After 18 weeks, the NFL playoffs are lastly right here. Over the subsequent three days we’ll have six wild-card video games to determine who will transfer on to the divisional spherical. The schedule is as follows:
- Chargers at Texans (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday)
- Steelers at Ravens (8 p.m. ET Saturday)
- Broncos at Bills (1 p.m. ET Sunday)
- Packers at Eagles (4:30 p.m. ET Sunday)
- Commanders at Buccaneers (8 p.m. ET Sunday)
- Vikings at Rams (in Arizona at 8 p.m. ET Monday)
With a mess of storylines to look at, NBC News’ Rohan Nadkarni and Andrew Grief and NBC Sports’ Patrick Daugherty are right here to interrupt it down from each angle.
Which recreation are you most trying ahead to?
Nadkarni: Ravens-Steelers. It’s exhausting to not be romantic about these two groups. I do know Pittsburgh is coming into the playoffs on a four-game dropping streak, however I’m all for a matchup that includes two bodily, cold-weather groups that have already got a built-in dislike for each other. Add within the funkiness related to divisional video games, I imagine we might get an in depth one even when Baltimore is the a lot better workforce on paper.
The Steelers additionally present a promising starting to the narrative arc if that is lastly the yr Lamar Jackson makes a Super Bowl. Jackson might do worse than beating a formidable AFC North rival within the opening spherical, to not point out knocking off Russell Wilson, who even within the later a part of his profession deserves respect for his postseason resumé. Whether it’s an upset or a smash-mouth recreation between bitter rivals, the spectrum of outcomes right here is nice.
Greif: Ravens-Steelers, as a result of Pittsburgh has repeatedly been in a position to frustrate Ravens quarterback and perennial MVP candidate Jackson throughout his profession in methods few others have. Jackson is commonly saddled with the criticism that he can’t win when it issues, however this yr he’s grow to be a extra correct passer than ever and is complemented by a greater floor recreation than ever. The considered watching Jackson at his most proficient and most motivated equals entertaining TV.
Also, Chargers-Texans. Does anybody assume both workforce has an opportunity to win all of it this season? I didn’t assume so, both. But in case you have been to survey NFL executives about which AFC groups have the most effective likelihood to contend within the subsequent 5 years, my guess is the Chargers and Texans could be on the prime of the listing. This assembly, then, is an opportunity to see which workforce is ready to take that first step. A playoff victory might function a springboard for the long run.
Daugherty: Buccaneers-Commanders. Both of those groups are designed to win shootouts and have playmakers everywhere in the subject. Jayden Daniels is essentially the most thrilling younger participant in soccer, however Baker Mayfield might have in some way been essentially the most thrilling participant, interval, this season. He was second within the NFL in passing touchdowns and first in turnovers. No matter what, this one goes to be fascinating.
Name a workforce on upset alert
Nadkarni: Minnesota. The Vikings are very slight favorites towards the Rams, and I believe Minnesota — regardless of its 14-3 document — is a workforce I’m undoubtedly nervous about. First off, Los Angeles already beat the Vikings as soon as at house this season, successful 30-20 in Week 7, a recreation through which Matthew Stafford threw for 4 touchdowns. And due to the NFL’s love of division winners, Minnesota is again on the street to start out the playoffs.
Simply put, I’m nervous for Sam Darnold in his first ever postseason motion, particularly coming off a dispiriting outing towards the Lions within the Vikings’ season finale. And although defensive coordinator Brian Flores can concoct an amazing recreation plan, there’s nothing Stafford hasn’t seen.
Greif: Philadelphia. After lacking the final two video games of the common season with a concussion, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was cleared from concussion protocol and practiced Wednesday, which was a big increase for the Eagles. But how will he look Sunday towards a Packers protection that compelled 31 turnovers — fourth-most within the NFL — together with 17 interceptions? Philadelphia has received due to its working recreation however the Packers have been above-average stopping the run this season, permitting the third-fewest speeding yards amongst playoff groups.
Daugherty: Minnesota. The Vikings have been practically the NFC’s No. 1 seed, however it is a workforce that lived off one-score victories all yr. You must be good to do this, in fact, however there’s a component of luck concerned. Also-rans Arizona and Seattle nearly beat Minnesota in December. This was a constant workforce over the course of the common season, but it surely was by no means as dominant as its gaudy document indicated.
Which coach has essentially the most stress on them this weekend?
Nadkarni: Ravens coach John Harbaugh. Look, I don’t anticipate any of the coaches who lose this weekend to be fired. This is an excellent playoff subject. But Harbaugh is getting one other yr of MVP-caliber play from Jackson and may’t afford to squander that with a loss to a sliding Steelers squad. Every time Lamar fits up within the playoffs between now and when he wins a Super Bowl, there are going to be questions on whether or not or not he can get it performed within the postseason. And whereas these struggles (nevertheless actual or ginned up) aren’t completely on Harbaugh, I believe he has essentially the most to lose with an early exit.
Greif: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. His final playoff got here on Jan. 15, 2017. This isn’t to counsel {that a} fifth consecutive playoff loss would endanger Tomlin’s job; he’s the uncommon establishment in a league that churns via coaches. And but, this season has been a microcosm of his 18-season profession teaching the Steelers. After making all the precise strikes early, it’s been a backslide as of late. This fall, the midseason swap from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson regarded like a masterstroke at quarterback — till they limped into wild-card weekend with a four-game dropping streak.
Daugherty: Bills coach Sean McDermott. Buffalo has performed all the things however attain the Super Bowl. Merely successful the wild-card spherical isn’t sufficient anymore. The stress can rapidly grow to be insufferable when something in need of a title is taken into account a failure, and plenty of Bills followers imagine McDermott is the one factor standing between them and the Lombardi Trophy. If McDermott feels the concern and coaches “to not lose” on Sunday, he could possibly be signing his personal pink slip.
Which quarterback may have the largest efficiency?
Nadkarni: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels. He’s going to have an amazing alternative to place up numbers for the Commanders. The Buccaneers had the fourth-worst passing protection within the NFL within the common season, they usually performed in a number of shootouts this yr. Combine that with Daniels’ speeding capacity — and the way a lot Washington depends on him typically — I’m anticipating him to have an enormous efficiency numbers-wise in a back-and-forth affair.
Greif: Vikings QB Sam Darnold. Yes, Darnold is coming off his worst efficiency of the season, notably within the crimson zone. And sure, the Rams have crushed the Vikings already as soon as this season. But Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell is considered one of soccer’s most inventive offensive minds, and now he’s going towards a Rams protection that ranks beneath the league common in how usually it will get sacks, and in addition ranks twenty third this season in opponent passer ranking. Detroit’s aggressive move rush clearly bothered Darnold within the regular-season finale, but when the Vikings can provide him time, he could be efficient. Among playoff groups, solely Tampa Bay’s protection has allowed the next common passer ranking.
Daugherty: Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield. He is rarely the primary identify that involves thoughts for this form of query, however the Bucs scored below 26 factors at house solely two instances in 9 video games, whereas the Commanders have the worst move protection within the playoff subject. Mayfield had 9 three-touchdown performances through the common season, together with towards the Commanders in Tampa. I just like the Bucs to win a high-scoring contest, and Mayfield goes to be the principle cause why.
Which workforce taking part in this weekend has the most effective likelihood to win the Super Bowl?
Nadkarni: The Eagles. Philadelphia has the mix of expertise, complimentary soccer and big-game expertise that actually no one else taking part in this weekend has. The Eagles is probably not as thrilling because the Lions, however there’s nearly an excessive amount of lack of noise round a workforce that just about received a Super Bowl solely two years in the past.
Greif: The Bills. Though not a No. 1 seed, Buffalo has already crushed the AFC’s No. 1 seed, Kansas City, to interrupt the Chiefs’ 15-game win streak, and their resume additionally features a Dec. 15 win on the street towards Detroit, the eventual No. 1 seed within the NFC. Few NFL franchises are extra snakebitten within the postseason than Buffalo, but when there have been ever a season to interrupt Kansas City’s maintain on the AFC, this is perhaps it contemplating how nicely Josh Allen has performed en path to probably changing into the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.
Daugherty: The Ravens. Football followers exterior of Baltimore are in all probability uninterested in listening to it, however this may lastly be the Ravens’ yr. They have been arguably second to solely Detroit on offense this season, and tightened up considerably on protection down the stretch. Jackson might win his third MVP. Coach Harbaugh has seen all the things. You don’t need to play the Ravens this postseason.
