The Championship Ride begins…

Many traditionalists say that offense wins games but defence wins championships. Which will be the

more important aspect for the playoffs? On whose back (or arm) will push their teams through to 

the big dance? And most importantly, who will be left stranded at the train station while the train 

moves forward to New York (well, New Jersey actually)?

Let’s look at the Wild Card matchups.

Many traditionalists say that offense wins games but defence wins championships. Which will be the

more important aspect for the playoffs? On whose back (or arm) will push their teams through to 

the big dance? And most importantly, who will be left stranded at the train station while the train 

moves forward to New York (well, New Jersey actually)?

Let’s look at the Wild Card matchups.

San Francisco 49ers vs Green Bay Packers

The 49ers – Packers game is a rematch of last year’s NFC divisional playoffs that was played at 

Candlestick. This year’s matchup will be at the fabled Lambeau field where the Packers playoff 

record has been 16 – 4 all-time but only 3 – 4 in their last 7 games! Rodgers played through some 

rust last weekend connecting 14 out of 22 times with 2 INTs in the first half. Then he came storming 

back in the 2nd

indication that he could be fully back in the flow of things this weekend. 

His opposite, Kaepernick, has been completing 61.8% of his passes racking up 10 TD and 1 INT during 

a 6 game winning streak and he will have the services of Davis, Gore, and Boldin to back up his 

own 337.5 passing and 101.5 rushing yds. Packers defence is also a little suspect in the last 9 weeks 

allowing on average 30 points and 404 total yds. per game. Adding to their woes, monster-man Clay 

Mathews is out with a broken thumb. So this could be an offensive shootout which could favour 

Kaepernick and the 49ers unless Mister Daa-ble Check runs his offense rust free.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Indianapolis Colts

Talk about a complete turn around and you have to be talking about the Chiefs. They have turned 

180 degrees this year over last year. But more worryingly, they have turned almost 180 degree

around from the beginning of the season to the end. Chiefs allowed 12.3 points in the first 9 games 

of the season but 27.7 in the last seven games. They eventually missed out on the AFC West title 

 round bye because of the stumbles at the end of the season. Would they take this drop-off in 

and 1st

form into this weekend or can Andy Reid engineer another 180 turn? 

The Colts offense is very stingy with turnovers or very efficient at protecting the football (depends 

on if you are neggy-neggy peggy or are a glass half-full person). They have a league low of 14 

turnovers and they don’t have a lot of penalties called against them. This means the Colts don’t 

make a lot of mistakes and during the playoffs having mental fortitude down the stretch of a game 

might be more important than having home field advantage. Andrew Luck has shown in the last 

couple of games that if given the opportunity to pass, he would do so with efficiency helping to 

outscore opponents 78 – 20 in the last 3 games. 

New Orleans Saints vs Philadelphia Eagles

Imagine your hero and then having the opportunity to try and beat them similar to if you are a kung-

fu fan and have to go up against Sliver Fox. Well, Nick Foles idolised Drew Brees as he is 10 years 

younger and both went to the same Westlake high school in Austin, Texas!

 half to lead to the go-ahead TD with 38 seconds left in the game. This might be 

Playing in the up-tempo mode that Chip Kelly utilises, Foles has the league’s lowest interception 

percentage at 0.6 (27 TDs and 2 interceptions). He was supported by arguably the league’s fastest 

receiving core. LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson together caught 134 passes for 1,871 yds. and 9 

TDs while McCoy ran for 1,607 yds. helping Philly to lead the NFC with 247 plays of 10 yds. or more.

This makes the Eagles offense a bit difficult for opponents to decipher.

But then there’s Rob Ryan and his Who Dat defence. The Saints are efficient at limiting big plays, 

ranking 2nd

 in the league by allowing only 5 TDs of 20 or more yds. They will be mixing up the 

packages and coming at the Eagles with different coverages to try and disguise the defensive plays. 

On the other side of the ball, Brees ranks 2nd

carry the brunt of the offense as the Saints’ running game is not the best with 92.1yds per game and 

only 3.8 yds. per carry. This works perfectly for Philly who are monster against the run, allowing only 

3.77 yds. per carry (the lowest amongst playoff teams). 

The offensive prowess matched with the gritty defence could swing the pendulum squarely over 

to the Saints side except for one itsy bitsy teeny thing…. the Saints don’t travel well. They have lost 

their last 3 road games and are 0 – 5 on playoff games away from home! 

San Diego Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

San Diego fans still can’t believe their lucky stars. If not for a missed penalty call by the officials, 

they would not be getting all dressed up for the playoff dance on Saturday! Playoffs once were a 

regular fixture back in 2006 – 2009 but it’s been a drought since. Back then, the Chargers were 3 – 4 

in the postseason while the Bengals have so much more postseason drought to make up for. There 

are college graduates who weren’t born the last time the Bengals won a postseason game 23 years 

ago. They have been to the playoffs though, 4 times in the last 5 years with the last three done with 

Andy Dalton. He hasn’t helped the postseason cause though throwing 4 INTs with no TD and being 

sacked 6 times over those 3 years. Even though more is expected from him this season though as he 

finished 3rd

 in the league with 33 TDs – just 1 ahead of Rivers, doubts still swirl after tossing 4 INTs 

against the Ravens.

Former defensive co-ordinator turn Coach, Mike McCoy, has helped Rivers to turn in a riveting 

season, throwing 9 TD’s with 845 yds. in the 4 games win streak to close out the season. This was 

not evident the last time these 2 met up. The Bengals forced turnovers, covered the Chargers well 

and Rivers executed some bad throws. This matchup might fare any better as the Chargers are a 

warm weather team plus Bengals are 8 – 0 at home with 24 sacks while limiting opposing QBs to 9 

TDs and 15 INTs. Seriously, Big Ben, Brady, Flacco nor Rodgers could eek out a win in Paul Brown 

Stadium!!

Passengers, the trains are about to board. Hop on, buckle up and have your remotes hidden from 

your other half as this weekend is going to be a blast!

 to Peyton with yards and touchdowns. He is likely to