Just like every year before, the time for the playoffs in the National Football League has arrived yet again. As always, there are a handful of teams who were surprises this season, with the forerunner of those surprises being in the AFC South with the Colts giving up their playoff spot to the Houston Texans. Regardless of who struggled though, those teams are not in the postseason, which is what I'm here to discuss. Let's dive in to who has the potential to win the Championship and who will go out the first round.
Beginning with the AFC first round, we have the Kansas City Chiefs. After a demoralizing 1-6 start to the season, the Chiefs have exploded on the field, winning their last nine games with style.The offense has packed a serious punch to their opponents' defenses. Alex Smith has been able to torch defensive backs through the aerial attack, and just when opponents began to drop a few more men into coverage, runningback Jamaal Charles has exploded through gaps in the defensive line for big gains. Touting a stout defensive core as well, led by Eric Berry, the Chiefs will be a team that can sling their weight around this postseason.
The Houston Texans will be matched up with the Chiefs, and they are in quite a predicament. Able to make the postseason this year due to many injuries and struggles in Indianapolis, the Houston Texans surprised everyone by being able to capture the AFC South seed. The Texans don't have much to boast about, considering they finished the regular season with a weak 9-7 record, but that won't stop defensive stars such as JJ Watt or Brian Cushing from putting up a show for the ages. The Texans defense has given up roughly 19 points per game and only 15 against teams who are in the top ten in the NFL in offensive production, including stud offenses such as the Patriots or the Panthers. It's safe to say that the boys down in Houston will be relying on their defense due to the fact that the only offensive player anyone knows at all is DeAndre Hopkins, and who knows what Brian Hoyer will throw his way.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have got to be one of the more underrated teams in the playoffs at the moment. They were able to sneak in as they captured a solid win against the Browns in week 16 and also were fortunate enough for the Jets to lose out to the Bills, costing New York their seed. All year, the Steelers have had QB injuries, but have faltered very little nonetheless. An early injury to LeVeon Bell has allowed Williams to bloom onto the field yet again, and with Big Ben back in the saddle, the Steelers are sure to be a solid team this postseason despite their many injuries.
Over in Cincinnati, the Bengals have been churning out offensive production all season long with losses only to very talented opponents. McCarron was even able to hold the reigns while Andy Dalton recovered from his upper extremity injury. Though the defense may be hit or miss in some cases, they have generally been able to hold teams to a handful of points with A.J. Hawk leading the defensive push. This match-up with the Pittsburgh Steelers will definitely be one that you do not want to miss out on seeing.
Ah, the Seattle Seahawks are back in the playoffs yet again. With myself personally not being a big Seahawks fan, I must say that they have really be able to spark their offense in the second half of the season. With a very slow start, it looked as if Pete Carroll's regime may be dwindling, but they are sure enough back at it with Russel Wilson racking up the yards overhead while the ever so famous "beastmode" has been able to tear through defenses on the ground. With multiple weapons on both sides of the ball, the Seahawks should not be underestimated this postseason and are, yet again, Super Bowl contenders.
The Mean-a-soda Vikings have acquired themselves a very impressive 11-5 record this year, capping it off with a phenomenal game against the tough Packers squad in Lambeau. What else could someone expect, though, with studs at both the QB and RB positions? Teddy Bridgewater has done fantastically since he earned the starting job as quarterback, developing so much more than when he came out of Louisville. Let's not forget the return season of Adrian Peterson. Peterson has had a fantastic season and is a huge part of why the Vikings are in the position that they are currently in. Tight end Rudolph has churned out many receptions this year as well. Defensively, Floyd has produced results in the trenches, while Harrison Smith has led the secondary in aerial coverage.The Vikings are a team to keep an eye on in January.
The season started out rough for the Packers, with a torn ACL for star receiver Jordy Nelson. However, they were able to salvage a playoff berth out of this year. But really, what else can you expect from a team that is as well-rounded as the Packers? Aaron Rodgers is arguably one of the best quarterbacks to have played the game and has come in clutch multiple times this season, particularly against the Lions. Stars such as Cobb make the job that much easier for Rodgers, as the Packers' offense can be one of the more explosive in the League. Note the "can be" in the previous sentence. The Packers' offense has struggled lately, and if they want to escape Washington with a win, they, along with a star-studded defense headed by Clay Mathews along with Clinton-Dix in the secondary, will have to bring their A-game if they are going to make all the cheeseheads up in Wisconsin happy.
Well, someone had to win the NFC East, and the Washington Redskins were able to pull it out this season. Captained by Spartan alum Kirk Cousins at QB, the Redskins have been able to pull out a 9-7 record this year. Helping him along the way were receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, always there to make a spectacular play on offense or in the special teams game. The defense, however, will have to step their game up in order for the Redskins to have any success this postseason. It will be vital for key players such as safety DeAngelo Hall and corner back Blackmon to hold their own against such formidable aerial based opponents. Cousins and the rest of the team is out to prove they belong in the playoffs. YOU LIKE THAT?! YOU LIKE THAT, DON'T YOU?
The Arizona Cardinals have become the team to beat this season, with Bruce Arians doing a fantastic job in his third year with the team. The team has much potential to dominate the playoffs with so much talent on the field for them. On the offensive side of the ball, Carson Palmer has been great and more importantly been smart with the football. Able to get it to Fitzgerald and John Brown consistently has been a pattern all season long, and when that has failed, the aging Chris Johnson has performed surprisingly well, cutting through the front seven of defenses as well as the secondary. The Cardinals are a key team to beat for anyone wanting to make it to the Super Bowl, as these guys will definitely be making their names known this postseason.
There is a lot of excitement over in Carolina, and for good reason. Cam Newton has led the Panthers to a regular season finish of 15-1, and they have been seemingly unstoppable to others' defensive fronts. Greg Olsen has had his name called all season long, hauling in catch after catch from Newton. Newton on the other hand has been able to sling the ball incredibly effectively and still round out with an even more dangerous ground game, as he has racked up over 500 yards on the ground with eight plus touchdowns to his name. However, the challenge to replace corner Charles Tillman will be extremely difficult as the postseason rushes on, with Tillman being one of the more elite corners in the League. Regardless, the Panthers have been absolutely dominating teams and will continue to do so.
The Denver Broncos have been up and down this year, but finished with a first round bye, which is as good as one could ask for. With Manning starting back in the saddle, the Broncos will have a stout offense but more than likely still find a way to struggle with getting the ball downfield. Their defense, however, is one of the best in the League. With names such as Brandon Marschall, Trevathan, and Talib, that reputation just comes with the territory. The Broncos are a legit playoff team, however, I am not sure how far their defense can carry them in the postseason if Peyton Manning doesn't step up and take charge of his offense.
Ah, yes, I had to save the most hated team for last. The New England Patriots of course are, the team toting my title of Most Hated Team in The NFL. Despite my dislike for the Patriots, they are a fantastic football team. Tom Brady is one of the best to have played the game of football and he has plenty of studs to sling the ball to. Gronkowski is going to be key to shut down if any team wants to cause offensive woes for New England, but to do so may take two or three defenders, which opens up so many more possibilities for their offense. Defensive weapons focus in on the linebackers with Hightower and Mayo providing stiff run support as well as the ability to make plays in the aerial coverage. Malcolm Butler has also been solid this season at corner and Alan Branch on the defensive line. Though suffering some embarrassing losses this season, the Patriots are going to be a very difficult team to beat, especially at Gillette Stadium.
All I can really say to summarize this is that the playoffs this year are going to be extremely exciting. There are teams who can be on upset alert, and there are teams looking to do the upsetting. January and February will no doubt have my eyes glued to the score updates, and it should have yours as well. Don't miss out on any of the action for the 2016 postseason of the National Football League.
