Playoffs are upon us and we are all feeling pretty good about our Boys chances this year. They have secured the #1 seed, and Home field advantage throughout the playoffs which i would argue has turned into a true home field advantage. With the Superbowl being held in Houston what a fantastic opportunity to give us Dallas Fans a fantastic gift practically in our backyard here in the first quarter of 2017 ( well you guys since i live in NY LOL ) ! I decided to give my breakdown of how i see the NFC Teams:
#1 Seed - Dallas Cowboys 13-3
Rankings:
5th in the NFL in Scoring = 26.3 PPG
5th in the NFL in Points Allowed = 19.1PPG
Team Rushing Yards - 2,396
Team Passing Yards - 3,631
+5 Turnover margin
Leaders:
Dak Prescott - 3667 yards 23 Td's and 4 Picks Sacked 25 times + 282 rushing yards & 6td's
Zeke Elliott - 1631 yards + 15 Td's + 32 rec 363 yards 1td = if didn't rest would have had 2000 all purpose yards for sure easily.
Sean Lee - 145 tackles - Only Player over 100
Benson Mayowa - 6 sacks
David Irving - 4 FF ( 3 vs the pack alone )
Last 5
3 wins out of last 5 although last game was a giveaway for sure !
Reputation: Offensive Ball Control Bully
Strengths:
This team is a Offensive Ball Control Machine they are very balanced with the best offensive line and best young running back in the game. Another strength of this team that does not get enough recognition is the defense it is not riddled with stars like the offense, one could argue Lee is the only stud but make no mistake they play together and swarm to the ball. What they do well is the most important thing you can do our D keeps teams out of the endzone. I would argue and the stats agree we are the most balanced team in the NFC East conference at the moment pick your poisen focus on Zeke, the Wr will kill you, focus on Dak Zeke will Eat you alive. Having a healthy Romo as a backup is a luxury no other team has right now in the playoffs !
Weaknesses:
Young QB going into the playoffs! yes dak has had arguably the best season a rookie Qb can have but the playoffs are a different monster, i believe he will be fine but until we see realistically this is a major unknown. The Bend don't break style type of defense is gut wrenching to Cowboy fans just look at any game thread from this season if you don't believe me. There are a lot of Elite Qb's in the playoffs this year so hopefully the O can continue to aid the D. Bottom Line we are built really well for the playoffs but anything can happen.
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#2 Seed Atlanta Falcons 11-5
Rankings:
1st in the NFL in Scoring = 33.8 PPG ( Only team to average 30+ppg this year )
27th in the NFL points allowed = 25.4 PPG
Team Rushing = 1928 yards ( 2nd to the Cowboys )
Team Passing = 4725 yards
+11 Turnover margin ( Shocking )
Leaders:
Matt Ryan 4944 yards 38 td's & 7 Picks he was sacked 37 times ( has thrown Td's to 13 different players )
Julio Jones 83 catches 1409 yards 6 td's ( 1-300 yard game and he missed the last 5 games WOW )
DE -Vic Beasley - 15.5 Sacks + 6 Forced Fumbles
MLB -Deion Jones - 108 tackles 1FF and 3 Picks
SS - Keanu Neal - 106 tackles + 5 FF
Last 5 Games:
Won 4 out of last 5 ( every loss they have had has been by 1 score except for one vs the eagles ) Last 5 games have been without Julio Jones
Reputation:
One of the most high powered offenses in history.
Strengths:
Running stats shocked me they almost had 2000 rushing yards as a team i knew freeman was a beast but coleman added 500 yards also. there offense can blow anyone out and the addition of sanu from the bengals gave julio jones a replacement for roddy white. They have 8 players with 20 catches or more and 1 other with 19 they spread the ball around they are a well oiled machine on O. I honestly kept waiting for Matty Ice to collapse probably like everyone else but it just hasn't happened. Like the cowboys they keep every game close. Offensive wise closest to the Cowboys as far as overall balance, and i would say they are more explosive. Key is keeping them on the sidelines.
Weaknesses:
Defense has 1 playmaker at each level, Beasley, Jones, and Neal the team have played better recently but they are 17th vs the run in yards allowed and 28th vs the pass yards allowed. They do not have a true elite corner to go heads up with a Dez, Jones or OBJ type receiver. If Matty Ice has a rough day they could be in trouble since there D is not the type to win the game without the O's help.
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#3 Seed Seattle Seahawks 10-5-1
Rankings:
18th in the NFL in Scoring = 22.1 PPG
3rd in NFL Points Allowed = 18.2 PPG
Team Rushing Yards = 1591 yards
Team Passing Yards = 4124 yards
+1 Turnover Margin ( Actually would have expected this to be better )
Leaders:
Russell Wilson 4219 yards 21 td's and 11picks 259 rushing yards 1Td sacked 41 times
Wr- Baldwin 94 catches 1128 yards 7td's
Te- Grahem 65 catches 923 yards 6td's
MLB- Wagner 167 tackles 4.5 sacks 1 pick ( beast )
OLB- KJ Wright 126 tackles 4 sacks 1FF
DE- Frank Clark (WHO) 10 sacks
DE- Cliff Avril - 11.5 sacks and 5FF
Key Losses - Tyler Lockett and Earl Thomas
Last 5 Games:
3 for 5 in last 5 games
Reputation:
LOB ( Legion of Boom )
Strengths: Defense is how this team wins period. They have the luxury of at the very least 2 elite players at every level of the D. I mean come on when you have wagner, cam, bennet, avril, sherman, wright, thomas, whoever Clark is - i am sure seattle fans know of him well, you are gonna win some games where the O doesn't show up.
Weaknesses: The loss of Thomas and Lockett will hurt a lot. Lockett consistently gives them great field position as well as has the ability to instantly change field position from bad to good in the return game. Not to mention he stretches the field as a Wr. Thomas is the bigger loss IMO he changes the way the defense can play thomas is a freak safety and his loss changes how Cam plays no backup can replace Thomas he is that good. Seahawks Offensive line is poor to put it kindly Wilson has been sacked 41 times and there running game has struggled compared to years past. There offense has big games and comes back the next week and lays eggs so i would say they are sporadic on O and that could hinder them if they are forced to play from behind but there D could keep them in those type games. Not having the friendly confines of there home field could hurt them in the coming weeks as well. Losing Thomas could take a letter away from the LOB.
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#4 Seed Green Bay Packers 10-6
Rankings:
4th in the NFL in scoring = 27PPG
21st in the NFL in points allowed = 24.2
Team Rushing Yards = 1701 yards
Team Passing Yards = 4199 yards
+8 Turnover Margin
Leaders:
Aaron Rodgers 4438 yards 40 Td's 7 picks 369 yards rushing 4td's sacked 35 times
Jordy Nelson 97 receptions 1257 yards 14 td's
Davonte Adams 75 catches 997 yards 12 td's
Morgan Burnett - 93 tackles 3 sacks 2 picks
Haha Clinton dix - 80 tackles .5 sacks 5 picks
Last 5 Games:
Won Last 6 to win there division in the final week. 3 of the 6 wins were vs current playoff teams.
Reputation:
As long as you have Aaron Rodgers
Strengths:
Aaron Rodgers got hot at the right time and is on fire right now. Nelson and Adams are redzone machines and have 26 Td's between them. There Offense will determine where they go, Ty Montgomery is a baller he has done a great job IMO playing the RB position and with his abilities at Wr makes catching the ball easy for him. With Rodgers at the helm the pack will always have a chance pains me to say that.
Weaknesses:
Defense they are average at best and they will give up points. If teams can keep Rodgers on the sideline and get them out of lambeau they can be beaten. 4 out of there 6 loses were away games so get them away from lambeau say hello to a different team. Have to throw this in there Dallas beat them in Lambeau hahahaha sorry just had to put that in there.
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#5 Seed New York Giants 11-5
Rankings:
26th in the NFL in Points Scored = 19.4 PPG
2nd in the NFL in Points Allowed = 17.8 PPG
Team Rushing yards = 1412 yards
Team Passing yards = 3879 yards
-2 Turnover Margin ( expected this to be better )
Leaders:
Eli Manning 4027 yards 26 td's 16 picks
OBJ - 101 receptions 1367 yards 10 td's
Shepperd - 65 receptions 683 yards 8 td's
Landon Collins - 125 tackles 4 sacks 5 picks ( Dude Beasted this year )
DRC - 6 picks
Damon Harrison - 86 tackles 2.5 sacks ( but his run defense says everything dude is a monster )
Vernon - 8.5 sacks but pressure's all year and phenomenal vs the run
JPP - 7 sacks ( and has been hurt )
Last 5 games:
Won 3 of last 5 ( including knocking the skins out that is classic NFC East Love it )
Reputation:
Defense is a nightmare to face !
Strengths: Defense Defense Defense - This D was built to deal with the Cowboys and is 2 for 2 vs us ! so lets put aside our Cowboy fandom and give credit where it is due this D they constructed is really really good. As much as teams fans complain about the cowboys saying we are only good because of our o- line and zeke same can be said for the Giants D without them the giants would be going nowhere. Collins and Snacks are monsters add that to JPP, Vernon, DRC, Jenkins and an underrated player in Casillas these boys are ballin. Greenbay and the rest of the NFC better watch out Giants are a tough out
Weaknesses:
Giants O and Running Game - they have struggled to score, and struggled to maintain drives. Eli has had a poor season stat wise they just look really bad on Offense. Perkins looks to be running better then jennings ( i never like jennings personally ) but there run game strikes no fear in anyone. 2 guys score the majority of there Td's OBJ and Shepperd. Cruz is done but this is not what makes this team go the Defense does. Question is what happens if a team puts up more then 20 points on them can the Offense keep up !
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#6 Seed Detroit Lions 9-7
Rankings:
20th in the NFL in Scoring = 21.6 PPG
13th in the NFL in Points Allowed = 22.4 PPG
Team Rushing yards = 1310 yards
Team Passing yards = 4110 yards
-1 Turnover Margin
Leaders:
Matthew Stafford - 4327 yards 24 td's 10 picks 207 rushing yards 2 td's 37 times sacked
Golden Tate 91 receptions 1077 yards 4td's
Whitehead 132 tackles
Hyder 8 sacks
Last 5 games:
Lost 3 of last 5 including last 3 in a row
Reputation:
Cardiac Kids
Strengths:
Resilient like there reputation says cardiac kids they hang in games and have a very good passing game. Ebron, Boldin, Tate, Jones make a good quartet of receivers. Zach Zenner has begun to shine a little people do not realize this guy had like 3 years in a row with 2000 yards rushing, while it was for a small school still an impressive feat. Bottom line is this team will go as far as the right arm of Stafford.
Weaknesses:
Injuries to Stafford's hand, Slay's Hamstring, and the loss of Theo Riddick might be to much to overcome. Riddick also is the 5th in receptions as well as the leading rusher. Whitehead cannot do this alone on D and we all saw what happened when Slay was out Dez had a field day. Add all these mounting problems with a 3 game losing streak and bad loss to GreenBay to lose the division and playing from here on out on the road. things do not look good for the Lions.
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Round 1
Lions @ Seattle - I think the Lions will go to Seattle and give the Seahawks a small scare because Stafford can throw to a lot of weapons and the loss of Thomas will provide some opportunities deep. Seattle at home + Lions lack of talent on D in the end will be to much for them to overcome. Seattle moves on
Giants @ Green Bay - Giants should have been a higher seed i know division winner and all but they are gonna really make life hard on the Packers OBJ will make his usual play or 2 and Nelson and Adams will struggle more then usual. Aaron is gonna throw like 40-50 times in a loss - Giants D Prevails
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Round 2
Giants @ Cowboys - This is going to be the game of the year for NFC East fans ! Giants D will do what they have done to try to shut the boys down. Dak and company need to be ready for this game, the coaches need to figure this out they have plenty of tape. Cowboys will be getting rather healthy finally with the return of 99% of our D-line and Mo Claiborne. This will be the healthiest we have been all season not making any excuses for the first 2 loses we were beaten straight up. 2007 will be avenged and we will get one vs the giants BUT it will be a knockdown,dragout typical NFC East battle with everything on the line 1 score win. Cowboys move on
Seahawks @ Falcons - Falcons will be tough at home - the loss of Thomas will really hurt The Seahawks pass defense. Falcons lost by 2 at Seattle earlier this year and i remember a really bad missed PI call on Sherman vs Jones - No Thomas No homefield advantage for Seattle --- Falcons move on
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Round 3
Falcons @ Cowboys - Falcons come in ready to fly but are delayed on the tarmac by a Cowboys Offense that does not let Matty Ice on the field. Long Drives finished off by Td's not FG's cause Matty Ice to press which plays into the hands of this D. Falcons will get a quick score somewhere in this game but Zeke and this O-line will wear down that falcon D. Dallas D bends severely but we win by 2 scores.
Dallas Reps the NFC in Houston
I will say this
Toughest game these playoffs will be the Giants No Doubt and if we happen to lose that one the Giants will be going to the superbowl to represent the NFC.
Thanks Bermy
