NFL Power Rankings – Wildcard Weekend Playoff, John Crowe
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
NFL Power Rankings – Wildcard Weekend Playoff, John Crowe
Now, with the first ever Super Wild Card Weekend upon us, we get news on Tuesday that the Cleveland Browns will play their first playoff game since 1995 without their head coach Kevin Stefanski as well as two assistant coaches and four players due to positive coronavirus tests. As of Thursday, the Browns had yet to practice this week with everything being done virtually. It’s a huge blow as the Browns travel to Pittsburgh Sunday night for a rematch of their week 17 victory that sealed their postseason ticket.
Can they overcome the loss of their head coach, their offensive play caller as well as safety Ronnie Harrison, linebacker Montrel Meander, guard Joel Bitonio and receiver KhaDarel Hodge on the field? That remains to be seen as special teams coach Mike Priefer leads the Browns.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSo, as we start the historic playoff run, let’s ranked up the challengers to the Chiefs Super Bowl Championship. Just who is on top as the road to Tampa and Super Bowl LV begins? Let’s take a look as well as breakdown the games along the way.
Saturday:
1:05 pm Colts at Bills
Midway through the season, the Colts had the best overall defense in the NFL. That squad has regressed to 8th as the season wound down. Unfortunately for Indy, that’s not a good sign as they head to Buffalo to face the league’s number two overall offense and second-ranked scoring team. Josh Allen’s crew is putting up nearly 400 yards a game (396.4 to be exact) and 31.3 points a game. I don’t see how the Colts keep up against the hottest team in the league. Winner: Bills
4:40 pm Rams at Seahawks
Round three between these two is the rubber match-up. The Rams won in LA while the Seahawks came out on top in Seattle. Obviously, the Rams have that major question mark at QB with Jared Goff’s broken thumb on the mend. Even if he plays, will he be good enough? If not, does Sean McVay go all in with rookie John Wolford? Gotta think Russell Wilson will be the X-factor to move Seattle to round 2. Winner: Seahawks
8:15 pm Buccaneers at Washington
This might be the toughest game to pick all weekend. Sure, on paper, it’s Tampa Bay all day long. Tom Brady, Mike Evans (questionable with a hyperextended knee), Chris Godwin and Rob Gronkowski have it all over the Washington offense that may be a two-headed monster of Alex Smith and Taylor Heinicke getting plays behind center with Smith’s calf strain limiting him. Still, rookie phenom Chase Young is the leader of the second best defense in football and the key man the Bucs have to stop or he could derail Brady’s run at Super Bowl Championship number 7. This one comes right down to the final minutes. Winner: Bucs
Sunday:
1:05 pm Ravens at Titans
Payback time in Tennessee. Last year, the Titans, fresh off a victory over the Patriots in Foxboro, surprised the top-seeded Ravens. This time, there will be no letdown. Lamar Jackson has been laser-focused the last four weeks. I don’t expect that to change against the Titans, who can be scored upon. Winner: Ravens
4:40 pm Bears at Saints
Barring a setback late in the week, the Saints expect to have wide receiver Michael Thomas back for the first time in a month due to an ankle injury. Barring another COVID-19 positive test, running back Alvin Kamara is eligible to return Sunday after missing week 17. So too are the rest of the running backs including Latavious Murray. That’s bad news for the Bears, who even with needing a win last Sunday at home against the Packers, got blown out, 35-16. Winner: Saints
8:15 pm Browns at Steelers
The Steelers won in week 6 38-7, holding Baker Mayfield to 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions and only 119 yards passing. The Browns hung on for a two-point victory to clinch a playoff spot last Sunday. Now, it’s the winner-take-all game three. The unknown is the elephant in the room. How will the absence of head coach Kevin Stefanski on the sidelines calling plays for Mayfield affect the Browns’ offense? Will the Steelers have enough firepower to get things rolling again after playing one good half against the Colts the past five weeks of the season. Winner: Steelers
14. Chicago Bears (8-8, Last week: not ranked)
Congrats Chicago. You made the playoffs even with a loss to the Packers. Good luck in New Orleans.
13. Washington Football Team (7-9, Last week: not ranked)
Washington’s defense led by rookie Chase Young is top notch, so watch out Tom Brady! Unfortunately, WFT is lacking at quarterback as Alex Smith is still nursing that calf injury.
12. Los Angeles Rams (10-6, Last week: not ranked)
Can Jared Goff play with that broken thumb? If not, it’ll be rookie backup John Wolford headed to Seattle fresh off his week 17 victory over the Cardinals in his first NFL start.
11. Cleveland Browns (11-5, Last week: Best of Rest)
Plain and simple - the Browns would be higher if not for the COVID-19 positive tests.
10. Tennessee Titans (11-5, Last week: ranked 10th)
Tennessee will not be a surprise to anyone this postseason run like they were one season ago. The Titans defense will be its downfall.
9. Indianapolis Colts (11-5, Last week: ranked 9th)
The Colts will go as far as Philip Rivers will take them. If he gambles too much, it won’t last past Saturday and the Bills. Jonathan Taylor is a stud at running back. He even outran Mr. 2K Derrick Henry, the NFL’s rushing leader in 2020, 253-250 yards in week 17.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, Last week: ranked 8th)
The jury is still out on the Steelers. It’s time for Big Ben to bring back the big play offense or else it could be one and done in Pittsburgh.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5, Last week: ranked 6th)
It’s money time for Tom Brady. This is why TB12 left New England, to play for a championship without Bill Belichick. Brady’s been on fire the final month and arguably the Bucs have the best chance of any road team in round one. How good has Tom been? How about 12 touchdowns, 1 interception and 4 wins.
6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5, Last week: ranked 7th)
This year’s Ravens team could be more dangerous than last year’s number one seed. Why? Lamar Jackson is more dangerous and playing at a peak level the past three weeks.
5. Seattle Seahawks (12-4, Last week: ranked 5th)
A home game against a division rival with either an injured quarterback in Jared Goff or a back-up in John Wolford is a nice spot for Seattle to start the postseason.
4. New Orleans Saints (13-3, Last week: ranked 4th)
Welcome back Michael Thomas. If Alvin Kamara can join him after his COVID-19 isolation set to end on Sunday, the Saints will be prepping for round 2. The Saints are hot to avoid a second-straight first-round upset.
3. Green Bay Packers (13-3, Last week: ranked 3rd)
Aaron Rodgers has cinched up his MVP for the regular season with 48 touchdown passes. Now, they can rest up round one and see what falls to them coming to Green Bay for the divisional round.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2, Last week: ranked 2nd)
The question will be what Chiefs team will we get after a week-off in week 17’s home loss to the Chargers and a first-round bye. Either way, Patrick Mahomes should be ready and rested for whomever comes to Arrowhead Stadium in round 2.
1. Buffalo Bills (13-3, Last week: ranked 1st)
The Bills are streaking and it’s probably a good thing they continue to play. Sure, they’d love to have a first-round bye, but there’s something to be said for keeping sharp throughout. They’d like to extend their current six-game winning streak into ten with a Super Bowl celebration in Tampa come February.
Last week’s Power Rankings:
Best of Rest: Browns
10. Titans
9. Colts
8. Steelers
7. Ravens
6. Buccaneers
5. Seahawks
4. Saints
3. Packers
2. Chiefs
1. Bills