The AFC Playoff Discussion

[iknowftbll]

The playoff seeds:

Patriots: 12-4

Broncos: 12-4

Steelers: 11-5

Colts: 11-5

Bengals: 10-5-1

Ravens: 10-6

The Patriots seem to be overwhelming favorites, and I suppose I can see why. But anyone who is not a football illiterate will not rule out any of these 6 teams reaching the Super Bowl.

I consider the Bengals the weakest of the AFC slate, and most likely to get trounced in Wild Card Weekend. Then again, the Bengals responded to the dialogue before the Broncos game, and they are sure to hear more of the same leading into this playoff game. If they respond in like manner they may be okay this time around, too.

The Ravens @ Steelers game will be hard to predict. You never know what you're going to get with these two teams. The Steelers may be without Bell, too. That's a huge blow to their offense if he is unable to go after hyperextending his leg in last night's game.

The Patriots mailed it in yesterday, so I put zero stock into that loss. The Pats are a hot team right now and it is easy to see why many consider them prohibitive favorites. As for our Broncos, they really needed that bye week. Every team has some cuts and bruises right now, and the Broncos are no different. But they have a much healthier team this time around than that mash ward that made a Super Bowl run last year.

Looking forward to wild card weekend. Partly for watching the games, but mostly to see who the Broncos will end up playing in the divisional round. It'll be on of the Steelers, Colts, or Bengals. Regardless of which one comes to Denver, I think the Broncos can handle them.

Go Broncos!

 

[Broncos6482]

I don't have too much faith in the Colts. They can't run the ball and they can't stop the run, and Luck hasn't played that well the past few games. I think they're ripe for an upset and the way the Bengals can run with Hill, I wouldn't be surprised if they pull it off.

Steelers and Ravens could go either way, but I like the Ravens chances if Bell can't go for the Steelers. Ngata's return could be a huge boost to the defense as well.

 

[cdumler7]

I don't have too much faith in the Colts. They can't run the ball and they can't stop the run, and Luck hasn't played that well the past few games. I think they're ripe for an upset and the way the Bengals can run with Hill, I wouldn't be surprised if they pull it off.

Steelers and Ravens could go either way, but I like the Ravens chances if Bell can't go for the Steelers. Ngata's return could be a huge boost to the defense as well.

I'm actually thinking the Colts win and the Ravens win in the Wild Card round. The Bengals got beat up big time in that last game with Gresham looking like he will be out for the week and AJ Green should just shut it down for the season. Plus I still don't trust Dalton even though he had a decent game against us to actually produce. I don't have much faith in the Colts either but this is a picking between two teams that usually crumble in these situations.

The Steelers without that huge threat of the run if Bell is out really limits them offensively. Plus that defense just scares no one in my opinion so I just think the Ravens show up big in this one. Plus I actually really do hope they win as I think the Ravens are one of the few teams that just drive Brady mad. I don't know what they do but especially come playoff time they know how to rattle him. Plus they have a MLB that can actually cover TE's very well and could shut down Gronk.

Also anybody heard how Nate Solder is doing? If he is out for the playoffs for the Patriots then I honestly don't view them as the favorite to win the AFC. Losing your Left Tackle would be a huge blow for them.

 

[PatsFan2003]

I think the Patriots have come down to earth a bit after their fantastic November. They still might be seen as the favorite from the AFC to make it to the Superbowl but an upset is absolutely possible. I don't know what to think of Denver and Pittsburgh is the definite Dark Horse. I can't see the Bengals or Indy jumping through all the hoop to get there.

 

[Broncos6482]

What happened to Solder? Did he get hurt yesterday?

 

[cdumler7]

I think the Patriots have come down to earth a bit after their fantastic November. They still might be seen as the favorite from the AFC to make it to the Superbowl but an upset is absolutely possible. I don't know what to think of Denver and Pittsburgh is the definite Dark Horse. I can't see the Bengals or Indy jumping through all the hoop to get there.

The Broncos definitely needed this bye week. The defense is just pretty darn banged up especially in our linebacking core where we have 2 of the 3 spots occupied by Undrafted guys who are more Special Teams players than actual starters. Hopefully we are getting back the guy who has been the heart of our defense this year in Brandon Marshall.

I also think this week off should help our offense as obviously nobody quite knows what is going on with Peyton lately. Maybe a few days off for his arm and a chance more just to clear his head from this past month will be good for him.

Honestly for the AFC I do think we are the much deeper of the two conferences in the sense that I can see any of the 6 teams emerging. In the NFC I only see Seattle, Dallas, Detroit, and maybe Green Bay depending on Rodgers and how hurt he is.

 

[Broncos6482]

The AFC really is wide open this year. The Patriots are for sure the favorites but I could see them, the Broncos, the Steelers, or the Ravens making the Super Bowl this year. And cdumler I agree with you the Patriots really seem to have issues with the Ravens, I wouldn't mind them knocking off the Steelers and getting a shot at the Patriots in the divisional round. Plus if they did knock of the Patriots we would be hosting the AFC Championship (provided we get past the divisional round obviously) with a chance at revenge against the Ravens for 2012.

 

[Broncos6482]

My ideal playoff scenario would go like this:

Bengals beat the Colts
Ravens beat the Steelers

We take revenge on the Bengals
Ravens knock off the Patriots

We take revenge on the Ravens and repeat as AFC champs.

 

[cdumler7]

What happened to Solder? Did he get hurt yesterday?

He left the game with a knee injury. Not sure how serious or anything as you know the Patriots like to keep pretty quiet about injuries as to not give an opponent an advantage.

 

[cdumler7]

My ideal playoff scenario would go like this:

Bengals beat the Colts
Ravens beat the Steelers

We take revenge on the Bengals
Ravens knock off the Patriots

We take revenge on the Ravens and repeat as AFC champs.

The Bengals/Colts game I honestly don't care one way or the other. Yeah it would be nice to avenge the Bengals loss but at the same time it is the Bengals so no sure it would have the same feel as some of the other revenge situations. Plus always nice to rub it in the Colts Owners' face that he is the one that let Peyton go and yet here we have Peyton bouncing his team from the playoffs.

Now really the Patriots or Ravens I would love nothing more than to get revenge. Ravens more so than Patriots at this point as the Patriots really haven't eliminated us from the playoffs as of late unless you want to count them beating Tebow. We all knew what was going to happen in that game. So yes beating the Ravens would be oh so sweet to get back to the Super Bowl.

Of course it would be great to complete the Revenge tour with beating the Seahawks in the Super Bowl!

 

[BigKen]

From my overstuffed recliner, I'll predict the Wildcards this weekend......


Colts over the Bengals. Colts always play well at home and like the Seahawks, have fans who can make a lot of noise in Lucas Oil Stadium. While the Bengals have cranked it up against the Broncos, they haven't been able to do much away from home. Luck has a super day and the Bengals are done.


Steelers club the Ravens. There's no love lost between these two and this one could be a bloodbath. Steelers have too much offense for the diminished Ravens defense. Steelers get off fast, go up by 21 and win by 14. Ravens just cannot mount a big offensive punch at the end of a game.


#3 Steelers vs #2 Broncos
#4 Colts vs #1 Patriots


Steelers v Broncos may appear to be a tossup but I think the Broncos want it more and will be going to Foxboro to play the AFCCG against the Patriots.

 

[PatsFan2003]

He left the game with a knee injury. Not sure how serious or anything as you know the Patriots like to keep pretty quiet about injuries as to not give an opponent an advantage.

Yep. I think he and Lafell got hurt but how much they got hurt is, of course, a State secret. It seems Belichick also had to talk to the trainer about something. At first I thought it was the flu but then I wondered if he had a mini-heart attack or something ala John Fox.

OMFG!!!

The Pats need the bye too.

 

[PatsFan2003]

I think the Ravens are truely overrated this year. Sure Flacco when he's on can be great and the Baltimore D is always decent but I think they will lose to the Steelers even without Bell.

They certainly have no fear of playing on the road or Foxboro for that matter but I think the current Patriot are better than any of Patriot teams they've faced in the past.

 

[cdumler7]

I think the Ravens are truely overrated this year. Sure Flacco when he's on can be great and the Baltimore D is always decent but I think they will lose to the Steelers even without Bell.

They certainly have no fear of playing on the road or Foxboro for that matter but I think the current Patriot are better than any of Patriot teams they've faced in the past.

I think the Ravens are one of the more up and down teams of the year. I would say other than the 2nd Steelers game where they lost by 20 all of the Raven losses could have gone either way. The biggest reason I think the Ravens can have some success in the playoffs is they are a team that can run and stop the run. Usually come playoff time if you can do those two things then you can have some success.

 

[Orange Crush]

I'm thinking a repeat of the AFC Championship game this year but this time in Foxboro and this time a different result.. I would love nothing more to be wrong but I'm just being real. New England is a tough team to beat in Foxboro.

 

[randymon]

To me anyway, all the teams have the players,coachs and potential to get hot and go to the big game. Obviously Steelers could have trouble without Bell. What worries me the most with Denver, is not the talent but the weather. I think Peyton of all the Qb's, will have the bigger handicap in bad conditions. Let's hope for decent weather for Peyton or a dominant run game if otherwise.

 

[iknowftbll]

I think when your team has a first round bye, the most exciting thing about wild card weekend is finding out who is coming to town to play your team. The Broncos can find out as early as Saturday night if the Steelers beat the Ravens. If the Ravens win that one, the Broncos will have to watch the Bengals @ Colts game to find out who's next. The only team playing this weekend the Broncos can't face in the divisional round is the Ravens, because the lowest seed will always play the highest.

So here are some thoughts on the possibilities:

Steelers: The Steelers are surprisingly the Broncos most frequent playoff opponent. The two teams have traded blows in the playoffs over the years, with the Broncos taking the most recent game by a count of 29-23. We all remember that game, right? The Steelers are perhaps the most complete team and most likely opponent for the Broncos. They have the most playoff experience of the four teams playing this weekend, and seem to know how to get it done. The injury to Bell is worth watching, but make no mistake: they are still a very good team without him. Despite the Steelers appearing to be the best of potential opponents, they are also a pretty nice matchup for the Broncos. Their defense has risen to the occasion, and they are solid in run defense. But they can be exploited through the air. Their offense is the stronger unit, with Roethlisberger setting a personal record in passing yards (4,952) and tying a previous high water mark in TDs at 32. His ability to move around and extend plays is both a strength and a liability. Keeping the play alive is great, but he doesn't scramble like a Russell Wilson so much as dance around, and that could be fatal against the speed on this Broncos defense. Still, this team knows how to win and would be a very formidable opponent in the Divisional Round.

Colts: The ratings people would cream their panties over this one. What could be better than Manning facing down his old team in the playoffs? While I don't consider them as formidible a team as the Steelers, there are some things about this Colts team that have me nervous. Luck has had a great season and has helped the Colts offense lead the league in passing. Like Roethlisberger he is able to extend plays. Unlike Roethlisberger, Luck actually still gains forward progress on his attemps (64 for 273 yards compared to 33 attempts for 27 yards, though some of those were likely kneeldowns). The Colts patchwork ground game would have its work cut out for it against the Broncos defense, forcing Luck to do it all on his own. That's likely too much, even for Luck. He and the Colts appear to be running out of steam, and a record of 11-5 may be inflated due to being able to play the 2-14 Titans and 3-13 Jaguars twice apiece. Defensively they are decidedly moderately good, not great, not awful. They are the kind of defense that can hold an opponent to 10 points or give up 40+ and neither would surprise me. All told, I think this is a solid team, but the divisional round is its ceiling.

Bengals: I've read a few Broncos fans say they'd like to draw the Bengals in order to get revenge. I say hang that: we really have no beef with the Bengals and don't need revenge for a regular season loss. It was their night, and despite the Broncos looking out of sorts, they were still very much in the game late. On the road. Against a playoff contender. That speaks volumes about the Broncos, but this blurb is about the Bengals. The truth is I will be a little surprised if the Bengals come to Denver. Here's why: it would take them beating the Colts AND the Ravens beating the Steelers. While possible, I don't think it's likely. Still, it's possible, so let's explore. If the Bengals make the plane trip to Denver it will be on the heels of their first playoff win in the Andy Dalton era (4 years), the Marin Lewis era (12 years) and their first playoff win as a franchise in 24 years! They probably have players on the roster that weren't even born the last time the Bengals won a playoff game. So expect them to be riding a massive emotional wave and believe momentum is on their side. That is a powerful thing in the NFL. Still, you can't deny even while giving them their due credit, that it took an uncharacteristically bad outing by the Broncos to put them away in their own house. A rested and ready Broncos team with a recent loss to the Bengals would probably welcome them as their opponent. Their run defense has improved the last few weeks, but with another crack I'd be confident Anderson could break through this time. Add in the Hillman factor and that changes a lot for the game. Defensively the Broncos would probably love another crack at the Bengals, who amassed over 200 rushing yards in that Monday night game, with 85 of them coming on one play. That'll be a tough performance to repeat, especially against this defense. Especially if they go in with Marshall healthy at LB in this one.

Final thoughts: I honestly expect we'll be seeing the Steelers next week. I think they edge out the Ravens and render the results of the Bengals @ Colts game irrelevant to the Broncos. Can the Broncos beat this Steelers team? I believe they can, but we'll break down how and why once this week's games have actually played.

 

[cdumler7]

Nice break down of the teams. I honestly have no clue what to expect from all these teams this Wild Card weekend. The Steelers without Bell (which looks like he will not be playing) just don't seem as scary yet with Big Ben you just never know what to expect. The Ravens on the other hand seem to have found a run game this year and are great at stopping the run. That really does look like playoff style football. Plus when these two teams get together you just never know what to expect. I still have the Steelers winning this one but in a close last minute field goal type game.


Now the Indy/Cincy game. This is one that both teams have laid some horrible stinkers and then at other times looked down right scary. Indy reminds me so much of us last year in being so dependent on Luck to have a great game to win. Obviously he can do that but I actually think this Cincinnati defense shows up and gets a few turnovers. If I were Marvin Lewis I would go to Dalton and tell him above anything else for this game do not turn the ball over. My not so bold prediction for this game is one of the two quarterbacks throws 3 interceptions and that is the team that loses. Right now I'm thinking Luck is the not so lucky quarterback that does that.

 

[PatsFan2003]

In the first round I like the Steelers/Ravens matchup because one of them will lose. A win-win for the Patriots.

I would be rooting for Pittsburgh because then they would go to Denver and again, one has to lose. So another win-win for the Patriots.

I think the Ravens are lucky to be in the playoffs for a reason. Even without Bell I think the Steelers have enough on both sides of the ball to win.

Sure the Bengals and Indy are capable of defeating the Patriots if they have an inspired game and/or the Patriots are stale but I'll take those matchups.

I think Indy will win because Dalton really is just an average QB. I think he'll screw up someway.

 

[Duffman]

I'm rooting for Baltimore because Pittsburgh scares me and I know we can beat either Indy or Cincinnati. Also because Baltimore has a better shot of beating the Pats than both Indy or Cincinnati.