On February 1st, 2015, the NFL will crown its 49th Super Bowl winner. All of the hard work and fierce competition will have paid off for one franchise and a celebration of epic proportions will commence. But for now, eight teams remain in the hunt for the most coveted trophy in sports, and the path to Super Bowl XLIX has been full of twists and turns.
Storylines Abound in the Divisional Round
The Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots face off Saturday at 4:35 p.m. in a game that is sure to have even the most confident Pats fans sweating. The fact is, while Brady’s Bunch has been the cream of the AFC crop this year, the Ravens have been something of a playoff kryptonite for the Super-team.
Indeed, the Ravens have taken two of the last three playoff contests versus the Pats, and a hungry Baltimore team will look to do the same when they make the trip to Gillette Stadium. While a victory at this juncture would have to be considered an upset, the Ravens are no strangers to thriving as underdogs. They won ten games this year, an impressive total, but certainly not at the top of the heap. The last time the Ravens were in the playoffs they were coming off a ten win season as well, and that resulted in a Super Bowl championship. It’s hard to bet against Brady and Belichick, especially at home, but this may be the toughest test they’ve faced all year.
The Carolina Panthers have certainly shut a lot of people up lately, haven’t they? Saturday night will give them the opportunity to silence even their most vocal doubters when they travel to Seattle to take on the top-seeded Seahawks in the hostile territory that is CenturyLink Field. The Panthers and Seahawks have some history in common. The Panthers went 7-8-1 this year in a weak division, and proceeded to improbably win a post-season game against an eleven win team, the Arizona Cardinals.
In January 2011, their opponents, the Seahawks, accomplished something very similar. The ‘Hawks managed to win the NFC West during the 2010 season, in spite of a 7-9 record, and pulled off a stunning upset against their eleven-game-winning opponents, the New Orleans Saints during Wildcard Weekend. Certainly a familiar scenario, but ultimately one that has no bearing on Saturday night’s match up. It will be very difficult for the Panthers to move the ball against Seattle’s top-ranked defense, especially with the noise provided by the twelfth man. Any team that plays a post-season game in Seattle this season will be a serious underdog. This is the toughest test of Cam Newton’s career.
On Sunday at one p.m., the Dallas Cowboys travel to Green Bay to take on the NFC North champion Packers. Whether this game should even be happening is up for much debate in the wake of last week’s fiasco in Dallas, but alas, here we are. Put simply, this could be a very high-scoring affair. Two teams that butter their bread on offense will clash in a game that features two MVP candidates at quarterback, two of the best runners in the game, and elite pass-catchers on either sideline. There is ample firepower on both teams and the points could rack up quickly in this one.
There may not be a unique shared history or common thread like the aforementioned Saturday games, but this one sells itself. These are two of the most visible franchises, not just in the NFL, but in all of professional sports and any time they face off the game will be highly publicized. That’s especially true as it relates to Aaron Rodgers, the likely MVP of the 2014 season, and Tony Romo, perhaps the most scrutinized passer in the game. Will “America’s Team” continue their improbable and fortuitous winning ways when they face-off with one of the league’s most celebrated franchises? This isn’t a game to miss.
For the first time since signing with the Denver Broncos in 2012, Peyton Manning will face his old club the Indianapolis Colts in a playoff game. Boom, you’re sold. No more information necessary.
Okay, but here’s some anyway. This is a re-match of the first Sunday night game of the season, where the Broncos picked up the win after a furious Colts comeback came up just short. Manning has faced off with the team he led to two Super Bowl games twice now, leading to an even split. This is the rubber match. Will the Broncos continue to lean heavily on C.J. Anderson and the running game, or will Manning return to his gun-slinging ways? Will his successor Andrew Luck pick up the biggest win of his NFL career and propel his team to the AFC title game, like Manning did so many times in the past? The Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback of the the past and future meet head-to-head in one of the most important games of the year. Admit it, you’re stoked about this one.
This should be an exciting weekend of football. There are many stories to watch as we approach the most important time of the season, and a handful of great games on the slate. Enjoy folks! Thanks for reading.
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