Sporting News’ team of former scouts talk about 10 things to watch for during wild-card weekend.
1. Passing game takes center stage.
Ten quarterbacks surpassed 4,000 passing yards this season, and seven of them are in the playoffs — another sign that the NFL has become a pass-first entity.
Some of that has to do with a greater emphasis on spread offenses and rules changes that work to the detriment of defenses. Whatever the reason, the pass-first mentality is working, so expect more of it in the playoffs.
2. Nice to see you again.
Three of the four games this weekend are rematches of games from Week 17 and one — Eagles vs. Cowboys — represents the third meeting between those teams.
Since 1970, there have been 19 opportunities for a team to complete a three-game sweep. Contrary to popular belief that it is darn-near impossible to pull that off, 12 teams have completed the trifecta. That doesn’t bode particularly well for the Eagles, who were swept by the Cowboys in the regular season.
The Jets will test Carson Palmer’s ability to beat the blitz.
3. J-E-T-S will B-L-I-T-Z.
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is one cool customer, and it shows in the way he handles himself under pressure. He’s not real mobile, but he is able to stand in against pressure, make quick decisions, find his checkdowns and avoid sacks.
In fact, he ranks second in the NFL in passing efficiency against the blitz, which is why teams rarely go after him. But expect the Jets to buck the trend. Rex Ryan has lived by the blitz his whole career, and he’s not about to stop now.
The Bengals don’t use their tight ends or backs as receivers very often, and the Jets are confident in their ability to single-cover the Bengals’ wideouts — especially Darrelle Revis against Chad Ochocinco. That will free up players for Ryan to blitz. Look for New York to send five or six rushers on most snaps.
4. Bengals will play the run better.
The Jets were the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL this season, and they were able to grind out 257 yards on the ground against the Bengals last week. So it seems clear that the Bengals’ defense will have to focus on stopping the run this time. But the Jets will try to disguise their intentions with multiple formations and motion and pass looks at the line of scrimmage.
The key for the Bengals is not to fall for it. They will have to play the run on early downs and force quarterback Mark Sanchez into third-and-long situations, which is where he has struggled the most this season. Left end Robert Geathers will be back on the field this week, which should help the run defense tremendously and keep the Jets’ backs from gaining the edge on off-tackle runs.
5. Eagles’ backs will be keys to the passing game.
Last week, the Cowboys shut down the Eagles’ running game, limiting them to 3.7 yards per carry on just 10 attempts. Much of the trouble started up front, where the loss of center Jamaal Jackson hurt the team’s ability to keep Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff and his teammates out of the backfield.
Philadelphia will try to counter that weakness by using its backs more in the passing game. Considering Brian Westbrook is back to full strength and that fullback Leonard Weaver and rookie LeSean McCoy combined for 55 catches this year, expect a healthy dose of the screen game and short passes off quick drops by Donovan McNabb.
6. Cowboys will run — and run some more.
One of the keys to the Cowboys’ season-ending three-game winning streak was their offensive balance. In those games, they ran the ball at least 30 times for an average of 4.4 yards per carry. That, in turn, helped the passing game to be more productive.
Dallas should use its stable of backs to work the inside-outside game. This will wear down the Eagles’ smaller defensive front and create favorable passing situations. Watch for Tony Romo to exploit the Eagles’ linebackers in coverage.
Baltimore’s ground-and-pound strategy will be even stronger with an effective Willis McGahee.
7. Ravens should get McGahee involved.
Ray Rice has been stellar this season, rushing for more than 100 yards four times and averaging 5.3 yards per carry. But Willis McGahee showed he has a fresh pair of legs for the playoffs by busting out for 167 yards and three TDs on just 16 carries against the Raiders last week. The combination of the two can be deadly behind the team’s personnel groupings and unbalanced alignments.
Baltimore has finally gotten back to the run game and will need to stick with it against a Patriots team that is ranked 13th in the league but has been a bit vulnerable in the last month. The Ravens need to try to dominate time of possession and keep their suspect secondary off the field.
8. Patriots will stick to the game plan.
Some people contend the loss of wideout Wes Welker will be devastating to the Patriots. But those people are forgetting the Patriot Way. When Drew Bledsoe goes down, you plug in Tom Brady. When Tedy Bruschi goes down, you plug in Jerod Mayo. When Wes Welker goes down, you plug in Julian Edelman.
A Welker look-alike, Edelman is a former college QB who made an impact as a rookie with 37 catches, including 10 last week as Welker’s replacement. Though he lacks Welker’s lateral burst, Edelman has good quickness, solid hands and excellent awareness. New England will attack a weak Baltimore secondary with the pass, and Edelman will be a key part of that effort.
9. Woodson should be the focus of Packers’ D.
Green Bay has taken to coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme in a big way. The front seven has been effective against the run and the pass. Perhaps most important, the Packers have given cornerback Charles Woodson the green light to make plays all over the field.
The Packers shouldn’t have Woodson, the NFL’s likely defensive player of the year, shadow Pro Bowl wideout Larry Fitzgerald all day. Woodson’s strengths are that he can do so many things well and be effective from anywhere on the field. Look for Capers to move Woodson around, depending on down and distance and game situations. That will force Kurt Warner and the rest of the offense to find him before they run a play.
Good teams put their playmakers in position to make plays in the playoffs. And Woodson is the top defensive playmaker in the league.
10. Defense will be Arizona’s key.
Everyone knows about the Cardinals’ high-flying offense, led by Warner and their great wideouts. But the defense has quietly put together a very strong season, especially in big games.
The Cardinals are sixth in the league in sacks and third-down defense, and they have been strong in the red zone. Coordinator Bill Davis runs an aggressive scheme that uses a lot of different blitz looks out of the team’s base 3-4. It all revolves around the excellent play the team gets out of its cover corners. If Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is out or hampered because of a bruised knee, however, Davis may have to be more conservative.
RealScouts analyzes NFL and college players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News.
Sporting News’ team of former scouts talk about 10 things to watch for during wild-card weekend.
1. Passing game takes center stage.
Ten quarterbacks surpassed 4,000 passing yards this season, and seven of them are in the playoffs — another sign that the NFL has become a pass-first entity.
Some of that has to do with a greater emphasis on spread offenses and rules changes that work to the detriment of defenses. Whatever the reason, the pass-first mentality is working, so expect more of it in the playoffs.
2. Nice to see you again.
Three of the four games this weekend are rematches of games from Week 17 and one — Eagles vs. Cowboys — represents the third meeting between those teams.
Since 1970, there have been 19 opportunities for a team to complete a three-game sweep. Contrary to popular belief that it is darn-near impossible to pull that off, 12 teams have completed the trifecta. That doesn’t bode particularly well for the Eagles, who were swept by the Cowboys in the regular season.
The Jets will test Carson Palmer’s ability to beat the blitz.
3. J-E-T-S will B-L-I-T-Z.
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is one cool customer, and it shows in the way he handles himself under pressure. He’s not real mobile, but he is able to stand in against pressure, make quick decisions, find his checkdowns and avoid sacks.
In fact, he ranks second in the NFL in passing efficiency against the blitz, which is why teams rarely go after him. But expect the Jets to buck the trend. Rex Ryan has lived by the blitz his whole career, and he’s not about to stop now.
The Bengals don’t use their tight ends or backs as receivers very often, and the Jets are confident in their ability to single-cover the Bengals’ wideouts — especially Darrelle Revis against Chad Ochocinco. That will free up players for Ryan to blitz. Look for New York to send five or six rushers on most snaps.
4. Bengals will play the run better.
The Jets were the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL this season, and they were able to grind out 257 yards on the ground against the Bengals last week. So it seems clear that the Bengals’ defense will have to focus on stopping the run this time. But the Jets will try to disguise their intentions with multiple formations and motion and pass looks at the line of scrimmage.
The key for the Bengals is not to fall for it. They will have to play the run on early downs and force quarterback Mark Sanchez into third-and-long situations, which is where he has struggled the most this season. Left end Robert Geathers will be back on the field this week, which should help the run defense tremendously and keep the Jets’ backs from gaining the edge on off-tackle runs.
5. Eagles’ backs will be keys to the passing game.
Last week, the Cowboys shut down the Eagles’ running game, limiting them to 3.7 yards per carry on just 10 attempts. Much of the trouble started up front, where the loss of center Jamaal Jackson hurt the team’s ability to keep Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff and his teammates out of the backfield.
Philadelphia will try to counter that weakness by using its backs more in the passing game. Considering Brian Westbrook is back to full strength and that fullback Leonard Weaver and rookie LeSean McCoy combined for 55 catches this year, expect a healthy dose of the screen game and short passes off quick drops by Donovan McNabb.
6. Cowboys will run — and run some more.
One of the keys to the Cowboys’ season-ending three-game winning streak was their offensive balance. In those games, they ran the ball at least 30 times for an average of 4.4 yards per carry. That, in turn, helped the passing game to be more productive.
Dallas should use its stable of backs to work the inside-outside game. This will wear down the Eagles’ smaller defensive front and create favorable passing situations. Watch for Tony Romo to exploit the Eagles’ linebackers in coverage.
Baltimore’s ground-and-pound strategy will be even stronger with an effective Willis McGahee.
7. Ravens should get McGahee involved.
Ray Rice has been stellar this season, rushing for more than 100 yards four times and averaging 5.3 yards per carry. But Willis McGahee showed he has a fresh pair of legs for the playoffs by busting out for 167 yards and three TDs on just 16 carries against the Raiders last week. The combination of the two can be deadly behind the team’s personnel groupings and unbalanced alignments.
Baltimore has finally gotten back to the run game and will need to stick with it against a Patriots team that is ranked 13th in the league but has been a bit vulnerable in the last month. The Ravens need to try to dominate time of possession and keep their suspect secondary off the field.
8. Patriots will stick to the game plan.
Some people contend the loss of wideout Wes Welker will be devastating to the Patriots. But those people are forgetting the Patriot Way. When Drew Bledsoe goes down, you plug in Tom Brady. When Tedy Bruschi goes down, you plug in Jerod Mayo. When Wes Welker goes down, you plug in Julian Edelman.
A Welker look-alike, Edelman is a former college QB who made an impact as a rookie with 37 catches, including 10 last week as Welker’s replacement. Though he lacks Welker’s lateral burst, Edelman has good quickness, solid hands and excellent awareness. New England will attack a weak Baltimore secondary with the pass, and Edelman will be a key part of that effort.
9. Woodson should be the focus of Packers’ D.
Green Bay has taken to coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme in a big way. The front seven has been effective against the run and the pass. Perhaps most important, the Packers have given cornerback Charles Woodson the green light to make plays all over the field.
The Packers shouldn’t have Woodson, the NFL’s likely defensive player of the year, shadow Pro Bowl wideout Larry Fitzgerald all day. Woodson’s strengths are that he can do so many things well and be effective from anywhere on the field. Look for Capers to move Woodson around, depending on down and distance and game situations. That will force Kurt Warner and the rest of the offense to find him before they run a play.
Good teams put their playmakers in position to make plays in the playoffs. And Woodson is the top defensive playmaker in the league.
10. Defense will be Arizona’s key.
Everyone knows about the Cardinals’ high-flying offense, led by Warner and their great wideouts. But the defense has quietly put together a very strong season, especially in big games.
The Cardinals are sixth in the league in sacks and third-down defense, and they have been strong in the red zone. Coordinator Bill Davis runs an aggressive scheme that uses a lot of different blitz looks out of the team’s base 3-4. It all revolves around the excellent play the team gets out of its cover corners. If Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is out or hampered because of a bruised knee, however, Davis may have to be more conservative.
RealScouts analyzes NFL and college players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News.
ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio weighs in on the biggest story lines of Wild Card Week:
1. High pressure for the Cowboys
As first-round playoff games go, the Dallas Cowboys are dealing with as much pressure as any playoff team ever has faced.
First, the team hasn’t won a playoff game since Dec. 28, 1996.
Second, the Cowboys have twice before blown a home playoff game against a division rival they swept in the regular season. This time around, they’ll be expected to reprise their 24-0 spanking of the Eagles from only six days before.
Third, Wade Phillips — who has never won a playoff game in three stints as a head coach — is coaching for his job.
Though it’s inevitable Dallas will win a playoff game someday, winning on Saturday will entail Phillips and the rest of the Cowboys overcoming an inordinate amount of stress and strain.
2. The start of the Jason Garrett era?
Many league insiders believe Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will fire coach Wade Phillips if the Cowboys fail to complete a three-game sweep of the Eagles on Saturday.
The fact that Phillips wouldn’t be entitled to a buyout makes it more likely that Jones would walk away from the option on Phillips’ contract for 2010.
Brad Smith surprised the Bengals last week; don’t expect that to be the case this week.
The fact that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is under contract for two more years at $3.5 million per season makes it more likely that, if Phillips goes, Garrett will get the job.
At one point, it appeared Jones would simply clean house. The Cowboys’ late-season push to the playoffs could save Garrett, especially if it’s the defense and not the offense that blows it for the Cowboys on Saturday.
3. Rex Ryan just can’t help himself
The Jets had the Bengals right where they wanted them. Regardless of whether the Bengals did or didn’t try to win on Sunday night, the AFC North champions undoubtedly were rattled by that 37-0 pounding. And so with the league’s best defense and a potent running game, the Jets seem to be poised to roll into Cincinnati and do to the Bengals what the Bengals so proudly did to the Ravens and Steelers this year — beat them twice.
But then Jets coach Rex Ryan decided to pop off, declaring that his team should be favored not only to win on the second Saturday in January but also on the first Sunday in February.
And with that declaration, Ryan gave Bengals coach Marvin Lewis all he needed to get his team to forget about the beating they took in Week 17 — and to administer one of their own in the wild-card round.
What better way to get past a moment that might have sapped the team’s confidence than by changing the focus to yet another comment from Ryan suggesting that he’s too big for his britches?
4. Carson Palmer needs to prove the doubters wrong
Given that Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer missed most of the 2008 season with a bum elbow and given that he’s not having a great year, a lot of people think he’s still suffering from the injury, and that the Bengals are hiding it just like the Jets did last year down the stretch with Brett Favre’s bad arm.
If Palmer is fine, then he needs to demonstrate it — convincingly — on Saturday.
But the evidence suggests something is wrong. He has thrown for more than 300 yards only once this year, and he has produced fewer than 200 yards seven times.
Last week, he had none.
Regardless of whether it’s Palmer or the guys catching his passes, Palmer is the leader of the team, and it’s on him to try to propel the Bengals to their first postseason win in a generation.
Ravens QB Joe Flacco figures to see a lot of blitz pressure from the Patriots’ defense on Sunday.
5. Flacco could be the difference maker
The Ravens have been successful over the past decade with a great defense and an offense good enough to score points with the field position the defense gives it.
In his second NFL season, quarterback Joe Flacco has increased his level of play significantly, with more than 600 additional passing yards, the same number of interceptions (12) and seven more touchdown passes (21).
So if the Ravens want to contend for a championship, they’ll need to remove the training wheels. Last year, Flacco threw for 135, 161, and 141 yards in three postseason games. This time around, they need to get the ball into the air more often, especially if opposing defenses — like the Patriots on Sunday — plan to try to take away Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.
6. A little New York hypocrisy
After the Dolphins beat the Jets in October with a heavy dose of the Wildcat, New York linebacker Calvin Pace couldn’t hold his tongue.
"I’m going to be honest, I can’t respect that stuff," he said at the time. "All that Wildcat. Because we’re in the NFL, man. If you’re out there running that nonsense, it’s crap."
And, of course, the Jets have since taken to the Wildcat, using Brad Smith as a change-of-pace quarterback. Smith rushed for 92 yards on four carries in the playoff-clinching win over Cincinnati.
If not for all that "nonsense" and "crap," the Jets might be sitting at home this weekend.
7. Get a good look at Kurt Warner
When Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner signed a two-year contract in the offseason, it was assumed he’d play two more years.
But Warner gave serious thought to calling it quits a year ago, and there’s a good chance he’ll decide after the 2009 season ends to pack it in.
The farther the team progresses, the more likely he is to ride into the sunset. If they win the Super Bowl, he surely won’t return. The question is whether he’ll give it another try in 2010 if they fall short of the mark again.
Still, even if they lose Sunday — and there’s a good chance they will — Warner might decide that he has done enough to get to Canton, and in turn decide he needs to get out before he takes any more concussions like the one that caused him to miss the game at Tennessee in late November.
8. Vikings are surely rooting for the Cowboys again
In Week 17, the Minnesota Vikings clobbered the Giants. The Vikes then needed help from the Cowboys to nail down a bye.
So with the Cowboys beating the Eagles and securing the third seed, a win by the Cowboys will send Dallas to Minnesota for the divisional round.
A victory by Philly would result in the sixth seed heading to New Orleans, with the winner of the Packers-Cardinals game going to Minnesota.
And if the Packers win, they’ll get another crack at Brett Favre — with a much better team than when the two teams got together in early October and early November.
So the Vikings surely are hoping for the Cowboys to knock off the Eagles again, even if it means a rematch of the 1975 division-round game featuring a Hail Mary pass and a flying whiskey bottle.
9. Packers quietly have gotten their act together
After losing to the Vikings and Favre at home on Nov. 1, the Packers stumbled badly against the Buccaneers. Since then, however, Mike McCarthy’s team has won all but one of its games.
The winning streak would be eight but for that last-second wing-and-a-rosary from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to receiver Mike Wallace.
Along the way, the defense has improved (but for the 37 points given up to the Steelers) and the offensive line has done a better job of keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers in one piece.
So it’s not unrealistic for Green Bay fans to be dreaming of another Super Bowl win, even with the quarterback who took them to their last one playing for an arch rival.
10. After this weekend, weather likely won’t be a factor
Though the Ravens and Jets are both built to win in the elements, the only games involving elements for the entire postseason might be the games featuring the Ravens and Jets this weekend.
Three of the teams that earned byes play in domes, and the other plays in San Diego.
So unless there are multiple division-round upsets this year, there might not be much cold or wind or snow this time around.
Which means that teams with high-powered passing offenses will have an edge.
Until they get to Miami and it rains the entire game, like it did three years ago.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio weighs in on the biggest story lines of Wild Card Week:
1. High pressure for the Cowboys
As first-round playoff games go, the Dallas Cowboys are dealing with as much pressure as any playoff team ever has faced.
First, the team hasn’t won a playoff game since Dec. 28, 1996.
Second, the Cowboys have twice before blown a home playoff game against a division rival they swept in the regular season. This time around, they’ll be expected to reprise their 24-0 spanking of the Eagles from only six days before.
Third, Wade Phillips — who has never won a playoff game in three stints as a head coach — is coaching for his job.
Though it’s inevitable Dallas will win a playoff game someday, winning on Saturday will entail Phillips and the rest of the Cowboys overcoming an inordinate amount of stress and strain.
2. The start of the Jason Garrett era?
Many league insiders believe Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will fire coach Wade Phillips if the Cowboys fail to complete a three-game sweep of the Eagles on Saturday.
The fact that Phillips wouldn’t be entitled to a buyout makes it more likely that Jones would walk away from the option on Phillips’ contract for 2010.
Brad Smith surprised the Bengals last week; don’t expect that to be the case this week.
The fact that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is under contract for two more years at $3.5 million per season makes it more likely that, if Phillips goes, Garrett will get the job.
At one point, it appeared Jones would simply clean house. The Cowboys’ late-season push to the playoffs could save Garrett, especially if it’s the defense and not the offense that blows it for the Cowboys on Saturday.
3. Rex Ryan just can’t help himself
The Jets had the Bengals right where they wanted them. Regardless of whether the Bengals did or didn’t try to win on Sunday night, the AFC North champions undoubtedly were rattled by that 37-0 pounding. And so with the league’s best defense and a potent running game, the Jets seem to be poised to roll into Cincinnati and do to the Bengals what the Bengals so proudly did to the Ravens and Steelers this year — beat them twice.
But then Jets coach Rex Ryan decided to pop off, declaring that his team should be favored not only to win on the second Saturday in January but also on the first Sunday in February.
And with that declaration, Ryan gave Bengals coach Marvin Lewis all he needed to get his team to forget about the beating they took in Week 17 — and to administer one of their own in the wild-card round.
What better way to get past a moment that might have sapped the team’s confidence than by changing the focus to yet another comment from Ryan suggesting that he’s too big for his britches?
4. Carson Palmer needs to prove the doubters wrong
Given that Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer missed most of the 2008 season with a bum elbow and given that he’s not having a great year, a lot of people think he’s still suffering from the injury, and that the Bengals are hiding it just like the Jets did last year down the stretch with Brett Favre’s bad arm.
If Palmer is fine, then he needs to demonstrate it — convincingly — on Saturday.
But the evidence suggests something is wrong. He has thrown for more than 300 yards only once this year, and he has produced fewer than 200 yards seven times.
Last week, he had none.
Regardless of whether it’s Palmer or the guys catching his passes, Palmer is the leader of the team, and it’s on him to try to propel the Bengals to their first postseason win in a generation.
Ravens QB Joe Flacco figures to see a lot of blitz pressure from the Patriots’ defense on Sunday.
5. Flacco could be the difference maker
The Ravens have been successful over the past decade with a great defense and an offense good enough to score points with the field position the defense gives it.
In his second NFL season, quarterback Joe Flacco has increased his level of play significantly, with more than 600 additional passing yards, the same number of interceptions (12) and seven more touchdown passes (21).
So if the Ravens want to contend for a championship, they’ll need to remove the training wheels. Last year, Flacco threw for 135, 161, and 141 yards in three postseason games. This time around, they need to get the ball into the air more often, especially if opposing defenses — like the Patriots on Sunday — plan to try to take away Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.
6. A little New York hypocrisy
After the Dolphins beat the Jets in October with a heavy dose of the Wildcat, New York linebacker Calvin Pace couldn’t hold his tongue.
"I’m going to be honest, I can’t respect that stuff," he said at the time. "All that Wildcat. Because we’re in the NFL, man. If you’re out there running that nonsense, it’s crap."
And, of course, the Jets have since taken to the Wildcat, using Brad Smith as a change-of-pace quarterback. Smith rushed for 92 yards on four carries in the playoff-clinching win over Cincinnati.
If not for all that "nonsense" and "crap," the Jets might be sitting at home this weekend.
7. Get a good look at Kurt Warner
When Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner signed a two-year contract in the offseason, it was assumed he’d play two more years.
But Warner gave serious thought to calling it quits a year ago, and there’s a good chance he’ll decide after the 2009 season ends to pack it in.
The farther the team progresses, the more likely he is to ride into the sunset. If they win the Super Bowl, he surely won’t return. The question is whether he’ll give it another try in 2010 if they fall short of the mark again.
Still, even if they lose Sunday — and there’s a good chance they will — Warner might decide that he has done enough to get to Canton, and in turn decide he needs to get out before he takes any more concussions like the one that caused him to miss the game at Tennessee in late November.
8. Vikings are surely rooting for the Cowboys again
In Week 17, the Minnesota Vikings clobbered the Giants. The Vikes then needed help from the Cowboys to nail down a bye.
So with the Cowboys beating the Eagles and securing the third seed, a win by the Cowboys will send Dallas to Minnesota for the divisional round.
A victory by Philly would result in the sixth seed heading to New Orleans, with the winner of the Packers-Cardinals game going to Minnesota.
And if the Packers win, they’ll get another crack at Brett Favre — with a much better team than when the two teams got together in early October and early November.
So the Vikings surely are hoping for the Cowboys to knock off the Eagles again, even if it means a rematch of the 1975 division-round game featuring a Hail Mary pass and a flying whiskey bottle.
9. Packers quietly have gotten their act together
After losing to the Vikings and Favre at home on Nov. 1, the Packers stumbled badly against the Buccaneers. Since then, however, Mike McCarthy’s team has won all but one of its games.
The winning streak would be eight but for that last-second wing-and-a-rosary from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to receiver Mike Wallace.
Along the way, the defense has improved (but for the 37 points given up to the Steelers) and the offensive line has done a better job of keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers in one piece.
So it’s not unrealistic for Green Bay fans to be dreaming of another Super Bowl win, even with the quarterback who took them to their last one playing for an arch rival.
10. After this weekend, weather likely won’t be a factor
Though the Ravens and Jets are both built to win in the elements, the only games involving elements for the entire postseason might be the games featuring the Ravens and Jets this weekend.
Three of the teams that earned byes play in domes, and the other plays in San Diego.
So unless there are multiple division-round upsets this year, there might not be much cold or wind or snow this time around.
Which means that teams with high-powered passing offenses will have an edge.
Until they get to Miami and it rains the entire game, like it did three years ago.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
IRVING, Texas — The Eagles have one more chance to solve the Cowboys’ riddle on Saturday night, or their season, which began with Super Bowl expectations, will end well short.
Expect more involvement from rookie LeSean McCoy.
Considering the Eagles were shut out, 24-0, at Cowboys Stadium last week, they must do plenty of things better to have a chance to win Saturday night. Many of them are simple, fundamental football tasks, but none will come easy against the fast and physical Cowboys.
1. Stop the run. The fact Dallas running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones were both effective last week in the power rushing attack (91 yards each) threw off Philadelphia’s defensive plans.
"By them running the ball well, it basically killed us," Eagles safety Quintin Mikell said.
The Cowboys passed effectively off the success of the run and kept the aggressive Eagles off-balance, leading to big holes for Barber and Jones. On Saturday night, Philadelphia will work on getting defenders in better position to fill those lanes before Barber or Jones can run into the secondary.
"We need to get a lot more guys around the ball," Mikell said. "We have to tackle better and we have to get off of blocks better."
To that end, don’t be surprised to see some lineup changes, such as giving more reps to veteran run-stopping middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter on early downs.
2. Get out to a fast start. The Eagles didn’t quite get started Sunday. Looking at their talent and typical offensive prowess, getting a quick score this week would give the team confidence and much-needed momentum.
"Everybody says start fast, finish strong," Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said. "But there are going to be ebbs and flows to every game. Even if you start fast, you have to try to continue that throughout the whole game."
For all their big-play ability, the Eagles are at their best when Donovan McNabb gets into an early rhythm to where he’s consistently connecting with all receivers, methodically moving the ball downfield. When the base offense is working well, it opens up more opportunities to hit big plays.
3. Run the ball more. Most teams tend to abandon the run when staring at a 17-0 halftime deficit, and pass-first Andy Reid tends to fade it out in some games no matter the score.
The game’s outcome shouldn’t completely rest on McNabb’s arm, and the running game doesn’t have to be all about Westbrook, either. Expect speedy rookie backup LeSean McCoy and Pro Bowl fullback Leonard Weaver — both performed well when Westbrook was sidelined by concussions — to be more involved.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said the Eagles wanted to run more last week, but the early deficit limited their options.
"We had a plan last week, and we tried to get back into the game," Mornhinweg said. "So we didn’t really get to that plan for the three backs that we have that carry the football."
There’s also the added dimension of Michael Vick, who didn’t play last week but is healthy enough to contribute Saturday night. Even if the Cowboys are prepared for the "Wildcat" offense, a fresh and versatile Vick still poses a challenge.
4. Get a spark from special teams. From kickoff specialist David Buehler’s touchback boots to solid punt coverage that gave the Eagles’ DeSean Jackson little room to operate on his returns, the Cowboys easily won the battle for field position last week.
A big return would allow the Eagles’ offense to operate with a short field, which could make the difference in what figures to be a much closer game.
Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
IRVING, Texas — The Eagles have one more chance to solve the Cowboys’ riddle on Saturday night, or their season, which began with Super Bowl expectations, will end well short.
Expect more involvement from rookie LeSean McCoy.
Considering the Eagles were shut out, 24-0, at Cowboys Stadium last week, they must do plenty of things better to have a chance to win Saturday night. Many of them are simple, fundamental football tasks, but none will come easy against the fast and physical Cowboys.
1. Stop the run. The fact Dallas running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones were both effective last week in the power rushing attack (91 yards each) threw off Philadelphia’s defensive plans.
"By them running the ball well, it basically killed us," Eagles safety Quintin Mikell said.
The Cowboys passed effectively off the success of the run and kept the aggressive Eagles off-balance, leading to big holes for Barber and Jones. On Saturday night, Philadelphia will work on getting defenders in better position to fill those lanes before Barber or Jones can run into the secondary.
"We need to get a lot more guys around the ball," Mikell said. "We have to tackle better and we have to get off of blocks better."
To that end, don’t be surprised to see some lineup changes, such as giving more reps to veteran run-stopping middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter on early downs.
2. Get out to a fast start. The Eagles didn’t quite get started Sunday. Looking at their talent and typical offensive prowess, getting a quick score this week would give the team confidence and much-needed momentum.
"Everybody says start fast, finish strong," Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said. "But there are going to be ebbs and flows to every game. Even if you start fast, you have to try to continue that throughout the whole game."
For all their big-play ability, the Eagles are at their best when Donovan McNabb gets into an early rhythm to where he’s consistently connecting with all receivers, methodically moving the ball downfield. When the base offense is working well, it opens up more opportunities to hit big plays.
3. Run the ball more. Most teams tend to abandon the run when staring at a 17-0 halftime deficit, and pass-first Andy Reid tends to fade it out in some games no matter the score.
The game’s outcome shouldn’t completely rest on McNabb’s arm, and the running game doesn’t have to be all about Westbrook, either. Expect speedy rookie backup LeSean McCoy and Pro Bowl fullback Leonard Weaver — both performed well when Westbrook was sidelined by concussions — to be more involved.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said the Eagles wanted to run more last week, but the early deficit limited their options.
"We had a plan last week, and we tried to get back into the game," Mornhinweg said. "So we didn’t really get to that plan for the three backs that we have that carry the football."
There’s also the added dimension of Michael Vick, who didn’t play last week but is healthy enough to contribute Saturday night. Even if the Cowboys are prepared for the "Wildcat" offense, a fresh and versatile Vick still poses a challenge.
4. Get a spark from special teams. From kickoff specialist David Buehler’s touchback boots to solid punt coverage that gave the Eagles’ DeSean Jackson little room to operate on his returns, the Cowboys easily won the battle for field position last week.
A big return would allow the Eagles’ offense to operate with a short field, which could make the difference in what figures to be a much closer game.
Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
Aaron Rodgers and Mark Sanchez are preparing for their first playoff games, and Carson Palmer and Tony Romo are seeking their first playoff victory.
Quarterbacks make their legacy in the postseason, and the four seeking their first playoff win this weekend are well aware.
"The quarterback is going to be judged, fair or unfair, by success in the playoffs," Rodgers told reporters this week. "You remember the Terry Bradshaws, the Joe Montanas, Tom Brady, who have won three or four Super Bowls. That’s not my main focus, but at some point you’d love to be mentioned in the same breath as guys like that who have won multiple Super Bowls."
Bengals’ Carson Palmer looks for first playoff win on Saturday against the Jets.
What will it take for these four quarterbacks to taste playoff success?
Carson Palmer, Bengals
Playoff record: 0-1.
Saturday’s opponent: Jets.
Why he might prevail: One of the game’s best pure passers, Palmer has proven his worth in the clutch. Four times this season, Palmer has engineered game-winning drives either in the fourth quarter or in overtime. If Saturday’s game against the Jets is close down the stretch, Palmer’s coolness and experience gives him an edge over the rookie Sanchez.
Why he might fail: This has been one of Palmer’s worst statistical seasons, ranking 16th among NFL quarterbacks in passer rating (83.6). The Bengals have become a run-first team and do not have a quick-strike offense. The late Chris Henry –- who was on IR when he died — was Palmer’s best deep threat, and without him, their offense has had trouble stretching the field.
Meanwhile, Palmer’s favorite target, Chad Ochocinco, will be shadowed by perhaps the NFL’s best cornerback, Darrelle Revis. If Revis locks up Ochocinco, and Rex Ryan’s blitzing schemes get to Palmer, it could be a long day for the Bengals.
"You’ve got to be able to throw the football to win now," Palmer said. "We just need to keep working on it. We need to catch heat a little bit and get rolling here soon."
Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Playoff record: 0-0.
Sunday’s opponent: Cardinals.
Why he might prevail: Rodgers’ accuracy and arm strength allow him to throw into tight coverage without making mistakes. Rodgers attempted 541 passes this season yet threw just seven interceptions, the league’s best pass/interception ratio. And despite his youth, nothing seems to rattle Rodgers.
"I’m just impressed with the way he handles everything. The whole saga with Brett, consistently being the same guy, very even-keeled," Cardinals QB Kurt Warner said. "On top of that, he’s as physically gifted as anybody I’ve seen.
"He can throw the ball — it’s almost effortless. He moves well; he makes good decisions; he can throw on the run. When we were talking, I asked if I could just have a little bit of that arm. I don’t know what that feels like — to be able to throw it like he can."
Why he might fail: Rodgers was sacked 50 times this season, tied with Ben Roethlisberger for most in the league. The Packers did a better job protecting Rodgers late in the season, and he did a better job getting rid of the ball.
However, expect the Cardinals to test the Packers’ offensive line with blitzes and line stunts the Cardinals did not unveil in last weekend’s matchup. As good as Rodgers is, the Packers’ passing game will suffer if he is being sacked or hurried consistently.
Tony Romo, Cowboys
Playoff record: 0-2.
Saturday’s opponent: Eagles.
Why he might prevail: Romo is 2-0 vs. the Eagles this season, including last weekend, when he carved up Philadelphia (24-for-34 passing, 311 yards, two touchdowns). Unnerving Romo with blitz packages is harder for the Eagles than it used to be.
"He’s one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, the way he’s played this year on a consistent basis," Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. "We’ve seen it over the years from Romo, where he’s been up and down. But this year, I think the consistency and probably the maturation process that he’s gone through has shown."
Why he might fail: The Eagles have won seven consecutive playoff openers. If they avoid falling behind early, more and more pressure will shift to the Cowboys. Until Romo and coach Wade Phillips (0-4 career playoff record) win in postseason, they will carry the psychological burden that comes with past failures.
"You really have to put it out of your head," said Tony Dungy, former Colts coach and current NBC analyst. "That’s easier said than done because you’re going to hear it."
Mark Sanchez, Jets
Playoff record: 0-0.
Saturday’s opponent: Bengals.
Why he might prevail: With the NFL’s top running game and NFL’s top defense, the Jets have a formula for success. They will play to their strengths, try to keep Sanchez’s throws to a minimum and ask him to avoid turnovers. The Jets are 5-0 in games that Sanchez has thrown fewer than 20 passes.
"We just need him to be efficient, play the position, and I think he knows that," Ryan said.
Why he might fail: If the Bengals choke off the Jets’ running game or if the Jets fall behind, Sanchez might be forced to throw more than Jets coaches would prefer. That could spell huge trouble for the Jets, who are 0-5 when Sanchez has thrown two or more interceptions. Sanchez also must handle the nerves that come with being a rookie quarterback in the playoffs.
"There will be a point maybe before the game, midway through the game, halftime, where I (will say), ‘This is unbelievable,’" Sanchez said.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Aaron Rodgers and Mark Sanchez are preparing for their first playoff games, and Carson Palmer and Tony Romo are seeking their first playoff victory.
Quarterbacks make their legacy in the postseason, and the four seeking their first playoff win this weekend are well aware.
"The quarterback is going to be judged, fair or unfair, by success in the playoffs," Rodgers told reporters this week. "You remember the Terry Bradshaws, the Joe Montanas, Tom Brady, who have won three or four Super Bowls. That’s not my main focus, but at some point you’d love to be mentioned in the same breath as guys like that who have won multiple Super Bowls."
Bengals’ Carson Palmer looks for first playoff win on Saturday against the Jets.
What will it take for these four quarterbacks to taste playoff success?
Carson Palmer, Bengals
Playoff record: 0-1.
Saturday’s opponent: Jets.
Why he might prevail: One of the game’s best pure passers, Palmer has proven his worth in the clutch. Four times this season, Palmer has engineered game-winning drives either in the fourth quarter or in overtime. If Saturday’s game against the Jets is close down the stretch, Palmer’s coolness and experience gives him an edge over the rookie Sanchez.
Why he might fail: This has been one of Palmer’s worst statistical seasons, ranking 16th among NFL quarterbacks in passer rating (83.6). The Bengals have become a run-first team and do not have a quick-strike offense. The late Chris Henry –- who was on IR when he died — was Palmer’s best deep threat, and without him, their offense has had trouble stretching the field.
Meanwhile, Palmer’s favorite target, Chad Ochocinco, will be shadowed by perhaps the NFL’s best cornerback, Darrelle Revis. If Revis locks up Ochocinco, and Rex Ryan’s blitzing schemes get to Palmer, it could be a long day for the Bengals.
"You’ve got to be able to throw the football to win now," Palmer said. "We just need to keep working on it. We need to catch heat a little bit and get rolling here soon."
Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Playoff record: 0-0.
Sunday’s opponent: Cardinals.
Why he might prevail: Rodgers’ accuracy and arm strength allow him to throw into tight coverage without making mistakes. Rodgers attempted 541 passes this season yet threw just seven interceptions, the league’s best pass/interception ratio. And despite his youth, nothing seems to rattle Rodgers.
"I’m just impressed with the way he handles everything. The whole saga with Brett, consistently being the same guy, very even-keeled," Cardinals QB Kurt Warner said. "On top of that, he’s as physically gifted as anybody I’ve seen.
"He can throw the ball — it’s almost effortless. He moves well; he makes good decisions; he can throw on the run. When we were talking, I asked if I could just have a little bit of that arm. I don’t know what that feels like — to be able to throw it like he can."
Why he might fail: Rodgers was sacked 50 times this season, tied with Ben Roethlisberger for most in the league. The Packers did a better job protecting Rodgers late in the season, and he did a better job getting rid of the ball.
However, expect the Cardinals to test the Packers’ offensive line with blitzes and line stunts the Cardinals did not unveil in last weekend’s matchup. As good as Rodgers is, the Packers’ passing game will suffer if he is being sacked or hurried consistently.
Tony Romo, Cowboys
Playoff record: 0-2.
Saturday’s opponent: Eagles.
Why he might prevail: Romo is 2-0 vs. the Eagles this season, including last weekend, when he carved up Philadelphia (24-for-34 passing, 311 yards, two touchdowns). Unnerving Romo with blitz packages is harder for the Eagles than it used to be.
"He’s one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, the way he’s played this year on a consistent basis," Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. "We’ve seen it over the years from Romo, where he’s been up and down. But this year, I think the consistency and probably the maturation process that he’s gone through has shown."
Why he might fail: The Eagles have won seven consecutive playoff openers. If they avoid falling behind early, more and more pressure will shift to the Cowboys. Until Romo and coach Wade Phillips (0-4 career playoff record) win in postseason, they will carry the psychological burden that comes with past failures.
"You really have to put it out of your head," said Tony Dungy, former Colts coach and current NBC analyst. "That’s easier said than done because you’re going to hear it."
Mark Sanchez, Jets
Playoff record: 0-0.
Saturday’s opponent: Bengals.
Why he might prevail: With the NFL’s top running game and NFL’s top defense, the Jets have a formula for success. They will play to their strengths, try to keep Sanchez’s throws to a minimum and ask him to avoid turnovers. The Jets are 5-0 in games that Sanchez has thrown fewer than 20 passes.
"We just need him to be efficient, play the position, and I think he knows that," Ryan said.
Why he might fail: If the Bengals choke off the Jets’ running game or if the Jets fall behind, Sanchez might be forced to throw more than Jets coaches would prefer. That could spell huge trouble for the Jets, who are 0-5 when Sanchez has thrown two or more interceptions. Sanchez also must handle the nerves that come with being a rookie quarterback in the playoffs.
"There will be a point maybe before the game, midway through the game, halftime, where I (will say), ‘This is unbelievable,’" Sanchez said.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
The opening week of the NFL playoffs looks eerily familiar.
In the NFC, it’s an almost exact copy of what we just saw in Week 17 — same bat hosts, same bat visitors, same bat stadiums, only with one different bat channel and two different bat times.
In the AFC, the Jets return the home-and-home favor with a trip to Cincinnati, and the Ravens and Patriots meet again in New England 14 weeks after playing there on Oct. 4.
Jason Witten and the Cowboys will try to push the Eagles out of the playoffs.
This time around, however, there will be no holding back, mentally or physically. There’s no cushion for some teams of playing at least one more game this season. That should lead to some very aggressive play in every game.
NFC Game of the Week
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are going for a three-game sweep of their division rivals in hopes of getting their first playoff victory in 13 seasons. It also would be Tony Romo’s first postseason win in three attempts. Looking at recent history and thinking that they can’t pull it off against the Eagles for a second consecutive week and the third time since Week 9 would be a mistake, because, well, the past is in the past.
Romo is a better quarterback than he’s ever been in his fourth season as an NFL starter. The defense has never been this good since the switch to a 3-4 under Bill Parcells. The combination of chemistry and confidence hasn’t been there like this in quite some time. There are unreasonable expectations that often come with being America’s Team, and taking in the mood of the locker room and realizing all the talent it has, you get a sense the Cowboys are ready to do something special.
On the field, the Cowboys have proved to be the better team than Philadelphia twice. They have the power running game to wear down the Eagles’ pass rush and limit the blitzing. They have receivers such as Miles Austin and Jason Witten who can get open for big plays. Romo is playing at such a high level, he’s reading everything well when under pressure.
Defensively, there have been two major developments. First, the secondary has turned into a solid unit, thanks to Mike Jenkins starring opposite Terence Newman. The linebackers have seen an upgrade, with Keith Brooking a perfect fit inside and Anthony Spencer emerging as a pass-rush threat opposite DeMarcus Ware. The Eagles being such a pass-heavy team plays right into the Cowboys’ hands.
For some reason, Dallas couldn’t beat the Giants this season, but they’re not around any more. They match up much better against the Eagles, and that will show again on Saturday night. Cowboys 27, Eagles 24.
Thomas Jones and the Jets have their eyes on the beating the Bengals again.
AFC Game of the Week
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals. In a playoff field loaded with top-flight quarterbacks, you can make the case that the Jets and Bengals are the two weakest at the position, despite the USC pedigrees of Mark Sanchez and Carson Palmer. It’s no secret that both teams have gotten to the playoffs on the strengths of stout defenses backed by grinding running games. Stuff the run, rush the passer and chew up clock with long, efficient scoring drives.
It’s funny that the two backs involved with those game plans are former Bears — Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. It must be something about a black-and-blue brand of football. Of course, the Jets have another tie to the Chicago way, with Rex Ryan coaching up an attacking 3-4 defense reminiscent of his father Buddy’s best units. This should be an ugly, low-scoring game, and that will suit the younger Ryan and his Bengals counterpart, Marvin Lewis, just fine.
The difference here will be Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis and New York’s offensive line. Revis will shut down Chad Ochocinco, making it very difficult for Cincinnati to move the ball in a one-dimensional rushing offense. On the other side, the loss of rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga is huge, because it will allow Jets run blockers to pave an easier way for Jones and Shonn Greene. Jets 19, Bengals 13
Shootout of the Week
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots. Remember Mark Clayton’s drop on the Ravens’ final drive against the Pats in Week 4? Had he caught that ball, there’s a good chance the Ravens would have emerged winners from what was a 27-21 loss at Foxborough.
You know in the rematch that Baltimore will be adept at shutting down the Patriots’ mix of backs in the running game. In turn the Patriots will work to take away what the Ravens do best — move the ball with feature back Ray Rice.
That should make Joe Flacco and Tom Brady confident to take to the air, where neither will be daunted by the other’s team pass rush or secondary. Without having to worry about pesky Wes Welker, however, look for the Ravens to bracket their coverage on Randy Moss so they aren’t beat deep, making Brady dink and dunk more, increasing the chance of a turnover.
As for Flacco, working with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the Ravens will spread out the Patriots’ defense with the pass, and then come back to the run with Rice and Willis McGahee to steal a victory later. Ravens 30, Patriots 27
When he is not handing off to Ryan Grant, Aaron Rodgers will be on the move.
Upset of the Week
Green Bay Packers over Arizona Cardinals. We’ve already picked the Jets and Ravens as underdogs, so going with the Packers is pure gravy. The Packers just throttled the resting Cards in Glendale last week, and they won’t let up with more on the line.
Green Bay’s 3-4 is capable of keeping Beanie Wells and Arizona’s ground game in check, which will put the Packers in a good situation against the pass. Clay Matthews will lead the charge to put pressure on Kurt Warner, and as usual, cornerback Charles Woodson will come up with a big play or two.
Offensively, the Packers will keep Arizona off-balance with a balanced attack and Aaron Rodgers’ mobility helping them make some big plays. They’ll mix in Ryan Grant effectively to keep the Cardinals’ aggressive front honest, and they’ll score the decisive touchdown late. Packers 24, Cardinals 20
Stats of the Week
Week 17 record: 14-2
Regular-season record: 165-75.
Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
The opening week of the NFL playoffs looks eerily familiar.
In the NFC, it’s an almost exact copy of what we just saw in Week 17 — same bat hosts, same bat visitors, same bat stadiums, only with one different bat channel and two different bat times.
In the AFC, the Jets return the home-and-home favor with a trip to Cincinnati, and the Ravens and Patriots meet again in New England 14 weeks after playing there on Oct. 4.
Jason Witten and the Cowboys will try to push the Eagles out of the playoffs.
This time around, however, there will be no holding back, mentally or physically. There’s no cushion for some teams of playing at least one more game this season. That should lead to some very aggressive play in every game.
NFC Game of the Week
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are going for a three-game sweep of their division rivals in hopes of getting their first playoff victory in 13 seasons. It also would be Tony Romo’s first postseason win in three attempts. Looking at recent history and thinking that they can’t pull it off against the Eagles for a second consecutive week and the third time since Week 9 would be a mistake, because, well, the past is in the past.
Romo is a better quarterback than he’s ever been in his fourth season as an NFL starter. The defense has never been this good since the switch to a 3-4 under Bill Parcells. The combination of chemistry and confidence hasn’t been there like this in quite some time. There are unreasonable expectations that often come with being America’s Team, and taking in the mood of the locker room and realizing all the talent it has, you get a sense the Cowboys are ready to do something special.
On the field, the Cowboys have proved to be the better team than Philadelphia twice. They have the power running game to wear down the Eagles’ pass rush and limit the blitzing. They have receivers such as Miles Austin and Jason Witten who can get open for big plays. Romo is playing at such a high level, he’s reading everything well when under pressure.
Defensively, there have been two major developments. First, the secondary has turned into a solid unit, thanks to Mike Jenkins starring opposite Terence Newman. The linebackers have seen an upgrade, with Keith Brooking a perfect fit inside and Anthony Spencer emerging as a pass-rush threat opposite DeMarcus Ware. The Eagles being such a pass-heavy team plays right into the Cowboys’ hands.
For some reason, Dallas couldn’t beat the Giants this season, but they’re not around any more. They match up much better against the Eagles, and that will show again on Saturday night. Cowboys 27, Eagles 24.
Thomas Jones and the Jets have their eyes on the beating the Bengals again.
AFC Game of the Week
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals. In a playoff field loaded with top-flight quarterbacks, you can make the case that the Jets and Bengals are the two weakest at the position, despite the USC pedigrees of Mark Sanchez and Carson Palmer. It’s no secret that both teams have gotten to the playoffs on the strengths of stout defenses backed by grinding running games. Stuff the run, rush the passer and chew up clock with long, efficient scoring drives.
It’s funny that the two backs involved with those game plans are former Bears — Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. It must be something about a black-and-blue brand of football. Of course, the Jets have another tie to the Chicago way, with Rex Ryan coaching up an attacking 3-4 defense reminiscent of his father Buddy’s best units. This should be an ugly, low-scoring game, and that will suit the younger Ryan and his Bengals counterpart, Marvin Lewis, just fine.
The difference here will be Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis and New York’s offensive line. Revis will shut down Chad Ochocinco, making it very difficult for Cincinnati to move the ball in a one-dimensional rushing offense. On the other side, the loss of rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga is huge, because it will allow Jets run blockers to pave an easier way for Jones and Shonn Greene. Jets 19, Bengals 13
Shootout of the Week
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots. Remember Mark Clayton’s drop on the Ravens’ final drive against the Pats in Week 4? Had he caught that ball, there’s a good chance the Ravens would have emerged winners from what was a 27-21 loss at Foxborough.
You know in the rematch that Baltimore will be adept at shutting down the Patriots’ mix of backs in the running game. In turn the Patriots will work to take away what the Ravens do best — move the ball with feature back Ray Rice.
That should make Joe Flacco and Tom Brady confident to take to the air, where neither will be daunted by the other’s team pass rush or secondary. Without having to worry about pesky Wes Welker, however, look for the Ravens to bracket their coverage on Randy Moss so they aren’t beat deep, making Brady dink and dunk more, increasing the chance of a turnover.
As for Flacco, working with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the Ravens will spread out the Patriots’ defense with the pass, and then come back to the run with Rice and Willis McGahee to steal a victory later. Ravens 30, Patriots 27
When he is not handing off to Ryan Grant, Aaron Rodgers will be on the move.
Upset of the Week
Green Bay Packers over Arizona Cardinals. We’ve already picked the Jets and Ravens as underdogs, so going with the Packers is pure gravy. The Packers just throttled the resting Cards in Glendale last week, and they won’t let up with more on the line.
Green Bay’s 3-4 is capable of keeping Beanie Wells and Arizona’s ground game in check, which will put the Packers in a good situation against the pass. Clay Matthews will lead the charge to put pressure on Kurt Warner, and as usual, cornerback Charles Woodson will come up with a big play or two.
Offensively, the Packers will keep Arizona off-balance with a balanced attack and Aaron Rodgers’ mobility helping them make some big plays. They’ll mix in Ryan Grant effectively to keep the Cardinals’ aggressive front honest, and they’ll score the decisive touchdown late. Packers 24, Cardinals 20
Stats of the Week
Week 17 record: 14-2
Regular-season record: 165-75.
Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
Sports Radio Interviews is a streaming independent sports blog which provides analysis on breaking sports news, upcoming games, and sporting events from a sports radio perspective. SRI articles frequently appear on SportingNews.com.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning said he feels comfortable as leader of his team’s offense.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning had perhaps his best season as a pro in 2009, throwing for 4,021 yards and 27 touchdowns. However, the Giants couldn’t build upon a 5-0 start, struggled down the stretch, and missed the playoffs.
Manning joined Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York to talk about the season, the disappointment of not making the playoffs, the hot start to the year, and the team’s horrible finish in the last two games.
Asked what he thought happened to the Giants after a 5-0 start to the season:
"I don’t know. I don’t have that answer, either. I wish I did. I wish it was something you can put your finger on, because then you would know exactly how to fix it. I don’t have that answer.
We didn’t play well. We didn’t run the ball. We didn’t throw the ball well. We weren’t in sync, and we couldn’t convert third downs. Offensively, we just couldn’t get anything going. Minnesota plays well; they play very well at home. They do a good job of jumping the silent count with their pass rush … You are going to lose some games in the NFL, but we did not need to play that way. Our ownership, players, and coaches didn’t deserve to go through that.
It wasn’t a lack of effort. We prepared during the week at practice, we were doing the right things, but we just didn’t bring it to the field and just didn’t play well."
Asked if there were enough winners on the team:
"There are enough winners on the team. There are guys committed to this football team, and they take a lot of pride and work hard at their job, take it very seriously, and are committed to it.
It was just a tough season. We just weren’t used to losing that many games and going through those stretches. Even during the toughest stretches when you’re losing four games in a row, we were still out there preparing and fighting. For whatever reason, we weren’t as good a team as we thought we were. I don’t have the exact answer why and I know we can make a change and play better than we did.
We had some young guys on this team and we got to make sure they don’t think this is the Giant way of playing football, this is not what we are used to, and make sure they don’t start thinking this is how it’s going to be, because it is not. We do have to make a change, we do have to make a difference, and it’s not in the coaches. It’s in the players being responsible for what they are doing and go out there and play the way we are coached to play."
Asked about the leadership on the Giants team and Manning being the leader of the offense:
"I think you can always improve on being a leader and I think I definitely feel comfortable as the leader of the offense. Especially with the young guys at skill positions that I am working with and making sure they are mentally prepared for what we are expecting that game.
Each team has different ways of playing defenses and doing different styles and different approaches. You are trying to make sure that they are thinking about running different routes against different defenses and what their adjustments are going to be.
I did more of a hands on job working with these guys this year then I have in the past. In the past we had guys that were more experienced and been around the block and they kind of knew what was going on because they played in more games. Obviously, we didn’t win as many games. We went through slumps, and you can always look back and say I need to do a better job of leading this team and that’s true. It’s something you work on every year and every year you are going to go through different challenges and things you have to deal with. Maybe I could have reacted differently to certain things to make sure our team was mentally focused and prepared to go through these situations."
Listen to Eli Manning with Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York
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More from SRI
Ray Rice on making the Pro Bowl
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Sports Radio Interviews is a streaming independent sports blog which provides analysis on breaking sports news, upcoming games, and sporting events from a sports radio perspective. SRI articles frequently appear on SportingNews.com.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning said he feels comfortable as leader of his team’s offense.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning had perhaps his best season as a pro in 2009, throwing for 4,021 yards and 27 touchdowns. However, the Giants couldn’t build upon a 5-0 start, struggled down the stretch, and missed the playoffs.
Manning joined Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York to talk about the season, the disappointment of not making the playoffs, the hot start to the year, and the team’s horrible finish in the last two games.
Asked what he thought happened to the Giants after a 5-0 start to the season:
"I don’t know. I don’t have that answer, either. I wish I did. I wish it was something you can put your finger on, because then you would know exactly how to fix it. I don’t have that answer.
We didn’t play well. We didn’t run the ball. We didn’t throw the ball well. We weren’t in sync, and we couldn’t convert third downs. Offensively, we just couldn’t get anything going. Minnesota plays well; they play very well at home. They do a good job of jumping the silent count with their pass rush … You are going to lose some games in the NFL, but we did not need to play that way. Our ownership, players, and coaches didn’t deserve to go through that.
It wasn’t a lack of effort. We prepared during the week at practice, we were doing the right things, but we just didn’t bring it to the field and just didn’t play well."
Asked if there were enough winners on the team:
"There are enough winners on the team. There are guys committed to this football team, and they take a lot of pride and work hard at their job, take it very seriously, and are committed to it.
It was just a tough season. We just weren’t used to losing that many games and going through those stretches. Even during the toughest stretches when you’re losing four games in a row, we were still out there preparing and fighting. For whatever reason, we weren’t as good a team as we thought we were. I don’t have the exact answer why and I know we can make a change and play better than we did.
We had some young guys on this team and we got to make sure they don’t think this is the Giant way of playing football, this is not what we are used to, and make sure they don’t start thinking this is how it’s going to be, because it is not. We do have to make a change, we do have to make a difference, and it’s not in the coaches. It’s in the players being responsible for what they are doing and go out there and play the way we are coached to play."
Asked about the leadership on the Giants team and Manning being the leader of the offense:
"I think you can always improve on being a leader and I think I definitely feel comfortable as the leader of the offense. Especially with the young guys at skill positions that I am working with and making sure they are mentally prepared for what we are expecting that game.
Each team has different ways of playing defenses and doing different styles and different approaches. You are trying to make sure that they are thinking about running different routes against different defenses and what their adjustments are going to be.
I did more of a hands on job working with these guys this year then I have in the past. In the past we had guys that were more experienced and been around the block and they kind of knew what was going on because they played in more games. Obviously, we didn’t win as many games. We went through slumps, and you can always look back and say I need to do a better job of leading this team and that’s true. It’s something you work on every year and every year you are going to go through different challenges and things you have to deal with. Maybe I could have reacted differently to certain things to make sure our team was mentally focused and prepared to go through these situations."
Listen to Eli Manning with Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York
===
More from SRI
Ray Rice on making the Pro Bowl
Jason Bay on choosing to sign with the New York Mets
Bill Cowher has a problem. By waiting to get serious about getting back into the NFL, Cowher has few choices, now that he’s finally ready to return.
Bill Cowher began his NFL coaching career as a coordinator for the Browns in 1985.
Several factors have combined to complicate Cowher’s circumstances. For a variety of reasons (not the least of which is a looming lockout in 2011), head coaches aren’t being fired with the same fervor as in past years. And with Mike Shanahan soon earning north of $10 million to coach the Redskins (not to mention $3.5 million in each of the next two years to not coach the Broncos), Cowher will want at least that much. He also will want full control over the football operations.
So with teams not lining up for the man who won a Super Bowl in 2005, his 14th season with the Steelers, let’s take a look at his for options from 2010, from worst to best.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Multiple reports have emerged linking Cowher to the Buccaneers. But the team reportedly wasn’t interested in paying him more than $6 million per year, and on Tuesday night the team angrily denied Cowher was a candidate for the job.
Though Cowher surely would have received full control over the roster and the draft, the team’s recent unwillingness to break the bank for players would have made it much harder to put together a competitive team, especially in an uncapped year.
So if there were talks, they fell apart quickly — and the Buccaneers decided to love the one they’re with.
5. Tennessee Titans
Despite the absence of any strong indication that owner Bud Adams is ready to make a change, some believe the time possibly has come for the team and coach Jeff Fisher to part ways.
And that could give Cowher a viable option in the AFC South.
But money and control again would be an issue. Adams would have to fire or neuter GM Mike Reinfeldt, and also would have to pay Cowher that $10 million salary.
Then there’s the fact that anyone who coaches the Titans will have to accept Vince Young as his quarterback.
So while the Titans might end up looking for a head coach, Cowher likely wouldn’t get the money and the power he wants.
4. Buffalo Bills
It’s clear the Bills would love to have Cowher. But the thinking is he doesn’t want to go there. The presence of a 91-year-old owner and an unsettled succession plan likely are significant factors.
Then there’s the money. It would be difficult if not impossible for the team to cough up eight figures per year, at a time when the Bills are languishing in a market that’s having a tough time properly supporting an NFL franchise.
3. Chicago Bears
This one would have been an option — and possibly still could be — if Cowher were willing to let GM Jerry Angelo run the show. But with Cowher wanting control, the Bears would be forced to eat coach Lovie Smith’s contract, and Angelo’s.
2. Carolina Panthers
Amid reports that coach John Fox will be retained for the final year of his contract but not offered an extension, it’s possible Fox and the Panthers will come to an agreement that creates a vacancy not far from Cowher’s current home.
If that happens, Cowher likely would move to the top of the list. GM Marty Hurney currently is under contract through June, which would make it easy — and cheap — to give Cowher the keys.
Money could be a sticking point, but even if Cowher has to take a little less, the proximity to his residence makes it the best option — if the job becomes available.
1. Wait a year
If the Carolina job remains filled for 2010, Cowher’s best bet will be to return to CBS for one more year. With Lovie Smith, Fox, and Giants coach Tom Coughlin surely on the hot seat next year, one or more of those jobs could end up being available.
The possibility of a lockout could complicate Cowher’s return, but teams will need to have head coaches in place in the event a new labor deal is negotiated. And Cowher could have a much easier time getting the money and the power he wants by waiting one more year.
But he can’t wait too much longer. With each passing season, the memory of his accomplishments is fading. Though there always will be a team that is interested in his services, he might have a hard time creating the kind of tug-of-war in which the Chiefs and the Browns would have engaged in 2009, if Cowher had been ready to get back into the game at that time.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
Bill Cowher has a problem. By waiting to get serious about getting back into the NFL, Cowher has few choices, now that he’s finally ready to return.
Bill Cowher began his NFL coaching career as a coordinator for the Browns in 1985.
Several factors have combined to complicate Cowher’s circumstances. For a variety of reasons (not the least of which is a looming lockout in 2011), head coaches aren’t being fired with the same fervor as in past years. And with Mike Shanahan soon earning north of $10 million to coach the Redskins (not to mention $3.5 million in each of the next two years to not coach the Broncos), Cowher will want at least that much. He also will want full control over the football operations.
So with teams not lining up for the man who won a Super Bowl in 2005, his 14th season with the Steelers, let’s take a look at his for options from 2010, from worst to best.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Multiple reports have emerged linking Cowher to the Buccaneers. But the team reportedly wasn’t interested in paying him more than $6 million per year, and on Tuesday night the team angrily denied Cowher was a candidate for the job.
Though Cowher surely would have received full control over the roster and the draft, the team’s recent unwillingness to break the bank for players would have made it much harder to put together a competitive team, especially in an uncapped year.
So if there were talks, they fell apart quickly — and the Buccaneers decided to love the one they’re with.
5. Tennessee Titans
Despite the absence of any strong indication that owner Bud Adams is ready to make a change, some believe the time possibly has come for the team and coach Jeff Fisher to part ways.
And that could give Cowher a viable option in the AFC South.
But money and control again would be an issue. Adams would have to fire or neuter GM Mike Reinfeldt, and also would have to pay Cowher that $10 million salary.
Then there’s the fact that anyone who coaches the Titans will have to accept Vince Young as his quarterback.
So while the Titans might end up looking for a head coach, Cowher likely wouldn’t get the money and the power he wants.
4. Buffalo Bills
It’s clear the Bills would love to have Cowher. But the thinking is he doesn’t want to go there. The presence of a 91-year-old owner and an unsettled succession plan likely are significant factors.
Then there’s the money. It would be difficult if not impossible for the team to cough up eight figures per year, at a time when the Bills are languishing in a market that’s having a tough time properly supporting an NFL franchise.
3. Chicago Bears
This one would have been an option — and possibly still could be — if Cowher were willing to let GM Jerry Angelo run the show. But with Cowher wanting control, the Bears would be forced to eat coach Lovie Smith’s contract, and Angelo’s.
2. Carolina Panthers
Amid reports that coach John Fox will be retained for the final year of his contract but not offered an extension, it’s possible Fox and the Panthers will come to an agreement that creates a vacancy not far from Cowher’s current home.
If that happens, Cowher likely would move to the top of the list. GM Marty Hurney currently is under contract through June, which would make it easy — and cheap — to give Cowher the keys.
Money could be a sticking point, but even if Cowher has to take a little less, the proximity to his residence makes it the best option — if the job becomes available.
1. Wait a year
If the Carolina job remains filled for 2010, Cowher’s best bet will be to return to CBS for one more year. With Lovie Smith, Fox, and Giants coach Tom Coughlin surely on the hot seat next year, one or more of those jobs could end up being available.
The possibility of a lockout could complicate Cowher’s return, but teams will need to have head coaches in place in the event a new labor deal is negotiated. And Cowher could have a much easier time getting the money and the power he wants by waiting one more year.
But he can’t wait too much longer. With each passing season, the memory of his accomplishments is fading. Though there always will be a team that is interested in his services, he might have a hard time creating the kind of tug-of-war in which the Chiefs and the Browns would have engaged in 2009, if Cowher had been ready to get back into the game at that time.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
IRVING, Texas –The Eagle has tweeted. But at this point, the Dallas Cowboys prefer to let their actions against Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson do the talking.
After his team got shut out 24-0 at Dallas on Sunday, Philadelphia’s speedy big-play machine was quick to respond on his Twitter page — in so many words that the Eagles would come back to "sting the Cowboys in the backside" Saturday night in the first-round playoff game.
Such salvos aren’t new for the confident Jackson, but for the Eagles back up his bold statement he must make some noise on the field.
In two games against Dallas, Nov. 8 and Jan. 3, the Cowboys limited Jackson to a combined five catches for 76 yards and no touchdowns. And he was limited to only 18 yards on punt returns.
No team has done a better job of containing the Pro Bowler.
One of several players responsible for causing that anemic output is Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick, Jackson’s former high school rival in Southern California. Scandrick knows it will be a challenge to contain Jackson a third time.
"He’s a competitor," Scandrick said. "He’s got an edge to him."
The Cowboys have used a team effort to limit Jackson’s impact. The preparation and communication have been there for all levels of the defense, not just the secondary. The pass rush has limited Donovan McNabb’s time to locate his best deep threat, backing it up with cover men who kept Jackson in front of them.
"They’ve been trying to eliminate the big play, and they’ve been very successful with it," McNabb said.
To keep Jackson from hitting home runs, it’s a two-step process. The first requires a sound coverage scheme where cornerbacks get consistent help over the top. Because the Cowboys have been effective in both rushing McNabb and stopping the Eagles’ running game with just their front seven, it has allowed safeties Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh to patrol the deep halves.
The key is everyone maintaining coverage responsibilities yet also being able to close on Jackson—and rookie speedster Jeremy Maclin on the opposite side—while the ball is airborne.
"It’s (about) us being disciplined but still being aggressive," Hamlin said. "We have the corners who are aggressive enough to play those guys."
With a receiver as fast, as quick and as tough as Jackson, the Cowboys can’t afford to lose track of him.
"He has another gear when he gets the ball in his hands," Dallas inside linebacker Keith Brooking said. "He’s a guy you’re conscious of on every play, and what they’re trying to do with him."
Because of how they’ve stopped the long pass, the Cowboys can expect the Eagles to call more plays such as wide receiver screens and reverses to get the ball to Jackson quickly and allow him to accelerate into the open field.
The Eagles say they aren’t frustrated by what Dallas has done to slow Jackson, but the Philly coaches are surely focused on making sure he is a factor in the playoffs.
"They’ve done a great job against him," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "It’s a matter of me putting him in the right position to make the plays."
This story appears in Jan. 6’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
IRVING, Texas –The Eagle has tweeted. But at this point, the Dallas Cowboys prefer to let their actions against Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson do the talking.
After his team got shut out 24-0 at Dallas on Sunday, Philadelphia’s speedy big-play machine was quick to respond on his Twitter page — in so many words that the Eagles would come back to "sting the Cowboys in the backside" Saturday night in the first-round playoff game.
Such salvos aren’t new for the confident Jackson, but for the Eagles back up his bold statement he must make some noise on the field.
In two games against Dallas, Nov. 8 and Jan. 3, the Cowboys limited Jackson to a combined five catches for 76 yards and no touchdowns. And he was limited to only 18 yards on punt returns.
No team has done a better job of containing the Pro Bowler.
One of several players responsible for causing that anemic output is Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick, Jackson’s former high school rival in Southern California. Scandrick knows it will be a challenge to contain Jackson a third time.
"He’s a competitor," Scandrick said. "He’s got an edge to him."
The Cowboys have used a team effort to limit Jackson’s impact. The preparation and communication have been there for all levels of the defense, not just the secondary. The pass rush has limited Donovan McNabb’s time to locate his best deep threat, backing it up with cover men who kept Jackson in front of them.
"They’ve been trying to eliminate the big play, and they’ve been very successful with it," McNabb said.
To keep Jackson from hitting home runs, it’s a two-step process. The first requires a sound coverage scheme where cornerbacks get consistent help over the top. Because the Cowboys have been effective in both rushing McNabb and stopping the Eagles’ running game with just their front seven, it has allowed safeties Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh to patrol the deep halves.
The key is everyone maintaining coverage responsibilities yet also being able to close on Jackson—and rookie speedster Jeremy Maclin on the opposite side—while the ball is airborne.
"It’s (about) us being disciplined but still being aggressive," Hamlin said. "We have the corners who are aggressive enough to play those guys."
With a receiver as fast, as quick and as tough as Jackson, the Cowboys can’t afford to lose track of him.
"He has another gear when he gets the ball in his hands," Dallas inside linebacker Keith Brooking said. "He’s a guy you’re conscious of on every play, and what they’re trying to do with him."
Because of how they’ve stopped the long pass, the Cowboys can expect the Eagles to call more plays such as wide receiver screens and reverses to get the ball to Jackson quickly and allow him to accelerate into the open field.
The Eagles say they aren’t frustrated by what Dallas has done to slow Jackson, but the Philly coaches are surely focused on making sure he is a factor in the playoffs.
"They’ve done a great job against him," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "It’s a matter of me putting him in the right position to make the plays."
This story appears in Jan. 6’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
Saturday’s NFC playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys marks the 20th time since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger teams have met a third time in a season — twice in the regular season and again in the playoffs.
Twelve of the matchups resulted in sweeps, the most recent being last season, when the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers met in the AFC championship game. The Steelers won 23-14 and went on to win the Super Bowl.
Dallas has failed in two previous attempts to pull off the three-peat. In 1998 they lost to the Cardinals; in 2007 they lost to the Giants, both part of the franchise’s 13-year postseason drought.
Vinnie Iyer looks deeper into Saturday’s 8 p.m. ET playoff game and how the Eagles and Cowboys got there.
Here’s a look at the 19 previous playoff games in which teams met for the third time in one season:
| Year |
Season |
Playoffs |
| 1982 |
Dolphins over Jets |
Won |
| 1983 |
Seahawks over Raiders |
Lost |
| 1986 |
Giants over Redskins |
Won |
| 1989 |
Oilers over Steelers |
Lost |
| 1991 |
Chiefs over Raiders |
Won |
| 1992 |
Chiefs over Chargers |
Lost |
| 1993 |
Raiders over Broncos |
Won |
| 1994 |
Vikings over Bears |
Lost |
| 1994 |
Steelers over Browns |
Won |
| 1997 |
Patriots over Dolphins |
Won |
| 1997 |
Packers over Buccaneers |
Won |
| 1998 |
Cowboys over Cardinals |
Lost |
| 1999 |
Titans over Jaguars |
Won |
| 2000 |
Giants over Eagles |
Won |
| 2002 |
Steelers over Browns |
Won |
| 2004 |
Rams over Seahawks |
Won |
| 2004 |
Packers over Vikings |
Lost |
| 2007 |
Cowboys over Giants |
Lost |
| 2008 |
Steelers over Ravens |
Won |
This season, the Cowboys won twice against the Eagles:
Week 9: Cowboys 20, Eagles 16
Tony Romo threw a 49-yard TD pass to Austin midway through the fourth quarter to decide the 100th meeting between the division rivals. Romo finished 21 of 34 for 307 yards, one TD and one interception.
The Cowboys began their go-ahead drive after stopping McNabb on fourth-and-inches at their 45. The Eagles challenged, but a replay upheld the original spot.
On third-and-14, Romo fooled Sheldon Brown with a pump-fake and hit a wide-open Austin down the left sideline to give Dallas a 20-13 lead.
"I gave them a little pump,” Romo said. "I thought they’d been jumping it a little and they went for it.”
David Akers kicked a 52-yard field goal to cut it to 20-16, but the Eagles never got the ball back. The Cowboys maintained possession the final 4:27.
McNabb threw for 227 yards, one TD and was intercepted twice for the first time this season.
Week 17: Cowboys 24, Eagles 0
Romo threw two early touchdown passes and the defense took over. The Cowboys won the NFC East to be host for a rematch in the first round of the playoffs. They also posted consecutive shutouts for the first time in team history, Romo and the entire offense setting all sorts of single-season records, having a winning record after Dec. 1 for the first time since 1996 and ending a nine-game losing streak in season finales.
McNabb threw for 223 yards and the Eagles gained just 228 overall. The Cowboys had 291 yards by halftime, on their way to gaining 474.
Philadelphia’s game-breaking receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin failed to have any plays longer than 32 yards, and that was better than they did in the first matchup. The defense saw Romo go 24-of-34 for 311 yards
Saturday’s NFC playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys marks the 20th time since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger teams have met a third time in a season — twice in the regular season and again in the playoffs.
Twelve of the matchups resulted in sweeps, the most recent being last season, when the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers met in the AFC championship game. The Steelers won 23-14 and went on to win the Super Bowl.
Dallas has failed in two previous attempts to pull off the three-peat. In 1998 they lost to the Cardinals; in 2007 they lost to the Giants, both part of the franchise’s 13-year postseason drought.
Vinnie Iyer looks deeper into Saturday’s 8 p.m. ET playoff game and how the Eagles and Cowboys got there.
Here’s a look at the 19 previous playoff games in which teams met for the third time in one season:
| Year |
Season |
Playoffs |
| 1982 |
Dolphins over Jets |
Won |
| 1983 |
Seahawks over Raiders |
Lost |
| 1986 |
Giants over Redskins |
Won |
| 1989 |
Oilers over Steelers |
Lost |
| 1991 |
Chiefs over Raiders |
Won |
| 1992 |
Chiefs over Chargers |
Lost |
| 1993 |
Raiders over Broncos |
Won |
| 1994 |
Vikings over Bears |
Lost |
| 1994 |
Steelers over Browns |
Won |
| 1997 |
Patriots over Dolphins |
Won |
| 1997 |
Packers over Buccaneers |
Won |
| 1998 |
Cowboys over Cardinals |
Lost |
| 1999 |
Titans over Jaguars |
Won |
| 2000 |
Giants over Eagles |
Won |
| 2002 |
Steelers over Browns |
Won |
| 2004 |
Rams over Seahawks |
Won |
| 2004 |
Packers over Vikings |
Lost |
| 2007 |
Cowboys over Giants |
Lost |
| 2008 |
Steelers over Ravens |
Won |
This season, the Cowboys won twice against the Eagles:
Week 9: Cowboys 20, Eagles 16
Tony Romo threw a 49-yard TD pass to Austin midway through the fourth quarter to decide the 100th meeting between the division rivals. Romo finished 21 of 34 for 307 yards, one TD and one interception.
The Cowboys began their go-ahead drive after stopping McNabb on fourth-and-inches at their 45. The Eagles challenged, but a replay upheld the original spot.
On third-and-14, Romo fooled Sheldon Brown with a pump-fake and hit a wide-open Austin down the left sideline to give Dallas a 20-13 lead.
"I gave them a little pump,” Romo said. "I thought they’d been jumping it a little and they went for it.”
David Akers kicked a 52-yard field goal to cut it to 20-16, but the Eagles never got the ball back. The Cowboys maintained possession the final 4:27.
McNabb threw for 227 yards, one TD and was intercepted twice for the first time this season.
Week 17: Cowboys 24, Eagles 0
Romo threw two early touchdown passes and the defense took over. The Cowboys won the NFC East to be host for a rematch in the first round of the playoffs. They also posted consecutive shutouts for the first time in team history, Romo and the entire offense setting all sorts of single-season records, having a winning record after Dec. 1 for the first time since 1996 and ending a nine-game losing streak in season finales.
McNabb threw for 223 yards and the Eagles gained just 228 overall. The Cowboys had 291 yards by halftime, on their way to gaining 474.
Philadelphia’s game-breaking receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin failed to have any plays longer than 32 yards, and that was better than they did in the first matchup. The defense saw Romo go 24-of-34 for 311 yards
Baltimore’s ground-and-pound strategy will be even stronger with an effective Willis McGahee.
