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The Debrief: Wide-open field makes NFL playoffs ripe for insanity
The top teams in the AFC should be thrilled with how Sunday's action played out. The Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers, two teams with the weaponry to surprise in a one-game season if everything broke right, were both knocked out of the tournament before it started. The Tennesse Titans and Buffalo Bills are in, giving two starving fanbases a taste of the playoffs that seems destined to be short-lived. Both nine-win teams have not shown anything in their season-long makeup to believe they could win three straight playoff games on the road to make the Super Bowl.
Then again, the playoffs are an entirely different season that not too long ago felt entirely impossible to predict. There has been a recent run of Super Bowls featuring high-seeded teams, but it wasn't that long ago when a lower-seeded surprise emerged seemingly every year. (The 2007 Giants, '08 Cardinals, '11 Giants and '12 Ravens come to mind.)
This postseason, with eight new playoff teams and a truly wide open NFC, appears more ripe for insanity than any in the last five years. Let's take a quick look at the playoff field before the madness starts:
Team no one wants to face
The Rams have the most balanced team in the NFL, ranking in the top-six in Football Outsiders' efficiency metrics on offense, defense and special teams. Los Angeles caught a break Sunday when the Saints lost in Tampa, preserving the Rams' No. 3 seed and a greater chance to host the NFC Championship Game.
It could be argued that the Rams' opponent Saturday night, the No. 6-seeded Atlanta Falcons, would also qualify as the most dangerous lower seed in the playoffs. The Falcons' recipe in their victory Sunday over the Panthers showed Atlanta's potential, with a lightning fast defense complementing a ball control offense piloted by Matt Ryan. But the Falcons have made so many critical errors in key games this season that it's hard to believe this is their year.
The Rams are much more of the moment. A win in the Wild Card Round would send the Rams to Minnesota. While the Vikings throttled the Rams in the initial Case Keenum Revenge Game, it would be a great challenge for Vikings coach Mike Zimmer to hold down the Rams' offense for a second time. No team playing on Wild Card Weekend is more likely to win the Super Bowl than the Rams.
Most likely to be one and done
By the time the Divisional Round starts, the Eagles will be three weeks removed from the last time their entire team played a competitive game. More than a month will have passed since Carson Wentz was hurt and six full weeks since the team's offense and defense both played well in the same game. All of that inaction and mediocre play is a recipe for a slow start at home in the Divisional Round, a grumbling home crowd and a situation that no one in Philadelphia relishes: Nick Foles needing to come from behind to win in the playoffs.
Sunday's shutout loss to Dallas only confirmed the worst fears of Eagles fans. Foles looked skittish again, throwing for only 39 yards and an interception on 11 attempts in the frigid cold. Philadelphia might be the rare No. 1 seed that is an underdog in its first playoff game, no matter what team they play.
Biggest winner in seeding
Everything turned up Andy Reid on Sunday. First, the Chiefs coach watched his hand-picked first-round quarterback Patrick Mahomes win a game on the road in Denver. Then the Chiefs drew a favorable wild card matchup against a Titans team unlikely to take advantage of the Chiefs' vulnerable secondary.
If seeds hold, the Chiefs should welcome a slated trip to Foxborough. The Steelers have proven to be Kansas City's kryptonite over the last two years, controlling the line of scrimmage in two bruising victories over the Chiefs.
Andy Reid and friends should have a better chance at a road upset in New England, like the one the Chiefs pulled off back in Week 1. Kansas City's squad quietly has a better shot to make the Super Bowl than any time in the Andy Reid era because the top teams in the AFC have such clearly defined weaknesses.
Strange but true
1. James Harrison is set to play a significant role for a thin Patriots linebacker group, just weeks after joining the team. He played 28 snaps Sunday, finishing the game with two sacks on the Jets' final drive, flashing a power rush and impressive hustle. The Patriots' talent-poor front seven could use help setting the edge in the running game and rushing the passer. Harrison could be the best they have.
2. Alex Smith, coming off the best season of his career, probably needs to win multiple games for any chance to keep his job next season. Some playoff wins could doubly help the Chiefs by raising his trade value.
3. Just weeks after putting the team up for sale, the Panthers enter the playoffs using their outgoing and founding owner Jerry Richardson as a rallying cry for the team.
4. The Minnesota Vikings are the slight favorites in the NFC, with a great chance to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium, with backups at quarterback and running back. Case Keenum on the Super Bowl stage would be a deliriously delicious underdog story for the ages.
Storylines to watch
1. Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell returned to practice last week, providing hope he could suit up for the playoffs after missing the entire regular season. Mitchell keyed the team's Super Bowl win with clutch catches in the fourth quarter and would add a dynamic weapon on the outside to the league's most efficient offense. New England has a lot of hanging injury situations with Chris Hogan, Rex Burkhead, James White and Mike Gillislee all entering the playoffs with their availability in question.
2. Just a few months ago, the Jaguars-Rams game in Jacksonville had the smallest home crowd the team has seen since 2009. Heading into their Wild Card Round, the team announced they were expanding the stadium's capacity by removing tarps from seats and they sold out the additional inventory in six minutes. The Rams similarly expanded capacity at the Los Angeles Coliseum for their Wild Card game against the Falcons.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...deopen-field-makes-playoffs-ripe-for-insanity
The Jaguars haven't hosted a playoff game since 2000. The Rams haven't hosted a playoff game in Los Angeles since 1985. For two exciting young teams without great recent tradition, this is an incredible opportunity to create some lasting playoff memories.
3. Bills running back LeSean McCoy sprained his ankle in Buffalo's win over the Dolphins. He's the MVP of this Buffalo squad and would be especially important in this matchup against a Jaguars defense that can occasionally give up yards on the ground.
- By Gregg Rosenthal
- Around The NFL Editor
- Published: Dec. 31, 2017 at 09:35 p.m.
- Updated: Dec. 31, 2017 at 10:05 p.m.
The top teams in the AFC should be thrilled with how Sunday's action played out. The Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers, two teams with the weaponry to surprise in a one-game season if everything broke right, were both knocked out of the tournament before it started. The Tennesse Titans and Buffalo Bills are in, giving two starving fanbases a taste of the playoffs that seems destined to be short-lived. Both nine-win teams have not shown anything in their season-long makeup to believe they could win three straight playoff games on the road to make the Super Bowl.
Then again, the playoffs are an entirely different season that not too long ago felt entirely impossible to predict. There has been a recent run of Super Bowls featuring high-seeded teams, but it wasn't that long ago when a lower-seeded surprise emerged seemingly every year. (The 2007 Giants, '08 Cardinals, '11 Giants and '12 Ravens come to mind.)
This postseason, with eight new playoff teams and a truly wide open NFC, appears more ripe for insanity than any in the last five years. Let's take a quick look at the playoff field before the madness starts:
Team no one wants to face
The Rams have the most balanced team in the NFL, ranking in the top-six in Football Outsiders' efficiency metrics on offense, defense and special teams. Los Angeles caught a break Sunday when the Saints lost in Tampa, preserving the Rams' No. 3 seed and a greater chance to host the NFC Championship Game.
It could be argued that the Rams' opponent Saturday night, the No. 6-seeded Atlanta Falcons, would also qualify as the most dangerous lower seed in the playoffs. The Falcons' recipe in their victory Sunday over the Panthers showed Atlanta's potential, with a lightning fast defense complementing a ball control offense piloted by Matt Ryan. But the Falcons have made so many critical errors in key games this season that it's hard to believe this is their year.
The Rams are much more of the moment. A win in the Wild Card Round would send the Rams to Minnesota. While the Vikings throttled the Rams in the initial Case Keenum Revenge Game, it would be a great challenge for Vikings coach Mike Zimmer to hold down the Rams' offense for a second time. No team playing on Wild Card Weekend is more likely to win the Super Bowl than the Rams.
Most likely to be one and done
By the time the Divisional Round starts, the Eagles will be three weeks removed from the last time their entire team played a competitive game. More than a month will have passed since Carson Wentz was hurt and six full weeks since the team's offense and defense both played well in the same game. All of that inaction and mediocre play is a recipe for a slow start at home in the Divisional Round, a grumbling home crowd and a situation that no one in Philadelphia relishes: Nick Foles needing to come from behind to win in the playoffs.
Sunday's shutout loss to Dallas only confirmed the worst fears of Eagles fans. Foles looked skittish again, throwing for only 39 yards and an interception on 11 attempts in the frigid cold. Philadelphia might be the rare No. 1 seed that is an underdog in its first playoff game, no matter what team they play.
Biggest winner in seeding
Everything turned up Andy Reid on Sunday. First, the Chiefs coach watched his hand-picked first-round quarterback Patrick Mahomes win a game on the road in Denver. Then the Chiefs drew a favorable wild card matchup against a Titans team unlikely to take advantage of the Chiefs' vulnerable secondary.
If seeds hold, the Chiefs should welcome a slated trip to Foxborough. The Steelers have proven to be Kansas City's kryptonite over the last two years, controlling the line of scrimmage in two bruising victories over the Chiefs.
Andy Reid and friends should have a better chance at a road upset in New England, like the one the Chiefs pulled off back in Week 1. Kansas City's squad quietly has a better shot to make the Super Bowl than any time in the Andy Reid era because the top teams in the AFC have such clearly defined weaknesses.
Strange but true
1. James Harrison is set to play a significant role for a thin Patriots linebacker group, just weeks after joining the team. He played 28 snaps Sunday, finishing the game with two sacks on the Jets' final drive, flashing a power rush and impressive hustle. The Patriots' talent-poor front seven could use help setting the edge in the running game and rushing the passer. Harrison could be the best they have.
2. Alex Smith, coming off the best season of his career, probably needs to win multiple games for any chance to keep his job next season. Some playoff wins could doubly help the Chiefs by raising his trade value.
3. Just weeks after putting the team up for sale, the Panthers enter the playoffs using their outgoing and founding owner Jerry Richardson as a rallying cry for the team.
4. The Minnesota Vikings are the slight favorites in the NFC, with a great chance to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium, with backups at quarterback and running back. Case Keenum on the Super Bowl stage would be a deliriously delicious underdog story for the ages.
Storylines to watch
1. Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell returned to practice last week, providing hope he could suit up for the playoffs after missing the entire regular season. Mitchell keyed the team's Super Bowl win with clutch catches in the fourth quarter and would add a dynamic weapon on the outside to the league's most efficient offense. New England has a lot of hanging injury situations with Chris Hogan, Rex Burkhead, James White and Mike Gillislee all entering the playoffs with their availability in question.
2. Just a few months ago, the Jaguars-Rams game in Jacksonville had the smallest home crowd the team has seen since 2009. Heading into their Wild Card Round, the team announced they were expanding the stadium's capacity by removing tarps from seats and they sold out the additional inventory in six minutes. The Rams similarly expanded capacity at the Los Angeles Coliseum for their Wild Card game against the Falcons.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...deopen-field-makes-playoffs-ripe-for-insanity
The Jaguars haven't hosted a playoff game since 2000. The Rams haven't hosted a playoff game in Los Angeles since 1985. For two exciting young teams without great recent tradition, this is an incredible opportunity to create some lasting playoff memories.
3. Bills running back LeSean McCoy sprained his ankle in Buffalo's win over the Dolphins. He's the MVP of this Buffalo squad and would be especially important in this matchup against a Jaguars defense that can occasionally give up yards on the ground.