Let us begin with a Divisional Round fun fact you’ve probably heard a thousand times this week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Tom Brady is older than the head coaches of the other three remaining NFC playoff teams. Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan are both 42 and Los Angeles’s Sean McVay turns 36 next week. Brady is 44.
Also, while we’re at it, let’s take a moment and say a prayer for Washington Football Team supporters. It’s gotta be tough thinking back to when LaFleur, Shanahan and McVay were all assistants on the coaching staff back in 2013, yet the team decided to hire Jay Gruden as head coach and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now onto this weekend.
Both NFC games happen to be rematches of Week 3 contests in which Aaron Rodgers used a clutch two-minute drill offence to get Mason Crosby in position to hit a walk-off 51-yarder in an exciting 30-28 Packers win, and Matthew Stafford tossed four TDs in a 34-24 Rams victory.
Can Brady advance to his 15th career conference championship game? Can Rodgers beat the 49ers in the post-season for the first time? Do the Rams and 49ers have what it takes to knock off the two MVP frontrunners?
Here’s a closer look at the two NFC Divisional Round matchups.
*All betting figures below current as of publication.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1)
Kickoff: Saturday, Jan. 22 @ 8:15 p.m. ET/ 5:15 p.m. PT
Betting lines: Packers favoured by 5.5 | O/U: 47
Can 49ers expose holes in Packers defence?
Green Bay’s run defence leaves much to be desired, allowing 4.7 yards per carry which was fourth highest in the NFL. We’ve seen the 49ers revert to their powerful rushing attack in a multitude of ways, whether it’s WR or Deebo Samuel in the backfield or one of San Fran’s actual running backs.
The 49ers must have success on the ground to secure an upset by chewing up clock and keeping the ball out of Rodgers’s hands. The Packers led the NFL in overall and home time of possession this season. It’s tough envisioning the 49ers winning if Green Bay controls time of possession.
Rodgers is 0-3 in playoff games against the 49ers in his career, the most recent of which saw his defence give up 285 yards and four TDs on the ground. There’s nothing the reigning MVP could’ve done about that aspect of that game and it makes one ponder if it’s something festering in the back of the superstar QB’s mind?
The 49ers essentially had a perfect opening drive against the Cowboys last week. If they can avoid falling behind in the first half, this could end up being a tough style matchup for Green Bay’s defence.
On the other hand, Jimmy G is prone to critical errors and turnovers which bodes well for Green Bay’s solid pass rush, which is why the blocking schemes and execution on run plays is so vital for the 49ers’ chances.
San Francisco all too frequently play undisciplined and take untimely penalties as we saw last week in their dramatic win over the Cowboys. They can’t afford to move the chains for Rodgers or negate big plays of their own this week.
Matchup to watch: *Bosa vs. *Bahktiari
The asterisks mean the health status of each player is likely to impact their snap count and/or effectiveness come Saturday.
Packers left tackle David Bahktiari returned from ACL surgery in Week 18 and tested his knee on limited snaps. Bahktiari was one of if not the best pass blocking left tackle in football prior to his injury. Allowing Rodgers a fraction of a second more time in the pocket can be the difference between an incomplete pass and a touchdown to Davante Adams.
Nick Bosa left last week’s game with a concussion and has been in protocol much of this week, but if he’s ready to go he could have a huge impact. Bosa has 11 combined tackles, one fumble recovery and a pair of sacks in three career games against Green Bay.
Whenever Bosa lines up at right end he’ll meet Bahktiari in a matchup he has won in the past.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (4) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2)
Kickoff: Sunday, Jan. 23 @ 3 p.m. ET/ Noon PT
Betting lines: Buccaneers favoured by 2.5 | O/U: 48
Can Donald, Rams take advantage of Bucs’ o-line injuries
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: All the defence needs to do is get pressure on Brady and they can win.
Ah yes, the cliché formula to beat Brady rears its head again this weekend only this time there’s reason to think Brady will be fighting an uphill battle against the Rams.
The biggest concern is the statuses of All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs and Pro Bowl centre Ryan Jensen. Both offensive linemen sustained ankle injuries against the Eagles and Brady was sacked four times after being sacked just twice in the previous month. Wirfs and Jensen practised Friday but were limited.
Tampa only gained 35 rushing yards back in Week 3. Brady actually led his team with 14 yards and a touchdown that week and he also threw for 432 yards on a season-high 55 attempts. Leonard Fournette’s potential return to the lineup won’t be as meaningful to the run game if the o-line is significantly compromised, although his usage running routes out of the backfield is something the Rams will need to account for.
Consider this: Jimmy G had plenty of success against the Rams in the regular-season finale by getting rid of the ball in under 2.5 seconds on average, which mostly eliminated the threat of L.A.’s pass rush. Brady is a master of quick-release passes.
Matchup to watch: Donald vs. Jensen
This is the battle within the battle. Aaron Donald often lines up opposite the opposing team’s centre and if Jensen’s ankle limits his agility or power then Donald could find himself in the backfield even quicker than he usually does.
Either way, it’s going to be a dogfight between those two and any other big boys mixing it up in the trenches. Donald had one of his team’s three sacks against Brady in Week 3.
Will Donald providing pressure up the middle combined with Von Miller’s speed on the outside end up being a perfect storm to thwart the defending champs? On paper, it’s a promising matchup when you factor in those injuries. Donald needs to maintain his composure – no punches or throat grabbing – and avoid 15-yard penalties or possible ejection after things got heated last week.
The offence will also need to hold up its end of the bargain, of course.
NFC Divisional Round Preview: Bucs, Brady cope with injured o-line
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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