NFL Power Rankings - Divisional Round - January 11, 2020
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
NFL Power Rankings - Divisional Round - January 11, 2020
Down are two of this season’s top teams in our Power Rankings – the Saints and the Patriots, along with the quarterback star power of Drew Brees and Tom Brady – leaving us a very Cinderella-type team in the Tennessee Titans cracking our top 8 for the first time this season.
“This team was 2-4 at one point, and written off for dead,” said former Patriot and current Titans cornerback Logan Ryan after the game. “Now we just beat the Patriots in Foxboro. Belief and hard work can do a lot of things. This is a gritty team, but we know our work is not done.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFittingly enough, it was Ryan who clinched the game against his former team with a pick-six interception for touchdown in the final seconds after dropping what could have been an interception gone for touchdown earlier in the game’s second quarter.
The question now resides with this - can the one-week wonders do it again and pull off an equally surprising upset in round two or does the cream rise to the top with chalk dominating in the Divisional Round? It shouldn’t be a surprise at who is at number one, but number one does have one huge question mark heading into this weekend’s games.
Find out what it is as we reveal our top 8.
See the Rankings in the Slideshow Below
NFL Power Rankings - Divisional Round - January 11, 2020
8.
Vikings (11-6, Wild Card Win over Saints – Previous ranking: 12th)
Sure, we told you that Dalvin Cook would be the force behind whether the Vikings could stay with the Saints last Sunday in the Superdome. Well, they both delivered. Cook, with 130 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns.
As for quarterback Kirk Cousins, he quickly put those doubts that he can play in the big games (0-9 on Monday nights), tossing two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Kyle Rudolph in overtime as well as an absolute dynamite drop-in dime to Adam Thielen to set up the victory. The road only gets tougher on a short week heading out to the West Coast to take on the rested 49ers Saturday. But as Cousins always says – “You like that!”
7.
Texans (11-6, Wild Card Win over Bills – Previous ranking: 9th)
Who would’ve given the Texans a chance, down 16-0 in the third quarter against the Bills? They were down, out and headed home until Deshaun Watson rallied his mates to a thrilling 22-19 overtime win. Heading into Kansas City, Houston won’t be able to rely on a young quarterback, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, making mistakes late in the game to help them.
Patrick Mahomes is playoff-tested and ready for the challenge. Running the ball and playing keep away might be Houston’s best play. In their week 6 win earlier this season, the Texans held the ball for 39 of the game’s 60 minutes, outgaining the Chiefs 472-309 yards on offense.
6.
Titans (10-7, Wild Card Win over Patriots – Previous ranking: 10th)
Derrick Henry. Derrick Henry. Derrick Henry. That about sums up all you needed to know about the Titans offense Saturday night against the Patriots. About the only thing he didn’t do was sell popcorn. Henry ran for 182 yards and a touchdown while setting up another score with a 22-yard catch and run. All quarterback Ryan Tannehill had to do was manage the game, throwing for only 72 yards, completing only eight of fifteen passes.
The difference turned out to be Tennessee’s stonewalling goal-line defense, stuffing the Patriots on first and goal-to-go on three straight runs, limiting them to a field goal in the second quarter. Can the Titans keep up with the firepower of the Ravens up next in Baltimore? That remains to be seen. Can the Ravens keep up with Henry? That too will be a sight to see as the Titans look for a repeat Saturday night special.
5.
Seahawks (12-5, Wild Card Win over Eagles – Previous ranking: 6th)
Let’s be honest, no one expected the Seahawks to have to go through backup quarterback Josh McCown last week in Philadelphia in order to advance to the Divisional Round. But, that’s the thing about the playoffs. It’s not how you advance, it’s THAT you advance. Russell Wilson and crew did just enough to get past the Eagles, 17-9 and move on to Green Bay, a place they haven’t won since 1999.
One thing they would like to see repeated in the outstanding performance of rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. The second-round pick wowed to the tune of seven catches, 160 yards, a touchdown and a game-sealing catch on third down late in the fourth quarter. Another performance like that and the Seahawks may be headed back to the NFC Championship.
4.
Packers (13-3, NFC North Champion – Previous ranking: 5th)
All season long, it’s been more of a team win in Green Bay than in year’s past where the Packers would have to rely on Aaron Rodgers arm and feet to rally them to victories. Don’t believe me. Green Bay’s ranked 18th offensively and defensively. Nothing to write home about, but it got them to 13 wins.
This season, there’s Aaron Jones ground attack (a league-best tying 16 touchdowns with Derrick Henry) to go with Rodgers diverse passing game (26 touchdowns with only four interceptions), along with a defense that at times this season, has looked dominant. With a couple of weeks to prepare, expect a few new wrinkles from first year head coach Matt LaFleur in his playoff debut.
And of course, it’ll be cold with temperatures in the low 20’s and teens during the game Sunday night.
3.
Chiefs (12-4, AFC West Champion – Previous ranking: 4th)
If there’s a non-favorite to put your money on, it may be these Kansas City Chiefs. After a tough stretch mid-season losing four of six games, including three in a row at home, KC hasn’t lost since November 10th, winning six in a row. Now, with an unexpected first-round bye after the Patriots week 17 loss, the Chiefs get to welcome Houston to Arrowhead Stadium in a revenge game from earlier this season in which the Texans rallied from a 17-3 and 24-23 deficit to win.
All the Chiefs have to do for motivation is look back one season to the AFC Championship in which they lost to the Patriots, not getting a chance to touch the ball in overtime with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line. Don’t expect these Chiefs to miss out on this golden opportunity this time, especially with a defense that’s given up only an average of 11.5 points per game in the past six games
2.
49ers (13-3, NFC West Champion – Previous ranking: 2nd)
A few years ago, Patriots fans had visions of a Jimmy Garoppolo-led team playing in the postseason. Now, of course, Jimmy G has the Niners leading the way in the NFC as the number one seed with upset-minded Minnesota coming to Santa Clara Saturday. What’s scary is that Garoppolo is barely scratching the surface to what he can be, now just one year removed from a torn ACL.
While completing nearly 70% of his passes, Garoppolo tossed 27 touchdowns. Yet, during the 49ers December stretch of five games, Garoppolo threw for more than just one touchdown once – a four TD performance against the Saints in New Orleans.
How balanced are the Niners? They’re ranked 4th overall in offense and 2nd overall in defense. Beware of those who dare come by the Bay to take away their threat of a Super Bowl trip to Miami.
1.
Ravens (14-2, AFC North Champion – Previous ranking: 1st)
The only thing negative that’s happened to the Ravens, winners of 12 in a row, the past 12 weeks is a week 16 calf injury to running back Mark Ingram. The battering ram to the Ravens’ rushing attack is questionable to play Saturday night in what would be a blow to the NFL’s top-ranked ground game, averaging 206 yards per game.
Yet, even if Ingram can’t go, Gus Edwards is a very capable backup and let’s not forget, the straw that stirs the drink is the Most Valuable Player in waiting, quarterback Lamar Jackson, who ranked eighth in rushing with 1,206 yards in the regular season. Will a bye slow them down? It’ll now be almost three weeks that some starters like Jackson, Ingram, Earl Thomas and Mark Andrews have played as all of them took off a week 17 win over the Steelers.
