The Dallas Cowboys head to the Minnesota Metrodome to take on the Vikings in the 2010 NFC Divisional Playoffs this Sunday. Both teams have been absent from the NFC Divisional playoffs for some time, the Cowboys last made an appearance in 1996 and the Viking in 2001.

This will be the second NFC playoff game for Cowboys this year and the first for the Vikings, who enjoyed a bye week in week 17. The ways that the Cowboys offense and defense are plying, this can certainly be their next stop on the road to a truly attainable goal - becoming the Super Bowl Champions.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, the Cowboys must beat the Vikings. Here is our NFC Divisional Playoff preview between the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings. It spells out the reasons why the Cowboys will defeat the Vikings in the 2010 NFC Divisional Playoffs.

And that word is DEFENSE.

The Dallas Cowboy’s had the 9th best defense in the NFL. They were ranked 4th against the rush and 20th against the pass. However, in last week’s Wild Card win, the Cowboys defense held the Eagles to 56 yards rushing while forcing 3 interceptions and a fumble. Over their last three games, the Cowboys are playing the best defense of the teams still alive.

The Cowboys offense is just as impressive. They had the 2nd ranked offense in the NFL during the regular season. They were ranked 6th in passing and 7th in rushing. Last week against the Eagles (12th overall total defense) the Cowboys gained 198 yards rushing and 228 yards passing. Tony Romo threw for 2 TDs and 0 interceptions.

Another important fact is the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 3 times this season by a combined score of 78 - 33, a team that many predicted to win the Super Bowl.

Now let’s take a look at the Vikings. They had the 5th best offense overall in the regular season (13th rushing and 8th in passing). They have three players in the top 5 of the following offensive categories:

QB Brett Favre is 2nd in the NFL for QB rating at 107.2; RB Adrian Peterson is 5th in rushing yards with 1383, and WR Sidney Rice is 4th in Receiving Yards with 1312.

The Vikings are ranked 6th overall in total defense, 2nd against the rush and 19th against the pass. The Vikings defensive is led by Defensive End Jared Allen who is 2nd in the NFL in Sacks with 14.5. The Vikings had perhaps the most intimidating defense until they lost linebacker EJ Henderson for the season (broken league).

The Vikings certainly have some impressive statistics and league leading individual players. But there are some glaring concerns.

• The Vikings lost 3 of their last 5 games (@ Arizona, @ Carolina and @ Chicago.) in the regular season.
• In the last three games before the Vikings beat the “no-show” Giants in the final week of the season, Favre threw for 4 TDs and 3 interceptions. Some experts have surmised that Brett was going away from coach Ray Childress’s game plan. Many suspect that is what caused the on-field argument between the two late in season.
• Adrian Peterson has been amazingly mediocre over the second half of the season. He hasn’t rushed for 100 yards in a game since week 9.
• The injury to EJ Henderson was devastating to the Vikings defense. Since his absence, opposing offenses have been able to double team DE Jared Allen and run the right side.

The Vikings do have two things going for them. First, they have the advantage of resting during the bye week off and secondly, they are playing at home in the dome. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough for the Vikings to win this NFC Divisional Playoff game.

Winning in the playoffs is all about momentum and the quality of play at the current moment. You could almost throw out the regular season statistics when predicting the winner. The 2007 NY Giants are a prime example. They were mediocre in the regular season but excelled in the playoffs to become Super Bowl champions. And you can draw a parallel to one of these teams.

The Dallas Cowboys are that team!

Thenflthisweek.com Prediction

Cowboys 27 Vikings 21

The Philadelphia Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys tonight in the first of two NFC wildcard matchups this weekend. And if the playoff history of both teams hold true, then the Eagles should advance in the NFC playoff race.

The Cowboys haven’t won an NFC Wildcard game since 1996 (losing it’s last 5 wildcard appearances in 2007, 2004, 2000,1999 and 1997). Secondly, Eagles coach Andy Reid is 4-0 in wildcard games while Wade Phillips is 0-4.

But not so fast! The Cowboys have won the first two games this season against the Eagles by a combined score of 44-16. And even more importantly, the Cowboys have a new swagger, a new stadium and a QB who is playing his best ball coming into the NFC Wildcard Weekend.

In the regular season, the Cowboys had the 2nd overall offense (6th in passing/7th in rushing). Their opponents, the Eagles, were 11th overall in the NFL offensively (10th in passing/22nd in rushing).

Defensively the Cowboys are ranked 9th overall (20th against the pass/4th against the rush) while the Eagles are 12th overall (17th against the pass/9th against the rush).

When you look at the matchups in this game you need to look at the big play threat of Eagles WR DeSean Jackson. Although he has been outstanding all year, against the Cowboys he has only 5 catches for 76 yards in their two meetings. But the Eagles have other go-to players on offense, including TE Brent Celek, RB Brian Westbrook and QB Donovan McNabb.

One of the biggest factors for the Eagles offense is the loss of Center Jamall Jackson to injury just two weeks ago. The Dallas Defense, led by LB DeMarcus Ware should be able to put a lot of pressure on McNabb.

When it comes to the Cowboys offense, they seem to be hitting their stride. Another major factor to consider is the fact that the Eagles linebackers have been in disarray all season, and the secondary has gambled and gotten burned too many times.
QB Tony Romo and TE Jason Witten should have a field day against the Eagles defense.

This is a breakout year for the Cowboys. They have dominated the Eagles, have their “mojo” back and are playing their best ball at the right time. The Cowboys are favored by 4 points and the under/over is 45 points.

Thenflthisweek.com prediction:

Cowboys 31 Eagles 14