Vikes' third-down offense; Falcons' underrated balance
After looking at game film, Gary Horton tells you what to pay attention to from the NFC teams during the postseason.
• Without WR Plaxico Burress, this passing offense has used a more controlled and short passing attack. Most of their success will come off play-action, which is set up by their bruising running game.
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• The Giants usually have success at stopping the run with only their front seven -- especially when DE Justin Tuck moves around on the defensive line to get a favorable matchup. This gives them good flexibility in their coverage schemes and blitz packages.
2008 NFL Playoffs
The road to Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009, began Jan. 3 with the wild-card playoff round. Will the Steelers or Cardinals replace the Giants as champs?
Championship Game results: NFC | AFC
COLUMNS/FEATURES
• Wojciechowski: May the bitter team win• Chadiha: McNabb lets good times roll
• Football Outsiders: Numbers Crunching
• Sunday Countdown: Predictions and more
• Clayton: First and Goal
• Garber: This Philly Story seeks proper ending
• Clayton: Peaking Steelers should advance
• Chadiha: Eagles will soar in desert
• Wojciechowski: Book Eagles for Tampa
• Football Outsiders: Any Given Sunday
• Football Outsiders: Quick Reads
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES (Jan. 18)
Steelers 23, Ravens 14
• Polamalu's INT return secures win• Playoff page | AFC North blog
Cardinals 32, Eagles 25
• Fitzgerald leads Cardinals to first Super Bowl• Playoff page | NFC West blog ... East
DIVISIONAL ROUND (Jan. 10-11)
Steelers 35, Chargers 24
• Walker: The Bus sparks Parker• Williamson: Bolts need season-long urgency
• Recap: Steelers knock out Chargers
• More | AFC West blog ... AFC North
Ravens 13, Titans 10
• Graham: Battered Ravens pass physical• Kuharsky: Titans failed to answer critics
• Recap: Turnovers doom Titans
• Zoom Gallery
• Fleming: Can anyone stop the Ravens?
• More | AFC North blog ... AFC South
Cardinals 33, Panthers 13
• Sando: Desert bloom for Arizona's faithful• Sando: No denying Cards' makeover
• Yasinskas: Carolina's big plans fall apart
• Recap: Delhomme's 5 INTs doom Panthers
• Zoom Gallery
• More | NFC West blog ... NFC South
Eagles 23, Giants 11
• Wojciechowski: Book Eagles for Tampa• Mosley: Giants lost to better team
• Recap: Defense smothers Giants
• Zoom gallery
• Chadiha: Eagles' defense hitting stride
• More | NFC East blog
WILD-CARD ROUND (Jan. 3-4)
Ravens 27, Dolphins 9
• Wojciechowski: Scary Ravens' D• Recap: Ravens' defense overpowers Dolphins
• More | AFC North blog ... AFC East
Eagles 26, Vikings 14
• Mosley: Eagles' run continues• Recap: Westbrook, big plays carry Eagles
• More | NFC East blog... NFC North
Cardinals 30, Falcons 24
• Sando: Cards' winning identity• Recap: Strong second half powers Cards
• More | NFC South blog ... NFC West
Chargers 23, Colts 17
• Williamson: 5-6 Sproles comes up big• Recap: Chargers shock Manning, Colts in OT
• More | AFC South blog ... AFC West
- Schefter: On Gary Kubiak's future
- Rumors: Crabtree's plan for SF offense
- Tools: PickCenter | Game Predictor
- Draft: Mel's Big Board (11/18) | NFL draft blog
