NFL Playoffs Round 1: Who played Possum?

The answer is... Phish.

I was riding down the road one day and
Someone hit a possum
I was riding down the road one day and
Someone hit a possum
The road was his end
His end was the road
So they say

Whoa possum...possum, possum...POSSUM
Whoa possum...possum, possum... POSSUM
Whoa possum, possum...
Your end is the road


But I digress. In a bizarre coincidence of scheduling, three of this weekend's four match-ups in the opening round of the NFL playoffs are rematches from the final week of the regular season. All three of those games were blowouts. The question for those losers is, who played possum and who was road kill?


Sat, 4:30pm - NYJ @ CIN - Line: Cincy by 2 1/2
The Jets clobbered the Bengals in a game that was meaningless for Cincy. In fact, New York won two straight games to make the playoffs against teams that had nothing to play for after losing a must-win game in week 15 to the Falcons, 10-7. After their 3-0 start, the Jets beat no one good all season.

The Bengals cooled off in the 2nd half of the season. Benson hasn't had a TD since week 9. Palmer has never won a playoff game. Still, it's easy to forget the Bengals went undefeated in the AFC North. That's impressive. The Jets have a great defense that could swing the game if it stays close, but I don't think it will. (Besides, since we're still cyber-feuding, I have to bet against Andrew's Jets.)

Bengals, 28-13



Sat, 8:00pm - PHI @ DAL - Line: Dallas by 4
There was no reason for the Eagles to play dead. A win last week would have given Philly a bye this week, but they looked horrendous in Jerry Jones's House. Now they have to come back into Dallas with their six game winning streak a distant memory and the Cowboys suddenly getting some buzz as a Super Bowl pick.

Call me crazy, but I'm going with the QB, coach, and franchise with nine playoff wins last decade over the QB, coach, and franchise with zero. You know how many times McNabb has been one-and-done in the playoffs? Zero. Yes, he was off last week. It was a classic McNabb bad game. But it sets up a classic McNabb good game, where he stomps on the hearts of Texans (the people, not the team that missed the playoffs). Luckily for Romo, it won't be his fault when Suisham misses the game winning FG.

Eagles, 24-23



Sun, 1:00pm - BAL @ NWE- Line: Pats by 3
New England beat the Ravens 27 to 21 back in Week 4. New England played a little possum last week against the Texans (the team that missed the playoffs, not the people), although not enough to keep Wes Welker healthy. Brady's ribs are dicey too.

With Brady's injury in mind, Ray Rice might be the best offensive weapon on the field. And he wasn't even the Ravens RB with 167 yards last week! This game will be a good one too, but Brady guts it out in the end, setting the stage for "Fourth and Two: Part II" - or as it will soon be known, "The Last Night of the Patriots Dynasty" - next week in Indy. (Correction: Sports Guy's mistake confused me. Last Night of the Patriots Dynasty will occur in San Diego.)

Patriots, 28-24



Sun, 4:30pm - GNB @ ARI - Line: Even
A great finale to a delightful weekend. Arizona was absolutely playing possum last week. Either of these teams could get hot and charge into the Super Bowl. We all know about the QBs, but it's easy to forget that Green Bay was 2nd to the Jets in total defense this season. Arizona was 20th, but they return the same speedy defense that keyed their run last year.

This will come down to which offense makes more big plays. I think this season will be remembered as the year Aaron Rodgers firmly established himself as an elite QB. He gets his first playoff win Sunday.

Packers, 27-20