NFL Playoff Teams In Panic Mode
After the first weekend of playoff matchups, each team’s fans should be in panic mode.
AFC
Cleveland Browns
Clearly, the NFL wasn’t ready for the Browns this season. Most years they get off to a terrible start and it carries the season. When they do get off to a good start they quickly fall off. Neither happened this season and they carried momentum into the playoffs. However, despite their defensive stand against Pittsburgh, they’re facing a quick scoring Chiefs team. Cleveland will need to get to the Chiefs just as quickly as they did the Steelers.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Browns on paper look like they shouldn’t even be on the same level as the Chiefs. They might have the talent, but they’re going into an away stadium and trying to take down a tough KC team. But to be fair, five turnovers sure build on confidence. Defensively the Browns put the rest of the field on notice that their season wasn’t a fluke. KC rarely turns the football over but has shown it is possible. If the Browns get hot, the Chiefs need to have enough answers.
Baltimore Ravens
The Bills didn’t seem to make as much of a statement in the first week of the playoffs as they did the last week of the season. They went out to make a statement that the division was theirs as Miami crept up on a potential playoff birth. Buffalo can turn it on at any time and if they get streaky, Baltimore won’t be able to catch up. With the right gameplan, they can keep it close, if Baltimore struggles early this game could easily get away from them fast.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills need to be careful to not get too ahead of themselves in this game. First, the Ravens are on a defensive hot streak having not allowed more than 14 points in their last 4 games. Buffalo’s run game is notoriously bad this season and Lamar Jackson showed he can turn it upfield when things aren’t working. Buffalo might be more dangerous on offense, but the playing field might be leveled if Baltimore can control the time of possession.
More NFL: New England Offseason Panic Mode
NFC
Green Bay Packers
If even Aaron Rogers had a kryptonite, it’s a good defensive end and the Rams have one of the best. The Packers have been a terror on the NFL and NFC this season but the Rams aren’t exactly willing to fade into the rearview. If Aaron Donald isn’t affected by the rib injury, expect LA to send the house more often and try and get GB off their game.
Los Angeles Rams
Green Bay seems to have found their stride this year. They’ve got a lot of weapons and momentum. The Rams will have to make sure they’re not caught back on their heels trying to keep pace with the Packers on offense. If they’re not healthy, the Rams can’t afford to get into a shootout with Green Bay.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Much like Tampa Bay, the Saints got off to a slow start this NFL season. However, even with Drew Brees out, the Saints were able to still roll right over their opponents. They have a lot of weapons and the Buccaneers will need to play mistake-free football. If Tom Brady has one of his multiple turnovers games, it could be a challenge to keep up with the Saints.
New Orleans Saints
Tom Brady is on a whole different level when it comes to the postseason. No one in the NFL has that knob that seems to go up to 11 quite like #12. He’s consistently shown why he’s one of the winningest QBs in postseason history. Every year people are talking about whether or not Brady has fallen off. Those same people are eating their words every year when he’s pushing his way through the playoffs. This game will be the Saints’ gut check moment if they want to get across the finish line.
The NFL playoffs are full of teams that could run away with it. They’re also filled with teams that aren’t to be taken lightly. There isn’t a team still in the postseason that should be written off.
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
