Well, here's my rundown of the NFC playoffs. Doesn't look to be quite as stacked as the AFC but there are definitely some quality teams.
Atlanta Falcons
1.Keep doing what you have been all year. There's no flash and flair like the Pats and Saints. No brutalizing D like the Steelers and Ravens. Just good, solid, near perfect play on both sides of the ball. Teams like this are always dangerous.
2.Keep balance on offense. Matt Ryan is deadly off play action. Michael Turner needs to get going to allow the passing game to stay at maximum efficiency.
3.Continue to protect the football. The Falcons have taken excellent care of the football all year. The playoffs are not a good time to stop.
Chances to win it all:high. Just an excellent team all around. The Falcons may be the most balanced team in the NFL.
Chicago Bears
1.Stay consistent on offense. Remember earlier this year when the Bears just couldn't score? Or last week when they only put up 3 points? If that happens again, the Bears are in trouble.
2.Big plays in the return game. Devin Hester doesn't need to return every punt for a touchdown but consistent positive returns will go a long way to help the Bears win.
3.Cut down on the turnovers. We have all seen that Jay Cutler turns the ball over a lot. The Bears need to cut down on his interceptions and it starts with protecting him better.
Chances to win it all:moderate. A great defense but this team turns the ball over too much.
Philadelphia Eagles
1.Use Michael Vick to his full potential. The Eagles can do a lot of things on offense other teams can't. They need to take advantage of that.
2.Run screens. No team in the NFL today runs screens as well as the Eagles. They may run the screen better than any team in league history.
3.Big plays on defense. The Eagles are a little banged up on D. However, they have people in the secondary that can provide huge plays, even if it means potentially giving up a big play on offense.
Chances to win it all:moderately high. The Eagles are lacking in certain areas, but Vick will always give them a chance.
Seattle Seahawks
1.Home field advantage. The Seahawks get to to play one game at home. The defense needs to throw different looks at the Saints and try to force some penalties.
2.How did this team get into the playoffs again?
3.Pray.
Chances to win it all:none. The Seahawks are in a good position to contend next year, but they really have no chance.
New Orleans Saints
1.Step up on defense. We all know that the Saints can score, but the defense has been shaky at times. They need to step it up if they want to repeat.
2.Don't look past their first round opponents. I know we just had some fun at the expense of the Seahawks, but they are still professional football players. The Saints lost to both the Browns and Cardinals this year, so they have taken opponents lightly in the past.
3.Get the run going. Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush or anyone just needs to step up.
Chances to win it all:moderately high. The Saints are a little one dimensional, but few teams are as explosive on offense.
Green Bay Packers
1.Protect Aaron Rodgers. The pass protection has been better this year but Rodgers still hits the turf a little too often.
2.Mix up their blitzes. This is a key to success in any 3-4 scheme. Clay Matthews needs to keep getting to the quarterback, especially in the first round matchup with the Eagles.
3.Keep the momentum going. The Packers are coming into the playoffs on quite a roll. They must find a way to keep it going.
Chances to win it all:moderate. The Packers are great, but they have the toughest road to the Super Bowl possible. They must win at Philly against Vick and the Eagles, at Atlanta where Matt Ryan is 19-1 in his career, make a trip to either Chicago to face their rivals or New Orleans to face the defending champs and play a powerhouse AFC team in the big game.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The NFL Playoffs:AFC Keys to Victory
With the regular season in the books, the NFL playoffs are set to begin on Saturday. Here is just a quick rundown of the teams and what I think their keys to success are. Here we go.
New England Patriots
1. Not getting over confident. The Pats have made that mistake before and we all saw what a GIANT catastrophe that was. (sorry, couldn't resist)
2. Protect Tom Brady. This team could potentially have to go through both Baltimore and Pittsburgh to get to the Super Bowl. Everyone knows both teams like to blitz and Brady can't be Brady if he is getting knocked on his backside all the time.
3. Stop the run. Teams are going to want to keep the ball out of Brady's hands. If the Pats can stuff the run, this will make that strategy less effective.
Chances to win it all:high The offense is just too good. Cannot be stopped, only slowed.
Pittsburgh Steelers
1. No stupid penalties. The Steelers play physically but they sometimes lose control a little bit. You can make up for this against lousy or even okay teams, but the Steelers won't see many of them in the playoffs.
2. Pressure quarterbacks. This is something that the Steelers have no problem doing. However, they're going to need to turn the heat up in the playoffs with potential match ups with Joe Flacco, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
3. Cut down on turnovers. Ben Roethlisberger is tough to bring down but sometimes he will make bad throws or cough the ball up when he should just take a sack.
Chances to win it all:high. Same story as the Pats, just with defense instead of offense.
Indianapolis Colts
1. Protect Peyton Manning. Like the Patriots, the Colts' success hinges on their franchise QB. Regardless of what happens, Indy must beat the Jets and Pittsburgh if they want to get to the super bowl.
2.Stop the run. The Colts run defense has proven to be soft once again this year. They must pick it up if they want to advance far in the playoffs.
3.Spread the ball around. Reggie Wayne will most likely be vacationing on Revis island for the wild card game. Peyton must distribute the ball around and has the weapons to do it.
Chances to win:moderately low. Teams that can't stop the run generally don't do well in the playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs
1. Stay focused. A lot of Chiefs will be making their first trip to the playoffs. They will be in trouble if they play scared.
2. Keep the other teams guessing. The Chiefs will have to mix things up in the play calling and even throw in some gadget plays against some of the defenses they will be facing.
3. Establish the run. Key for any team but the Chiefs must get Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles going if they want to have any chance at all.
Chances to win: very low. It was a great turn around season for KC but the AFC is just too stacked.
Baltimore Ravens
1. Establish Ray Rice. If the Ravens can grind it out with Rice they will be able to keep the ball out of the hands of dangerous offenses. The key will be Rice's ability to catch passes out of the backfield. The Ravens must get him the ball even if he isn't able to be effective in the run game.
2. Big plays on defense. The Ravens will look to force a lot of turnovers. They must capitalize on these big plays with points.
3. Ray Lewis. In addition to stepping up his play on the field, Lewis must continue his role as a leader on the team.
Chances to win it all:high. Great on both sides of the ball and my personal pick to win the super bowl
New York Jets
1. Shut out the distractions. The Jets must forget about Sal Alosi tripping people, Rex Ryan's foot fetish, ex-employee Jenn Sterger's dealings with a certain former quarterback and whatever else we may not know about.
2. Keep the pressure off of Mark Sanchez. I'm not just talking about pressure from defenders either. The Jets need to put their young quarterback in positions where he doesn't have to win the game all by himself.
3. Put past losses behind them. Forget about the recent loss to the Steelers and the absolute drubbing on Monday night by the Pats. The Jets need to look ahead instead of back.
Chances to win it all:moderate. Lots of talent but the distractions and young quarterback will hurt this team.
There's the AFC. I will post the NFC tomorrow.
New England Patriots
1. Not getting over confident. The Pats have made that mistake before and we all saw what a GIANT catastrophe that was. (sorry, couldn't resist)
2. Protect Tom Brady. This team could potentially have to go through both Baltimore and Pittsburgh to get to the Super Bowl. Everyone knows both teams like to blitz and Brady can't be Brady if he is getting knocked on his backside all the time.
3. Stop the run. Teams are going to want to keep the ball out of Brady's hands. If the Pats can stuff the run, this will make that strategy less effective.
Chances to win it all:high The offense is just too good. Cannot be stopped, only slowed.
Pittsburgh Steelers
1. No stupid penalties. The Steelers play physically but they sometimes lose control a little bit. You can make up for this against lousy or even okay teams, but the Steelers won't see many of them in the playoffs.
2. Pressure quarterbacks. This is something that the Steelers have no problem doing. However, they're going to need to turn the heat up in the playoffs with potential match ups with Joe Flacco, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
3. Cut down on turnovers. Ben Roethlisberger is tough to bring down but sometimes he will make bad throws or cough the ball up when he should just take a sack.
Chances to win it all:high. Same story as the Pats, just with defense instead of offense.
Indianapolis Colts
1. Protect Peyton Manning. Like the Patriots, the Colts' success hinges on their franchise QB. Regardless of what happens, Indy must beat the Jets and Pittsburgh if they want to get to the super bowl.
2.Stop the run. The Colts run defense has proven to be soft once again this year. They must pick it up if they want to advance far in the playoffs.
3.Spread the ball around. Reggie Wayne will most likely be vacationing on Revis island for the wild card game. Peyton must distribute the ball around and has the weapons to do it.
Chances to win:moderately low. Teams that can't stop the run generally don't do well in the playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs
1. Stay focused. A lot of Chiefs will be making their first trip to the playoffs. They will be in trouble if they play scared.
2. Keep the other teams guessing. The Chiefs will have to mix things up in the play calling and even throw in some gadget plays against some of the defenses they will be facing.
3. Establish the run. Key for any team but the Chiefs must get Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles going if they want to have any chance at all.
Chances to win: very low. It was a great turn around season for KC but the AFC is just too stacked.
Baltimore Ravens
1. Establish Ray Rice. If the Ravens can grind it out with Rice they will be able to keep the ball out of the hands of dangerous offenses. The key will be Rice's ability to catch passes out of the backfield. The Ravens must get him the ball even if he isn't able to be effective in the run game.
2. Big plays on defense. The Ravens will look to force a lot of turnovers. They must capitalize on these big plays with points.
3. Ray Lewis. In addition to stepping up his play on the field, Lewis must continue his role as a leader on the team.
Chances to win it all:high. Great on both sides of the ball and my personal pick to win the super bowl
New York Jets
1. Shut out the distractions. The Jets must forget about Sal Alosi tripping people, Rex Ryan's foot fetish, ex-employee Jenn Sterger's dealings with a certain former quarterback and whatever else we may not know about.
2. Keep the pressure off of Mark Sanchez. I'm not just talking about pressure from defenders either. The Jets need to put their young quarterback in positions where he doesn't have to win the game all by himself.
3. Put past losses behind them. Forget about the recent loss to the Steelers and the absolute drubbing on Monday night by the Pats. The Jets need to look ahead instead of back.
Chances to win it all:moderate. Lots of talent but the distractions and young quarterback will hurt this team.
There's the AFC. I will post the NFC tomorrow.
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