NFL Divisional Playoff Previews
by Caleb Musselman and Ryan Frisco
New Orleans vs. Seattle
Man, you want me to predict what will happen this game?! Boy this should be fun. So let's take a look first at what happened the first time these two teams played this season. The New Orleans Saints went into Seattle during the regular season with the whole world knowing it was a big game for both teams. This was the Seahawks chance to show their superiority of one of the NFL's top powerhouse offenses, while the Saints were out to prove they for one could win on the road, and were a top contender in the NFC playoff race. Well, we know what happened...Seattle torched the Saints, as they put up 34 points and held Drew Brees and Co. in check for a measly 7 total points. Now, how does that play into this weekend's Divisional Round game?
First, I can guarantee you that this game will not be a blowout like last time. The Saints have already gone into the city of Seattle once this year, and they won't soon forget what it was like. Sean Payton and Brees are too smart to let what happened then happen again. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. No, New Orleans will score more then 7 in this contest. Especially coming off a thrilling victory in front of a impassioned Philadelphia Eagle squad last week. The Seahawks will have a tough time stopping the momentum the Saints have from just that one win, especially with not playing a week. We've talked a lot about who is the best team in the NFL, and I've stood firmly behind the Seahawks, because of the completeness of their team, and the will to win of Russell Wilson in the clutch. We're seeing a passing of the torch in the AFC, from Tom Brady to Andrew Luck. The same is going on in the NFC, as the elder Brees, who is known for his end of game heroics, is in the time of passing his own torch to youngsters like Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. This game is a picture of that, as Wilson brings his team back from down late, and the defense holds on for the victory.
Final Score: New Orleans 20 Seahawks 24
Man, you want me to predict what will happen this game?! Boy this should be fun. So let's take a look first at what happened the first time these two teams played this season. The New Orleans Saints went into Seattle during the regular season with the whole world knowing it was a big game for both teams. This was the Seahawks chance to show their superiority of one of the NFL's top powerhouse offenses, while the Saints were out to prove they for one could win on the road, and were a top contender in the NFC playoff race. Well, we know what happened...Seattle torched the Saints, as they put up 34 points and held Drew Brees and Co. in check for a measly 7 total points. Now, how does that play into this weekend's Divisional Round game?
First, I can guarantee you that this game will not be a blowout like last time. The Saints have already gone into the city of Seattle once this year, and they won't soon forget what it was like. Sean Payton and Brees are too smart to let what happened then happen again. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. No, New Orleans will score more then 7 in this contest. Especially coming off a thrilling victory in front of a impassioned Philadelphia Eagle squad last week. The Seahawks will have a tough time stopping the momentum the Saints have from just that one win, especially with not playing a week. We've talked a lot about who is the best team in the NFL, and I've stood firmly behind the Seahawks, because of the completeness of their team, and the will to win of Russell Wilson in the clutch. We're seeing a passing of the torch in the AFC, from Tom Brady to Andrew Luck. The same is going on in the NFC, as the elder Brees, who is known for his end of game heroics, is in the time of passing his own torch to youngsters like Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. This game is a picture of that, as Wilson brings his team back from down late, and the defense holds on for the victory.
Final Score: New Orleans 20 Seahawks 24
Indianapolis vs. New England
As the Colts travel into New England high on an improbable Wild Card weekend win, I think we all need to take a deep breath. Was the Indy comeback victory impressive? Of course. But I put that result more on the Chiefs deficiency than I do the Colts proficiency. The bottom line is this: The Colts defense couldn't stop the Chiefs without Jamaal Charles. So the young guns led by Andrew Luck (emphasis on luck) travel into New England with their heads high and their chests puffed out. Meanwhile, Tom Brady and Bill Bellichik watched the game last week and counted all the Colts deficiencies on defense. The Colts gave up 44 points to an average QB and a slightly above average offense with Charles out with an injury. Tom Brady in his prime would put up 40 points on Saturday night. Tom Brady nearing the end of his prime will put up at least 30. It has been a unique experience watching Tom Brady slowly transition into a game manager. He has done it with great maturity and self-respect. He knows he doesn't have the weapons he used to, so he is utilizing his running game to control and dictate the flow. This will not change on Saturday night. Blount will go for 100 on the ground. Vereen will go for 100 receiving yards and a touchdown and break the Colts defense in critical moments in the second half with key third down receptions out of the backfield. Andrew Luck is a good quarterback. However, Luck is not a great quarterback and he doesn't have close to enough weapons around him to make this a game. In Foxborough? Critical playoff moment? Brady every time.
Final Score: Indianapolis 17 New England 31
San Francisco vs. Carolina
So Carolina, here is your shot. You want to be respected, you want to be considered with the top teams in the NFC. Here you go. Prove yourselves. Fresh off of a hard-fought win in Green Bay, San Francisco travels indoors to the dome in Carolina to meet the up and coming Panthers in a battle that is sure to entertain. Look at the Panthers offensive roster. How is this team any good? Steve Smith seems like he's been in the league for 30 years. Olsen is just slightly above average. Their running attack is headlined by two average running backs who haven't gone over 1,000 yards in 4 years. The answer is three-fold. 1. Their offense really isn't that great. 2. Any average offense can be saved by an athletic QB and a solid offensive line. 3. Their defense is just that good.
Carolina beat San Francisco just a few weeks back IN Candlestick by a 10-9 final. This game may be high scoring but the competition level will be no different. Prepare yourself for one of the best games of the 2014 playoffs. These two squads bolster two of the most stifling defenses that I've seen in the last few years (excluding Seattle's offensive defensive machine). I honestly can't see either team going up more than a touchdown in this game. The 49ers are flying high on confidence and the Panthers are desperate to prove themselves to the league. Cam Newton is a very good weapon; however, he suffers from inconsistency in the passing game. Match that with an average group of receivers and you get a team that can often times look lost on the offensive side of the ball. San Francisco doesn't have these types of games where they take a half off on offense or defense. This will be the difference in this match-up. Expect stifling defensive performances. Expect long, calculated drives. Expect football as it is meant to be played. Carolina takes the lead in the 4th quarter but Kaepernick orchestrates a last minute drive finished by a touchdown pass to Vernon Davis that puts San Fran in the lead for good.
Final Score: San Francisco 20 Carolina 17
San Diego vs. Denver
Ahhh, yes, another regular season matchup renewed! Props to the NFL schedule makers this year, they really picked a lot of good matchups that are being repeated in the playoffs. So the Chargers were the first team this season to hold the Broncos under 30 points in a game, as they played them close and lost by 8. The second matchup the Chargers beat the Broncos by 7. The case can be made that San Diego doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs right now, especially after barely scraping by the Kansas City second string with help from the refs. But, they're here. And I would go so far to declare that they have the biggest amount of momentum going their way right now given the events that got them into the playoffs, which is how they steamrolled the Bengals last week. Yes Caleb, more momentum then the 49ers even!
Now, the Broncos. Sorry, I'll just refer to them as Peyton Manning. 2013 was a historic year for many reasons, and Manning is most of them. He is one of the greatest QBs of all time, with one of, if not the best team of receivers of all time. Pair that with a killer running game, a dangerous kick returner and a defense that has gotten better all year, and you've got a dangerous recipe for any team they play. In these team's two matchups, neither team ever scored 30+ points. I believe that will change this weekend, as both put up over 30 in a shootout for the ages!! This game will be like watching the fights of old, the Elways and Montanas, the Bradshaws and Starrs. In the end, Manning's inability to produce in the playoffs haunts him again, as Rivers' magical run continues at least one more week!!! Manning will get that second Super Bowl ring, but it will be the storybook ending, as it is two years down the road, after a storybook career, a comeback from neck surgery and the perfect age to retire while on top of the world.
Final Score: San Diego 42 Denver 33
Ahhh, yes, another regular season matchup renewed! Props to the NFL schedule makers this year, they really picked a lot of good matchups that are being repeated in the playoffs. So the Chargers were the first team this season to hold the Broncos under 30 points in a game, as they played them close and lost by 8. The second matchup the Chargers beat the Broncos by 7. The case can be made that San Diego doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs right now, especially after barely scraping by the Kansas City second string with help from the refs. But, they're here. And I would go so far to declare that they have the biggest amount of momentum going their way right now given the events that got them into the playoffs, which is how they steamrolled the Bengals last week. Yes Caleb, more momentum then the 49ers even!
Now, the Broncos. Sorry, I'll just refer to them as Peyton Manning. 2013 was a historic year for many reasons, and Manning is most of them. He is one of the greatest QBs of all time, with one of, if not the best team of receivers of all time. Pair that with a killer running game, a dangerous kick returner and a defense that has gotten better all year, and you've got a dangerous recipe for any team they play. In these team's two matchups, neither team ever scored 30+ points. I believe that will change this weekend, as both put up over 30 in a shootout for the ages!! This game will be like watching the fights of old, the Elways and Montanas, the Bradshaws and Starrs. In the end, Manning's inability to produce in the playoffs haunts him again, as Rivers' magical run continues at least one more week!!! Manning will get that second Super Bowl ring, but it will be the storybook ending, as it is two years down the road, after a storybook career, a comeback from neck surgery and the perfect age to retire while on top of the world.
Final Score: San Diego 42 Denver 33
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