Four rematches on tap for divisional round

Jan 5, 2009 - 3:22 AM By PA SportsTicker

The matchups for the NFL divisional playoffs have been set and the order for the weekend will be ... rematches.

When the league's Elite Eight convenes next weekend, every game will be a rematch of a regular-season matchup.

And if past history means anything, it should provide for some tantalizing finishes, as the biggest margin of victory from any of the earlier meetings was six points.

On Saturday, the Tennessee Titans (13-3), the top-seeded team in the AFC, host the Baltimore Ravens (12-5), while the Arizona Cardinals (10-7) visit the second-seeded Carolina Panthers (12-4).

Sunday's matchups will be highlighted by the third meeting between the defending Super Bowl champion Giants (12-4) and the visiting Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1).

And in the final game of the weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) host the San Diego Chargers (9-8).

The Giants-Eagles contest is the most intriguing. The bitter NFC East rivals have split this season, with each winner on the other's home field.

Philadelphia dominated top-seeded New York in a 20-14 win at the Meadowlands on December 7, reversing a 36-31 defeat to the Giants four weeks earlier.

"They may be the sixth seed, but they sure aren't playing like it," Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said. "We know them well, which is a good thing, but they know us well, too."

The Eagles also have won five of their last six games, including Sunday's 26-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the wild-card round.

No. 1 Tennessee also faces a brutal matchup against Baltimore, which turned in a defensive clinic with a 27-9 victory over Miami on Sunday.

The Ravens intercepted four passes and forced a fumble to earn a return engagement with the Titans, who eked out a 13-10 win at Baltimore in Week Five.

"Now that we know our opponent, we have a tremendous challenge ahead of us," Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said. "Baltimore has improved in all areas since we saw them earlier this season. They are built around a strong run game and a great defense, which reminds us of the classic matchups against them in the past."

Traveling has been a horror show for Arizona, which is 0-5 this season on the East Coast, including a 27-23 loss at Carolina in Week Eight.

Steve Smith caught a pair of touchdown passes from Jake Delhomme as the Panthers scored 21 third-quarter points to overtake the Cardinals in the earlier meeting. Carolina finished 8-0 at home.

"I like being the underdog," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

Finally, the refuse-to-die Chargers, who became the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting the season 4-8, get a return date with the second-seeded Steelers.

San Diego lost to Pittsburgh in the first 11-10 contest in league history on November 16. Jeff Reed's 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds to play provided the winning margin and sent the Chargers to their fourth loss in the final 24 seconds of a game this season.

"As I said before the Indianapolis game, I believe we're a lot better team now than we were six weeks ago or eight weeks ago," San Diego coach Norv Turner said. "You're in the playoffs and you're playing a team that's got home-field advantage and is an outstanding team. We're going to have to be at our best."