NY Giants @ Tampa Bay - CLICK HERE to SEE GAME FORECAST

The Giants will be looking for a repeat performance of last week’s nail biter against the Patriots when they take on the Bucs this weekend.  AccuScore simulations have the Bucs winning this game 58% of the time.  The quarterbacks will be key to this game.  Eli Manning is throwing for two touchdowns and two interceptions in 30 percent of simulations.  Jeff Garcia is throwing for two touchdowns in 30 percent of simulations, and one interception in 70 percent of simulations.

Eli Manning was a big reason why the Giants finished the season with the 25th worst turnover ratio.  His 20 interceptions tied for the worst in the league, giving him a 73.9 QB rating.  We saw a different Eli Manning last week, when he threw for four touchdowns and just one interception against the Patriots.  A dominant performance will go a long way in helping the Giants beat the Bucs this weekend.

Jeff Garcia has been a game manager for Tampa Bay, and has done well in the role, limiting turnovers with just four interceptions thrown.  Garcia’s touchdown to interception ratio is 13 to 4 on the season, but against playoff teams that ratio drops to 4 to 3, with the Bucs going 2-3 in those games.  Garcia hasn’t thrown for more than two touchdowns in a single game this season, and threw for over 300 yards just once, against the Lions.  Garcia will have a tough time winning this game if the Giants manage to shut down Ernest Graham, putting the ball in Garcia’s hands.

Key Stats:

-Tampa Bay is  18th in sacks allowed against a sack happy defense
-Tampa Bay has the 21st ranked 3rd down defense while New York has the 3rd best 3rd down offense

Tennessee @ San Diego - CLICK HERE to SEE GAME FORECAST

When these two teams met up in week 14, you would have thought they were bitter rivals, on the same scale as the Jets and Patriots, and the Ravens and Steelers.  San Diego escaped with a win, thanks to a fourth quarter Philip Rivers comeback, and an overtime touchdown run by LaDanian Tomlinson.  San Diego is winning AccuScore simulations 77% of the time, thanks to poor play by Vince Young and a strong effort from LaDanian Tomlinson, who is running for 126 yards.

Tennessee will struggle at the quarterback position.  Either they will start an injured Vince Young, whose mobility will be limited, or they will be starting Kerry Collins, who is known for throwing interceptions.  Antonio Cromartie and the Chargers defense have forced 48 turnovers, the most in the league, and will benefit from the weak Tennessee quarterbacks.  AccuScore simulations have Young throwing two or more interceptions in 60 percent of simulations.  Tennessee will need a strong performance from their running game to take the pressure off the passing game.

The key to a San Diego victory will be the play of Philip Rivers.  The Chargers are 2-3 in games where Rivers has thrown for two interceptions.  The Chargers are 6-0 in games where Rivers threw zero interceptions.  The Chargers will need a solid game from LaDanian Tomlinson to take the pressure off Rivers.  Tennessee can counteract this with Albert Haynesworth, who has been the key to the Tennessee defense this season.  The Haynesworth/Tomlinson match up is the one to watch in this game, as it could very well decide the outcome.

Key Stats:

-Tennessee has the 24th ranked 3rd down defense.
-Tennessee ranks 4th in time of possession.  The longer they hold the ball, the less time Tomlinson has to beat them on the ground.