CHARLESTON, S.c.. — After an entertaining 18 weeks to the regular-season, the NFL Playoffs are here. And if this year’s playoffs are anything like last year’s, we are in for a real treat.
For the first time since 2009 and only the fifth time since the AFL-NFL merger, the wild card round features every game as a rematch from the regular-season. With three division matchups, some teams making long-awaited returns to the playoffs and a heavyweight battle Monday night that could prove defining for players, coaches and organizations, this weekend promises to be nothing short of spectacular as the race for the Lombardi Trophy begins.
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers – 4:30 p.m. on FOX (Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston, Pam Oliver, Kristina Pink)
Radio: Westwood One (Bill Rosinski, James Lofton, Amber Theoharris)
The first of three division matchups this weekend features NFC West rivals meeting for just the second time in the postseason. Seattle won their last two games of the regular season to nab the seventh and final seed in the NFC while San Francisco won their last 10 games to vault all the way to the number two seed in the NFC.
What we learned from the regular-season Seahawks-49ers games: It may seem like a distant or forgotten memory, but the first meeting between these two teams was when then 49ers quarterback Trey Lance broke his ankle, ending his season. But the 49ers still cruised to a 27-7 win thanks to 189 yards rushing and a standout defensive performance from defensive player of the year candidate Nick Bosa. Bosa had an outstanding regular season, leading the NFL with 18 sacks and finishing second with 19 tackles for loss.
The 49ers took the second meeting 21-13 to clinch the NFC West, backed by 108 rushing yards by running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey was acquired by the 49ers in a midseason trade, and he has rushed for 746 yards in 11 games along while hauling in 52 passes for 464 yards and four touchdowns since the trade.
The case for the Seahawks: I thought before the season started that Seattle was going to be a competitive team, despite trading away longtime quarterback Russell Wilson in the offseason. After all, they have two of the best receivers in the NFL this season. Both Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf topped 1,000 yards this season, and quarterback Geno Smith enjoyed, no doubt, the best season of his career. Consider: Smith led the NFC in touchdown passes (yes, you read that correctly), led the NFL in completion percentage and games with two or more touchdown passes (you don’t need to make that eye doctor appointment) and set the Seahawks franchise record for touchdown passes (hey, maybe the Seahawks were smart to trade Russell Wilson).
Just like the Seahawks lost their best offensive player last offseason, the same was true on the defensive side of the ball. Longtime linebacker Bobby Wagner left for the division rival Rams, and his loss was a big factor in the Seahawks finishing in the bottom quarter of the league in points, rushing yards and yards allowed. Seattle does have great individual players on defense, including the linebacker tandem of Darrell Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu. The tandem was the only one in the NFL this year each with nine or more sacks and three or more forced fumbles. If that tandem can get pressure on 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, that could force the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft into some mistakes. Seattle’s secondary is cropped with playmakers in rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen and veteran safety Quandre Diggs, with the two combining for 10 interceptions. Cornerback Mike Jackson also added a career-high 12 passes defended.
The case for the 49ers: This 49ers team is really good. They’re well-coached on both sides of the ball, and they’ve overcome a lot of adversity to earn the NFC’s number two seed. Three quarterbacks have led the 49ers to 13-4, including wins in each of their final 10 regular-season games.
Offensively, the 49ers are as good as it gets. San Francisco has, what I think, is the most sophisticated offense in the NFL. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is a master schemer and is able to get playmakers wide open all game long. Tight end George Kittle is a prime example of that, setting a career-high with 11 touchdowns including four games with two or more touchdown receptions. He also has two touchdowns in each of his last two games against Seattle. Another reason the 49ers won their last 10 games is the midseason trade for running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey ranked third in the NFL with 1,880 scrimmage yards and ranked second among all running backs with 85 receptions in the regular-season.
Defensively, the 49ers are a bear. They led the NFL in both yards and points allowed, and rightfully so. There is talent everywhere on the 49ers defense. You know about Nick Bosa, but their linebackers are just as stout. Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw combined for over 250 tackles. And their secondary is full of playmakers. All-pro cornerback Talanoa Hufanga set career-highs in tackles, passes defended, tackles for loss and interceptions, and safety Tashaun Gipson added his third season with five or more interceptions.
Game pick: 49ers 27-Seahawks 20
The 49ers are the more talented team, but divisional playoff games can be tricky. I think if Seattle can get to 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, that could force him into some uncharacteristic mistakes and keep the game close. But I think the 49ers will lean on their defense and running game to salt this one away and advance in the playoff for the third time in the last four years.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 8:15 p.m. on NBC (Al Michaels, Tony Dungy, Kaylee Hartung)
Radio: Westwood One (Ian Eagle, Jason McCourty, Max Starks)
Finally, Justin Herbert gets to play a playoff game! But so too does Trevor Lawrence. Two young quarterbacks who have quickly risen to the top of the AFC are now getting the chance to showcase their talents in the playoffs. This is also only the fourth playoff game in the city of Jacksonville and only the second playoff appearance for the Chargers since moving back to Los Angeles.
What we learned from the regular-season Jaguars-Chargers game: It seems like a long time ago, but these teams met in week three of the regular-season, a game dominated by the Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence broke out with 262 passing yards and three touchdowns, and the Jaguars also ran up over 150 yards rushing. The big story to come out of this game, though, was Chargers head coach Brandon Staley leaving Justin Herbert in the game despite visibly battling a ribs injury. Staley faced wide criticism after the game, but the Chargers bounced back to nab a playoff berth including four wins in their last five regular season games.
The case for the Chargers: Every year, the Chargers enter the season with a lot of hype. But it’s rare they actually live up to the hype. This year? Well, they did make the playoffs. But they finished four games out of first place.
When you think of the Chargers, you think of Justin Herbert. He’s had an unbelievable first three seasons of his NFL career, ranking first all-time in completions, passing yards and games with a touchdown pass in his first three seasons. He’s also second all-time with 94 touchdown passes in his first three seasons. The Chargers offense is electric and deep, with four players topping 700 receiving yards. Unfortunately, one of those players, wide receiver Mike Williams, will miss this game with a back injury.
On defense, the plan was for a solid bookend tandem of Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. Mack lived up to expectations, but Bosa only posted 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss because he missed 12 games. Backing up the defensive line is the linebacking tandem Drue Tranquill and Kyle Van Noy. Tranquill set career highs in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and passes defended, while Van Noy brings playoff experience from his days with the Patriots. The secondary is led by Derwin James and Michael Davis, with Davis leading the team with 15 passes defended.
The case for the Jaguars: Talk about a complete reversal of culture. Last year saw the train wreck of Urban Meyer. Enter former Super Bowl winning head coach Doug Pederson, and he has completely changed the culture. The Jaguars were 3-7 coming out of their bye week, but all they did was go 6-1 down the stretch.
The biggest reason for the Jaguars success is quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who led the NFL in passer rating after week 10. Lawrence has a solid receiving corps to throw to, with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones each setting career highs in receptions and receiving yards. Lawrence’s college teammate, running back Travis Etienne, totaled over 1,100 yards in his first full season in the NFL.
The biggest concern all season for the Jaguars was their defense. All they did in their last three games was hold their opponents to a combined 22 points and over 300 yards only once. Linebacker Foyesade Oludokun led the NFL in tackles for the second straight year with 184. He teamed up with rookies Devin Lloyd and Trayvon Walker to form a solid corps, and it was safety Rayshawn Jenkins’s overtime pick six that catapulted their late-season surge.
Game pick: Jaguars 24-Chargers 21
I think this will be a really close game between two newcomers to the playoffs. But Doug Pederson has been there before, coaching against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Chargers head coach Brandon Staley is aggressive, but he’s sometimes too aggressive. That will come back to bite him and the Chargers, opening the door for the Jaguars to pull this one out late.
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills – 1 p.m. on CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
Radio: Westwood One (Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, Aditi Kinkhabwala)
New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings – 4:30 p.m. on FOX (Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi)
Radio: Westwood One (Kevin Harlan, Mike Mayock, Scott Kaplan)
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals – 8:15 p.m. on NBC (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark)
Radio: Westwood One (Ryan Radtke, Mike Golic, Ryan Harris)
Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters)
Radio: Westwood One (Kevin Kugler, Kurt Warner, Laura Okmin)
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 