Wildcard Weekend 2018

Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs wowed the NFL world in September and October with a little bit of everything. An old dog learning new tricks (QB Alex Smith throwing deep and often), a star rookie phenom racking up stats (RB Kareem Hunt and his seven 100 yard games to start the season) and the twin pillars of elite speed (WR Tyreek Hill) and power (TE Travis Kelce).

Then the losses game, a 6 out of 7 game losing lull before what Kansas City certainly hopes is a resurgence of their early season form backed them into the AFC West seed (thanks in large part to the collapse of Denver and Oakland). In his best moments, Coach Andy Reid has led an inspired and electric offense. In his worst, he has had his tight end throwing interceptions. What balance will be struck in the postseason?

The Titans meanwhile have one of the most predictable and boring offenses in the league despite their twin-Heisman backfield. The Titans do boast the former Oregon uptempo mastermind QB Marcus Mariota in his first playoff game and former Alabama ground-it-out punisher Alabama RB Derrick Henry (going solo with RB DeMarcco Murray likely out with a knee injury). Mariota and the Titans offense will have to look like a new team to defeat the Chiefs on Sunday, they certainly have the skill players for it and a defense that has been decent against the run, if not a bit vulnerable to the pass.

KEYS for TEN : Is there any chance at all for a deep Tennessee playoff run? Likely not. If it were to happen, I would be shocked it it wasn't due to an elevated sense of play from the stars on the O-line. There's been injuries, and predictability of the offense, but this is a talented group up front.

KEYS for KC : The return of the unpredictable, triple-option college-inspired electricity. Perhaps they put to much of it on tape but there's nothing to hold back in the playoffs. The talent in Kansas City is weighted on the offensive side of the ball, and they will need to get hot there to make a deep playoff run.

Atlanta Falcons @ Los Angeles Rams

The Falcons have had an up-and-down season following their crushing loss after leading 28-3 in Super Bowl 51. QB Matt Ryan has not been the distribution wizard of targets to countless, endless weapons that he was when Kyle Shanahan was coordinator. 38 touchdowns in 2016, 20 touchdowns in 2017 tells you the story you need to know. The Falcons offense has sadly turned into a shell, a cover band, of their 2016 selves.  But the cast is the same RBs DeVonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are still a dynamic duo, WR Julio Jones is still an unspeakable elite talent, and ancillary WRs and TEs are still there to make plays.

And who has exploded into the elite offense in the NFC? QB Jared Goff, RB Todd Gurley and the 32nd-to-1st offense of the Los Angeles Rams. Coach Sean McVay deserves credit for creating breathing room and creativity to use Todd Gurley (who has a case for MVP this season) and the stable of solid playmakers on the outside WRs Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins and Cooper Kupp.

KEYS for ATL : WR Julio Jones needs to be the target-monster he is born to be. There was a time when Jones was the thing keeping a defense honest while an elite offense happened in the spaces created. That time is over. It's time to feed the most talented player in this game.

KEYS for LAR : DT Aaron Donald is playing in his first playoff game. He has made an underground as the best defensive player in the league. Why is his name up there with the Vons and the Watts and the Shermans? Because he has not put his name in the postseason headlines. Donald faces a banged-up O-line for Atlanta, he must eat.

Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Can't the Jacksonville Jaguars just have a nice Cinderella story? In the last six seasons they have gone 22-74 and missed the playoffs for a full decade. Yet when they arrive at the ball, they find themselves overshadowed by the 17-year postseason-drought-breaking Buffalo Bills.

The Jaguars have thrived this year with an elite defensive line and secondary. They've become the most respected team in the AFC not from New England or Pittsburgh. While that does speak a bit to the doldrums of the AFC this season, it also is a testament to the cohesion of the young talent compiled in Jacksonville. CBs Jalen Ramsey and A.J Buoye have been the headliners, DTs Calais Campbell of Arizona fame and Malick Jackson of Denver fame have anchored the line but the takeaway from Jacksonville's team should not be their bigger names, it should be that they have astonishing depth, speed, and tenacity at all levels. This is the kind of thing that can carry a team.

Buffalo made the playoffs? Buffalo themselves didn't realize they were in the playoff hunt, benching QB Tyrod Taylor to see what they had in rookie QB Nathan Peterman who promptly threw 5 interceptions in November. The Bills have gutted it out with Buffalo grit, Whether they advance or not, they've done better than expected and the town of Buffalo can finally move past the Music City Miracle of 1999, or the 0-4 early 90s Super Bowls as the last "success" the team had. 

KEYS for BUF: RB LeSean McCoy is questionable and the most important piece of the entire team. The Bills run to set up the pass, so his status and ability to be his full self is all that Buffalo's hopes hinge on.

KEYS for JAX : Rookie RB Leonard Fournette has clearly been nursing an injury and has not been receiving a full workload. Now is the time, because QB Blake Bortles is himself not an elite option and his WR corps is depleted due to injury. A great RB and a great Defense is still a certain recipe for advancement, Fournette needs to flash that early-season power.

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints

QB Drew Brees has carried the Saints since the 2009 Super Bowl - he's routinely turned in his Marinoesque lines of 650+ attempts, 4900-5000 yards and 35-40 TDs for six seasons. It is come with limited playoff success (2-3 since Super Bowl)- an era of horrendous defense and limited run support. There is no doubt the era has ended. These new Saints boast an improved defense, and electric 1-2 punch in RBs Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamera both with 1500 yards from scrimmage this season.

For the Panthers, they have bounced back from the highs of 2015 and the lows of 2016. QB Cam Newton runs an offense that relies on his ability to make herculean efforts on the ground and long throws across the field. Even the addition of RB Christian McCaffery and his 108 targets have been more of a high-wire act than safety valve. The Panthers defense has remained solid throughout with LBs Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis still anchoring a disciplined team.

KEYS for CAR : As with everything the Panthers do, their game plan hinges on the performance of a one Cameron Newton. The stage is not too big, the skill is there, but the question is will it be enough? Even the steady Panthers D will not hold the Saints to nothing. TE Greg Olsen has been on-and-off with injuries this season and the Panthers have not moved the ball as well as they have in years past.

KEYS for NO : You simply cannot throw your way to a Super Bowl, we've seen record-breaking passing offenses fall time and time again (2011 Saints a great example). This year's Saints defense cannot turn back to their old ways, CB Marshon Lattimore has been a blue-chip addition and DE Cameron Jordan has made a name with 13 sacks. S Kenny Vaccaro and LB Manti Te'o are the solid pieces built in as well. That said, having Drew Brees as the back-up plan? Not bad.