By Jacob Sanders
Ah. Playoffs are finally here
again! It most certainly doesn’t feel like an entire season has passed by but
it has. There have some awesome highs (Jake Elliots record setting kick in
Philly) and some frightening lows (Shazier’s back injury). But in the end, it’s
football and we watch it to see if our teams can overcome adversity. Below are
the first 8 of the 12 teams that overcame adversity enough to make it to the
“Big Dance”. As per usual in this column for the playoffs, I will make a case
for each team then making my own pick. May the odds be ever in your favor!
Tennessee Titans VS Kansas City Chiefs
A case for the Titans: Derrick Henry must carry the offense. The
Titans offense is not the most dynamic thing in the world but if Henry can get
off to a great start, that opens up the playbook for Mariota to do more things
when it be on run-option plays or PA passes downfield. As for the defense, the
Titans must force and dare Alex Smith to throw downfield. Not being one known
to throw downfield, if Alex Smith does decide to fall for the Titans defensive
plan, the secondary must be ready. If all of this above happens, the Titans can
pull of an upset against the Chiefs. However…
A case for the Chiefs: The Chiefs have become a more dynamic offense
this year. No. It did not look pretty in the middle of the season. However,
when this offense has been rolling, it’s been gashing it’s opponents through
the run game, splash plays by Alex Smith, and consistent contesting of catches
by Travis Kelce. The Chiefs must force the Titans to respect their running game
while taking some shots downfield against what is a very suspect secondary in
the Titans. In terms of defense, the Chiefs must contain Mariota and force him
to win the game with his arm and not his legs. However, Mariota hasn’t been the
best at winning the game with his arm this season thus that should be the
Chiefs goals on defense.
Final Verdict:
Look. Normally for playoffs
everything is different. The season becomes a “one week” season where every
team knows it has to do everything to win or wait until August comes again to
see the field. This usually leads inspiring play from teams that you normally
wouldn’t expect. But, not this time. The Chiefs are going to beat the Titans
handily. All of this last offseason and preseason, I preached the Titans as a
team to watch out for and make the playoffs. What I didn’t know is that they
would be the worst 9-7 team in the AFC that only got into the playoffs because
the tiebreakers favored them. Well. They’ll show it here. The Titans don’t have
a true identity or winning formula thus why I’m baffled that they managed to
win 9 games. I’ll be baffled again if the Chiefs end up losing. By the way, if
the Titans somehow win it here, it won’t be because they outplayed their
opponent.. It will be like most of their other 9 wins this season; because the
opposing team made too many mistakes.
Titans 14 Chiefs 31
Atlanta Falcons VS Los Angeles Rams
A case for the Falcons:
This team has playoff experience
and is hungry to get back to the Super Bowl after their embarrassing loss to
the Patriots last year. They have a young and fast defense that can throw
offenses off rhythm. They don’t have the cleanest defense, but they most
certainly can beat up on their opponents on a good day. Also, this isn’t Matt
Ryan’s first rodeo either. This guy knows what it takes to win in the
post-season. If he and Jones can start up some post-season magic, they can
easily beat a tough opponent in the Rams. Don’t forget the 1-2 punch in the
backfield of Coleman and Freeman either. They can cause some serious damage in
mismatches for linebackers in the passing game.
A case for the Rams:
This team is youthful and hungry.
They are one of the most balanced teams (if not the most balanced) in the NFL.
But what has stood out about this team is the transformation in their offense.
Oddly enough, when many expected that the Rams defense would be carrying the
games, it was the Rams offense who carried most of their games this season.
Goff and Gurley have done a phenomenal transformation under HC Sean McVay. If
they continue their excellent play and blossom under the national spotlight of
the playoffs, they can make a deep run. However, quarterbacks who have entered
the playoffs for the first time are 1-10 in the last several years. We’ll see
if Goff can be one of the rare QBs who get past their “First playoff” hump.
Final Verdict:
This one is tough. IMO, it’s the
toughest game of the week to pick. But I’m going to pick the Rams here. In
fact, I’m not super confident in the pick either. All I can remember is
doubting the Falcons could beat the Packers last year in the NFC championship
and then they blew the Pack out of the water and that’s what I feel will happen
here again. But I just can’t get past how good the Rams offense and how much
hell the Rams D should be able to give Matt Ryan. In the end, I’m going with
the more balanced team. It’s going to be a close game. That’s for sure.
Falcons 23 Rams 27
No comments:
Post a Comment