The NFL postseason begins on Saturday with Tremendous Wild-Card Weekend. For the league’s six wild-card groups (Broncos, Chargers, Commanders, Packers, Steelers, Vikings), every is searching for to turn out to be the primary because the 2021 49ers to succeed in their convention championship sport.
Listed here are the three who can take advantage of noise within the playoffs.
3. Washington Commanders (12-5)
Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels heads again to the place he began his NFL profession within the wild-card spherical. Washington misplaced to Tampa Bay, 37-20, means again in Week 1, when the Saints and Cowboys regarded like playoff contenders. So, yeah, it has been some time.
Daniels, the probably Related Press Offensive Rookie of the Yr, set the NFL record for highest completion share amongst rookie quarterbacks with at the least 150 move makes an attempt (69 %). Washington is the most well liked crew coming into the playoffs, successful its final 5 video games.
Daniels has performed a wonderful job dealing with the soccer this yr, throwing solely 9 interceptions. He has a good matchup towards a Bucs protection that has solely picked off opposing quarterbacks seven occasions and is limping heading into the playoffs.
Bucs security Jordan Whitehead will miss the postseason after being concerned in an vehicle accident, whereas security Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) and cornerback Jamel Dean’s (knee) statuses are up within the air, though head coach Todd Bowles expressed optimism each may play towards Washington.
Tampa Bay wants them. As a result of if both is unable to go, the rematch ought to go to the Commanders.
2. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
The Vikings’ punishment for shedding their Week 18 winner-take-all NFC North “Sunday Night time Soccer” showdown with the Lions (15-2) is a visit to the West Coast to play the NFC West champion Rams (10-7), who they misplaced 30-20 to earlier this season every week after a 31-29 loss to Detroit.
May historical past repeat itself?
Led by Tremendous Bowl LVI-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay, the Rams are a crew the remainder of the NFC needs to be lower than thrilled made the sphere.
Beneath defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Vikings are the league’s most blitz-heavy crew, which performs into Stafford’s strengths. According to Pro Football Focus data, Stafford accomplished 66.5 % of his makes an attempt for 1,424 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions when blitzed this season.
Minnesota has a brutal matchup, but it surely did not win 14 video games accidentally. The Vikings have an impressive move rush, ranking sixth in pressure rate (25.3 %) and tied for fourth in sacks (49). Whereas Stafford is superb at figuring out blitzes, he is been one of many league’s worst quarterbacks when pressured, throwing two touchdowns and 6 interceptions. (h/t PFF)
Per Sumer Sports data, the Rams function out of 11 personnel (one working again, one tight finish and three large receivers) on the league’s second-highest price (80.9 %). Minnesota is third in defensive expected points added per play towards 11 personnel.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold should play higher than final Sunday towards the Lions when he was 18-of-41 for 166 yards, and he has a powerful infrastructure round him to take action.
If Minnesota advances previous the Rams, it’ll probably play the Eagles (14-3) or Lions on the highway (or host the Commanders) within the divisional spherical. The 2 likelier choices could be daunting, however writing off the Vikings is silly.
1. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
The Chargers have been the largest beneficiaries of the Bengals’ Week 18 win towards the Steelers. Consequently, Los Angeles moved into the 5-seed, the place it received probably the most favorable wild-card matchup, taking part in the struggling Texans (10-7).
With the 2-seed Payments (13-4) and 3-seed Ravens (12-5) anticipated to win their video games, the Chargers are well-positioned to play the Chiefs (15-2) within the divisional spherical at Arrowhead.
The Chargers misplaced their two video games to Kansas Metropolis throughout the common season by a mixed 9 factors, together with a walk-off area aim on the highway in Week 14. The following time they play, it should not shock anybody if the Chargers emerge on prime.
