Previewing NFL Wild Card Weekend

The best presents are unexpected. The NFL decided months ago that they would add a playoff team to each conference. At the time of the announcement, I nodded my head and thought, “oh, that’s cool, I guess.”

I’m just not coming to grips with what that meant. Here we are on the cusp on Wild Card Weekend and would you look at that? We have six games in this round instead of four. With everything going on in this country at the moment (I won’t get into specifics, you all have eyes), it will be nice to just enjoy some free football.

That being said, let’s take a look at some names you should keep an eye on this weekend.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Indianapolis at Buffalo

Bills safeties Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer

I’ve had a good time making fun of Philip Rivers this season, but actually, he’s proven me wrong. He threw for more than 4,000 yards with 24 touchdowns and brought his interceptions down to a reasonable 11.

The Bills defense finished third in the league in creating turnovers with 26 and they’ll need to keep that momentum going. White and Poyer have done a solid job in the secondary and could get a couple chances to pick Rivers off on Saturday. If they can, that could end up being what pushes them into the next round.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor

People thought highly of him when Indy selected him in the second round, but the prevailing theory was he wouldn’t carry much of a load since Indy had some depth at running back. Well, a couple injuries here and there and suddenly, Taylor was the guy. And he hasn’t disappointed, running for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns.

His role in this game will be crucial. If he can keep Buffalo’s defense honest with some nice gains, that will keep them from teeing off on Rivers.

Los Angeles at Seattle

Rams head coach Sean McVay

He has to make the critical choice before the game begins. Will he go with Jared Goff, who is just a short time removed from surgery on his thumb, or give John Wolford the nod? That call could be the difference between a rubber match win against these division rivals or a quick postseason exit.

The good news is, his life will be made easier because left tackle Andrew Whitworth and Cooper Kupp are expected to be back in the lineup.

Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf

Seattle will have Metcalf for years to come and rest assured, he will grow into one of the best receivers in the league. However, in two games against the Rams this season, he hasn’t done much, catching just 8 passes without a touchdown. In fact, since L.A. traded for star cornerback Jalen Ramsey last season, Russell Wilson has just one touchdown pass against them.

That must change if the Seahawks want to build on their 10-game home winning streak in the postseason. If Metcalf can pull off a big play or two, that will work wonders as far as loosening up an offense that grew stale down the stretch of the regular season.

Tampa Bay at Washington

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady

This is what he signed up for when he left New England. He moved to a warm climate, was given ample weapons and told to just get after it. He even managed to get Rob Gronkowski to come out of retirement and Antontio Brown to come out of … wherever he was.

Tom wants to win his divorce with Bill Belichick in the worst way and the journey truly starts now. And while he might be 43-years-old, he’s playing his best football of the season and has what should be a cakewalk in front of him this weekend, despite playing on the road. However, there is one point of concern: Washington’s front seven, which can get after the passer with the best of them. Everyone knows Brady doesn’t like being uncomfortable in the pocket, so it will be interesting to see how this game shakes out.

Washington quarterback Alex Smith

While it would be easy to single out star rookie defensive Chase Young, who made the news this week for proclaiming “I want Tom” after the team’s Week 17 win, a heavier burden rests on Smith. And that’s not great, because he’s questionable to play this week with a calf injury. Even if Washington’s defense can keep a lid on the Bucs offense, at some point Smith and the offense will need to put points on the board.

If Smith can’t play, or is limited, or has to share snaps with backup QB Taylor Heinecke, things could get ugly fast.

Baltimore at Tennessee

Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell

Baltimore finished second in the league in points allowed and ranked eighth against the run. And with Titans running back Derrick Henry, who ran for more than 2,000 yards this season, on the other side of the ball, the Ravens have their work cut out for them.

And Campbell knows it.

“Derrick Henry is one of the best running backs to ever play this game, and he’s in the zone right now,” Campbell told the Associated Press. “So, yes – I take pride in the challenge of lining up and trying to shut him down.”

Campbell has accepted the challenge. Let’s see how he and the rest of his mates handle it.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill

I just went on about the problems Derrick Henry will cause for Baltimore, but there’s just as much riding on Tannehill in this one. The Titans didn’t give him a lot of responsibility in last year’s playoffs, but they rewarded him with a big contract this past offseason and he responded with a career-high 33 touchdown passes in 2020 and tacked on another seven scoring runs.

Tannehill adds a dimension to Tennessee’s offense that it didn’t have last season. It’s a guarantee that the Titans coaching staff will let him sling it on Sunday.

Chicago at New Orleans

Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky has earned much of the criticism that has come his way and things are looking bleak as his Bears, who backdoored their way into the postseason, must face the Saints in the Superdome. But all hope is not lost.

Robinson was somehow snubbed from the Pro Bowl this season, despite catching 102 passes with six touchdowns. He’ll have to be Mr. Reliable for Trubisky if Chicago has any hope of hanging in against a stout New Orleans defense.

Do I think he can do it? Absolutely. Do I think he will do it? Well, Mitch Trubisky is his quarterback, so … no.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas

Truth to be told, the Saints will win this game even if Thomas doesn’t play. But he will be back in the lineup after missing nine games with an ankle injury. So, it will be interesting to see how he looks after so much time on the shelf.

Will he have quickness? Will he be able to get separation? How will his hands hold up? Sean Payton will be anxious to get answers to all of those questions. Not so much for this week, but going forward, because the Saints have bigger aspirations than just getting out of the Wild Card round.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt

Poor Cleveland. The fans waited year after year for their team to make the playoffs and in 2020, it finally happened. Only to have the bottom drop out two days later. Head coach Kevin Stefanski (among others), who will be on the shortlist for coach of the year honors, tested positive for COVID-19 and will be forced to miss Sunday’s game. Ugh.

Stefanski doesn’t just oversee everything, he’s also the Browns offensive play caller. Now it’s up to Van Pelt, who I’m sure will get a very detailed game plan from Stefanski, to call the shots against an attacking Pittsburgh defense.

“Hopefully there’s not too many times [Stefanski’s] yelling at the TV, ‘What the heck is going on?’” Van Pelt told the Associated Press with a laugh.

Talk about a tough gig. But if he manages to survive this game, he’ll be a Cleveland legend.

Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt

Most people have the other Watt brother tapped to win the defensive player of the year award after he finished the regular season with a league-high 15 sacks. And things are setting up for him to have a big game as Cleveland will be without elite guard Joel Bitonio, which will force the Browns to shuffle their offensive line.

This will be Baker Mayfield’s first playoff game. Watt needs to do his part to make it a miserable experience.