NFL Wild Card - All four games this weekend!

ST.LOUIS RAMS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKSIt's probably just as well Seattle and St.Louis are in the NFC West, as they probably won't have made the play-offs in any other division. Playing a quarter of the schedule against San Francisco and Arizona would be welcomed by any NFL franchise.That said the Cardinals still managed to defeat both the Rams and Seahawks in the regular season. In fact had Arizona not succumbed twice against officially the worst team (49ers), then they would most likely be playing on Saturday evening.Anyway back to the first wild-card match of the weekend, and the two teams will be meeting for the third time this season. The Rams won on both occasions, including a seventeen point comeback in week five.That victory was the last experienced by St.Louis on the road during the regular season. In fact since they have tasted defeat in Miami (14-31), Buffalo (17-37), Green Bay (17-45), Carolina (7-20), Arizona (7-31). None of these results were close.Based on these performances, the three and a half point handicap for Seattle begins to look very tempting. However, Seattle haven't been as strong at home this season losing to St.Louis, Buffalo and Dallas.Nevertheless, the home team do appeal to beat a Rams outfit that may play well at home, but on the road have proven to be very poor. The Seahawks won't make the same mistake again of relaxing should they establish a commanding lead, and should emerge as a comfortable winner from this one.NEW YORK JETS @ SAN DIEGO CHARGERSThe second play-off is a rematch from week 2 when the Jets won 34-28 in San Diego. The Chargers went onto clinch the AFC West in emphatic fashion, while the Jets claimed a wildcard despite winning just five of their last 11 games.Of the two teams, San Diego is clearly playing better at present. Even their reserves were able to beat an in-form Kansas City Chiefs, allowing the starters a vital extra week of reserve. Meanwhile, the Jets were involved in what was effectively a play-off type game in week 17 until it was known Buffalo had lost at home to Pittsburgh.Although in better form, a look at the Chargers schedule does show that all four of their losses came against play-off teams. That said the Jets only beat two play-off teams during the regular season.On the handicap market, San Diego are six point favourites, although in truth it is difficult to make an argument either way. The home team may be better rested and in better form, yet there is a chance the Jets will be boosted with the return of their premier pass rusher John Abraham, who has been sorely missed recently.If the bookmakers are to be believed, this will be the most one sided game of the weekend. It was in fact this exact match-up twelve months ago that prompted Denver to trade their star running back for a "shutdown" corner in Champ Bailey.When the two teams met in the play-offs last season, Peyton Manning threw four TD passes early to eventually blow away the Broncos. In the final regular season game, Denver did beat Indianapolis but that was against mostly backups.It is unlikely Jake Plummer will be able to match Manning score for score through the air, so expect the visitors to try and score early and then pound the ball trying to chew as much time off the clock as possible. The best way to stop the explosive Colts offence from scoring of course is if they are kept on the sidelines.In reality though Denver won't be good enough in the RCA Dome and will most likely finish on the losing side. Whether it is by more or less than ten points remains to be seen.One bet that does hold some appeal is a special market devised by Ladbrokes that pits Marvin Harrison against Rod Smith for the most receiving yards. Predictably Harrison is the odds on favourite, although a close look at the average receiving yards for both receivers this season shows that Smith is only a yard behind.Furthermore, Denver are likely to use Champ Bailey 90% of the time on Marvin Harrison. Rod Smith won't have to face the same quality of coverage and could easily rack up the reception yards. If Denver happen to be losing by plenty in the second half, then there would be an excellent chance of Smith gaining more yards on the assumption Plummer goes to the air on every play.It's not a bet to get too heavily involved with but at 11/10 Rod Smith should be backed to gain more receiving yards than Marvin Harrison.The wildcard weekend finished in style with the third meeting of the season between these two NFC North rivals. Green Bay won the division with a week to spare despite starting 1-4, while the Vikings claimed a wildcard on the back of other teams failures.In both meeting during the regular season, Green Bay won with a field goal as time expired. Whilst I expect the Packers to win again, it should be by a bigger margin if the history is anything to go by.The Vikings are 2-9 at Lambeau Field in their last 11 visits and they are 2-20 in their last 22 games outside on real grass. Furthermore, Minnesota is 1-8 in postseason road games while the Packers have a 14-1 playoff record at home.