From Deseret News archives:

Local ties to playoffs

Published: Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 12:28 a.m. MST
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With the NFL's top seeds enjoying a bye, the battle to upset them gets under way today. Remember, the last two Super Bowl champions have come through wild card weekend, so here's my take on how the postseason will go:

Redskins-Seahawks

The weekend gets started with Washington traveling to Seattle. Unfortunately, Seattle plays in the NFC Worst, a division that would lose to most BCS schools. Still, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has shown brilliance at times and coach Mike Holmgren is no slouch when it comes to taking teams deep into the postseason.

The Redskins, on the other hand, are one of the hottest teams in the league, having won four straight, including a rout over archrival Dallas last Sunday. They also boast Chris Cooley, an ex-Utah State Aggie, who's good for several catches per game as well as a TD once in a while. They'll also be reminded each time they tackle an opponent because the 21 sticker honors murdered teammate Sean Taylor. As much as I want to pick the 'Skins, I'll have to give Seattle a slight edge with home field and the better QB. Seattle moves on next week against the Packers by edging Washington 24-23.

Jaguars-Steelers

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The Jacksonville-Pittsburgh matchup is easily the best of the wild-card contests. The Jags handed the Steelers their only home loss this season on an ugly night on an ugly turf. Pittsburgh also boasts Ben Roethlisberger, who before his motorcycle accident and appendectomy in 2006, was easily one of the top three QBs in the league. Since then, he's tapered off some and is only a mere mortal now. Jacksonville's David Garrard, on the other hand, has had a sterling year and directs a balanced offense that has the rest of the AFC wary of facing these guys. Despite Pittsburgh's local connection with a couple of former BYU players on its roster, I'm picking the Jaguars to sneak by and throw a bit of fear into the Patriots' perfect season plans. Jaguars 24, Steelers 17

Giants-Bucs

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