2013 NFL Playoffs
2013 NFL Playoffs
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BAK
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Posted: Fri January 4, 2013 11:45AM; Updated: Fri January 4, 2013 12:23PM
Peter King
Peter King's
[TD="class: cnnCol0"] Quarterback play will tell tale of Wild Card round
[/TD]
Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will have to play well, and through an injury, to limit the damage Aaron Rodgers inflicts on Saturday.
Jeff Lewis/Icon SMI
Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield and Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco are two of the major difference-makers on Wild Card weekend in this 93rd NFL season, if you accept these premises:
• I can't identify a single most important factor/player in the Seattle-Washington or Cincinnati-Houston games. I am picking Seattle and Houston to win, but I can't say with certainty there's one person or position group that will determine the outcome of either game.
• In the Minnesota-Green Bay game, Adrian Peterson could batter the Packers again, as he did twice in December for a combined 409 rushing yards. And in Baltimore, Andrew Luck could have the same kind of fourth quarter he's had seven times this year, when he led the Colts back to a victory from a deficit or tie. But I think it's more likely the two games will be influenced by the following: the Vikings' coverage limiting Aaron Rodgers' possessions and efficiency -- meaning Winfield, who will be playing with a broken hand and a cast protecting it, will be a huge factor -- and the consistently inconsistent Flacco, who will need to put up points to match the Colts because Indianapolis will be keying heavily on Ray Rice.
One theory at a time.
On the importance of Winfield: The game plan for the Packers is simple -- don't let Peterson run roughshod over the defense again. And make sure Rodgers doesn't have 12 or 13 possessions, because Rodgers won't be held down for long. In 21 drives against the Vikes this year, he led 11 scoring drives, with one makeable field goal missed. Limiting the times Rodgers can inflict damage (with Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb all healthy enough to make big plays now) is Minnesota's best shot.
To do that, Winfield, the best physical corner in the NFL, has to play four very good quarters. Rodgers completed 73 percent of his throws against the Vikings in their two meetings this year. In the second game, last Sunday, Winfield played with the broken hand, and when he went to jam Jennings in the second quarter, pain shot through his arm like he hadn't felt in a football game. "I have a very high tolerance for pain,'' he said from Minnesota this week. "But that -- I can't describe how bad it was. A shooting pain." Without Winfield out in the second half, Rodgers went 17 of 21, for 262 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Flawless.
So Winfield has to show up, and he has to show up big. On Saturday night, Winfield will be fitted with a cast (he had only a pad last Sunday). "I'll be good," Winfield said. "Absolutely. Am I confident? I hope I'll be able to make all the plays I normally make, and I think I'll be able to. But I'll be honest with my team. If I can't do it, I'll let someone else go in and play.''
But Winfield knows how important he is. "Best receiving corps in the league, and we've got to be ready to cover them all over the field,'' he said. "They want to go vertical a lot."
No matter what Peterson does when he has the ball, what Rodgers does when he has it will be a bigger factor in who wins -- and Winfield's the only cover man who can stop Rodgers from having his way. That cast had better work.
KING: WILD CARD PREDICTIONS
On Flacco: Exclude the final throwaway game at Cincinnati; in the Ravens' final six games of the season played like real games, they scored 13, 16, 20, 28, 17 and 33 points. If you want to look on the bright side and point out they rolled up 533 yards in their last real game against the Giants 12 days ago, I'll give you that -- and I'll also point out that they managed 200, 288 and 278 in three of their previous five. Honestly, you, me and Cal Ripken have no idea what to expect of this Baltimore offense Sunday against Indianapolis.
"I see what you mean,'' Flacco said from the Ravens' locker room after practice Thursday. "We haven't shown what we're capable of. But we're excited. I feel like we're ready to explode.''
Well, OK. Why? To understand Flacco's optimism, understand what this offense was in training camp. Coordinator Cam Cameron was using a fast-paced, no-huddle scheme in the summer, and the Ravens used some of it early in the season. But gradually Baltimore got away from it, and when new offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell replaced Cameron three weeks ago, he decided to play more of it. That's what has the offense excited coming into the playoffs.
"I like it a lot,'' Flacco said. "I think it's the way our offense plays best. Look at our weapons. We've got great speed in [wideouts] Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. I think what you'll see out of us is an attacking style. We're going to lay it all out there. We're excited, I can tell you that."
One other thing I asked Flacco, a flat-line pragmatist and not a fist-pumping cheerleader: Will the fact that this could be Ray Lewis' last game be a boost of adrenaline, or is win-this-one-for-Ray too cliché in an NFL playoff game? "You know I'm the first person who'd call something like that a cliché,'' Flacco said. "But this feels a lot different. I sure don't think it'll be a cliché Sunday."
I've got every game close this weekend: Houston by three, Green Bay by eight, Baltimore by three, Seattle by two. And, unlike in many Wild Card weekends, I could make a persuasive argument for either team in all four games. Should be great fun.
Players You Need to Know This Weekend
Brandon Browner, CB, Seattle (No. 39). If you think Richard Sherman was an All-Pro-caliber cornerback this season (and I voted him one of the two best corners in the league on my All-Pro team) consider that -- according to ProFootballFocus.com -- Sherman's average completion allowed this year was for 15.5 yards, including 3.29 yards after the catch. Browner's average catch was three yards fewer (12.4), and his average YAC surrendered was 3.26 yards. In other words, Browner's no slouch, and that the Seahawks will have both Browner -- off his four-game PED suspension -- and Sherman in the lineup to try to foil Robert Griffin III is a big deal.
Peter King
Peter King's
[TD="class: cnnCol0"] Quarterback play will tell tale of Wild Card round
[/TD]
Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will have to play well, and through an injury, to limit the damage Aaron Rodgers inflicts on Saturday.
Jeff Lewis/Icon SMI
Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield and Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco are two of the major difference-makers on Wild Card weekend in this 93rd NFL season, if you accept these premises:
• I can't identify a single most important factor/player in the Seattle-Washington or Cincinnati-Houston games. I am picking Seattle and Houston to win, but I can't say with certainty there's one person or position group that will determine the outcome of either game.
• In the Minnesota-Green Bay game, Adrian Peterson could batter the Packers again, as he did twice in December for a combined 409 rushing yards. And in Baltimore, Andrew Luck could have the same kind of fourth quarter he's had seven times this year, when he led the Colts back to a victory from a deficit or tie. But I think it's more likely the two games will be influenced by the following: the Vikings' coverage limiting Aaron Rodgers' possessions and efficiency -- meaning Winfield, who will be playing with a broken hand and a cast protecting it, will be a huge factor -- and the consistently inconsistent Flacco, who will need to put up points to match the Colts because Indianapolis will be keying heavily on Ray Rice.
One theory at a time.
On the importance of Winfield: The game plan for the Packers is simple -- don't let Peterson run roughshod over the defense again. And make sure Rodgers doesn't have 12 or 13 possessions, because Rodgers won't be held down for long. In 21 drives against the Vikes this year, he led 11 scoring drives, with one makeable field goal missed. Limiting the times Rodgers can inflict damage (with Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb all healthy enough to make big plays now) is Minnesota's best shot.
To do that, Winfield, the best physical corner in the NFL, has to play four very good quarters. Rodgers completed 73 percent of his throws against the Vikings in their two meetings this year. In the second game, last Sunday, Winfield played with the broken hand, and when he went to jam Jennings in the second quarter, pain shot through his arm like he hadn't felt in a football game. "I have a very high tolerance for pain,'' he said from Minnesota this week. "But that -- I can't describe how bad it was. A shooting pain." Without Winfield out in the second half, Rodgers went 17 of 21, for 262 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Flawless.
So Winfield has to show up, and he has to show up big. On Saturday night, Winfield will be fitted with a cast (he had only a pad last Sunday). "I'll be good," Winfield said. "Absolutely. Am I confident? I hope I'll be able to make all the plays I normally make, and I think I'll be able to. But I'll be honest with my team. If I can't do it, I'll let someone else go in and play.''
But Winfield knows how important he is. "Best receiving corps in the league, and we've got to be ready to cover them all over the field,'' he said. "They want to go vertical a lot."
No matter what Peterson does when he has the ball, what Rodgers does when he has it will be a bigger factor in who wins -- and Winfield's the only cover man who can stop Rodgers from having his way. That cast had better work.
KING: WILD CARD PREDICTIONS
On Flacco: Exclude the final throwaway game at Cincinnati; in the Ravens' final six games of the season played like real games, they scored 13, 16, 20, 28, 17 and 33 points. If you want to look on the bright side and point out they rolled up 533 yards in their last real game against the Giants 12 days ago, I'll give you that -- and I'll also point out that they managed 200, 288 and 278 in three of their previous five. Honestly, you, me and Cal Ripken have no idea what to expect of this Baltimore offense Sunday against Indianapolis.
"I see what you mean,'' Flacco said from the Ravens' locker room after practice Thursday. "We haven't shown what we're capable of. But we're excited. I feel like we're ready to explode.''
Well, OK. Why? To understand Flacco's optimism, understand what this offense was in training camp. Coordinator Cam Cameron was using a fast-paced, no-huddle scheme in the summer, and the Ravens used some of it early in the season. But gradually Baltimore got away from it, and when new offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell replaced Cameron three weeks ago, he decided to play more of it. That's what has the offense excited coming into the playoffs.
"I like it a lot,'' Flacco said. "I think it's the way our offense plays best. Look at our weapons. We've got great speed in [wideouts] Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. I think what you'll see out of us is an attacking style. We're going to lay it all out there. We're excited, I can tell you that."
One other thing I asked Flacco, a flat-line pragmatist and not a fist-pumping cheerleader: Will the fact that this could be Ray Lewis' last game be a boost of adrenaline, or is win-this-one-for-Ray too cliché in an NFL playoff game? "You know I'm the first person who'd call something like that a cliché,'' Flacco said. "But this feels a lot different. I sure don't think it'll be a cliché Sunday."
I've got every game close this weekend: Houston by three, Green Bay by eight, Baltimore by three, Seattle by two. And, unlike in many Wild Card weekends, I could make a persuasive argument for either team in all four games. Should be great fun.
Players You Need to Know This Weekend
Brandon Browner, CB, Seattle (No. 39). If you think Richard Sherman was an All-Pro-caliber cornerback this season (and I voted him one of the two best corners in the league on my All-Pro team) consider that -- according to ProFootballFocus.com -- Sherman's average completion allowed this year was for 15.5 yards, including 3.29 yards after the catch. Browner's average catch was three yards fewer (12.4), and his average YAC surrendered was 3.26 yards. In other words, Browner's no slouch, and that the Seahawks will have both Browner -- off his four-game PED suspension -- and Sherman in the lineup to try to foil Robert Griffin III is a big deal.
Nyani Ngabu
Platinum Member
- May 15, 2006
- 98,223
- 144,188
New England Patriots all the way baby!
Peyton Manning ain't got nothing on Tom Brady.
Peyton Manning ain't got nothing on Tom Brady.
Oxlade-Chamberlain
JF-Expert Member
- May 26, 2009
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Houston and greenbay are the winning teams today
Oxlade-Chamberlain
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- May 26, 2009
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Houston won
Now the main event; Rogers vs Peterson
Now the main event; Rogers vs Peterson
SHERRIF ARPAIO
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- Aug 25, 2010
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I don't like 49ers, but I think they will win super bowl
Nyani Ngabu
Platinum Member
- May 15, 2006
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- 144,188
Yeah they will win superball but not the Super Bowl.
SHERRIF ARPAIO
JF-Expert Member
- Aug 25, 2010
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Ma bad! I meant Super Bowl
Oxlade-Chamberlain
JF-Expert Member
- May 26, 2009
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Andrew luck got no luck today
Waiting for RG 3
Waiting for RG 3
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