The Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers concluded 2013 as the top-two defenses in the NFL; their stellar defensive units along with their consistent offenses helped them earn the top-two seeds in the NFC playoffs.
Despite their success, which of these four wild card teams should these top seeds be afraid to play in this new year?
1. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
UPSIDE: Their defense. The 49ers enter the postseason ranking in the top 10 against the run and the pass (fifth in total defense). Featuring Pro-Bowlers Justin Smith on the defensive line and linebackers Ahmad Brooks, NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis, the Niners have arguably the best front-seven in football. On offense, running back Frank Gore has become the focal point. The now 5-time pro bowler eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the seventh time in his nine-year career. In 12 wins this season, Gore rushed for 900 yards and all nine of his touchdowns averaging four yards per carry on 220 attempts; he rushed for only 228 yards on less than 50 carries in their losses. Basically when Gore gets the carries, San Fran gets the wins. Probably the biggest advantage they have is momentum. Not only have they won six in a row, but they’ve closed their final season in Candlestick Park. Home to five Lombardi trophies, the 49ers are saying goodbye to one of sports’ most iconic venues.
DOWNSIDE: Although the Niners have the third-ranked rushing attack, it’s not 2012. In other words, Colin Kaepernick is not Colin Kaepernick. In his breakout sophomore campaign, Kaepernick passed for 1,814 yards, 10 touchdowns and a 98.3 passer rating completing 68. 4 percent of his passes in less than a full season. This season, they rank 30th in the passing game averaging only 186.2 yards per contest. In a full season, Kaepernick has thrown only 1,383 yards more than last year; his completion percentage and passer rating have decreased and the interceptions have increased by five. A huge factor to the decline was the lack of production from the read-option. Luckily for the Niners, they will have their vertical threats Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis all healthy for January.
2. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
UPSIDE: Chip Kelly. In just his first season as head coach, Kelly has led the Eagles back into the postseason for the first time since 2010 due to the high-octane offense he has implemented from his days at the University of Oregon. Philadelphia has the number one ground game in the league rushing for 160 yards a game led by new rushing champion LeSean “Shady” Mccoy, who finished 2013 with 1,607 yards. The Eagles also have the ninth best passing game with Nick Foles; the second-year quarterback threw 27 touchdowns to only two interceptions with a 119.2 passer rating, the third highest single-season rating in NFL history.
DOWNSIDE: The Eagles have been dismal defending the pass this season finishing dead last in the league allowing 290 yards per game; they have surrounded 300-plus passing yards in seven games this year. The secondary will have their hands full once again as they face off against the number two passing team, the New Orleans Saints (averaging 307.4 yards a game).
3. GREEN BAY PACKERS
UPSIDE: A balanced “Pack Attack.” Aaron Rodgers is back in the lineup along with third-year wide-out Randall Cobb, who caught the game-winning touchdown in Chicago last week to put the Packers in the playoffs. The Packers average 266.8 yards in the air placing them sixth in the league. For the first time in several years, the running game has kept pace with the aerial attack. Led by rookie running back Eddie Lacy, the Packers finished the season with the seventh best rushing attack.
DOWNSIDE: The Packers defense has struggled against the run and pass in 2013 (25th against the run, 24th against the pass). They will face a San Francisco team that has had their number recently losing in three straight games; the Packers allowed 36.3 points per game in the previous three meetings. Having star linebacker Clay Matthews ruled out for the game Sunday will not help Green Bay’s cause either.
4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
UPSIDE: Play-calling masterminds. With coach Sean Payton back on the sideline, Drew Brees continued his passing excellence by passing over 5,000 yards for the third consecutive season. Brees’ biggest target was tight end Jimmy Graham, who returned to his 2011 form by catching 86 passes for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Saints’ passing game once again dominated even with a struggling offensive line and a 25th-ranked running game. The biggest story for the Saints this year was the drastic improvement of their defense led by first-year defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan. The Saints finished fourth in total defense after being the league’s historically-worst defense in 2012; they ranked second against the pass allowing only 194 yards through the air.
DOWNSIDE: No more “Home Sweet Dome.” Because they are the sixth seed, the Saints will not be playing in the Superdome this postseason. The Saints’ road struggles have been well-documented throughout the regular season as they finished 3-5 away from the Big Easy. Drew Brees has 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions averaging 275 yards passing, a 63.8 completion percentage and a passer rating of 84.5; he has 27 touchdowns to only 3 picks averaging 340 yards passing, a 73.6 completion percentage and a staggering 126.3 passer rating at home in New Orleans. Debacles at Seattle, St. Louis and New York along with heartbreaking defeats at New England and Carolina have critics wondering can the Saints even compete anywhere outside of the cozy comforts of an indoor facility.
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