NFL Playoffs: Second Round Game Picks

Steelers-Chargers and more football predictions

Jan 5, 2009 Nick Meyer

The second week of the NFL playoffs is here and the games are much more intriguing.

With the road to the Super Bowl getting shorter and shorter each week, teams are holding nothing back and putting together new gameplans to even the playing field even more.

Who will come out on top in the second round of the NFL playoffs? Read on.

NFL Playoffs: Second Round Game Picks

Here are game picks and predictions for the second round of the NFL playoffs.

San Diego at Pittsburgh Playoff Pick

The Chargers would have been much better off getting a date with the Tennessee Titans, a team whose offense can't match them score-for-score nearly as well.

Pittsburgh can do just that, however, and their defense is also more aggressive and better at rushing the passer, which both teams base their whole schemes around.

Philip Rivers will need to have an enormous game to keep the Chargers in this one and/or Darren Sproles will have to break off some long runs.

But Pittsburgh will win due to the home crowd and more complete defense.

Baltimore at Tennessee Playoff Pick

Another potentially ugly defensive battle is expected here and these teams are very evenly matched.

In a game that should be determined by field position and which team wins the turnover battle, the Titans have edges in both categories because of the veteran QB Kerry Collins and their speed at RB with Chris Johnson.

A big run by Johnson or two will the difference in this game for the Titans in a win.

Arizona at Carolina Playoff Pick

This will be one of those games that starts out as a close shootout and then Carolina's superior running game behind DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will take over.

The Cardinals ran the ball well against Atlanta at times last week but Carolina is a different beast altogether. In fact, the Panthers might be the best team in the NFC, and they'll prove it in week two of the playoffs.

Philadelphia at New York Playoff Pick

This will be closer than the playoff seedings should suggest with Philadelphia the six seed and the Giants the one seed.

But New York ultimately has the edge because of their running game. Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and company run behind perhaps the best offensive line in the NFL and they will wear down the Eagles.

Jacobs in particular is one of the most fearsome weapons in the NFL and when he runs with authority and maximum effort, there aren't a whole lot of players in the NFL who aren't afraid of tackling him.

The Giants will win this game by a close score and move on to a showdown with Carolina for a Super Bowl berth.

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