The NFC Playoffs Discussion

[KendrickPanther]

#6 Seattle @ #3 Minnesota

I think too much is being made of Seattle's "playoff experience". We've seen many seasoned playoff teams on their last leg get put down by the rising newcomers. Seattle has a great opportunity to win this game but are far from a lock. Their last road playoff win came vs. the Redskins in the infamous RGKnee game. Before that, they haven't won a road playoff game since 1983.

They have however, trounced the Vikings in Minnesota this season. They beat them 38-7 in a game that Minnesota lost 4 starters on defense before or early in the game. It looks like Barr, Harrison, Joseph, and Sendejo have all returned to health. Having your two starting safeties makes a big difference vs. the Seahawks because they love to pick on the Safeties. In that game the Vikings rushed Adrian Peterson just 8 times for 18 yards. I expect this game to be much closer. I would not be surprised at all if the Vikings won it. But the safe assumption is Seattle wins out with superior talent on defense and a great playoff offense.

#5 Green Bay @ #4 Washington 

This is one of those games you just look at the franchises and say Green Bay without hesitation. But when you look more closely at this Green Bay team in the 2015 regular season. It's surprising they've won 10 games. They don't score very well. They play good defense but not good enough. They can't sustain drives. They can't run the ball. To their credit, 4 of their 6 losses are to playoff teams. They have early season wins over the Seahawks and Chiefs along with a mid season win over the Vikings. Aaron Rodgers is capable of getting hot but this team has't managed to score 14 pts in their last two games. Their best shot at victory is a ferocious defensive performance in which Kirk Cousins turns the ball over multiple times. 

The Redskins have the home field advantage with an NFC EAST best 9-7 record. Kirk Cousins is 6-2 at home this year. They are feeling hot having won 4 straight including 3 on the road. Outside of the NFC East they have no impressive wins to boast. Cousins has had a phenomenal statistical season with over 4,000 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 46 times this year to Cousin's 26. I would lean towards the Redskins in this match up. I would even say the Packers would have to get lucky to beat them. All of the positive energy is in Washington for a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs in 4 seasons and hasn't won a playoff game in 10. 

Panthers Outlook

To me It's a no brainer. We want the Vikings and Redskins to win. The Redskins present the least dangerous threat to us. We are capable of defending what they do on offense and moving the ball on their defense. Seattle plays a brand of football that would ensure a physical and entertaining game but they also have the talent and experience to beat us. We've seen them pick apart our depleted secondary before. With the Packers you have a volatile team that is capable of creating turnovers. Our defense does struggle with improvisation from the QB and no one is better at it than Aaron Rodgers. With our injuries in the secondary the best QB match up for us is without a doubt Kirk Cousins. 

Cardinals Outlook

The best news for the Cardinals this week is they will not see the Seahawks for at least three weeks. The Cardinals will be happy to face the winner of the 4/5 game. They played the Packers very well in week 16 and the Redskins are inferior in every way. Minnesota played very well at Arizona in week 14. They held stout on both sides of the line and were ultimately undone by three lost fumbles. Teddy Bridgewater threw for over 330 yards and a touchdown but ultimately came up short 23-20. The Vikings are absolutely the team they want to avoid although they would be heavily favored against any of these potential opponents. 

NFC Championship Outlook

The favorites are clear. Carolina and Arizona are the two most impressive teams in the NFL not just the NFC. The Panthers have multiple injury concerns from Jonathan Stewart, to Charles Tillman, Kurt Coleman, and Ted Ginn. The Cardinals have notable injuries to Running Back Chris Johnson and Safety Tyrann Mathieu. One interesting nugget: former Panther Carrington Byndom is currently on the Cardinals practice squad. If the Panthers ultimately send Tillman to IR, do they take a look at him?  Seattle absolutely has a chance of crashing this party and even making it to the Super Bowl. But the favorites are clear. Carolina vs. Arizona. Championship weekend is three weeks away and injuries could drastically change the odds. Right now you would have to lean Panthers with the home field advantage and MVP Cam Newton running the show.

[Cam's New Arm]

this.. could really happen

[Hotsauce]

Nice write up!

Although we are no doubt in line to take on the tougher of the WC talent, in a way that is probably a good thing. If we end up with a Seattle let's say, remember the amount of swag it gave our team when we won this year?  Imagine having that swag in the AZ game (assuming they make it as well). We are a battle tested team and should not be afraid of anyone at this point!

We went out and got 15 wins by being who we are. Play your strengths, let your team step up and mask you weaknesses. 

Keep Pounding

[KendrickPanther]

In the past I've always preached that I want to play the best teams in the playoffs. We normally come in with something to prove and we need trademark wins for our franchise. I was very pleased to play the Cowboys in 96 and the Rams in 03 for example. I was excited to play the Seahawks last year. We had nothing to lose, and a chance to prove our worth. 

The tide has turned. Now we are the favorites. We are the hunted. Getting famous victories in the divisional round is insufficient for a 15-1 team in the playoffs. We can get our trademark victories in the Conference Championship and Super Bowl. For the divisional round I'd be content beating the weakest matchup available to us. 

[Achilles]

It seems to me that we are on a collision course with the NFC West. If we want to get to the Super Bowl, we are going to have to beat at least one of those teams, probably both. Arizona is a dangerous team that can put up 40 points more or less at will. Seattle is a tough team to beat no matter the circumstances. If we are going to prove that we are in fact the best team in the NFC, then we must conquer the West!

It bodes well that the West must travel east for the ultimate showdown. Seattle especially is much stronger at home in the post season.

[crushcard1976]

like a old wrestler used to say To Be The Best You Got To Beat The Best Whoooooo

[JJman Returns]

I want Seattle, Arizona, and then New England. Beating the three best teams in football (besides us) and winning the Super Bowl would cement the 2015 Carolina Panthers as one of the greatest teams ever

[imminent rogaine]

1 minute ago, JJman Returns said:

I want Seattle, Arizona, and then New England. Beating the three best teams in football (besides us) and winning the Super Bowl would cement the 2015 Carolina Panthers as one of the greatest teams ever

They'd be the worst best-team-ever.

[Goondal]

Personally I am hoping we play the Packers.   I have no confidence in their ability to do much of anything.   

On a side note, I find it interesting that Washington-Green Bay opened as a Pick and in the other three the road team is favored.   Three road favorites in the playoffs is just how Vegas likes it?