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Home field should key Vikes, Raiders

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Last year three of four home teams won in the first round of the playoffs. This year all four home teams won in the first week of the postseason. Last year three of four home teams won in the second round, too. This season should be more of the same.

The Saints come into Minneapolis after an emotional home win against division rival St. Louis. Jim Haslett has built this team on great defense. Willie Whitehead and LaRoi Glover must continue to make big plays if New Orleans is to take the noisy Metrodome crowd out of the game.

The Vikings will send six players to the Pro Bowl next month, none more dangerous than wide receiver Randy Moss. Meanwhile, the Saints field three Pro Bowl players on defense. Unfortunately for New Orleans, none of them play in the secondary.

Quarterback Aaron Brooks is like lightning in a bottle. Brooks will combine with Terry Allen to give the Saints a reasonable running game but they sure could use the hard-pounding style of Ricky Williams to keep the Vikings' offense off the field.

The Dolphins' Lamar Smith turned in one of the greatest postseason performances of all time when he rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries last week against Indianapolis. But he and his Miami teammates will be facing a Raiders defense that is better than a Colts unit that was ranked 26th against the rush. You also have to wonder how much of a pounding Smith took last week.

To win, Miami will have to slow Oakland's running game, the top-ranked attack in the NFL. Jason Taylor and Daryl Gardener not only will have to stop big Tyrone Wheatley and elusive Napoleon Kaufman, but they also must corral Rich Gannon, the top-rushing QB in the AFC. When it comes time for the Raiders to throw, Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain will have to share the responsibility of covering Tim Brown, but the 11-year pro has gone up against many great corners in his career and has won most of the time.

The Saints and Dolphins played extremely well in their first-round victories, but the Vikings and Raiders got last week off and have huge home-field advantages. I like Minnesota and Oakland to move on to the conference championship games.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout, and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Chat with Pat each Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. ET.

 

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