NFL Divisional Playoff Preview: NFC

A look, now, at the two NFC divisional playoff games this weekend. All NFL football betting lines come courtesy Sports Interaction’s online sportsbook.

Arizona Cardinals (11-6) at New Orleans Saints (13-3)

The Numbers: The Saints are a converted touchdown (-7.0) favourite at the Superdome. No real shocker there, although maybe a bit of a surprise given how good the Arizona offense looked last week in that thrilling 51-45 OT win over Green Bay. The total is set for 57.5 points, again, not much of a shocker given that both these teams can light it up, especially via the pass.

The Matchup: Kurt Warner vs. Drew Brees. How can it be anything else? Two of the top five QBs in the NFL will lock horns, and people have to be drooling with anticipation following Warner’s turn-back-the-clock performance last weekend. It was like 1999 all over again, Warner throwing for 375 yards and five TDs, completing a ridiculous 88 percent of his passes.  Brees will have to be at his very best to match the kind of accuracy that Warner showed last weekend.

The Intangible: Anquan Boldin. Boldin is a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the best WRs in football, yet the Cardinals seem to play just fine without him. Check that — they play GREAT without him. Boldin has missed seven games in the last two years, and the Cards have gone 6-1 on those contests. That includes last Sunday, where backup WRs Steve Breaston and Early Doucet stepped into the Arizona lineup, and the offense didn’t miss a beat — Breaston and Doucet combined to score four touchdowns. Will Boldin (ankle) be able to return to the field this weekend? Do the Cards even want him to?

Dallas Cowboys (12-5) at Minnesota Vikings (12-4)

The Numbers: Minnesota has home-field advantage and thus, the point spread swings its way; the Vikings are -2.5 favourites. The Over/Under is currently at 45.5 points, an interesting total given how stout the Dallas defense has been lately. In their last three games, the Cowboys have only allowed 14 points against.

The Matchup: Adrian Peterson vs. Dallas’ run defense. Peterson hasn’t topped 100 yards in the last five games, and Dallas hasn’t allowed 100 rushing yards in any of its last five games. The Dallas 3-4 isn’t necessarily made to stuff the run, but it’s certainly a dominant defensive squad anyways. Much of that is due to the play of Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who has been a stalwart at jamming up the middle this season for the Cowboys. If Peterson can’t get it going against Dallas, that could prevent Brett Favre and the Vikings’ passing game from getting going. And that, folks, will be a major problem.

The Intangible: Minny’s offensive line. If the Pro Bowlers — LT Bryant McKinnie and LG Steve Hutchinson — can hold the fort and the rookie, RT Phil Loadholt, can handle the pressure, the Vikings have an excellent chance of advancing. Problem is, all three of those guys will be under heavy fire from a Dallas defence that’s recorded 11 sacks in the last three games. OLBs DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer are huge matchups problems in a 3-4 defense, and Minnesota will have to pay attention to all the shifting and flipping they do pre-snap.