By Tom Jones
St. Petersburg Times
How interesting that each of the four NFL playoff games this weekend features a rematch of games played during the regular season.
Here’s a look back at the regular-season matchups and what they might have told us about the playoff rematches.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers
When they met: Oct. 26 at Carolina.
What was at stake: The Cardinals came in with a 4-2 record and a hot quarterback (Kurt Warner) with 12 touchdown passes in the first six games. Carolina was 5-2 and coming off an impressive 30-7 victory against New Orleans.
What happened: The Panthers overcame a 17-3 third-quarter deficit to rally for a 27-23 victory. QB Jake Delhomme threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard score to Steve Smith late in the third quarter that put the Panthers up for good.
What it meant: The Panthers, who would go 6-2 the rest of the way to finish a perfect 8-0 at home while the Cardinals showed their vulnerability on the road, where they finished 3-5.
What the game told us: That the Cardinals can throw against the Panthers. Warner threw for 381 yards. But it showed that the Cardinals, like every other NFL team, couldn’t stop Smith, who caught five passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Meantime, Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams rushed for 108 yards on 17 carries, while the Cardinals had only 50 yards rushing.
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Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
The teams split a pair of games. In Part I Nov. 9 at Philadelphia, The Giants sent a message that they were the team to beat in the NFC by winning their fourth straight game in Philly. Eli Manning threw two touchdowns and Brandon Jacobs rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants’ 36-31 victory. The Giants’ defense also stopped Eagles all-purpose back Brian Westbrook, who had only 59 total yards.
In Part II Dec. 7 in East Rutherford, N.J., the desperate Eagles, clinging to slim playoff hopes with a 6-5-1 record, rode Westbrook’s 131 yards on 33 carries (he also caught catching six passes for 72 more yards) with two touchdowns in an impressive 20-14 victory. Playing their second game after Plaxico Burress shot himself in the thigh, the Giants finished with a mere 211 total yards. Manning threw for only 123 yards ó his lowest total of the season when he played the entire game.
It meant little ultimately as New York eventually clinched the NFC East and home-field advantage for the playoffs. The win ultimately helped Philadelphia squeeze into the playoffs with a 9-6-1 mark.
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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Diego Chargers
When they met: Nov. 16 at Pittsburgh.
What was at stake: Both teams needed a win badly. The Steelers were coming off a disappointing home loss to Indianapolis, their second loss in three games. Meantime, the Chargers had lost two of three as well.
What happened: The Steelers won the NFL’s first 11-10 game ever on Jeff Reed’s 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds left. The game was a tale of two quarterbacks. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger had his second-most prolific game of the season by tossing for 308 yards. Chargers QB Philip Rivers struggled, throwing two interceptions and just 164 yards. The Steelers had nearly twice the offense, 410 yards to 213 in a game that featured a snow storm right before kickoff that left the field a frozen mess.
What it meant: The Steelers stretched their regular-season record against the Chargers in Pittsburgh to 13-0. But it should be noted the Chargers have won both playoff games against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. The victory propelled the Steelers to a five-game win streak, while San Diego continued to struggle.
What the game told us: The Chargers had trouble running, gaining only 66 yards on the ground. Meantime, Steelers RB Willie Parker rushed for 115 yards. Statistically, the Steelers dominated, but they needed three goals and a safety to win.
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee TitansWhen they met: Oct. 5 at Baltimore.
What was at stake: Two teams wanting to prove they were serious postseason contenders. The Titans were off to a solid 4-0 start, while the Ravens were 2-1 after an overtime loss the week before to archrival Pittsburgh.
What happened: QB Kerry Collins led the Titans on an 11-play, 80-yard drive culminating with an 11-yard TD pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:55 left to give Tennessee a 13-10 victory. Not surprisingly, the defenses controlled the game. Collins and Baltimore rookie QB Joe Flacco each threw two interceptions and for fewer than 164 yards.
What it meant: The Titans’ victory gave them a 5-0 record ó a perfect mark that would last until a loss against the Jets in their 11th game. Meantime, the Ravens were blown out by the Colts 31-3 the following week to fall to 2-3 before getting hot.
What the game told us: That both offenses might have trouble moving the ball. The Ravens defense stifled the Titans, which came into the game averaging more than 27 points . And there were 21 penalties called for 179 yards. Both Baltimore scoring drives were aided by 15-yard penalties, and the Titans’ winning drive was kept alive because of a shaky roughing-the-quarterback penalty. But if one thing stood out, it was the Ravens running attack, which rushed for 132 yards compared to Tennessee’s 47.