Photograph: Godofredo A Vásquez/AP
Team that will be most missed in the playoffs
Seattle Seahawks are not a good football team. But they are an entertaining one. They’re capable of scoring in chunks, even with a woeful offensive line. Their defense cannot tackle anyone, but they’re also liable to snag a couple of crucial turnovers in a half. Scan their record and they have (kind of) impressive wins against playoff opposition. They’d likely have been one-and-done – the team just had too many holes – but they have the kind of playoff formula (volatile offense; turnover-enforcing defense) that could have caused an upset. OC
New Orleans Saints. The watered-down playoff format means it’s unlikely that any team who didn’t make the cut would have been capable of making a meaningful splash. So let’s go with the Saints led by the chaotic Jameis Winston, still the NFL’s most unserious player and probably the best bad quarterback ever. BAG
Atlanta Falcons. Well, at least here in Atlanta, where spirits ran high when the home team was actually leading the NFC South (against all logic). It’s a shame we won’t get to see Arthur Smith blow a gasket again, this time about beat reporters’ Jameis Winston-style sneak attempts to know which QB he’ll be starting from round to round. AL
Cincinnati Bengals. Their season looked like it was done when Joe Burrow went down injured (again) in November but a surprisingly zingy undrafted Jake Browning kept them competitive. Some have wondered if Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins can make any quarterback you choose to mention competitive in the playoffs. It would have been fun to find out. TL
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High-seeded team at risk of going out early
Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys should not lose to the Green Bay Packers. Repeat: the Cowboys should not lose at home to the Green Bay Packers. But, well, these are the Cowboys. And it’s Mike McCarthy in a…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-playoff-predictions-49ers-ravens-090036275.html
Author : The Guardian
Publish date : 2024-01-11 09:00:36
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