Wild Card Weekend 2013

Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) @ Houston Texans (12-4)

For as good as the Texans were during the season to position themselves as massive favorites for the #1 seed after 14 games, they were just as terrible dropping their final two games to the Vikings and Colts. Not only did they lose the #1 seed, but they lost the bye, finishing as the 3rd seed. Fair or not, our collective conscience remembers the 2012 Texans by this collapse, and by the prime time drubbings delivered by the Packers (24-42, week 7) and Patriots (14-42, week 14). Four extremely concerning and memorable losses. Nobody is talking much about the Texans' 12 wins.

The Texans hoped to be watching and waiting from home this weekend but instead they face a young, hungry Bengals team, now a year older, with a fair amount of playoff experience. Bengals QB Andy Dalton is starting his 2nd playoff game in his two years. Meanwhile, this will be the playoff debut for 9-year veteran Texans QB Matt Schaub.

KEYS FOR CIN: WR A.J Green is the kind of game-changing weapon perfect for a road playoff game. A fast start by Green and solid production out of RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis is feasible recipe for the Bengals to move on.

KEYS FOR HOU: Coach Gary Kubiak should have no time for storylines but they are there, "The Texans can't beat good teams", "The Texans have talent but not focus". When the whistle blows, Houston will have a chance to re-write those headlines.

Minnesota Vikings (10-6) @ Green Bay Packers (11-5)

Vikings QB Christian Ponder (or Joe Webb) is handed a handicap (Packers terrible pass defense) for his duel with last year's MVP QB Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings also have to be pleased to have Adrian Peterson in the backfield facing off on a Green Bay defense that he has shredded for 409 yards in 2 games, including 199 last week.

The Packers D must be sick of tackling A.P in what has really been his greatest season. (I consider him the NFL MVP) but that is where the Vikings advantage ends. The Packers have enough talent on offense to win this game, When Aaron Rodgers gets hot on the frozen tundra the game will be out of reach. The Packers boast frightening array of weapons this season; WR Greg Jennings, TE Jermichael Finley, WR Jordy Nelson and breakout WRs Randall Cobb and James Jones. All healthy for the first time together now. Green Bay's great ball-controlling passing game can get hot and win any game.

KEYS FOR MIN: It will be very cold in Green Bay and the Vikings are preaching a punishing run game with the best running back in the NFL. Historical convention would seem to lean towards Minnesota on the unforgiving winter tundra.

KEYS FOR GB: Just light it up, Mr. Rodgers. The Vikings can only win a slugfest. If the Packers can put points on the board early (and we know they can) the Vikings will not come back. It would help if the defense could contain Peterson, but an early lead will work just the same.

Indianapolis Colts (11-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (10-6)

The Colts and Ravens have an old world story-line. March 29, 1984 the Baltimore Colts loaded into a convoy of 18-wheelers and bolted town, sneaking out under cover darkness in the middle of the night. Baltimore was left a heartbroken and bitter city, without an NFL franchise until 1996.

Most of this connection has fizzled over time. Both franchises have won Super Bowls this decade, 76 of the active 120 players were not even born in 1984!

Coach Chuck Pagano and his cancer treatments, inspiring words, and the Colts' turnaround have supplied a heartwarming story, but shall we talk some football? Ravens RB Ray Rice and QB Joe Flacco didn't take that next step into consistency this year and the offense seems to fluctuate between ignoring, or relying too much on, Rice. Which Ravens we will get, we have no idea. Strangely, it is rookie quarterback QB Andrew Luck and the previously 2-14 Colts who provide consistency, Luck is the real deal and the extra boost of their coach's inspiring story is unlikely to fade on this massive playoff stage.

KEYS FOR IND: Stopping Ray Rice has got to be the priority, Andrew Luck will not be able to do that, if there's any burst from the Ravens offense - this is still a Colts D that can seriously struggle.

KEYS FOR BAL: Joe Flacco isn't the only wildly inconsistent quarterback in the league brimming on greatness. Jay Cutler, Tony Romo, and Philip Rivers come to my mind. It's time for Flacco to get out of that grouping.

Seattle Seahawks (11-5) @ Washington Redskins (10-6)

The Washington Redskins have faced Seattle in their last two playoff appearance in 2005 and 2007. They lost both appearances. The Redskins aren't those Redskins anymore, or any Redskins, anymore. QB Robert Griffin III-mania has swept the nation's capital. He has brought a dynamic, exciting aspect to Redskin football that, even in the 80s glory days, has rarely existed.

The Seahawks are coming off a 5-game winning streak in which they out-scored their opponents 193-60. They are converting in the red zone, winning on the road, and QB Russell Wilson is getting better and better. In a battle of exciting, dynamic rookie QBs, Wilson happens to be the healthiest.

KEYS FOR SEA: RB Marshawn Lynch can control a game and the Redskins defense is not top-tier. It's hard to imagine a circumstance in which the patchy, muddy field will not make this a slugfest. Lynch and Wilson are guys you want on your side. Their other advantage lies in their secondary as CB Richard Sherman has been the most under-rated player in the NFL, alongside Pro Bowler S Earl Thomas and returning CB Brandon Browner.

KEYS FOR WASH: RGIII just isn't in top form, his injury late in the season has clearly hampered him. He has proven he is no simpleton scrambler but physically he's hurting. RB Alfred Morris is the latest Shanahan monster. They will need big plays outside of RGIII to win this game, Morris did it in the de facto playoff game against Dallas weekend, they'll call on him again.