NFL 2010 SEASON: WILD CARD PLAYOFFS (SATURDAY GAMES)

Remember…. New rules are in place for overtime in the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks, 1/8 3:30 PM NBC

The Seahawks finished the regular season with a 7-9, and possibly one of the worst teams to make the playoffs in any of the professional sports leagues. Five teams with better records (including two 10-win teams in the Giants and Buccaneers) than the Seahawks will be watching the playoffs at home.

Someone had to win the NFC West… Those are the rules for teams to qualify for the NFL Playoffs. Win your division and you get a home playoff game.

The Seahawks have one of the worst point differentials among teams to qualify for this season’s playoffs at -39. In their victories, their margin of victory was 13.1 points. In their defeats, the average margin of defeat was 21 points. None of their nine losses was within 8 points or less.

After a Week 7 loss at home to Cleveland, it appeared that the New Orleans Saints would not make the playoffs. The Saints reeled off six consecutive wins and finished the season winning seven out of nine games. Included in that stretch of games was a 34-19 victory over the Seahawks in the Superdome on November 21.

The most impressive win by the Saints in that stretch of games was the Week 16 Monday Night matchup in Atlanta. Quarterback Drew Brees completed six consecutive passes on a 13-play, 90-yard drive that secured a hard fought 17-14 victory over their division rivals. The win served notice to the rest of the league that the Saints are not ready to give up the title of Super Bowl champion so easily.

Brees threw for fifth consecutive 4,300 yard passing season in 2010 and became the Saints all time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completed passes. He was also named the 2010 Sports Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year.”

It appears that the Saints high powered passing offense is too much for the Seahawks to handle. 10 different players for the Saints caught 20 passes. The only potential weakness for the Saints heading into this postseason is their running game. Running backs Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas are out due to injuries. Reggie Bush needs to live up to the expectations as the second pick of the 2006 Draft.

The Saints in this game are seeking to achieve some firsts: their first franchise playoff road win (lifetime 0-3) and the first defending Super Bowl Champion to win a playoff game since the Patriots did in the 2005 playoffs.

Odds makers put the Saints as 10:1 favorites to repeat as Super Bowl Champion. The Seahawks are 100:1.

THE PICK: Saints 35, Seattle 17

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts, 1/8 7:00 PM NBC

One month ago, the Colts appeared to be finished. Quarterback Peyton Manning was coming off one of his worst stretches as a starter throwing 11 interceptions in three consecutive games. The Colts were 6-6 and their playoff streak appeared to be in jeopardy.

The Colts finished the season on a four game winning streak and won their seventh AFC South Title. This is their ninth consecutive playoff appearance since 2002 tying a record set by the Dallas Cowboys from 1975-83.

Despite throwing 17 interceptions in 2010, Manning was able to post 4,700 yards and throw for 33 touchdowns. Most of that is due to injuries that have decimated the Colts receiving corps.

At the end of November it appeared that the Jets are living up to Coach Rex Ryan’s prediction that they were Super Bowl team. Then came a December that Jets fans do not want to remember. It started with the team losing 45-3 in New England in a much hyped Monday Night matchup and followed that performance with a lack luster effort in a surprising 10-6 home loss to the Dolphins. The Jets finished the 2010 season in second place in the AFC East.

However, the Jets are a tough bunch. Despite losing 3 out of their 5 games, one of the key wins was in that stretch was against the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the franchise’s first victory in the Keystone State. During the regular season the Jets were 6-3 in games decided by 8 points or less, including winning two consecutive overtime games. Much of that was due to the clutch play of quarterback Mark Sanchez who improved in his second season as the Jets starter.

The Colts have reputation behind them with Peyton Manning. Though, the Jets have been preparing for this game with the personnel moves they have made in the off-season. The difference between this game and the matchup in last season’s AFC Championship Game is the health of the teams. The Jets are healthy; the Colts are not.

THE PICK: Jets 34, Colts 24