A few weeks back I wrote about the recent shift in the balance of power from the AFC to the NFC, and with the recent surge of the Giants and the return of their once feared pass rush, I still feel that the four best teams may reside in the NFC as we enter the Playoffs. The Packers, of course, have simply been the best team in the NFL this year, though recent concerns with the health of LT Chad Clifton and RT Bryan Bulaga, along with the lack of a consistent pass rush throughout the season, have caused many to question whether the Saints are a more complete team.
That said, the good news for Packers' fans is that Chad Clifton appears to be healthy and is supposed to start next week's Divisional Game. The Packers are also hopeful that Bulaga may be ready for action next week, as well. Even with the injuries at tackle, Aaron Rodgers still finished the season with the highest passer rating in NFL history at 122.5. Rodgers has benefitted from the return to health of TE Jermichael Finley, a dynamic seam threat and a cover-2 exploiter, and from the addition of Rookie WR Randall Cobb, who has added much needed speed and open-field ability, both after the catch and on special teams. Their concerns again surround the health of their OT's, the lack of a difference maker at RB and a consistent pass rush, either from inside at DT or off the edge opposite Clay Matthews.
The Saints' Offense may be as dangerous as Green Bay's, as Quarterback Drew Brees set the NFL record for yards passing this season behind possibly the League's best offensive line, which features a Pro Bowl LT, Jermon Bushrod, and the two starting Pro Bowl Offensive Guards in Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans. TE Jimmy Graham has emerged as the NFC's equivalent of the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski and has been a difference maker along with Mr. Versatility, Darren Sproles, who was arguably the NFL's best free agent signing, as the lightning quick Sproles broke the NFL record for all-purpose yards this season and provided a huge boost on special teams, as well as in both the running and passing game. Also, the Saints Defense is opportunistic and has benefitted from improved LB play and a ball-hawking secondary.
The Giants are again getting hot at the right time and are a matchup headache for any team because they are physical in the trenches on both sides of the ball and can hammer you and control the clock on offense in bad weather with RB's Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, while QB Eli Manning and WR Victor Cruz have found their groove. What makes the Giants even more dangerous, however, is the return of their pass rash, as OLB Mathias Kiwanuka and DE's Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck are again healthy and have recently begun to look like their old selves. Throw in rising superstar and future NFL Defensive Player of the Year, DE Jason Pierre-Paul and his 16.5 sacks, and you will not find a better pass-rushing foursome in football, as Pierre-Paul can be moved inside on passing downs. The Giants are indeed a scary team and could pose a formidable foe for the Packers' offensive line if they are able to get past the Falcons this week.
Meanwhile, the 49'ers won 13 games and placed four defensive starters on the Pro Bowl, though arguably their best defender, NaVorro Bowman, was snubbed, along with Rookie OLB Aldon Smith and his 14 sacks. Their ball-control, physical offensive attack is the perfect complement for their Defense and presents a squad that is built for any and all weather conditions.
Any of these four teams could represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but if Clifton and Bulaga are healthy, the Packers are still the team to beat.
In the AFC, the Patriots garnered the top seed with 13 wins, though not one of their victories was over a team with a winning record. Tom Brady had another fabulous season, but their Offense lacks vertical speed and a difference maker in the backfield. Moreover, their Defense ranked 31st overall in the NFL, giving up 411.1 yards per game along with 21.4 points per contest.
The Steelers do matchup well against New England, but they are banged up, as RB Rashard Mendenhall tore his ACL in the season finale against Cleveland, and QB Ben Roethlisberger has a gimpy ankle. However, Mendenhall wasn't a huge factor this season, and Isaac Redman is a capable replacement as long as keeps the ball off the turf. With the Steelers having the League's top-ranked Defense, it will likely come down to the health of BIg Ben, as Pittsburgh has developed an elite passing attack which now features the League's top deep threat and burner in WR Mike Wallace, along with underneath weapons in speedy WR Antonio Brown and veteran Hines Ward, not to mention seam stretcher and red zone threat, TE Heath Miller.
The Ravens still have one of the League's top three Defenses and the solid ground game of RB Ray Rice. They have also benefitted from finally having a vertical threat to compliment cagey veteran WR Anquan Boldin, as Rookie WR Torrey Smith is continuing to become more of a more polished WR and not simply a former track star who plays football. However, it will ultimately come down to the play of QB Joe Flacco, and that's why I like the chances of the Patriots and the Steelers more in the AFC than I do of the Ravens.
Let the fun begin!
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