Posted on 01/14/2017 12:00:45 PM PST by Jim W N
Summary of projected winners this weekend:
Falcons
Patriots
Chiefs
Cowboys
Analysis:
Rankings are from the final regular season stats. Numbers represent overall and specific NFL rankings by points except pass/run ranked by yardage. Depending on who has the ball, compare offense/defense strengths in pass/run yardage to anticipate best game plan.
Saturday, Jan 14, 2:35 PM MT FOX
#6 Seattle at #2 Atlanta
Atlanta Offense #1: 1 Pass 5 Run
Seattle Defense #3: 18 Pass 1 Run
Seattle Offense #18: 5 Pass 24 Run
Atlanta Defense #27: 11 Pass 26 Run
The best part of the game will be Atlanta with the ball. With the best pass offense in the NFL against a mediocre Seattle pass defense, Atlanta should mostly pass. Atlantas strong running game will be severely tested by Seattles #1 run defense. Seattle should mostly pass and its strong passing game will be tested by a good Atlanta pass defense. Could be a shoot-out. Both can play catchup with their great passing games. Winner: Atlanta.
...
Saturday, Jan 14, 6:15 PM MT CBS
#26 Houston vs. #1 New England
NE Offense #3:......... 3 Pass 25 Run
Houston Defense #11: 2 Pass 11 Run
Houston Offense #18: 32 Pass 19 Run
NE Defense #1:.......... 8 Pass 8 Run
The most interesting part of the game will be NE with the ball. Houstons scoring defense belies their defensive yardage advantage over NE. NE should mostly pass but Houstons #2 pass defense should do a lot to slow them down. Houston should mostly run but should be shut down by NEs #1 defense. Winner: New England.
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Sunday, Jan 15, 11:05 PM MT NBC
#5 Pittsburgh vs. #4 Kansas City
KC Offense #13:.......... 15 Pass 16 Run
Pittsburgh Defense #10: 15 Pass 19 Run
Pittsburgh Offense #10: 13 Pass 8 Run
KC Defense #7:........... 12 Pass 24 Run
Pittsburgh, weaker in points scored than KC, is stronger in yardage which often means an upset in the making. The key could be Pittsburghs #8 running game against a weak #24 KC running defense. Pittsburgh should run A LOT. The question is whether Pittsburghs coaches recognize their running advantage. Often with a premier QB like Roethlisberger playoff teams who should mostly run instead pass too much. The Pittsburgh offensive game plan to mostly run will be critical if they want to upset KC. Winner: Kansas City.
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Sunday, Jan 15, 2:40 PM MT FOX
#8 Green Bay vs. #3 Dallas
Dallas Offense #5: 4 Pass 3 Run
GB Defense #21: 32 Pass 14 Run
GB Offense #4: ....15 Pass 7 Run
Dallas Defense #5: 13 Pass 11 Run
Dallas #5 offense should mostly pass and roll over GBs weak defense. GB should mostly run but probably wont with Rogers on a tear. Could be a fun game but Dallas should outscore GB. Winner: Dallas.
Well thank you Mariner. We are cautiously optimistic at our house.
A playoff game is a tough row to hoe when you’re newbie QB.
Game on tomorrow. And Jim, if you get a chance to go to Lambeau.... you’ll love it. No place like it.
My prediction at this point is NE vs. Atlanta in the Super Bowl.
To me its an issue of whether Rogers can outscore Dallas’ high-scoring offense against GB’s porous defense.
Can't wait.
Haaa.... LOVE that photo.
I think Dallas vs Steelers would be the game the NFL wants to see. Retro Superbowl = Awesome! Think about it, big Ben vs the rookie, awesome matchup but that’s fantasy land for now. We’ll see tomorrow.
I agree Pittsburgh Dallas would be like a nostalgic throwback to the 70’s and they already played each other three times ( a record) in the Superbowl but you can’t get more retro than a replay of Superbowl one ice bowl game. of the teams left New England And Dallas have largest fan bases and highest merchandise sales (Seattle was #1 in merch) which is the only reason I believe NFL would like to see America’s team of the 90’ to play America’s team of the 2000’s
So far, good game.
Can Dallas contain Rogers in the 2nd half? That’s the big question.
To me the bigger question is can Dallas unleash it’s potent offense in the second half. You know Rogers will score. To me the question is whether Dallas will play up to its potential on offense.
With an 11 point game, I expect Dallas to run for ball control.
I’m sincere in my new-found appreciating for the Cowboys offense. They can move the ball with amazing speed.
They are likely to be back next year as winners.
Too bad they found themselves up against the best quarterback in NFL history, performing at his peak.
When Rogers rolled deep to his weak side (his left) and threw a 37yrd STRIKE off his front foot, you just have to write that off as indefensible. That ball was easily 45yrds in the air, off his front foot, and hit within a few inches of intent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke5jTR0amKE&feature=player_embedded
Dang man, Rogers is like a one-man wrecking crew and he seems to be having fun doing it. Gotta love it.
BTW, do you want to be on my ping list for the few weeks of analysis I do every year during the NFL Playoffs (”Analysis & Viewing Sheet”)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CxEkU6K-EY
Add Phil Simms to list of winning Super Bowl quarterbacks (Terry Bradshaw the other) who thinks Aaron Rogers is the best quarterback in history.
While I’ve never won a Super Bowl, much less played NFL football, I agree with them.
I have to go with Brady.
Brady has a better and healthier team, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Agreed, he’s really good. But not as good as Rogers under pressure.
Rogers is the most elusive quarterback ever, with the precision of Montana and the arm of Elway.
He looks like he’s having fun put there - at the peak of his game at his age. He’s being coached right - bringing out the best in him.
He’s sort of a one-man team. Reminds me of Peyton Manning at Denver when they had no defense but Manning would still beat everybody.
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