Early NFC Wildcard Preview

This weekend will kick off the NFL playoffs.  Wild Card Weekend is shaping up to be a fantastic two days of football.  Things are particularly interesting on the NFC side of the Wild Card games.

Minnesota Vikings versus Green Bay Packers

Saturday, January 5 @ 8 p.m. ET on NBC

There are a few narratives to follow heading into this game.

First, you have the under dog story.  At the beginning of the year everyone, myself included, were writing and talking about how the Minnesota Vikings did not have a chance this season.  They would be lucky to finish with a .500 record as they are what we sports analyst call a rebuilding period.  The Vikings, though, at some point decided that they would make a playoff run despite being a team that is rebuilding.

Carried primarily by the run game of Adrian Peterson, who just fell short of breaking the all time season rushing record, the Vikings have fought their way to a Wild Card game.

The Vikings now find themselves in familiar territory as underdogs.  Bovada puts them at 40/1 to win the Super Bowl, only two other teams have worse odds.  Also, they are the 7.5 point under dogs, according to BetOnline.Com’s spread, in their Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers.

A win for the Vikings could go a long way in Peterson’s candidacy as MVP.  Most agree he is competing with Peyton Manning for that prestigious prize.

The Green Bay Packers feel good coming to this game as pretty big favorites according to the odds.  The Packers defense are not going to be able to stop Peterson but if they can some what contain them they can stop the Vikings in 3rd and short situations and ideally put the ball in Christian Ponder’s hands to force him to win the game.

Seattle Seahawks versus Washington Redskins

Sunday, January 6 @ 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX

We are going to say one of two things after this game is over:

The Redskins are the real OR The Redskins were awakened from their dream very rudely.

No one is really question the Seahawks ability as unlike the Redskins, have been consistent all season.  The Redskins have only picked up steam in the last seven games while the Seahawks have been considered a threat all season.  Many are billing this game as RG3’s and the Redskins biggest challenge to date.

Despite this these two teams have a lot in common.  Both are teams that no one expected to make it this far at the beginning of the season.  Both are led by rookie QBs, who both have put up Rookie of the Year performances.  Finally, both teams rely heavily on their rushing game.  The Redskins are first in rushing while the Seahawks are third.

Since the Redskins have fully established their offensive game plan late in the season, no team has had an answer for the Redskins offense.  If any team can find a game plan to contain the Redskins rush and pass offense is would be the third best defense in the NFL.

The point spread slightly favors the Seahawks with a -3 point spread according to BetOnline.Com.