NFL Playoffs 1/10
- Kyle Kirms
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
RAMS @ PANTHERS - 4:30 PM
5 seed on the road against the 4 seed.
The -69 point differential makes them the worst team in NFL history to ever play a postseason game.
Rematch.
Rams haven't been nearly as good as you think on the road this year. They're 1-3 in their last 4 road games.
The fact that this game's at home... with a slight chance of some weather? Feel like that has to favor Carolina. Anything to level the playing field you would imagine, favors Carolina.
Rams offense... not a problem. But what's going on with this defense? Is this something we need to be concerned with?
Bryce Young carved the Rams secondary up when he had a clean pocket.
It wasn't just Bryce Young though.
Week 16... Seattle's offense wasn't having problems in the 2nd half at all.
Week 17... Bijan Robinson was ripping the Rams to shreds.
So when we look at the matchup on this side of the ball, sure the Rams are a top 10 defense on the full season... but they haven't looked like a top 10 defense since Thanksgiving weekend.
Good news is Rams defense is completely healthy.
Panthers offense is in good shape also.
Now we need to mention... Carolina's offense hasn't played well since the Rams game either. Carolina just had 14 carries for 19 yards in the Bucs loss.
They were able to run the ball on the Rams a bit in Week 13... but I'm not sure if I trust em to do it again.
I don't hate the matchup for Bryce Young. Obviously, the Rams pass rush is a problem... but handling pressure has been one of Bryce Young's strengths this year. Also... Rams did not get alotta pressure on Bryce Young in the first matchup.
Also Bryce Young's been much better delivering throws from a clean pocket.
Rams secondary hasn't been good.
Bryce Young a playoff riser.
Is the Panthers defense capable of generating any stops in this game?
We were talking about how the Rams defense is struggling since that Carolina game... well the offense is not struggling at all.
They are missing the right side of their offensive line. Tyler Higbee also came back in Week 18.
But look at the production.
Panthers still missing Trevin Wallace.
I guess you could say the Panthers defense has been slightly better since the Rams game... but it could be the opponents.
But it's really tough to see Carolina playing a good defensive game here. Remember, the Rams coulda scored way more than 28 points in this game. They only punted once the entire game. Stafford threw 2 INTs and they fumbled.
Let's not forget that the Panthers defense was missing key pieces in that game though.
Place is gonna be electric. First home playoff game in almost a decade (2016). Rams offensive line had communication issues in the Week 13 loss.
I'm taking Panthers +10.5. YOLO.
PACKERS @ BEARS - 8:00 PM
These teams have been rivals for like 100 years (most played rivalry in NFL history 212 games)... surprisingly, they've only met twice in the playoffs ever (they've only made the playoffs the same year 5 times). Once was in 1941... the other time was in the 2010-2011 NFC Championship game. Jay Cutler got injured in this game. Aaron Rodgers then went on to win the Super Bowl over the Steelers 2 weeks after that.
Green Bay's had a lot more success in this round than Chicago has. The Bears haven't won a Wild Card game since 1994 against the Warren Moon Vikings. They've never won a wild card game at home (0-2). The Bears haven't won a playoff game in over a decade. They haven't won a playoff game at Soldier Field since 2010.
History's on Green Bay's side. Playoff experience is definitely on Green Bay's side.
Good news for the Bears... betting on the home team has been profitable on Wild Card weekend since they expanded the playoffs to 7 teams per conference.
More good news for the Bears.
3rd meeting in 35 days.
First game in Green Bay was the tail of two halves for Chicago.
Wasn't a ton of defense played in these games.
The story of these games has been Caleb Williams in the 2nd half. Bears have been down at halftime in 4 of their last 5 games.
We know the Bears are gonna run the ball in this game.
Packers defense is not coming into this one healthy. Trevon Diggs is here also.
Chicago was able to successfully run the ball on this defense both times they saw them.
In fact, last week against Detroit... that was the first time we saw Chicago struggle to run the ball. This offense has been able to run the ball every single weekend for about 3 1/2 months.
Bears offense is fully healthy.
And the Packers run defense... it wasn't just the Bears they're having problems with. Baltimore just rushed for over 300 yards in the Tyler Huntley game.
As far as Caleb Williams... last week was not his best game.
Green Bay lives in zone coverage... they mix it up too. Cover 2, Cover 3, Cover 4, Cover 6... they run it all. Over 84% zone coverage frequency since Week 13 which is the most in the NFL. Having the WRs back against a banged up Green Bay secondary should help.
On the other side of the ball, no question Green Bay has the big advantage. Green Bay is having redzone problems... just 2 TDs in their last 12 trips. They went 0/5 in the last Chicago game.
We've already seen it. Malik Willis even played most of the 2nd game.
Both those games were played without their RT Zach Tom, who's trending towards playing. No Wicks though.
Bears defense is not 100% either. We need to know the status of Kyler Gordon because CJ Gardner-Johnson got injured in the Detroit game. Kyler's been practicing in full so it looks like he's coming back.
I don't see any reason Green Bay can't move the chains on the ground in this one.
The Bears secondary hasn't been terrible. Their weakness is stopping the run.
But they struggle to generate pressure. They do send timely blitz packages and have had some success at times... but Jordan Love has elite splits against the blitz. He has elite splits when given a clean pocket. Jordan Love, on paper, is just a terrible matchup for the Bears defense.
Weather's should be decent for throwing the ball.
I suppose the break could hurt? Against the Bears ball-hawking defense? They lead the NFL with 33 turnovers.
