NFL Playoff Musings

The NFL has fielded, without question, the worst group of playoff teams I've ever seen. Fortunately for them, the only legit contenders managed to not get upset at home last weekend, and what's left is almost a typical offering, sans any truly great team. I was 4 for 4 on my playoff predictions last week, but frankly I had no confidence in any of the teams I chose. They were just better than their heavily flawed opposition.

The Vikings have a strong front 7, with a tremendous D-Line and decent Linebackers. Their secondary is even weaker than usual, battered by injuries and simple player ineptitude. They played a great game against Dallas though. The real surprise is that Bret Favre seems to have groomed their receiving corps into a top unit. Sydney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe are playing lights out, and Rice is reminding everyone of the Hall-of-Fame-Lock San Francisco Treat. Their other receivers, including Chester Taylor, have been outstanding at holding onto the ball, something they've never done a good job of in past seasons. Favre, at the age of 40, has played as well or better than any QB in the league not named Peyton. He simply destroyed the Cowboys D, which was the hottest unit in the playoffs. I'm somewhat in awe of his play this year, and that he added another 17 games to the most amazing record in sports, 308 consecutive games started, including playoffs. All of this has been done despite their running game being all but shut down in the last quarter of the season. The poor secondary and mediocre running game keep the Vikings from being a great team, but if the awesome Adrian Petersen puts it together, this team would be deserving of a Superbowl berth, and would probably get it.

The Saints have a balanced running game that is stoppable, but only with enough effort that their stellar QB and receiving core will absolutely destroy you. Brees is a fantastic QB, certainly in the top 4-5 in the league, and is number 2 in my book. When it's on, the Saints offense is unpredictable and essentially unstoppable. While they suffered a lull at the end of the season, largely due to having clinched the #1 Seed and resting up from many injuries, the Saints have been the best team in the NFL over the course of the season. The Saint D is almost the opposite of the Vikings, with a tremendous secondary, decent Linebackers, and a D-Line that has been inconsistent and which can only hold its own when the Saints have a lead. Fortunately for them, that's most of the time.

The Vikings have been slow starters much of the season. Unless AP gets it into gear early, I could easily see them playing catch up by the end of the first quarter. Their poor secondary will not serve them well against Brees, and if their D-Line can't get constant pressure through the Saints excellent O-Line, they'll be in trouble. Favre absolutely carved the Cowboys up last week, and may do so to the Saints, but I expect Brees to be too much for even that miracle worker should the Vikings fall behind by more than 10 points. I'm pulling for the Vikes, but I expect the Saints to win. Should be an excellent game!

Of the other NFC playoff teams, only Dallas and Green Bay were particularly interesting. Green Bay's unexpectedly strong D and potent offense made me think they could surprise in the playoffs, but neither unit was consistent enough to overcome Kurt Warner's last hurrah, so they're a dead issue. Dallas was the third best team in the NFC by the end of the season, and Favre destroyed them. The others were just posers.

The Colts offense is run by perhaps the best player in the NFL, and certainly the best QB, Peyton Manning. His savvy and awareness transform a mediocre O-Line into a serviceable unit, and make all of his excellent receiving corps into stars. Unfortunately, the Colts lack and semblance of a running game. Through the regular season, Peyton overcame that and the offense was usually dominating, though less so than the Saint's far more balanced attack. The Colt D played far better than anyone expected them to, even if they were fully healthy. Devastated by injuries, their above average showing is remarkable, and they've shown a toughness and resilience that the Colts have usually lacked over the years. This is clearly the best team in the AFC.

The Jets played an embarrassing game on Sunday, and came away with a win only because the Chargers were absolutely pathetic. The Jets have a tremendous O-Line, decent and Runningbacks, but their rookie QB is no better than poor, and their Wide Receivers drop more balls than they catch. Dustin Keller is a good Tight End, but when Jericho Cotchery is your best Wide Receiver and your backs don't catch well, your passing game is in trouble. The Jets essentially don't have one. On D, the Jets were number one in the league and have played at a high level in two playoff games. They are in no way dominating, however, and would have been middle of the road in last year's playoff field. I expect Peyton to thrash them soundly on Sunday.

Outside of the Colts, the AFC was an absolute mess this year. The top 3 teams from last year's playoffs would have absolutely wiped the floor with any team that made it this season. The Steelers, Ravens, and Titans all slumped terribly, especially on defense, and none deserved to make the playoffs. New England's offense was very inconsistent, and their defense was worse. They made the playoffs because of the overall low quality of their division and the league as a whole, but they were no better then an average team, especially with the Welker injury. The Raven's destroying them was expected and just. That the Ravens then got destroyed by the Colts was equally predictable. Neither the Ravens nor the ats belonged in a normal NFL playoff bracket. The Chargers looked the closest to being a contender of the playoff losers, but their O-Line is terrible, their receiving corps is less deep than the other top offenses, and Rivers is a step down from Peyton, Favre (this year), and Brees. They have a very average running game. Their defense played above their heads most of the season, but their ceiling was low and they were not a playoff caliber D, even with this bunch. Frankly, the Chargers looked much better than they were, and are a shell of the teams they field over the previous five years, mostly because of their once dominant D and running game have disappeared.

So, despite a bad group, the playoffs have produced and excellent NFC title game and should give us the Colts to face the winner. I expect a very good Superbowl. Likely not the match of the last two gems, but here's hoping.