The 2017 NFL Playoffs will kick it off later today when the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs battle it out in the first of two AFC Wild Card games, followed by the Atlanta Falcons at the Los Angeles Rams in the first NFC Wild Card game.The Sunday games feature the Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC) and the Carolina Panthers at the New Orleans Saints in the NFC.
The games in the NFC seems to be causing a bigger buzz because the Falcons were the Super Bowl representative from the NFC last season and are facing the LA Rams - the surprise team of the NFC in the 2017 season.
Led by quarterback Jared Goff (28 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions) and running back Todd Gurley (1,305 rush yards with 19 total touchdowns), the Rams have a power packed offense similar to what the Falcons displayed last year when they led the NFL in scoring.
The Rams averaged 29.9 points per game this season and also have wide receivers Cooper Kupp (62 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns) and Robert Woods, who made 56 catches for 781 yards and five touchdowns.
Atlanta features QB Matt Ryan (20 TD and 12 INT) along with running backs Devonta Freeman (865 yards and seven TD) and Tevin Coleman (628 yards and five TD) along with receivers Julio Jones (88 grabs for 1,444 yards but just three TD) and Mohamed Sanu, who had 67 receptions with five touchdowns.
Each team's defense can get after the opposing quarterback as the Rams had 48 sacks while the Falcons registered 39 take downs. The Rams allowed roughly 21 points per game while Atlanta allowed just under 20 points per game.
The New Orleans Saints have QB Drew Brees, who had a somewhat "down" year statistically but he didn't have to put up the usual eye popping numbers this season because he is surrounded by so many weapons on offense.
All-purpose rookie running back Alvin Kamara was sensational, rushing for 728 yards (6.1 ypc average) with eight touchdowns and also caught 81 passes for 826 yards and five more scores while also returning a kickoff 106 yards for another touchdown, giving him 14 total for the season.
Mark Ingram ran for 1,124 yards (4.9 ypc) and scored 12 touchdowns while Michael Thomas led all receivers with 104 receptions for 1,245 yards and five scores. Ted Ginn, Jr. had 53 grabs for 787 yards and four scores.
The Panthers counter with QB Cam Newton (22 TD passes and 16 picks) who can pass and run as he amassed 754 yards on the ground and scored six times rushing the football. Tight end Greg Olson played just seven games (broken foot) and had 17 receptions and gives Newton another outlet in a potent arsenal.
Wide receiver Devin Funchess (63, 840, eight TD) but questionable after suffering injury, along with rookie RB-WR Christian McCaffrey (435 rush yards with two TD) and 80 receptions for 651 yards and five more touchdowns, are capable threats in the passing game.
Both these teams can sack the quarterback as well. New Orleans had 42 sacks while the Panthers dropped the opposing QB 50 times this season. They both allowed 20 points per game in the regular season.
As far as the AFC is concerned, the Buffalo Bills make their first playoff appearance in 18 years and will travel to face the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars, who haven't been to the playoffs in ten years.
Bills QB Tyrod Taylor is a dual threat (427 rush yards with four TD and 14 TD passes with just four INT) and relies on RB LeSean McCoy (1,158 rush yards, six TD and 59 receptions with two TD) to propel the offense.
But McCoy suffered a sever ankle injury last week and will most likely be a game time decision for Buffalo. Expect him to go if it's even remotely possible. After all, this IS the NFL Playoffs.
The Jaguars offense centers around rookie running back Leonard Fournette (1,040 rush yards with nine TD and 36 catches with one TD this season) while QB Blake Bortles relies on Marqise Lee (56, 702, three TD) and Keelan Cole (42, 748, three TD) at wide receiver. Veteran TE Mercedes Lewis snared five TD catches this season.
Jacksonville's vaunted defense was second in the entire league allowing points (268) and registered a league high 55 QB sacks, with Calais Campbell getting 14 1/2 of those sacks. Jacksonville also had 21 interceptions this year. Meanwhile, the Bills intercepted 18 passes while allowing just over 22 points per game.
The Kansas City Chiefs finished the season strong, winning their final four games to put away the AFC West division and will look for their offense to remain high flying (112 points scored the last four games) behind QB Alex Smith and company.
Smith the led the NFL in passer rating this season (104.7) and had 26 TD passes with only six picks thrown. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt also finished strong after a long dry spell in the middle of the season. Hunt finished with 1,327 rushing yards (4.9 ypc) and had eight touchdowns.
The passing game thrives with Smith getting the ball to TE Travis Kelce (83, 1,038, eight TD) and Tyreek Hill, who made 75 receptions for 1,183 yards and seven touchdowns. Hill also had a kick return score this year.
The Titans are led by QB Marcus Mariota, who threw for 3,232 yards with pedestrian like numbers of 13 TD and 15 INT this season. Mariota is a good scrambler (5.2 ypc average with five TD) who can extend plays.
The running game is the bread and butter for the Titans, evidenced by their 18 rushing touchdowns this year. Rookie RB Derrick Henry ran for 744 yards and five scores while injured back DeMarco Murray had 659 rushing yards along with six touchdowns. Delanie Walker led Tennessee with 74 receptions for 807 yards and had three touchdowns. Rishard Matthews made 53 receptions for 795 yards and had four scoring receptions. Another weapon is Eric Decker, who had 54 receptions.
Both defenses create problems for the opposition as the Chiefs allowed just 21 points per game while the Titans gave up 22 points per contest. Kansas City had 31 sacks and made 16 interceptions. The Titans sacked the QB 42 times this year and just 88 yards per game rushing allowed while the secondary was led by Kevin Byard's eight picks.
Heftyinfo PREDICTIONS for Wild Card Round Games (Home teams are listed in BOLD)
Kansas City over Tennessee
Atlanta over LA Rams
Jacksonville over Buffalo
New Orleans over Carolina
FINAL 2017 REGULAR SEASON RECORD - 177-79
Lock of the Week Record - 15-2
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