| |  Hot teams, QBs square off in Oakland
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
The thought all season was that the AFC East and AFC West -- divisions that played against each other because of the schedule -- would bludgeon each other for 17 weeks and eliminate some potential playoff teams. Ask the Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, Chargers, Chiefs and Broncos if they didn't feel as though they had been through wars.
The process doesn't stop. The two survivors of the NFL's toughest schedules are left to destroy each other again.
It's somewhat amazing that the Raiders fought through the toughest schedule of those who made the playoffs to earn the AFC's top seed at 11-5. The Jets made a frantic second-half charge and finished 9-7. But once again, the Raiders are standing in their way. Why is it always the Raiders. Since the final week of last season, the Jets have visited Networks Association Coliseum four times.
The Jets may share the Meadowlands with the Giants, but they are starting to feel that Oakland is their second home.
|  | | Rice caught the go-ahead score in the Raiders' Week 13 win over the Jets. |
Still, these are the hottest teams in the NFL. The Raiders recovered from a four-game losing streak to finish the regular season 7-1. The Jets are 7-2 since a 2-5 start. And there is a belief within the Jets that they can beat the Raiders. The Jets kept gaining momentum in a second-half comeback against the Raiders in Week 13. Their defense became more effective in the fourth quarter against Rich Gannon's short passing. The offense, directed by Chad Pennington, kept moving the football up the field.
How hot are the Jets? They've outscored their past three opponents -- the Patriots, Packers and Colts -- 123-34. They bring back memories of last year's AFC East winners the Patriots, who upset the Raiders thanks to the Tuck Rule call involving Tom Brady during the second round of the playoffs. Can the Jets pull off the upset?
The difference between the Jets and Patriots is that the Jets are playing in Oakland, where they are 1-2 since the end of last season. Winning on the road in the second round isn't easy. And the Raiders keep adjusting their offense to be successful against the Jets defense.
The Raiders offense is still evolving. Gannon passed for 341 yards against the Jets on Dec. 2, but where they struggled was in the red zone. It helped that Tim Brown became the NFL's No. 2 all-time receiver that night and the Raiders stopped the game. It allowed Gannon to go over to the sidelines with offensive coordinator Marc Trestman and discuss the right play call. Gannon hit Jerry Rice with a 26-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-10 to win the game.
Over the second half of the season, Gannon has been expanding his confidence with other receivers. Jerry Porter is more involved as a deep threat. Rookie tight end Doug Jolley has become an important alternate receiver, particularly in crossing routes and sidelines plays. Brown's almost become the fourth or fifth option and he's a potential Hall of Fame receiver.
It's amazing how each of these two teams have improved weaknesses during the season. The Raiders changed nine starters on defense and improved their run defense from 124 yards a game to 90.8. They've mixed in the 3-4. Defensive schemes became easier for the players as the season progressed.
The Jets defense changed six starters. Over the last 10 weeks, including the playoffs, the Jets are allowing 14.5 points a game, 296 yards and only 90 rushing yards a game. Gone are the missed tackles. Still, this isn't a great team for turnovers, mainly because their cornerbacks can't catch. Defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell estimates that the Jets probably dropped more than 15 potential interceptions this year.
Because they have played each other so often, the two teams are getting on each other's nerves. Guard Frank Middleton has been accused by Jets defensive lineman Josh Evans and others of being the dirtiest player in football. Middleton has come back by saying that nobody on the Jets defensive line scares him.
Porter added flames to the bulletin board by saying, "If they want to keep travelling 2,500 miles to come get this butt-whipping, let 'em."
The biggest question mark in this game will be the play of cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tory James, who are coming off broken legs. Their toughest challenge will be stopping Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles, who had most of his 10 catches for 158 yards against James in the first meeting.
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- To huddle or not huddle. That's the big debate in San Francisco. Jeff Garcia looked so good during his second-half comeback against the Giants that it will be tempting to use the no huddle.
|  | | Johnson threw for 3,049 yards and 22 TDs this season. |
When Garcia scrambles, his quarterback rating is an incredible 109.7. When he stays in the pocket, his rating is 85.6.
The problem in relying on the passing game is that the Bucs are one of the best against the pass in several years. The Bucs eat quarterbacks for breakfast. Quarterbacks have only 48.8 ratings against the Bucs. They've thrown only 10 touchdown passes compared to 31 interceptions.
The teams that do the best against the Bucs are the one that use an overpowering, physical running attack. The Saints, Eagles and Steelers showed that model. The 49ers aren't an overly big offensive line, but they are efficient run blockers.
Will they be able to wear down the speedy Bucs defense? I'm not sure they are that physical. Left tackle Derrick Deese and right guard Ron Stone are each playing with bad ankle injuries.
The Bucs, meanwhile, get Brad Johnson back at quarterback after missing two games because of a bad back. Johnson has had no problems in practices, but practices aren't games. The 49ers have to apply pass rushing heat and get as many hits on Johnson as early as possible.
The Bucs aren't going to win games by running the football, and the 49ers aren't a team that will lose because of their run defense. Where the 49ers are vulnerable is against good quarterbacks, and Johnson is a good one, if his back lets him.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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Divisional Playoffs
Great eight