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Divisional Weekend
Even matchups should make for entertaining games
Posted: Wednesday January 03, 2001 12:08 PM
By Jon A. Dolezar, CNNSI.com
On paper, you can't ask for much better matchups in the second round of the playoffs.
All four games in the divisional round feature teams with equal victory totals, with the Ravens-Titans game on Sunday in Nashville showcasing teams with a combined 26 wins. The Titans also were involved in a power matchup in the divisional round last season, as they and the Colts had a combined 27 wins when the two teams met in Indianapolis.
The Saints and Vikings have "only" 22 wins between them, the lowest of the four matchups this weekend, while the Dolphins, Raiders, Eagles and Giants all have 12 wins apiece.
But the Baltimore-Tennessee game looks like the sexiest game, based on the burgeoning rivalry between the two teams, and the similar styles that they employ. Both offer hearty running games, passing attacks that are adequate and little more, and defenses that are more likely to put up a goose egg than give up three touchdowns or more.
Last weekend's games were decided by an average of 11.3 points, so the divisional games should be more competitive. It could be quite a weekend to pull up the easy chair and watch the NFL whittle its list of contenders down to the final four.
| NFL Divisional Games Preview |
| Saints (11-6) at Vikings (11-5), 12:30 p.m. Saturday |
| Key Stat |
| 7-1: Saints' record on the road this season, while they were only 4-5 at the Superdome, counting last week's wild-card win against the Rams. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Vikings wide receivers Randy Moss (18.7 yards per catch, 15 touchdowns this season) and Cris Carter (96 catches for 1,274 yards, nine touchdowns) against Saints cornerbacks Alex Molden (eight interceptions in 75 career games) and Kevin Mathis (three interceptions in 54 career games). |
| Player to Watch |
| La'Roi Glover, DT, New Orleans: Led the league with 17 sacks in the regular season, but the Rams held him to only two tackles last week. |
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Dolphins (12-5) at Raiders (12-4), 4 p.m. Saturday |
| Key Stat |
| 100-10: Points by which the Dolphins have been outscored in the divisional round the past two seasons, with a 62-7 loss to Jacksonville in 2000 and a 38-3 loss to Denver in 1999.
Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon (3,430 yards passing, 529 yards rushing this season) against Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor (69 tackles, 14 1/2 sacks). |
| Player to Watch |
| Zach Thomas, LB, Miami: Despite his seven total tackles against the Colts, Thomas has been slow to bounce back from his severe ankle sprain, missing several chances to drop Colts running back Edgerrin James behind or near the line of scrimmage last week. |
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Ravens (13-4) at Titans (13-3), 12:30 p.m. Sunday |
Key Stat |
| 22.2: Combined points per game allowed by the Ravens (10.3) and Titans (11.9), the league's top two scoring defenses during the regular season. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Titans All-Pro running back Eddie George (career-high 1,509 yards and 14 touchdowns this season) against Ravens All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis (144 total tackles, 10 1/2 stuffs, three interceptions). |
| Player to Watch |
| Jevon Kearse, DE, Tennessee: Fell off to 11 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles this season after totaling 16 1/2 and 12 in his monster rookie season. He'll face a challenge in Ravens All-Pro left tackle Johnathan Ogden and veteran right tackle Harry Swayne. |
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| Eagles (12-5) at Giants (12-4), 4 p.m. Sunday |
| Key Stat |
| 198-105: Giants' scoring advantage during their eight-game winning streak against the Eagles. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (3,526 passing yards, 661 rushing yards) against Giants defensive ends Michael Strahan (9 1/2 sacks, seven stuffs) and Cedric Jones (3 1/2 sacks, three stuffs), who must contain McNabb in the pocket and not allow him to scramble for big yardage. |
| Player to Watch |
| Hugh Douglas, DE, Philadelphia: With 17 sacks and 8 1/2 stuffs this season, All-Pro has the speed off the end to contain Giants running backs Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne, as well as to harass lead-footed Giants quarterback Kerry Collins into making mistakes. |
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