The twilight of this NFL season brings us our last full weekend of football. The signs of the fading phenomenon are there. A Sunday where I need only one TV to watch games, where I get to bed at a decent hour because there’s not a night game for 2 weeks, where I am able to cuddle up with “Mrs. The Student of the Game” and watch The Good Wife (Don’t judge me! It’s a good show! And Breaking bad is long gone. . .). But I don’t intend to give up on football without a fight. The weekends still bring us the truckloads of awesome football I’ve come to know and love from the NFL Playoffs. Here to tell you what to watch for before the lights go out is The Student of the Game’s Divisional Round edition of the Match-Up Mania.
Panthers v. Seattle
Last week I made it clear that the Carolina Panthers hosting a playoff game was a complete abomination, but I also said they’d win thanks to Ryan Lindley as the opposing QB. Considering it lead the Arizona Cardinals to one of the worst postseason performances in history, Head Coach Ron Rivera’s team executed his game plan brilliantly.
Yet, facing the Seahawks in Seattle brings the challenge of travelling to a playoff game, and also a bigger problem for the Panthers — a credible opposing quarterback in Russell Wilson.
I’ve gone on record calling the self-proclaimed “football point guard” over-rated, but I’ll also proclaim he is a good football player. Basically, the Carolina defense has to answer to Pro Bowlers in Wilson and running back, Marshawn Lynch. Sure Seattle has a relatively weak receiver corps, but that doesn’t mean much all that action in the back field.
On the other side, quarterback Cam Newton’s degree of difficulty increases and it already wasn’t easy against Arizona. He’ll likely be dared to throw by a stacked Seattle defense up front hoping to get a 2nd pick 6 by Newton in the tournament. The Seahawks may score less than 30, but it’ll still be a blowout. While Seattle’s mascot is fictional, this game will show them as carnivores picking at their Panther prey.
Cowboys v. Packers
Regardless of what officials may or may not have done to effect their future, the Cowboys have proven to be fighters. Whether it’s a TD called back on a garbage holding call against tight end Jason Witten that no one’s talking out or the single most bizarre flag pick up I’ve seen lately that’s blowing up media everywhere, it doesn’t matter. Dallas has fought through adversity and taken advantage of opportunity. It showed when they beat Detroit.
The biggest adversity to any defense is a balanced offense, and both teams will face the kind of zen balance seen in a karate master in old English-dubbed martial arts film. With DeMarco Murray and Eddie Lacy capable of ground production in support, it will fall to a shootout as I see it. Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo slinging shots about the field like a belated New Year’s fireworks festival will be a sight to behold. But if this occurs, I see only one ridiculous outcome in such a Romo v. Rodgers scenario. . . Cowboys fans foolishly blaming Romo that his team couldn’t play better defense. (Yes, this has been written as a joke, but we have seen it actually happen before.)
Colts v. Broncos
The successor battles the successful in the annals of Colt history. Andrew Luck travels to Denver face the man from whom the torch was passed in Indianapolis. Sure, it’s happened before, but this is the first time in a postseason setting. And regardless of all the unfounded hate Peyton Manning faces surrounding the playoffs, he’s still more established than the young Comeback Commander.
But let’s humor the foolish cynics out there that try to tell me that Peyton is unworthy as a quarterback. After all, he has had some off weeks lately, so that means he should obviously consider retirement. . . Just like Tom Brady this year after facing the Chiefs before leading his team to the top of the conference. [Please note: sarcasm here]. It’s not just Peyton that has to be stopped. CJ Anderson running the football has been a productive force to keep the Broncos balanced despite any perceived struggles in the Mile High passing attack.
Additionally, Luck will be facing a far more potent defense featuring Demarcus Ware and Von Miller upfront with a good secondary backing them lead by Aqib Talib. Luck and Manning are great signal callers. . . No question, but Denver is a better team than Indy.
Ravens v. Patriots
Joe Flacco has been screwing the Ravens with his contract. Not so much for his cap number (which was an issue last year), but for the fact that he’s only playing well in a relatively small portion of games he’s scheduled to suit up for Baltimore. Though luck has it that it is during postseason games he shines. The Patriots, however, don’t have a slouch as a field general either. Tom Brady may not have the weapons like in previous postseasons, but he’s still capable of intense competition.
Both sides have a viable running option and their respective receiver corps are matched in prowess with the secondaries they are set to face. What decides this game is the Ravens ability to pressure Brady while covering tight end Rob Gronkowski. The most compelling battle to me in this game is Gronk and The SoTG Defensive Rookie of the Year, CJ Mosley. If Mosley keeps Gronk out of the endzone, it will make the difference on the scoreboard in what will be a close game.
