AFC Wild Card Weekend!
This season, the AFC wild card weekend has a bunch of new faces ready to become playoff legends headlined by a rock star in Denver named Tim Tebow.  Kaboom! Magazine goes in-depth into a hectic wild card weekend where we will preview each team and why each team has a shot of making it out of this weekend and into the divisional round.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at Houston Texans (10-6)
Game Preview: The surprise team of 2011 goes up against a team making their 1st playoff appearance in franchise history. Led by a rookie quarterback/wide receiver duo, the Cincinnati Bengals surprised everyone with a 9-7 playoff berth. The Houston Texans took advantage of a Manning-less Indianapolis Colts by having their best season ever going 10-6 and winning the AFC South.

Why will Cincinnati WIN this game: Head Coach Marvin Lewis took it back to his old school Baltimore Ravens and won games with stellar defense. The Bengals were 9th in the league in points allowed and 7th in the league in total offensive yards allowed. Even with a rookie quarterback, Cincinnati still has experience on their side as Marvin Lewis has taken the Bengals to the playoffs a few times and knows what it takes to win a playoff game on the road.

Why will Houston WIN this game: In 2010 the Houston Texans had one of the worst defenses in the NFL ranked 30^th, but that all changed in 2011. The Texans brought in Wade Phillps to take over the defensive reigns and turned one of the worst defenses in the league into one of the best defenses in the league. The Texans are ranked 2^nd in team defense and 4^th in scoring defense lead by outside linebacker Brian Crushing. Even with all the major injuries on offense, one thing that stayed consistent and healthy was the running of Adrian Foster and Ben Tate. Foster and Tate combined for over 2,200 yards on the ground good for No. 2 in the NFL. They have carried the offense load since starting quarterback Matt Schaub went down for the year. A dominant defense and a great running game has proven many times before that it can win a super bowl so winning a wild card game at home shouldn’t be too difficult.
Why will Cincinnati LOSE this game: The Bengals have a great future with the QB/WR combo of Andy Dalton and AJ Green, but in today’s NFL, this team just doesn’t put enough points against good defenses. Since Nov. 13^th, the Bengals are 3-5 and only averaging 18 points a game and are 0-7 all season long against teams in the Top 8 of total defense. The Bengals have a solid one-two punch and even making it into the playoffs has made this one of the best season in Bengals history, but the Bengals just don’t have enough gas in the tank on offense to go any further than this weekend.
Why will Houston LOSE this game: The Texans are wheeling themselves into the playoffs in a wheelchair as major injuries in the middle of the season have this team very vulnerable for an early exit. Matt Schaub was having another pro bowl year when his year was cut short with a foot injury, and Defensive standout Mario Williams was leading the team in sacks before a chest injury ended his season. All-Pro Wide Receiver Andre Johnson has been unstoppable when on the field, but he missed most of the year with hamstring injury. Rookie quarterback T.J. Yates played great during his first two starts, but since then he lost three straight and lost all of his confidence. The defense will keep the Texans in the game but if a team is starting a third-string quarterback that lost three straight….anything can go wrong at anytime.  

Wild Card Fun Fact: The last time the Bengals won a playoff game….Boomer Eiason was the starting quarterback.

And the winner of this game is: With two rookie quarterbacks and two top 10 defenses, this is a perfect set-up for an ugly playoff game. Both teams have a solid running game, but with two talented running backs in Adrian Foster and Ben Tate the Texans are primed to move on and win their first playoff game ever. Houston 17-10.

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at Denver Broncos (8-8)
Game Preview: The Steelers are limping (literally) into Mile High to go up against an overachieving Broncos team led by a quarterback that has become the talk of the world with the last name Tebow. This should be the easiest pick of the wild card weekend, but with phenomena like Tim Tebow playing in this game….anything possible.  

Why will Pittsburgh WIN this game: After making in to the super bowl last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers and ready for their second super bowl appearance in two years. In order for the Steelers to make it to the super bowl this year they will have to win three straight road playoff games starting in Denver. History is on the Steelers side; the last time the Steelers had to win three playoff road games to make it to the super bowl…they did winning the super bowl in 2006. The Steelers are the most storied franchise in NFL history, and no matter how the regular season goes when the playoffs comes around Pittsburgh never the underdog in Vegas.

Why will Denver WIN this game: In the middle of the season the Broncos made a change for the better. They released starting quarterback Kyle Orton and named fan favorite Tim Tebow the starter for the rest of the season. Tebow made head coach John Fox look like a saint as he won six games in his first six starts of the season and turned Tebow into a A-List celebrity. Denver's offense revolved around a ground game that led the league in rushing and set the franchise single-season mark with 2,632 yards. In his six game winning streak, Tim Tebow organized four fourth quarter comebacks. He may be the opposite of Lebron James, but I think most coaches will take a player that great only in the fourth quarter than a player that great for only the first three quarters.

Why will Pittsburgh LOSE this game: Ben Roethlisberger is hobbled. Rashard Mendenhall is done for the season. Ryan Clark will wisely sit out because of the sickle cell trait he carries in his blood, a condition that could become life-threatening in high altitude. The Steelers, of course, have a Master's degree in overcoming adversity, from injuries to off-field strife, but this postseason run could be especially tough on a proud but aging team. Big Ben has not been able to play effective placing weight on that ankle which has caused him trouble with his accuracy highlighted by the 3 INTs in a Monday night game vs. 49ers. He will play through the pain pretty well, but will it be enough is the question.

Why will Denver LOSE this game: Tebow could not have chosen a tougher defense for his maiden playoff game. At their best the Steelers linebackers fly, their defensive backs pound and their linemen suffocate. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has surely taken note of the last few weeks, as defenses have crowded Tebow's receivers at the line, forcing him to make near-perfect throws. They have spied Tebow with linebackers, keeping him from breaking runs down the sideline. And when given a chance, they have hammered him, trying to wear him down hit by hit. In other words, they have been doing everything the Steelers have done for decades.

Wild Card Fun Fact: Tim Tebow has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated six times.  

And the winner of this game is: If this game was being played in Pittsburgh it wouldn’t be if the Steelers would lose but by how much the Steelers would win by. But, since the game is being played in Denver and the Steelers are playing without their No.1 rusher, No.1 cornerback, and Big Ben ankle still not right; this game looked primed for some “Tebow Magic”. Denver 21-14.

NFC Wild Card Weekend Preview!
This season, the NFC wild card weekend looks like the who's who of past super bowl champions and former No.1 seeds making this the most competitive wild card weekend in the past 15 years. Kaboom! Magazine goes in-depth into a hectic wild card weekend where we will preview each team and why each team has a shot of making it out of this weekend and into the divisional round.

Detroit Lions (10-6) at New Orleans Saints (13-3)
Game Preview: The Lions enter the NFL playoffs for the first time since 1999, ending the longest playoff drought in the NFL. The Saints had the their 2nd 13 win season in three years, the 1st time they did that they won the super bowl. Detroit came out of nowhere to a 2nd place finish in a brutal NFC North division proving along the way that the 0-16 season a few years ago is far behind them. The Saints come into the wild card round as the hottest team in the NFL as they have not lost a game since Oct. 30th.

Why will Detroit WIN the game: The Lions started the season with a 5-0 record in the first 5 weeks of the season and that was because of two men....Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. Calvin Johnson is arguably  the best wide-out in the NFL as he had a total of 16 catching touchdowns during the season, 10 of them came in the first four weeks of the season  (A NFL Record). Double-teamed, triple-teamed....doesn't matter you throw the ball Calvin Johnson way and he coming down with it. Matthew Stafford was finally healthy for the first time since being in the NFL and he used that health to have his best season ever throwing for 41 passing TDs. Stafford and Johnson have made Detroit one of the best passing teams in the NFL and in a game against A offense led by Drew Brees....your gonna have to put the ball in the air and points on the board.

Why will New Orleans WIN the game: There's no place like home, the Saints went 8-0 this season in the Superdome including a 31-17 victory over the Lions in week 13. Averaging over 41 points at home, the Saints can score better and faster than any team in the NFL. Drew Brees has been playing like a person from another planet all season long breaking Dan Marino's record for most passing yards in a season. With players like Lance Moore, Marques Colston, Darren Sproles, Devery Henderson, and Jimmy Graham in his arsenal, Drew Brees has enough firepower to get the Saints back to the super bowl.

Why will Detroit LOSE the game: When there's a yin, there's a yang. The Lions have proven to everybody that they got the offense that can score with anybody in the NFL, but they haven't been able to prove that they can stop any NFL team from scoring. On offense, Detroit is ranked 4th in total passing yards and total points, but on defense, Detroit is ranked 23rd in points allowed and 22nd against the pass. The Lions don't mind being in a wild west shootout but being a shootout in the regular season and being in a shootout in the playoffs are two different things. Detroit doesn't have the playoff experience on their team to be able to go toe to toe blow for blow with a offense powerhouse the likes of the New Orleans Saints. The defensive backfield will have to step it up and not let Drew Brees hurt them too badly. YOU CAN BEND BUT DON'T BREAK!

Why will New Orleans LOSE the game: last season, the Saints lost in the playoffs to a 7-9 Seattle Seahawks team that controlled the entire game by running the ball down the Saints throat highlighted by a game-winning Marshawn Lynch touchdown run where he broke 11 tackles. New Orleans is almost impossible to beat at home, but if you want to have a shot you have to be able to run the football and keep Drew Brees off the field. The last time they lost a football game, the Saints allowed the Rams Steven Jackson two touchdowns and his first 100 yard game in three seasons. If the Lions offense can control the game with the run, that will help open up the play action for Matthew Stafford and another early exit for Drew Brees and the Saints.

Wild Card Fun Fact: The last time the Detroit Lions won a playoff game was in 1991. Calvin Johnson was 5 years old.

And the winner of this game is: This game will be an offensive shootout. Calvin Johnson will have an all-pro game and Stafford will be able to keep up with Brees to keep the game interesting.....But there are some things you don't do. You don't bet against Michael Jordan in Chicago, Derek Jeter in New York, or Drew Brees in New Orleans. New Orleans 42-28.

Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at New York Giants (9-7)
Game Preview: The Atlanta Falcons travel to New York City to take on Eli Manning and the New York Giants. The Falcons are entering the playoffs for the third time in three years and feel that they finally have the offense to make a run to the super bowl. The Giants won the NFC East championship in a do or die game against the Dallas Cowboys on week 17. The Giants feel that they are playing like the 2007 team that won the super bowl over New England.

Why will Atlanta WIN the game: The Atlanta Falcons offense is stacked and peaking at the right time. Matt Ryan is coming off a career year with a 92.2% passer rating, Tony Gonzalez  added another pro bowl season to his already HOF legacy, Michael Turner ran for over 1,300 yards, and Roddy White and Julio Jones combined for over 2,500 receiving yards and 16 TDs. Now with playoff experience and so many explosive players on offense in their corner, Atlanta  has the best chance ever to win their first playoff game during the Matt Ryan era.

Why will New York WIN the game: After finishing the season on a 3-1 hot streak, the New York Giants have become the most dangerous team in the playoffs. The reason for the Giants late season success have been because of the play of two people......Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul. Eli Manning played like an MVP candidate all season long and led the league in fourth quarter TDs on his way to his 2nd pro bowl selection. Even with the personal he was given, Eli still managed to lead his team out tough situation as he managed five fourth quarter comeback victories.  Jason Pierre-Paul became the new Lawrence Taylor of the NFL with 16.5 sacks and a pro bowl selection. Pierre-Paul was a game changer on defense and proved that he could even win a football game with a blocked field goal in the final seconds in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Offenses have to make sure to know where he at all game long.

Why will Atlanta LOSE the game: Even with all the talent in the world, the Atlanta Falcons still have not proven that it can beat a playoff team. Atlanta only played a team that in the playoff five times this season and only won once in those games. Before the season started, many pick Atlanta as a super bowl favorite; but no team has ever made it to the super bowl with only one victory over a playoff team during the regular season.

Why will New York LOSE the game: Giants fans went crazy over their favorite teams play this season, because they did not know which Giants team was gonna show up that day. The Giants started the season 6-2 and looked like they were gonna runaway with the NFC East. But after the fast start, finished the last 8 games 3-5 highlighted by a  4 game losing skid in the middle of the season. Even in during the 3-5 finish, the three games the Giants won came in the last four games of the regular season....so even when they finish bad they're still doing good. So the million dollar question is...Will the 6-2 Giants show or the 3-5 Giants show up in the playoffs?

Wild Card Fun Fact: The last the Giants won a home playoff game was in 2000 in the NFC Championship game against the Vikings.

And the winner of this game is: Eli Manning has been playing out of his mind this year and can carry the Giants deep into the playoffs, but now it feels like Atlanta time to take that next step into becoming an elite team in the NFL starting with Matt Ryan 1st playoff win in a 24-21 victory over the Giants.

In 2010, The Heisman trophy chase turned into a one man show as Auburn quarterback Cam Newton turned in one of the greatest college football season ever. This year, many felt that Andrew Luck would turn in another one man performance, but many other players felt differently turning this season into one of the wildest Heisman races in NCAA history. The chase was so wide open that even last year Heisman nominees LaMichael James and Kellen Moore could make it to NYC again even though the had better stats this year than last. This year, Kaboom! Magazine breaks down each of this year nominees and let's fans know why each player should win the Heisman trophy and why the won't win the Heisman trophy. Each player in this year chase has the stats and highlight plays that have help players win the Heisman trophy in previous years, but even with the stats and the plays.....only one can win this award and be known as a Heisman winner.
LET'S BREAKDOWN THE NOMINEES SHALL WE.......
 

Andrew Luck, QB Stanford:
Luck Best Game: 330 passing yards, 3 TDS, 1 Rush TD vs. USC
Why Luck will win the Heisman: Last year Heisman runner-up surprised everyone when he said that he was coming back to Stanford for one more year of college football. Luck entered the season as the leading candidate for the Heisman trophy and he did not disappoint as he had his best year yet at Stanford. Luck threw for over 3,000 yards and 35 TDs, Leading Stanford to a 11-1 record and earning them another BCS bowl berth. Luck also had big wins this year with victories against USC, Notre Dame, and Washington each team Luck has beaten for the 3rd time of his career. Luck has history on his side as 9 of the last 11 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks with two of them coming from the PAC-12. Luck will not have to share west coast votes with another Pac-12 candidate like had to last year with LaMichael James so that huge plus. Many voters feel that the Heisman trophy should go to the best player in college football; and that title goes to no one else but Andrew Luck.
 

Why Luck will not win the Heisman: Sometimes when your so good at something....it almost looks effortless. Andrew Luck threw for a mind-blowing 35 TDs this year, but that only three more than he threw in 2010...not a Heisman improvement. Any other year Luck would have no problem winning the Heisman with his stats, but with four other candidates with amazing stats and team records....I wouldn't bet on sure Luck.

Trent Richardson, RB Alabama:
Richardson Best Game: 203 Rushing yards, 1 Rec. TD vs. Auburn
Why Richardson will win the Heisman: Ever since Trent Richardson been at Alabama, all he done is beat Tim Tebow, Win a National Championship, and be apart of one the greatest running back tandems since Reggie Bush and Lendale White. Even with all the early success, Trent never got to show what he could really do sharing a backfield with a former Heisman winner Mark Ingram. With Ingram gone to the NFL, Richardson tore through the SEC this season avg. 131.9 rushing yards a game and scoring 23 TDs while leading the Crimson Tide to a No. 2 BCS Ranking and a chance at a BCS National Championship. Richardson has better stats than his former teammate Heisman trophy winning year and he was by far the best player in the nation toughest conference.
 

Why Richardson will not win the Heisman: Trent Richardson stats this year are better than many running backs that have won the Heisman trophy before, but in a time where voters wanna see who you did against rather everything you did; Richardson may be the odd man out this year. Trent reached in every game this year but one... the game of the century vs. LSU. Richardson had a total of 169 offensive yards in the game, but couldn't break out for any game-changing runs or reach the endzone. If Richardson could have reach the endzone at least once in the LSU game, Bama would have won the game and he would be guaranteed  the Heisman trophy. After the Bama loss to LSU, many voters were turned off by Richardson as many thought that Alabama was out of the national title picture.

Tyrann Mathieu, DB LSU:
Mathieu Best Game: 11 tackles, 1 Force Fumble TD vs. Oregon
Why Mathieu will win the Heisman: When Patrick Peterson left LSU for the NFL, many wonder who was gonna take his spot as the most electrifying player in college football? Tyrann Mathieu answered that question the first weekend of the college football season. Mathieu is the best player on the best team in college football and is the ultimate game changer in the NCAA this year. Whether it was a punt return for touchdown, a forced fumble, or a INT, Every time LSU needed a big play to change the momentum of a game look no further than Mathieu to get the job done. The bigger the game, the better Mathieu played. Heisman voters have always had a soft spot for punt returners and none were any better this year than Tyrann Mathieu. His punt returns remind you of Desmond Howard, His cover skills remind you of Charles Woodson, and His Leadership reminds you of Cam Newton...all who were past Heisman Winners.
 

Why Mathieu will not win the Heisman: After the first three games of the year, Tyrann Mathieu was a can't miss future Heisman trophy winner because of the big plays he made in big time games. But in the month of October and early November, the "Honey Badger" went into hibernation as he had no highlight reel plays. Many also feel that the only reason that Mathieu is a Heisman candidate is because of LSU undefeated record, so even just being nominated is a win in itself for Mathieu. Mathieu only a sophomore so he has plenty more chances to take home the award, but as for this year he will be just okay with the trip to NYC.

Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor:
Griffin III Best Game: 479 passing yards, 4 passing TDs vs. Oklahoma
Why Griffin III will win the Heisman: The former Big 12 Freshmen of the Year had a Heisman campaign for the ages. RG III threw for over 4,000 yards and 39 TDs this year, while also rushing for over 600 yards and 9TDs.  The Baylor QB has the No.1 Passer rating college football with a 192.3 rating. With victories over ranked opponents TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma, Griffin III led Baylor to first 9 win season since 1986. Week in and week out Griffin III was the most consistent player in college football and kept his team in games until the very end every week.
 

Why Griffin III will not win the Heisman: RG III has the best stats this year of any of the Heisman nominees, he also has the worst win/loss record out of any of the Heisman nominees...and that goes a long way with voters. Since 2000, Only Tim Tebow has one the Heisman trophy with three losses in one season, other there every other Heisman winner has only avg. One loss in their winning season. Another thing that is hurting RG III Heisman chances is not playing for the national championship. Since 1996 only three players have won the Heisman and not be playing for at least a share of the National Championship.  In recent years many voters feel that the award go to the best player on the best team in college football, so even though Griffin III is consider by many as the best player in college; those same people not that he not the best team in college. Even with RG III incredible stats this year, a 3-loss season almost make it impossible to walk away with the trophy.

Montee Ball, RB Wisconsin:
Ball Best Game: 151 Rushing yards, 4 Rushing TDs vs. Penn State
Why Ball will win the Heisman: When it comes to football in Wisconsin, the focus is on two quarterbacks...Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. But if you asked them who is having the best season of football in Wisconsin they would probably tell that the title goes to Montee Ball. Ball is fourth in the nation in rushing averaging 131.5 yards a game and No.1 in rushing TDs with 38TDs two shy of breaking Barry Sanders Touchdown record. Ball practically lived in the end zone this year, helping Wisconsin  win the Big 10 title. Ball has 12 more touchdowns than the 2nd highest player which is almost impossible in this day and age.
 

Why Ball will not win the Heisman:
Even with Ball ridiculous touchdown stats...Quite Frankly! no one knows who this guy is. Tyrann Mathieu, Trent Richardson, RG III, and Andrew Luck are all household names and even Russell Wilson was considered a Heisman candidate for most of the year, but Ball really just came out of nowhere. Heisman voters probably have never seen a Badgers game let alone a Ball touchdown. Many feel that Ball took a spot that should of been giving to either LaMichael James, Matt Barkley, or Kellen Moore; so just the invite alone is Ball super bowl championship.

Kaboom! Picks
Who should win the Heisman: If this was based on stats and on the field play alone hands down the award would go to Baylor Robert Griffin III.

Who will win the Heisman: Voters love to make a story book ending and what would be better than having last year Heisman runner up Andrew Luck forgo the NFL to return to college showing kids that you can wait for the NFL and finish school and win the Heisman trophy. It would be like molding the perfect student/athlete. The award will go through none other than Stanford Andrew Luck.