Why the NFC Playoffs this postseason will be like a tough dungeon crawler for most teams…

By Phillip Murray
While there is reasonable hope that any team in AFC can make a run and beat even the top seeded teams, in the NFC however, it is a different story. Entering into the NFC playoff dungeon this post season and coming out victorious will be a true testament of strength and will for all but 2 teams. Arizona at the second seed would be a tough battle in the divisional round for any team especially after getting blown out at home by SEA 36-6. But waiting at the end is the toughest boss battle against the Carolina Panthers. Are there any teams in the NFC who are prepared and geared enough to defeat the Panthers? Lets begin…

CAROLINA PANTHERS
If I were to tell you that The Carolina Panthers would be the number one seed with a 15-1 record in Aug you would probably first laugh in my face for 10 minutes then afterward suggest I get a CAT scan. The Panthers are sitting atop the throne in the NFC with a respectful 15-1 record. All season long aside from the one loss to Atlanta, the black cats looked to be unbeatable. With a top 3 defense loaded with talent from the front 7 to the secondary, a balanced offense led by MVP front runner and the embodiment of Superman in Cam Newton, it looks impossible to beat them. After the loss to Atlanta many started to say “there’s the Panther’s team we know”, but after a crushing 38-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Panthers have restored their status as a team to be feared. For anyone who’s ever played any video game, there’s always a weakness going up against a boss. For Carolina the only weakness that a team could expose is their offensive line. The Falcons in week 16 showed that if you penetrate the offensive line and put pressure on Cam Newton you could force the MVP caliber QB to make mistakes and even turn the ball over. Putting pressure on Newton is only half the battle. The Falcons had the number one WR in the league Julio Jones on their side and a young pro bowl RB in Devontae Freeman on the ground, and were coming off an embarrassing shut out loss to Carolina just 2 weeks prior. The motivation, paired with a resurgence that hadn’t been seen all season propelled the Falcons to a win. There is one major point to remember. Jonathan Stewart was out during the loss to the Falcons and their top running back should be set to return for their divisional playoff game to restore the balance on offense along with their #1 WR Ted Ginn Jr. With a week off to get healthy and mentally prepared, having all roads leading to Bank of America stadium puts Carolina as the favorite to win the NFC conference.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

While Carolina looks to be the clear toughest and most impossible team to beat in the NFC playoffs, the Seahawks however look to be the most dangerous. Seattle’s post season playoff journey will be different this season. Instead of having the comforts of home the Seahawks will have to fly Midwest, west and then south for the winter. While a very tough uphill dungeon battle it will be, Seattle is well equipped for the challenge. With a rough start and roller coaster season the Seahawks look like they have finally returned to form as the team we all have known. There is a difference though. Without “Beast-Mode” Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson has transitioned the offense from a running team to a lethal passing team. Wilson over the last 7 weeks has thrown on average 3 TD passes a game and a QB rating of 110.1. What’s even more scarier is that Marshawn Lynch should be back for the playoffs to be incorporated in the offense. With a new passing attack, a fresh set of legs in Lynch and the Legion of Boom back leading the NFL in scoring defense for a 4th consecutive season, run defense(81 .5 ypg), 2nd in total yards(291.8) and passing yards(210.2 ppg) allowed, all things look good for Seattle to get their chance at payback against the Panthers in the NFC conference championship.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

While suffering a crushing loss to the division rival Seahawks, the Cardinals still have a light to lift them up in the post season. The Cardinals still get a first round bye, and their first playoff game will be played at home against either Minnesota, (if they win against Seattle) Green Bay, or Washington. The Cardinals finished the season with their health and knowledge by starting Lindley over Palmer at QB. Now Arizona has 2 weeks to prepare against in all scenarios, a favorable divisional match up. The Cardinals will take the loss to Seattle as reminder and use it as fuel hopefully the same way Carolina took their loss to Atlanta. If the football gods are on their side and Arizona faces Green Bay again, they could continue their dominance that they imposed on Aaron Rogers sacking the QB for a career high 8 times and use the momentum to prepare them for the NFC championship. Regardless of match up the Cardinals look to have the easiest road to the NFC conference. They have beaten 2 out of the possible 3 teams they will face and both Washington and Minnesota have inexperienced young quarterbacks who have not won a playoff game.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS

The Redskins clinched their playoff berth by winning the NFC East division. A lot of analyst are giving it to them by default, but is right to discount the skins just because the division that they are in? The Redskins were the only team in the NFC East to take care of their business and control their playoff destiny by doing the only thing you need to do.. WIN. After 4 straight wins and a boatload of confidence led by their on fire QB Kirk Cousins Washington looks formidable right now. Along with Cousins, the Redskins have a talented receiving core, a solid defense, and a core of veteran players who have experienced winning in the post season. All the pieces with a home playoff game gives Washington a legit shot at winning “A” playoff game. If they advance to the divisional round Washington would be heavy under dogs to Arizona. While they have been inconsistent both in the running game and defensively, the emergence of Cousins’ phenomenal passing the last 10 games gives the skins a chance. 20 TDS to 3 INT in the last 10 teams are top tier stats. The main detriment to Washington is that majority of their wins have come to teams with losing records. Washington is 0-4 against teams with winning records and going up against a Green Bay team coming off 2 straight losses looking for a win there is little room for error. In order to advance, Kirk Cousins will have to outplay Aaron Rogers.
GREEN BAY PACKERS

The main question that is in everyone’s mind is what is going on with the Green Bay Packers?. The Packers started off as the preseason favorite to go to the NFC championship but a rocky roller coaster season plagued with injuries and struggles on both offense and defense, many are wondering what can you do to get this team back to form where it was in 2010. Aaron Rogers has not played up to par all season entering week 17’s season finale for the division title against the Vikings, the Packers were thought to use their horrendous loss to Arizona has fuel to hold on to their lead in division and build momentum to carry into the wild card game. The Packers woes continued suffering a loss and losing the division to Minnesota, mostly due to the lack of offensive production and turnovers including a costly INT in the end zone by Vikings Corner Xavier Rhodes. The Packers are not sure what offense to run. They tried doing two tight end sets that resulted in a FG and there were 4 consecutive drives that resulted in 0 points. The Packers have to figure out their best game plan to win on the road in Washington. Unfortunately for them they have very little time. The only silver lining is that Aaron Rogers and the Packers are experienced in the playoffs, this will be Kirk Cousins first playoff appearance. Nevertheless having a postseason record since their Superbowl win in 2010 of 2 and 7, this is no time for the Packers to “Relax”.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Minnesota has just won their first division title since 2009. Coming off a huge victory on the road at Lambeau field the Vikings are boasting very positive and optimistic perspective going into Sunday’s Wild Card game. Newly crowned division champion, a home field playoff game, all their health in tact, what could go wrong? The constellation prize is the Legion of Boom being their first playoff opponent. The Vikings aren’t the only team to have huge win on Sunday. The Seahawks are coming off a statement blowout rout over Arizona, and the Seahawks look to be back to form. Sunday’s playoff game will no doubt be Minnesota’s toughest game of the season going up against the arguable top ranked defense in the entire league. Minnesota didn’t have success last postseason against top ranked defense of Carolina either. What Seattle capitalizes on opponents is what Minnesota does best, turnovers. In order to have a chance to make Sunday’s match up against the Seahawks an actual game, the Vikings especially Teddy Bridgewater will have to play smart and SAFE football and Adrian Peterson will have to have a solid running game against top ranked Seattle run defense. Minnesota’s front 7 and their secondary could capitalize on the new Seattle passing attack if the Seahawks decide to continue their offensive scheme of passing first to establish the run. It seems impossible and unlikely that Minnesota will win and this dungeon battle could very well get ugly, but stranger things have happened in the NFL.