Status: 01/13/2022 11:48 a.m
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The playoffs start in the NFL. From Saturday evening (01/15/2022) until the night from Monday to Tuesday (German time) it is all about moving into the next round. Who’s in? Who do you have to watch out for? Who are the favourites? And how old is Tom Brady now? Everything you need to know.
14 of the 32 teams in the NFL can still hope for the championship. Two of them, namely the Green Bay Packers (NFC) and the Tennessee Titans (AFC), have secured first-round byes as the top teams in their respective conferences. For everyone else, the Wildcard Games are coming up this weekend.
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Which team will play Tom Brady?
The Philadelphia Eagles are the seventh and last team to make the playoffs from the NFC. That is worthy of all honor – the 2018 Super Bowl winner had been predicted a transitional season for this season. That the team around the young quarterback Jalen Hurts even reached the championship finals is a great success. And of course Philadelphia also has a chance against Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, especially since the 2021 champion will have to do without Chris Godwin (injured) and Antonio Brown (missed) in the playoffs, two of their best wide receivers.
But the truth is also true: In their 17 games this season, the Eagles have played exactly six games against other teams that are now also in the playoffs. All six were lost. Coach Nick Sirianni has unnerved many opponents with his running game — no team in the NFL ran for more yards that season than Philadelphia. But against the defending champion, that should be difficult: The Bucs defense is one of the best defensive formations in the league against the run. And then the Eagles have to stop Tom Brady, who at the age of 44 leads the NFL with 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns.
Who is the worst outsider?
Die NFL-Playoffs
Image: WDR
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The Eagles could also be mentioned here, but an upset in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs is even less likely. The Steelers somehow wormed their way into the playoffs, despite lacking in offensive performance most of the time; and thus have given their quarterback routine “Big” Ben Roethlisberger an extension of the career. It is certain that the now 39-year-old will end his career after this season. Roethlisberger is far from previous performances and thus limits the attacking play of the Steelers enormously. Pittsburgh has only surpassed 30 points once this season.
Opponents Kansas City managed the latter nine times – and that despite the fact that Patrick Mahomes and Co. had started the season slowly before picking up speed. At 36:10 on Boxing Day, the Chiefs didn’t give Pittsburgh a chance, because the defense has meanwhile found its way into the game better. If Pittsburgh can even make this game close, it would be a big surprise. “Big Ben” also sees it this way: “Of 14 teams we’re probably number 14. We don’t have a chance. So let’s just go in and have fun.”
What is the “top game”?
Aside from Chiefs vs. Steelers and Buccaneers vs. Eagles, all other games are pretty open. The encounter between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers would definitely deserve this title. With quarterback Dak Prescott, who is finally reasonably healthy, the Cowboys are capable of real fireworks this year and have already pulled out a number of opponents with their very aggressive defense around rookie Micah Parsons. With coach Kyle Shanahan and their very variable running game, the 49ers are an opponent that has to be defeated first.
In addition, the division duel between the NFC West teams from Arizona and Los Angeles has possibly the greatest appeal:
The Arizona Cardinals looked like a real title contender in the first half of the season, but then showed very inconsistent performances after seven wins at the start. The performance of the Los Angeles Rams also fluctuated throughout the season. to finally win the championship. In a direct duel, however, one of the two will have to give up and will be angry afterwards that he did not exploit his potential more consistently in the regular season to prevent this duel in the first playoff round. The slight favorites here are probably the Rams.
And otherwise?
The New England Patriots are back after a year out of the playoffs. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones put in a season that not many would have credited him with. Together with head coach mastermind Bill Belichick, the uncomfortable Patriots defense and a grueling running game, New England is extremely uncomfortable for every opponent. Even if the offense hasn’t been quite as constant lately. The first round is against the Buffalo Bills – they’re in pretty good shape right now and have home field advantage on their side.
Spectacular, more spectacular, Cincinnati Bengals! Quarterback Joe Burrow has four highly skilled pass receivers in his three receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd and running back Joe Mixon who have proven they can hurt opponents immensely. Thanks in large part to this offensive, Cincinnati are back in the playoffs for the first time in six years and are finally looking to celebrate their first win in the finals since 1991. The chances are not bad against the Las Vegas Raiders, even if Maxx Crosby is one of the most successful “quarterback hunters” of the season.
Those: sportschau.de
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