Three Things To Watch In The NFL Divisional Playoffs
After wild opening weekend for the NFL playoffs that included the Lions getting jobbed in Dallas, Baltimore thumping Pittsburgh, and the Cardinals trotting out a JV quarterback for an NFL game. This weekend boasts a schedule of Dallas going to Green Bay, Seattle hosting Carolina, Baltimore on the road facing New England, and defending AFC champ Denver playing host to Andrew Luck and the Colts. Here are a few things to keep an eye on this weekend.
1. UPSET ALERT: Seattle Edition
Ok, it's probably not going to happen - Seattle is an overwhelmingly difficult place to play for opponents - but that doesn't make it unfair to point out that the Panthers match up well with the Seahawks. In their last three games as opponents, Carolina has gone winless, but has only lost by an average of just over four points per contest, with the Seahawks scoring thirteen, twelve, and sixteen points in that span. Aside from the fact that the Panthers are likely to break that skid at some point, they have a dominant defense and an opportunistic, physical offense led by one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league. It's not a stretch to think that they could keep it close, get one good bounce of the ball, and steal a win to move on.
2. Passing Of The Torch In Denver
Here's how good Peyton Manning is: over the final five games of the season, Manning only threw for over 250 yards twice, fueling speculation that Manning is hurt, old, finished, and possibly ready to retire at the end of the year. Sure, they won four of those five games, he threw for five scores and over 1,000 yards, but that's not good enough. All that being said, Denver is still at risk of losing to Peyton's heir in Indianapolis, Andrew Luck. Luck already has a better chance than anyone of retiring with a boat load of records (partially due to the fact that he'll play his entire career in era where defenders get flagged for giving a receiver a dirty look), and he's proven that he is capable of putting up an entire game's worth of great stats in just one half. The point is, there is no lead or point total that is enough when you are facing Andrew Luck - and a loss by Denver this weekend could be the moment we point to when the next generation took over at quarterback.
3. Joe Flacco Ain't Scared Of Tom Brady
The Ravens have gone into New England three times in the playoffs with Joe Flacco as quarterback, and twice have walked away with a convincing victory (33-14 in 2009; 28-13 in 2012). The one time they lost? 2011, when Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal that would have tied the game with 15 seconds remaining. Not a sure win for Baltimore, of course, if that kick goes through - but the Ravens have been tested as a playoff underdog in Foxboro - tests that they have passed with flying colors.