AFC playoffs

Now that we have discussed the NFC playoff race and possible divisional round previews, lets go further into the AFC hunt. The two divisional matchups in the opening weekend. They include the Tennessee Titans traveling to the West Coast to take on the San Diego Chargers while an exact re-match occurs between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Pittsburgh Steelers from Heinz Field.

Tennessee At San Diego

These two teams squared off during week 14. In that game, played in Nashville, the Chargers trailed 17-3 before making up ground to tie the game in regulation and finish the comeback in overtime. LaDainian Tomlinson had two touchdown runs of 6 and 17 yards for the Bolts and finished with 147 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, quarterback Philip Rivers tossed for 228 yards and two scores...but also two interceptions.

This time around, however, it will be a home game for the Chargers and I fully expect the League's leading rusher to have a field day. Tennessee's defense will not be able to hold down the San Diego offense in spite of an anticipated average performance out of Philip Rivers.

There are question marks about the Titans quarterback situation whether Vince Young is healthy enough to take the field after suffering a quad injury. If Kerry Collins starts the game, it'll be the first time he's entered the postseason since his Super Bowl run with the Giants in 2000...succumbing to eventual Super Bowl Champion...the Baltimore Ravens. With this in mind and the lack of faith I have in LenDale White continuing to have a monster of a season, the Chargers will snap a streak of losing three consecutive years in the first round the team plays in.

The count is San Diego 31, Tennessee 17

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh

The first matchup between the two was late in the season and Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker was playing. He is now on injured reserve which should indicate the Jaguars are going to handle less of a load from whichever runner comes at the defense. In week 15, Parker rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries but quarterback Ben Rothelisberger only gained 142 yards through the air.

Jacksonville also had a slate of athletes who performed well that week. Starting running back Fred Taylor ran 25 times for 147 yards and a touchdown while second year back out of UCLA, Maurice-Jones Drew pounded the Heinz Field surface for 69 yards on twelve attempts.

In spite of all these statistics, the outcome (a Jags victory over Pittsburgh in week 14) and the injury to the Steel City's Willie Parker, Jacksonville has not won a playoff game since 1998. This cast of characters is almost the same group (except for Jones-Drew) as the one that got smashed in New England. The team is identical because that squad had no running game and a bunch of good but not great receivers. Pittsburgh has a similar construct as the Pats and while the offense for Jacksonville has been prodigent this year, the Steelers will squeak out a victory led by Big Ben, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and most importantly...Najeh Davenport (the former Green bay Packer) will relive his playoff destiny and rush for 100 yards.

Pittsburgh 21, Jacksonville 20