NY Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts

Breakdown: If you wanted to see what Super Bowl 3 was like, this will the closest thing to that without the Super Bowl attached to it. The Jets were ruled out by everyone including their head coach Rex Ryan leading up to the playoffs. The Jets have put themselves in a good position, the underdog. They blew past the Bengals. Kept pace with the Chargers and are looking to right a wrong with the Colts. Everyone still thinks if the Colts had wanted to play in Week 16, the Jets wouldn’t have won. This is their chance with a power running game lead by Thomas Jones and rookie Shonn Greene. The defense is a perfect mold of what Ryan built as defensive coordinator in Baltimore. Peyton Manning and the Colts have their work cut out for them, but as we’ve seen before, they are probably the best in this situation. The Colts don’t have the power running or a tough smash mouth defense. What they do have is a prolific passing attack that has Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie for Manning to throw to. The Colts don’t have to smash you in the mouth, but will swarm to the ball with lightning speed. Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney are the scariest defensive end combo in the league. Their linebackers and secondary are undersized, but know where to be in the right situation. The third time is the charm in picking against the Jets this postseason. Colts win thanks to Manning.

Matchup to watch for: Darrelle Revis Jets CB vs. Reggie Wayne Colts WR

Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints

Breakdown: We all get our dream matchup in the NFC. We all said these were the two best teams before their lackluster finishes to the regular season. The Vikings are led by a resurgent keeping his wranglers off the ground forty year old quarterback Brett Favre. He seemingly can do no wrong. He gets clobbered, still completes a touchdown pass. He gets flushed out of the pocket and still manages to find the open man. I thought Adrian Peterson was going to need to have the big games, but it’s clear that Favre has to. Their defense played a great game against the Cowboys. Tony Romo had no time to think as the line put pressure on him all day last week. They will need to keep it up against the vaunted passing attack of the Saints quarterback Drew Brees. He has found that the running game can be useful and when Reggie Bush plays with aggression, he can be a great asset. The Saints don’t have much to go with defensively except when they force turnovers, they are hard to beat. Most of the time they do capitalize on mistakes and the Vikings have to be prepared for it. I’m expecting a shootout that hopefully won’t end up in a one sided affair like many of the other games so far. The Saints win in what should have been the matchup in Super Bowl 41. Colts vs. Saints.

Matchup to watch for: Vikings defense vs. Reggie Bush Saints RB

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

Breakdown: I will be the first to admit when I’m wrong. Last week when I said, “The Packers win in a blowout.” I was wrong. It was a close game that was the highest combined scoring game in NFL playoff history. It was also an exciting game. This week will be no different. The Saints are rested and looking to explode right out of the gate. Drew Brees is looking to get the Saints back on track after losing their last three games of the regular season. The Cardinals will be without Anquan Boldin for this game as well, but Steve Breaston and Early Doucet were more than ready to carry the load. Kurt Warner when he is on his game is one of the best quarterbacks in the playoffs. I don’t see much defense in this one either and the running games will the second class citizens for both teams. Arizona wins in a semi-shootout/close game.

Matchup to watch for: Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals WR vs. Darren Sharper Saints FS

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts

Breakdown: The Ravens come in to Indiana looking to upset another powerhouse in the AFC. Peyton Manning, now a four time MVP, will be looking to quell any criticism of his team for its less than inspired play to finish the season. The city of Baltimore won’t be too upset if they lose to their old franchise. They will be ecstatic if they do beat them though. This is the Super Bowl for those fans that still remember when they had the Colts. The Ravens defense will be the key here. If they can put pressure on Manning like they did with Tom Brady, the game is theirs. The Colts don’t have a running attack to speak of and without Manning they are helpless. The Ravens do need to score their fare share of points to win of course. Joe Flacco is banged up with a hip injury, but it didn’t matter when you have Ray Rice and Willis McGahee to hand it off to. The Colts, however will do just enough to win another game against the Ravens. They simply don’t lose to Baltimore. Colts win barely.

Matchup to watch for: Peyton Manning Colts QB vs. Ray Lewis Ravens LB

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings

Breakdown: Tony Romo looks like a new quarterback. Heck, the Cowboys look like a team that wants to win now. They have perfect balance on the offensive side. The defense is attacking the ball with tremendous speed. The Eagles had two chances at them and never had an answer. The Vikings had plenty of rest now have the task of stopping the Cowboys hot streak. Brett Favre was brought in for this moment. He has to get them past this hurdle and it will probably be smooth sailing to the Super Bowl. Adrian Peterson had better have fixed his fumbling problem because he can’t repeat what happened in the playoffs last year. This will be the best game of the weekend, no doubt. The Vikings defense has their work cut out for them too, but it will just enough with the dome crowd on their side to get one step closer to a title. Vikings win a great game.

Matchup to watch for: Brett Favre Vikings QB vs. DeMarcus Ware Cowboys LB

NY Jets vs. San Diego Chargers

Breakdown: The Jets are on coming off a great win against the Bengals in which everyone expected the Bengals to make a game out of it, but the Jets still hammered them like the week before. Mark Sanchez for a rookie QB isn’t doing a whole lot, but does he have to? They have a great running attack and a defense that gives it right back to that running game. Unfortunately for the Jets, they are running into a Chargers team that has won 11 straight games this season. Philip Rivers has done a fantastic job leading the offense, while the defense is as good as I’ve ever seen it. The Jets have their work cut out for them if the Chargers get out to a two touchdown lead. There aren’t many tricks in Rex Ryan’s playbook to ignite a comeback. Chargers win decidedly.

Mathcup to watch for: Vincent Jackson Chargers WR vs. Darrelle Revis Jets CB

Rules are in place for a reason. To create order and prevent chaos. To right a wrong that’s been in place for so long. That was the reason the NFL implemented the “Rooney Rule” as it’s called today. It was established in 2003 and named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney (pictured left) to help with the hiring of minority candidates being interviewed for head coaching and front office positions. It is not to force teams to hire minority candidates, but to get their names in fold for the positions.

The stats don’t lie. In 2003 there were only two minority head coaches. Tony Dungy (Colts) and Herman Edwards (Jets). As of today there are now six. There is a lot of speculation as to whether the rule should still be around or if it should be expanded. Many feel it is doing enough to satisfy its intention. I’m one to believe that the rule is doing good, but at the same time, it seems there are quite a few teams breaking this rule.

Now this year is not the first year the rule has been broken. In the rules first year, the Detroit Lions were fined 200,000 dollars for not interviewing a minority candidate when they hired Steve Mariucci. This year the Washington Redskins, who before firing Jim Zorn, interviewed assistant Jerry Gray for the head coaching position to satisfy the rule. Soon after, Zorn was fired and Mike Shanahan was hired. Does that satisfy the rule? No and no. Later on, the Seattle Seahawks fired Jim Mora Jr. and immediately it was reported they were after Pete Carroll of USC. Before they announced they had Carroll, they went to Minnesota to interview the Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Frazier appeared to have no chance at the job, but they did interview him. Does that satisfy the rule? Yes and no.

To explain the Redskins case, to interview an assistant before you fire the head coach is pretty bad. To do it only to prevent the NFL from coming down on you for not interviewing a minority candidate is worse. They knew they pretty much had a deal in place with Shanahan, but according to the rule they did interview a minority candidate. The Seahawks knew who they wanted, but they interviewed someone from another team. They get more of a break here, but they still acted as if it was an inconvenience to interview Frazier.

With all that is said about the rule and what teams do to either comply or avoid it, the rule does need to stay. To say that it needs to be expanded is ludicrous. The only way you can expand it is by making the interview process longer and more obvious than it already is. It would either force teams to interview a certain number of minority candidates or you must hire a minority candidate. To get rid of it would do a disservice to the idea that there are other names out there that are just as good as the prominent ones. I’m not referring to race, but coaching ability. It’s to help the minority candidate, but it really helps everyone. The coordinators on offense and defense are stepping stones for a head coaching position in the NFL no matter race.

When you get interviewed and that GM/Owner thinks you did a good job, even if your not hired they will tell their friends and they will tell their friends and so on. People in management positions will hire those for which they know most of the time. If they don’t know you, but were told by others they know of your skills, they will consider hiring you. It’s not what you know, but who you know. That is said in today’s job world constantly. The rule is here to stay, but it must be closely watched by the league when cases like Washington and Seattle use it in their favor to try and avoid scrutiny.

NY Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Breakdown: The only difference in this game is that instead of playing in New York, they are playing in Cincinnati. That and the week before doesn’t matter now. The Bengals had nothing to play for even though the Bengals played most of their starters. The Jets do have statistically the best rushing and total defense in the NFL. Stats don’t always help you get to the Super Bowl though. The Bengals will have a fresh Cedric Benson. The home crowd in their favor. The Jets do have that swagger that was missing in the middle part of the season. However it won’t help with a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez. Don’t get me wrong he is gonna be good, just not this year. The Bengals don’t have all the momentum, but they do have enough weapons and a good defense to offset the Jets statistical advantages. Bengals win a close one.

Matchup to watch for: Chad Ochocinco Bengals WR vs. Darrelle Revis Jets CB

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys

Breakdown: This is what Cowboys fans have been waiting for. A winnable playoff game. Not to say the Eagles won’t show up, but as much as I hate to say it, the Cowboys have looked pretty good. Quarterback Tony Romo has been phenomenal. He is being given all the credit for their December success as he should. I think more should be awarded to the defense. They beat the Saints in New Orleans and shut out the Redskins and Eagles to finish the season. Not an easy thing considering their history in December. The Eagles are a much younger team than their many predecessors. Andy Reid has his work cut out for him to figure out the Cowboys attack after being shut out last week. Quarterback Donovan McNabb needs to not rush the offense in a pass happy scheme. Running the ball will help you win more than trying to shoot it out with the Dallas offense. Alas it will be too much for the Eagles which were in striking distance of a first round bye. Cowboys win in a shoot out.

Matchup to watch for: Donovan McNabb Eagles QB vs. DeMarcus Ware Cowboys LB

Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots

Breakdown: Baltimore couldn’t be happier with how the playoff seeding ended up. They get another shot at the Patriots. They met earlier in the year in New England that many would consider a one sided affair. Not by the score, but by the way the game was officiated. It was the most blatant attempt by the NFL’s referees to protect one of the games premiere players, Tom Brady. The Ravens could care less this time around. It will be a different crew and a different mind set. They will look to play smash mouth football. The Patriots will be without leading receiver Wes Welker, who went down with a knee injury last week. The Ravens will look to exploit that with constant pressure and double teams of opposite receiver Randy Moss. The Patriots will have a lot to prove most of all on the defensive side. Whether or not they make a run at the Super Bowl will run heavily on the defense. If the Ravens score more than 20 points, the Patriots could be in trouble. Ravens win in a brawl.

Matchup to watch for: Ray Rice Ravens RB vs. New England front seven

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals

Breakdown: The Packers are the hottest team in the NFC entering the playoffs. They won 7 of their last 8 games to clinch one of two wild card spots. Like with the the first playoff matchups this weekend, this one was played the week before. Can we take anything from it? No. Will the result be the same? No. Are these the same teams? Yes. Aside from Matt Leinart playing for Kurt Warner, these are the same teams playing each other. The result was disastrous for the Cardinals, who have played horribly at home this year. The Cardinals are in even more trouble with an injury to one of their wide receivers Anquan Boldin. The Packers know this of course and will double if not triple team Larry Fitzgerald and force Warner to rely on someone else. The Arizona run game, which has been slumbering all year needs to have a big game against a Packers defense that constantly attacks until the whistle blows. The Packers are just as frightening for the Cardinals on the offensive side. Aaron Rodgers is looking to continue his hot streak against a struggling Arizona defense. The Packers win in a blowout.

Matchup to watch for: Charles Woodson Packers CB vs. Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals WR