wildcard weekend

playoffs! yes that's right, the masterclass in sports marketing returns tonight at 9.30pm, as the wildcard round sees the NFL 2010 post-season get underway. think the champions league is drawn out? listen, those idiots are still kicking games off at the same time, can you believe that shit? four games, four kick off times, 3 different cable channels, 4 if you count the NFL network which will have round the clock coverage, over a 2 day orgy of american football. delicious.

but if you put all the commercial nastiness aside, admittedly quite a task, what you are left with is four sweet games, with at least half of the teams involved realistic prospects to reach the super bowl. without wishing to resort to cliche, the 'any given sunday' element has been one of the main reasons why the NFL have been so successful in selling the playoffs as a big deal, and why they get away with whoring their sponsorship-shaped booty to all and sundry- these games are genuinely difficult to call. the fact that some of the matchups are return games from week 17 only muddies the waters further. but, i've got me some rocket-powered flippers, so here goes...

saturday, 9.30pm (sky sports 3), cincinnati bengals v new york jets:

in what is likely to be the ugliest matchup of the weekend, it's the run the ball bowl. last sunday's match was an easy win for the jets, but you have to think that cincy, who rested cedric benson, were holding something back. carson palmer is a pretty one-dimensional QB, but he does have benson, as well as everyone's favourite joker, chad ochocinco. there's little doubt that the bengals can be more explosive going forward, but the way they got punked by the jets, especially the superbly-named d'brickashaw ferguson last weekend, will be fresh in the mind. the jets are average on paper, but they are the kind of team who's done well in the playoffs in recent times- stifling defence, lots of aggression and turnovers. they might have woken up on monday certain that the bengals know all their plays, but i think they knew that they might well have broken over-achieving cincy. my pick- jets.

sunday 1am (sky sports 2), dallas cowboys v philadelphia eagles:

as mike carlson says, philly couldn't have played much worse last weekend. while you can forgive the bengals for wanting to play the one-dimensional jets, i can't see why philly didn't go for the win and avoid the cowboys, one of the hottest teams in the NFL. as it is, they were pathetic, and now face the long journey south, with only 100000 mad texans and tony romo in the form of his life to welcome them. philly have been pretty poor since securing a playoff spot, whilst the cowboys have been busy ignoring the december curse. coach wade phillips has still yet to win a playoff game, and will probably be fired if they lose, but, after last week, i just can't see it. these cowboys are going to miami (that's where the super bowl is). my pick- cowboys.

sunday 5.30pm (sky sports 2), new england patriots v baltimore ravens:

the only game we didn't see this weekend, and definitely the hardest to call. on one hand, the patriots have the super bowl experience, tom brady, and er, that's it. on the other hand, there is no wes welker, he limped off last weekend. baltimore have an explosive defence, and the momentum from their late charge into the post-season. this one will be won and lost on defence. if new england can stop ray rice, and manage to expose the baltimore second row, then they should take it. but, as many have said, take away welker (probably the best wide receiver in the playoffs, or not) from brady, and all bets are off. i'm having real trouble here. but...here comes a meaningless yet crucial for the purpose of this preview stat! baltimore have never beaten new england. beautiful. my pick- patriots.

sunday 9pm (sky sports 2), arizona cardinals v green bay packers:

don't let the spectacularly uncompetitive green bay win last week fool you, if kurt warner has a good day and marshals his receivers, then the cardinals will win. preview over? not quite. the cardinals have been characteristically inconsistent this season, capable of scoring 30 points but conceding 35. remember though, it was that kind of play which took them within 30 seconds of winning the super bowl last year. sense would dictate that if green bay can continue their solid offense, and QB aaron rodgers can hold his nerve, then they should edge it, but warner is a difference-maker, and i wouldn't be surprised if he pulled it out again. this will be close, and high-scoring, but...my pick- cardinals.

if we assume my predictions are correct, then next weekend's divisional play-offs will be:

indianapolis colts v new york jets (AFC)

san diego chargers v new england patriots (AFC)

new orleans saints v arizona cardinals (NFC)

minnesota vikings v dallas cowboys (NFC).

so expect it to look completely different. these games should be really exciting, and i shall try to catch as many as possible. for those of you not blessed with sky, or a fast internet connection, or a life, BBC2 has highlights, tuesday 00.10.

sorry there's no weekend picks, but the blog has gone all american, at least for the next 48 hours. god bless football! and commercialism.