In the American Conference, there is no real debate possible: there are the Kansas City Chiefs, then the other teams. It’s a whole different story on the National side, where no team has really managed to establish themselves as favorites in the first 15 weeks of the season.
Posted on December 26, 2020 at 8:00 a.m.
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At one point or another in the regular season, the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have all looked like dominant teams. But all of these formations also looked vulnerable at other times – sometimes in the same game.
That’s not to mention the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals, who appear slightly inferior to the four teams listed above, but have enough talent to cause surprises in January. Even the Washington team, with their voucher coaching and his young defense, could be difficult to eliminate provided Alex Smith is healthy.
While it hasn’t always manifested in the standings, the picture in the National Conference has been constantly changing this season. Currently, it is the Packers who occupy the first place. If they win their last two games, Sunday night against the Tennessee Titans, then on January 3 against the Bears in Chicago, they will get time off in the first playoff round. They would then only have two games at Lambeau Field to win in order to return to the Super Bowl after a 10-year wait.
Aaron Rodgers has returned to his heyday form and has more than three touchdown passes in 10 of his 14 games. All of the Packers’ top offensive players are healthy, a group made up of Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, Robert Tonyan, Allen Lazard, Jamaal Williams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. This group has shown over the past few months that they are good enough to win a Super Bowl.
That said, the Packers have had some lapses. They were completely dominated in the second half of the game they lost in Indianapolis to the Colts. They were also bad in the final 30 minutes of their victory last Saturday over the Carolina Panthers. Recall that they had also suffered a correction in good standing against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
The Bucs are on the march
Speaking of the Buccaneers, this is a team that finds its rhythm at the perfect time. The Bucs were formidable in the second half of their last two games. If they played that way for 60 minutes, they could beat anyone.
Like Rodgers at Green Bay, Brady can finally count on all his receivers. He finished last Sunday’s game against Atlanta with 390 yards, including his first touchdown pass of the season to Antonio Brown. A team that can count on solid defense and offense that includes Brady, Brown, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Rob Gronkowski obviously shouldn’t be underestimated by anyone.
PHOTO JOHN BAZEMORE, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tom Brady finished last Sunday’s game against Atlanta with 390 yards. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback can finally count on all his healthy receivers.
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But having lost both of their games to the Saints, the Buccaneers will likely have to play all of their away playoff games as top runners-up. Of course, the fact that there will be no fans in the stands, or very few, diminishes the importance of home advantage, but travel for visiting teams remains an important factor.
The Saints have just lost two in a row and no one knows if Drew Brees will be fully recovered from the rib injury that caused him to miss a month when the playoffs begin. The absence of receiver Michael Thomas will be another element to watch.
Overall, the Saints’ defense has performed well in 2020 and will need to continue to do so in January. Unlike the past 15 years, perhaps the Saints’ successes will come from their defensive stalwarts, players like Marshon Lattimore, Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Trey Hendrickson.
More weapons for Wilson
Very little has been said about the Seahawks for a month or two. Part of the reason is that Russell Wilson slowed down a lot after a great start. But like the Packers and Saints, the Seahawks are already guaranteed to be one of seven teams making the Nationals playoffs.
But if Greg Olsen and Josh Gordon come back, Wilson could be as productive as he was in the first half of the season. It will certainly be more difficult for opponents of the Seahawks to slow down DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, who have totaled 159 catches for 2,143 yards and scored 18 touchdowns so far, if both Olsen and Gordon are in uniform. With an injured foot about a month ago, Olsen is scheduled to play against the Rams on Sunday. Gordon, who has been battling personal issues for years, is still waiting to receive the green light from Roger Goodell to return to the pitch.
PHOTO TED S. WARREN, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
After a spectacular start to the season, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson slowed down in the second half of the season.
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Running back Rashaad Penny is another returning player who should improve the Seahawks’ offense. The former top pick played his first game of the season last week. Penny, who injured a knee in 2019, and Chris Carson are two running power backs. And both players should enjoy some nice openings if aerial play is producing to its full potential.
The defense won’t have to work miracles in order for the Seahawks to win the playoffs. She has had to deal with a lot of absences this season, but can currently count on most of her important players, including safety back Jamal Adams. The former New York Jets had 72 tackles, including 9.5 sacks, this season, which is the highest sack total in history for a defensive back. Note that Adams only played 11 games …
Linebackers Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright are still loyal to the position and the Seahawks tertiary is playing better after a disastrous first half of the season.
There is still a lot of football to play before it gets to this point, but if the Seahawks, Packers, Saints and Buccaneers are the four teams still alive, the second round of the Nationals will be particularly exciting.
Miguel Bujold’s predictions
Tampa Bay c. Detroit : Tampa Bay
San Francisco c. Arizona : Arizona
Miami c. Las Vegas: Las Vegas
Atlanta c. Kansas City : Kansas City
Cleveland c. Jets de New York : Cleveland
Indianapolis c. Pittsburgh : Indianapolis
Chicago c. Jacksonville : Chicago
Giants de New York c. Baltimore : Baltimore
Cincinnati c. Houston : Houston
Denver c. Chargers de Los Angeles : Chargers de Los Angeles
Caroline c. Washington : Washington
Philadelphie c. Dallas : Dallas
Rams de Los Angeles c. Seattle : Seattle
Tennessee c. Green Bay : Green Bay
Buffalo v. New England: Buffalo
Last week: 12-3
Season Total: 144-65-1
THREE MATCHES NOT TO BE MISSED
INDIANAPOLIS v. PITTSBURGH, SUNDAY, 1 p.m.
PHOTO AJ MAST, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Even though they already have 10 wins in the bank, the Indianapolis Colts, led by Frank Reich, are still not sure of making the playoffs.
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Who knew the Steelers might not win a single game when they were 11-0? Beaten three times in a row, they will have a hard time defeating the Colts, then the Browns, next Sunday. We wouldn’t give a lot of their skin if they had to start the playoffs after a five-game losing streak. Even though they already have 10 wins in the bank, the Colts are still not sure of making the playoffs. And if they finish behind the Titans in first place in their division, it could get tough. The Colts lost to the Browns and Ravens, which could hurt them in terms of the tiebreakers in the race for the best second. Sunday’s match will therefore be very important for Frank Reich and his troops.
RAMS DE LOS ANGELES c. SEATTLE, DIMANCHE, 16 h 25
PHOTO JAE C. HONG, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) and head coach Sean McVay
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As the Rams began to be taken seriously, they lost to the New York Jets. In doing so, they slipped to second in their division, behind the Seahawks. However, the Rams will have the chance to regain first place on Sunday against the same Seahawks. Since Sean McVay led them, the Rams are 5-2 against Seattle and won the first match of the season between the two teams, 23-16, on Nov. 15. The Seahawks should find an important piece for this game. Tight end Greg Olsen will likely return to the game after missing the last four games with a foot injury.
TENNESSEE c. GREEN BAY, SUNDAY, 8:20 p.m.
PHOTO WADE PAYNE, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Running back Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans can still hope to reach the 2,000 rushing yard mark, who currently has 1,679.
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There are still doubts about the Packers’ defense, which has been inconsistent this season. Coordinator Mike Pettine’s unit will undergo a good test Sunday night when the Titans visit, who still haven’t got their playoff pass. In their last five games, the Titans have scored 30, 45, 35, 31 and 46 points, averaging 35 points. Derrick Henry can still hope to reach the plateau of 2000 rushing yards, he who currently has 1679. If the Titans trust Henry to set the tone for their attack, it is of course the arm of Aaron Rodgers who will decide. the fortune of the Packers. With 69.6% successful passes, 40 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions, Rodgers could claim his third league MVP. The race will be between him and Patrick Mahomes.
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