Top seeds beware: Underdogs learning new tricks
January 5 Chicago Tribune columnist Dan Pompei
"If you liked the "Rocky" movies or the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, I have a hunch you are going to love the NFL playoffs this year.
It could be the year of the underdog, as the playoffs appear wide open. Half of the underdogs prevailed on wild-card weekend in what could be a portent of the rest of the postseason.
In next weekend's conference semifinals, the Ravens have to be given a decent chance of upending the Titans, the AFC's top seed. When these teams played in October, Tennessee won, but by only three points. And three months later, the Ravens are superior to what they were then.
They have won six of their last seven games. Their defense is absolutely humming. On Sunday they intercepted Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington four times, or three fewer times than he was intercepted in his previous 16 games.
If any team can expose Kerry Collins, it is the Ravens. Their coordinator, Rex Ryan, comes up with some of the most innovative and complex game plans in the league. And they have a number of players who can tilt the field.
Safety Ed Reed was a candidate for most valuable player, and middle linebacker Ray Lewis might have been as well. Terrell Suggs will be the best edge rusher on the field. And nose tackle Haloti Ngata is a bigger, less famous version of Albert Haynesworth. If Titans center Kevin Mawae is questionable, as Titans coach Jeff Fisher suggested, Ngata could have a huge game.
But the Ravens could hit the wall any time. They have played 16 consecutive games without a week off, and they have 19 players on injured reserve, second highest in the NFL.
The Eagles know they can beat the Giants at the Meadowlands because they already have. Just one month ago, they prevailed 20-14 in a game in which Brian Westbrook had 203 total yards. That victory avenged a 36-31 Giants victory Nov. 9.
The Eagles and Giants could be headed in opposite directions. The Eagles have won five of their last six and seem to have found their rhythm. The Giants have lost three of their last four, including a game to the same Vikings team the Eagles beat Sunday.
Donovan McNabb has had a hot hand since being benched in the second half of the Eagles' loss to the Ravens on Nov. 23. In the six games since, he has averaged 10.9 yards per completion with a 97.9 passer rating.
If he plays like he has been playing, the Eagles will have a chance — and a good one."Link
Calendar
