I'm still processing the season as a whole, with no time to do , so I will write more later.
8 teams are in playoffs this year that were not the last season. Three of those are entirely different from what we saw in the '16 season. The Saints were a team built on Drew Brees, yet this year we saw a power running game and most surprisingly a defense. The Rams and Jaguars were '16s poster children for mediocrity. This year's versions are frightening with the Jags sporting the best defense in the NFL and the Rams the league's highest scoring offense. The field in the NFC is unreal in excellence and very hard to predict. The AFC is, in contrast, boring in that the Patriots and Steelers still have the top seeds and only the Jaguars resemble an X-factor. The AFC playoffs I expect to be as dull as the NFC will be exciting.
NFC:
Atlanta (6) at Los Angeles Rams (3)
This is a terrible matchup for the Falcons. The Rams methodically move the ball and rack up points. That's what they do and all they do. Last years Falcons might have been able to match LA score for score, but without Shanahan calling the plays and a decided lack of production on deep throws to Julio Jones, Matty Ice looks more pedestrian than he has in years. Game management and Ryan's legs have been able to get the Falcons enough wins to make the wildcard round, but LA's defensive front seven are among the best in the league at pressure and adjusting to the run. Ryan will have to throw his way into the next round, under pressure and outgunned by Jared Goff. Meanwhile, Goff and Gurley will be scoring points. That's what they do, and all they do. Look at what they did the Seahawks 3 weeks ago.
Atlanta - 17, LA Rams - 31
Carolina (5) at New Orleans (4)
It is no joke that this game could go either way. Any time teams play for the third time in a season, all bets are off. The Panthers have been so inconsistent in the passing game, other than the dink and dunk and yet New Orleans in susceptible to giving up yards in chunks. Make no mistake that Carolina is only here because of Super Cam. New Orleans, on the other hand, is here because of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. Oh, and that Hall of Fame lock Brees guy. If only for home field, I have to give edge to the Saints.
Carolina - 20, New Orleans 27
AFC:
Tennessee (5) at Kansas City (4)
I am not going to dwell on what will certainly be the most boring game of the weekend. The Titans defense is solid, but uninspiring. The Tennessee offense is a snooze fest, except when Mariota improvises. KC is just a well coached machine, managing their business on both sides of the ball. They have 2 stand out featured rookies in Hunt and Hill, which will likely be the whole difference in this game. The only drama at all is the news that Alex Smith is open to trade in the off-season, so KC will feature his skills to up value. The other thing one can glean from the release of this info is that KC doesn't really expect top make it far in this playoff field. The will,however, not be one and done.
Tennessee - 13, Kansas City - 24
Buffalo (6) at Jacksonville (3)
Both of these squads have had a very long wait to get back in playoff air. The Bills ended the longest playoff drought in major sports with an ample assist from the hot-wing rewarded Bengals. The Jags earned their spot with defense and adequate play from Blake Bortles. And that's their problem, adequate play from Blake Bortles. As interception happy as the Jaguars are, Bortles often seems just as happy to give the ball back to the other side. The Bills are nothing if not opportunistic, winning several games this year with scoring defense. However, LeSean McCoy is dinged, and that hampers the Bills game plan quite a lot. To be honest, I think that is the hinge on which this game turns. If Bortles plays 'adequate', Jacksonville walks away with the home win.
Buffalo - 10, Jacksonville -19
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