Timothy Walz
I am a 54-year old sports fanatic currently working as a research analyst and writer for the U.S. government in Germany. I am married and have two sons, both of whom also live and work here in Germany. I became a grandfather for the first time in July 2004, with the birth of a grandson. I was born and raised in Minnesota and am a die-hard Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves fan. My favorite sports are professional and college football, basketball, and baseball, and I am also an avid enthusiast of golf, boxing and tennis. I have lived in Germany for more than 20 years, which has given me a greater appreciation and understanding of more traditional European sports such as soccer, cycling and Formula I racing.
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Last weekend’s 2-2 forecast was not exactly what I expected, but the Redskins magical late season run following the Sean Taylor tragedy finally came to an end and the New York team I expected to see in Tampa Bay disappeared after the first quarter. Last weekend’s losers were long shots to make the Super Bowl anyway, and their departure has only made this weekend’s matchups more enticing as these teams have a history with each other.
* Seattle and Green Bay are connected by Seahawks’ head coach Mike Holmgren, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, and an overtime contest in the 2003 playoffs won by the Packers.
* New York and Dallas play each other twice a year but this is their first playoff meeting.
* Jacksonville has played New England three consecutive seasons and four out of the last five. New England holds a dominating 6-1 record against the Jaguars, including a 2-1 record in the playoffs.
* San Diego and Indianapolis have faced each other several times over the past few years. Both teams have scored impressive road wins during that stretch, the most memorable being San Diego’s stunning victory over a then 13-0 Indianapolis team in 2005.
As a result, I am anticipating some significant playoff intensity football this weekend
Saturday
Seattle (11-6) at Green Bay (13-3). The Seahawks bring an experienced playoff team and a tough, tenacious, hard hitting defense to Lambeau Field. Conversely, the Packers field the youngest, least experienced playoff team – even with “old” pro Favre on the roster. Green Bay must turn that youthful exuberance into a positive by jumping out quickly to an early lead. While weather may play a role in the ebb and flow of the game, with the forecast calling for temperatures in the 20’s and snow flurries, the wind, which can play havoc with execution, will not be a factor. I like the Packers to win unless Seattle’s defense or special teams put points on the board. The Seahawks have a good but not great offense and should struggle to get their ground game untracked. This will put more pressure on Hasselbeck to win through the air, which should open up more turnover opportunities for Green Bay. The Packers must provide Favre time in the pocket or the Seattle pass rush will make this a long game for the Green Bay faithful. Holmgren is a great motivator and the Seahawks have many cagey veterans, but I do not see the firepower needed to pull off the upset. Green Bay 23 – Seattle 17.
Jacksonville (12-5) at New England (16-0). The Jaguars look to be right were they want to be. This fearless, physical team believes it can ruin New England’s perfect season – and they could be correct. They rely on a dominating rushing offense and a crushing rush defense to control the line of scrimmage and they are facing a New England team that has question marks surrounding its ability to keep the Jaguars’ ground game in check. Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard was a master at protecting the ball this season, but whether it was playoff jitters or miss-reads, he made a couple mistakes last week that almost contributed to a devastating road loss at Pittsburgh. I expect this game to be closer than forecast. While I do not believe Jacksonville will pull off the upset, they should make New England work tirelessly for the win. I want New England pushed to the limit each weekend they remain in the playoffs. If they run the table by winning ultra close contests it will solidify in my mind their position as one of the best, if not the best NFL teams in history. It will not be easy but the Patriots will move one step closer to attaining that lofty perch. New England 31 – Jacksonville 27.
Sunday
San Diego (12-5) at Indianapolis (13-3). While San Diego’s playoff win finally ended the postseason frustration this team has endured since its 1994 Super Bowl season, they will be hard pressed to defeat the Colts. The Chargers were outplayed by the battered Titans for significant portions of last week’s game and they now face a healthy Indianapolis team. Although San Diego’s play after their early season disasters was reminiscent of the team’s dominance on the field last year, they continue having trouble putting a complete performance together. That will be their downfall this week. All-pro tight end Antonio Gates is highly doubtful, and even if he plays, his capabilities to execute plays will be hindered. That will put even more pressure on quarterback Philip Rivers and running back LaDanian Tomlinson. While I have confidence Tomlinson will have a solid game, I do not share that belief about Rivers. He still looks unsure and nervous in the pocket, makes poor decisions at times, and seems to take a lot of his frustration out on his teammates. Unless Indianapolis comes out flat this should be an easy win for the Colts. Indianapolis 30 – San Diego 17.
New York Giants (11-6) at Dallas (13-3). The Giants are on a roll and bring their impressive 8-1 road record into Texas Stadium looking to knock off their long time rival. Timing is everything and this looks like a good time for the Giants. Not only do they seem to be playing with a renewed sense of purpose, they are facing a Dallas team that played poorly in December, has a less than 100 percent healthy Terrell Owens, has had to face more distractions about quarterback Tony Romo’s love life, and failed in its only other attempt to defeat the same team three times in a season. In the 1998 playoffs, Arizona, which lost both regular season matchups, rode into Dallas and stole out of town with the victory. I remain nervous about which New York team will show up, but I have to believe the Giants are convinced they will be the better team on Sunday. I think they back that up on the field. New York 31 – Dallas 23.
If this forecast proves true, fans will be rewarded with terrific Championship matchups, as the playoffs will return to frozen Lambeau Field for the Green Bay-New York contest and the Colts will face the Patriots in a highly anticipated game.
