2010 NFL Playoffs-News-NFL Playoff Schedule 2010-NY Jets-Dallas Cowboys-NFL Divisional Playoffs

The NFL Playoffs for the AFC and NFC began with the Arizona Cardinals and the Green Bay Packers going into overtime to decide a winner. The Cardinals won the shoot-out in a 51-45 record setting game. The two teams combined for the highest combined scoring in playoff history. The Dallas Cowboys won their first playoff game in 16 years with a dominating defense. Tony Romo and Wade Phillips got their first playoff win in the Dallas 34-14 win. The NY Jets used a stingy defense and smart play by quarterback Mark Sanchez to whip Cincinnati Bengals 24-14 and the Baltimore Colts manhandles the New England Patriots and Tom Brady 33-14.

The NFL Divisional Playoffs begin this coming weekend. The winners will advance to the Conference Championship Game.

Peyton Manning won named the league MVP for the 4th time. He is the only player to ever win 4 MVP awards. He won this year by a landslide over the other nominees. Drew Brees was a far 2nd place. Peyton Manning was tied with Brett Favre with 3 MVP awards.

The NFL Divisional Playoffs game of the AFC and NFC will begin the weekend of January 16th and 17th. This weekend will feature 2 games on Saturday and two games Sunday. Saturday games will have the Arizona Cardinals at the New Orleans Saints @ 4:30 pm ET. Both teams have high powered passing offenses and this one should be a high scoring game. The evening game will feature the Baltimore Ravens at the Indianapolis Colts @ 8 pm ET. These two teams know each other and the Baltimore defense will test Peyton Manning and his offense. 

The Sunday line-up of games will begin at 1 pm ET with the Dallas Cowboys @ the Minnesota VIkings. The difference in the game should come down to the better defense. Tony Romo is playing his best and Brett Favre is having one of his best years as well. The defense that makes a key play of the game should lead that team to the NFC Championship Game.

The NY Jets will travel to the San Diego Chargers for the late afternoon game to begin at 4:30 pm ET Sunday. The Jets #1 league defense will try to shut down Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense. The Jets have a strong running game and will test the Chargers defense.

The AFC Playoffs will showcase two teams I can see winning the Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Chargers. New England could make a run, but has not played well on the road this year, where they are 2-6. The San Diego Chargers are entering the NFL playoffs on an 11 game winning streak and are an early favorite by many to win the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl.

The Indianapolis Colts, led by Peyton Manning the the league MVP, have the best record at 14-2, but lost their last two while setting starters on the bench to rest in their final two games. The New England Patriots have played well lately and are always a threat to win the AFC Conference title if they can get great play from their defense and figure out how to win on the road this year.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the biggest surprise teams this year, but I just can’t see them winning the AFC conference. The Baltimore Ravens will have to play the Patriots in the first round of the playoff. They could cause matchup problems in this game. The New York Jets will get the Cincinnati Bengals in a rematch this time at Cincinnati with all the starters in the line-up. The Jets defense can win games for this team. The running game is strong and QB Mark Sanchez just needs to stay calm and manage the game for the Jets to make some noise in the AFC playoffs.Watch the Ochococinco and Revis matchup. This will be the game within the game.

In the NFC, any one of the six playoff teams could win the conference title. The NFC tables a strong set of teams this year. The #1 seed or even the #6 seed team has the potential to make it to the Super Bowl and to win it all.

The Dallas Cowboys have found a way to win in December and Big games. Tony Romo has been on fire during this winning stretch and has played his best since becoming the Cowboy QB starter. The Dallas defense has shut down and smothered teams during the December games and shut-out a high powered Philadelphia Eagles offense in the final game of the season. Dallas is peaking at the right time and if they can continue this momentum into the NFC playoffs, they may be playing in Miami in February.

The New Orleans Saints lost their last 3 games after starting the season 13-0. Drew Brees and other starters were held out of the game in week 17 to rest and protect them from injury. Can the Saints regain the momentum to win the NFC Conference Championship and make the Super Bowl? With this high-octane offense it is really possible.

The Minnesota Vikings with Brett Favre will make a run, but the defense had better find a way to stop the big plays in the passing game by opponents or they could see an early exit. The Philadelphia Eagles need to solve the Dallas Cowboys or their late season surge will end this weekend.

The Green Bay Packers have won 6 out of their last 7 games. The loss was at the end of the shootout with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This team is red-hot and may be the surprise team of the playoffs this year. The Arizona Cardinals have quietly made it back to the playoffs as a #4 seed. With an improved running game and defense, Kurt Warner & co. could once again return to the Super Bowl in Miami.

The NFL playoff brackets have been set. In the AFC the Indianapolis Colts the #1 seed and the San Diego Chargers the #2 seed will have a bye the first weekend of the playoffs. The New England Patriots are the #3 seed and the Cincinnati Bengals will be the #4 seed. The top 4 seeds all won their division titles. The AFC wildcard teams will be the New York Jets who claimed the #5 seed and the Baltimore Ravens will be the #6 seed.

The NFC will have the New Orleans Saints as the #1 seed and the Minnesota Vikings will be the #2 seed. Both teams will have a bye entering the playoffs. The Dallas Cowboys will be the #3 seed and the Arizona Cardinals the #4 seed. The NFC wildcard teams will be the Philadelphia Eagles #5 and the Green Bay Packers the #6 seed.

NY Jets 24 Cincinnati 14

The NY Jets travelled to Cincinnati after thrashing the Bengals 37-0 in last week’s game in New York in the final game of the regular season. The NY Jets used a stifling defense and the play of rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 24-14 in the first round of the NFL wildcard playoffs. The NY Jets will now travel to play the San Diego Chargers Sunday, January 17th at 4:30 pm Eastern Time.

Baltimore 33 New England 14

Ray Rice broke away for an 83 yard touchdown run on the first play of the game and Baltimore scored 24 points in the first quarter to put the Patriots in a deep hole to start the game. Tom Brady was off target most of the day and had 3 interceptions in the Patriots first home loss in the playoffs. The Baltimore defense kept stopping the Patriots offense and the Baltimore offense controlled the game with the run. Baltimore will now travel to play the top seed, Indianapolis Colts next Saturday, January 16th, at 8 pm Eastern Time.

Dallas 34 Philadelphia 14

The Dallas Cowboys win a playoff game! The Cowboys dominated the Philadelphia Eagles to win their first playoff game in 16 years. Last week the Cowboys shut-out the Eagles 24-0 to win the NFC East division title and claim the #3 seed and host a playoff game at home. Dallas was able to move the ball up and down the field all evening and the Dallas defense once again smothered the Eagles offense. Dallas put up 27 points in the 2nd quarter scoring on all 5 drives. In the second half Felix Jones broke a run of 73 yards for a touchdown that closed the door on the Eagles. The final score of the game was 34-14. Dallas travels next weekend to play the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, January 17th at 1 pm Eastern Time.

Arizona 51 Green Bay 45 (OT) “Shoot-out in the Desert. “

The Arizona Cardinals quickly jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter courtesy of early turnovers by the Green Bay Packers. The Packers did score 10 points in the second quarter but could not stop Kurt Warner and the Cardinals offense as they trailed 24-10 at the half.

The Cardinals made the score 31-10 after their first drive of the second half. Aaron Rodger and the Packer offense finally came to life and drove the field for a TD to make the score 31-17. On the kick-off, the Packers went for and recovered an onside kick. Another quick score by the Green Bay Packers to draw within 31-24. Arizona went up 38-24 their next possession and Green Bay once again answered to pull within 38-31. Green Bay finally held Arizona to their first punt of the game and Green Bay scored to tie the score 38-38. Arizona marched down the field to make it 45-38. Green Bay again answered making it 45-45. The team defenses were nowhere in sight for the game. Neil Rackers missed a game winning field goal attempt to send the game into overtime.

Green Bay won the toss to start the overtime period and chose to take the ball first. On a 3rd down play at their own 24 yard line, Rodgers went pack to pass and Adams of the Cardinal defense sacked him and Rodgers fumbled the ball and Dansby recovered the fumble off of Rodgers foot as he seemed to kick the ball and returned the fumble recovery for a game winning touchdown.

The Arizona Cardinals travel next weekend to play the New Orleans Saints Saturday January 16th at 4:30 pm Eastern Time.

Wild Card Weekend - Saturday, Jan. 9

N.Y. Jets at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. NBC

Philadelphia at Dallas 8 p.m. NBC

Wild Card Weekend - Sunday, Jan. 10

Baltimore at New England 1 p.m. CBS

Green Bay at Arizona 4:30 p.m. FOX

Divisional Playoffs - Saturday, Jan. 16

Baltimore at Indianapolis 8 p.m. CBS

Arizona at New Orleans 4:30 p.m. FOX

Divisional Playoffs - Sunday, Jan. 17

NY Jets at San Diego 4:30 p.m. CBS

Dallas at Minnesota 1 p.m. FOX

Conference Championships - Sunday, Jan. 24

AFC Teams TBD CBS

NFC Teams TBD FOX

Pro Bowl -- Jan. 31 -- Land Shark Stadium (Miami, Fla.)

AFC vs. NFC 4:30 p.m. NBC

Super Bowl XLIV -- Feb. 7 -- Land Shark Stadium (Miami, Fla.)

AFC vs. NFC 6:30 p.m. CBS