of their biggest strength and that’s their tight ends.  Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez must involved early and often for the Patriots to get ahead of the Ravens.  I don’t expect the Patriots to get a big lead, but they will be hard to stop if Gronkowski and Hernandez get going.

Matchup to watch for: Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Patriots Defense

New York Giants (9-7) vs. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

Giants – 8th

49ers – 26th

Giants – 27th

49ers – 4th

This game is bringing back so many memories of the great clashes between these two teams back in their hay-day.  Now they meet up again for the chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.  The Giants boast a dangerous passing game which can lull a defense to sleep.  QB Eli Manning is capable of picking apart the 49ers defense, but he must get a great performance out of RB Brandon Jacobs and RB Ahmad Bradshaw.  Both Jacobs and Bradshaw didn’t do so well against the Packers the week before.  San Francisco doesn’t like to allow the opposing teams running game to get going.  So it is imperative that the Giants get it established if they are to win another road game.

It has been a surreal ride for the 49ers this year.  With having to learn a new system under a new coaching staff they have been the talk of the NFL playoffs right now.  We all know what the Niners have to do on defense to win.  But on offense they will have to repeat what they did to the New Orleans Saints.  QB Alex Smith took a giant leap forward in his playmaking ability last week.  He will have to find TE Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree for the Niners to score.  They are still a run first team with RB Frank Gore, but the Saints knew that and did a good job of stopping Gore.  The Giants will look to do the same thing, but they must take notice with Alex Smith and look for him to win the game for the Niners again.

Matchup to watch for: Giants Defense vs. 49ers QB Alex Smith

Patriots over Ravens

49ers over Giants