The NFL had no shortage of exciting games this Super Wild Card weekend, as the league’s first postseason weekend lived up to its name. the Jacksonville Jaguars He came back from 27 points down to beat Los Angeles Chargers In the most exciting game of the weekend, while New York Giants The Dallas Cowboys were the only teams on the road to clinch victory in the wild card round.
Neither No. 7 seed has been able to beat the No. 2 seeds, putting the No. 7 seeds 0-6 since the expansion of the playoff format in 2020. Although the games have been good, the top seeds have been able to take care of themselves. Business and set up an exciting divisional playoff tour.
With six teams nearing the end of their seasons and six ahead, it’s a perfect time for overreactions to the wild run of the postseason. What are overreactions and which ones are the truth?
Dak Prescott is finally the quarterback of the postseason
Overreaction or reality? exaggeration
Prescott deserves all the accolades for how he played against the Buccaneers, going 25 of 33 for 305 yards with four touchdowns to zero interceptions—while also rushing for 24 yards and a touchdown—in the Cowboys victory. Prescott finished with the highest passer rating (143.3) per game in Cowboys playoff history (minimum 20 attempts) and became only the fifth quarterback to have four touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown in NFL playoff history.
While the performance was impressive by Prescott, he and the Cowboys need to get past the divisional round in order to earn that reputation as a quarterback in the postseason. The Cowboys had not attended the conference championship game since the 1995 season, but they did manage to win their first road playoff game in 30 years.
Prescott needs to lead Dallas past the San Francisco 49ers to earn postseason reputation. A win against the 8-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers does not make one a quarterback in the postseason.
Tom Brady is not getting back together hacker next season
Overreaction or reality? Indeed
The Pirates were a disaster on offense throughout the 2022 seaosn, the year Brady broke the NFL record for completions and attempts. It was Brady’s first losing record in his junior career (8-9) and his 18.4 points per game were the fewest of any Brady-led offense.
Tampa Bay has been bombed before Dallas Cowboys In the NFC Wild Card round, Brady went 35-of-66 for 351 yards with two touchdowns and one interception (72.2 rating)—and those two touchdowns were when the game was out of control.
Head coach Todd Bowles couldn’t seem to help Brady through what was going on in his personal life this season and he couldn’t keep the Pirates as Super Bowl contenders. Byron Leftwich’s offense definitely suffered with Brady’s aging and weak offensive line, not forgetting the terrible running game and offensive line he couldn’t protect.
Brady probably doesn’t want to go out that way and he’ll have his options in free agency with better rosters and better coaches around him. He could stay in Tampa Bay, but both the Bulls and Leftwich may have to go to the Buccaneers for a chance.
Brandon Staley should not be the Chargers’ head coach next season
Overreaction or reality? Indeed
It all depends on whether the Chargers can lure Sean Payton into the building, give him a chance to coach Justin Herbert and bring in a solid staff to get the most out of their quarterback. Staley isn’t a bad head coach and should get another job, but it’s hard to justify keeping a coach who plays starting — and gets them hurt — in a stale regular season finale and throws more ball than a team that was trailing by 27 points (a game the Chargers lost).
That would come down to whether owner Dean Spanos wants Staley to pay Staley his contract and Payton a hefty salary to get him to coach the franchise. The Chargers have been 10-7 this season and expectations will be higher with Payton.
This team is talented enough to be one of the best in the AFC. Payton is worth the gamble, especially with a quarterback in Herbert.
Doug Pederson is the best coach the Jaguars have ever had
Overreaction or reality? exaggeration
Pederson has already achieved a winning playoff in his first season with the Jaguars. Who would have seen that coming into the season, taking on a team with the worst record in the NFL the previous season and owning the #1 draft pick? The Jaguars were the first team in NFL history to start 2-6 and win a playoff game and the first team to have a first draft pick in the previous season and win a playoff game.
Remember, this is Pederson’s first season, after a turbulent year in the franchise with Urban Meyer and a laugh in the NFL. Six wins would have been good enough, however, Pederson led the Jaguars to the AFC South title and play-off victory. He deserves to be talked about as the best coach in Jaguar history.
That honor still belongs to Tom Coughlin, whose Jacksonville was the Super Bowl contender in the late 1990s and took the team to two AFC Championship appearances, including a 36-12 record from 1997 to 1999 with two AFC Central titles. Pedersen enters the conversation with more success each week.
Overreaction or reality? exaggeration
This isn’t a strike against Purdy, but the 49ers are a really talented bunch – especially in skill positions. Christian McCaffrey is a difference maker on that offense and then Debo adds Samuel and what he brings as a receiver and runner as well as trying to stop McCaffrey.
The 49ers have George Kettle – arguably Birdie’s favorite target – and Brandon Ayuk to boot. Add to Kyle Shanahan’s area-running scheme and his ability to open receivers wide help Purdy succeed despite the seventh-inning rookie pick tied to his name.
Can Purdy carry the 49ers to the Super Bowl? He does not have to play quarterback on this offense. All Purdy has to do is not turn the football over and allow the playmakers to make plays after catching it. The 49ers can also be said to have the best defense in the league as well.
Purdy doesn’t have to win matches—nor championships—for San Francisco.
Overreaction or reality? Indeed
Allen led the NFL in gifts this season, but the Bills quarterback has been getting better at not turning the football around late in the season. Before Sunday’s game vs dolphinsAllen has only had five gifts over his last five games – Buffalo won all of the games.
These turnover issues came back to haunt Allen Sunday, as he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The Dolphins scored 17 points on turnovers to survive a game in which they trailed 17-0 – and even took a lead in the second half.
If Allen commits three turnovers against a non-quarterback team on the third string, the Bills will likely lose that game. Allen will have to keep mistakes to a minimum the rest of the way, or the Bills will come home earlier than expected.
The Dolphins beat the Bills if they play Tua Tagovailoa
Overreaction or reality? Indeed
Skylar Thompson was 18 of 45 for 220 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions (44.7 rating) in Sunday’s loss to the Bills, so it wasn’t a good quarterback play. Tagovailoa led the league in passer rating this year, but who knows if he’d be the same starter before his second injury ultimately ended his season?
The Dolphins offense was more explosive with Tagovailoa under center and Jaylen Waddell more effective. Mike McDaniel’s clock management was baffling throughout the second half regardless of the quarterback. Having Tagovailoa under center makes a difference for the Dolphins, even if the offensive line allows 11 sacks and quarterback strikes.
Perhaps the Dolphins will score more than 31 points with Tagovailoa. These many points with Thompson are enough to beat most teams.
Daniel Jones is the quarterback
Overreaction or reality? exaggeration
There’s no denying how well Jones played in Sunday’s win over Vikings, finishing 24 of 35 for 301 yards and two touchdowns – while also rushing for 78 yards. Jones is the first player in NFL history to throw for 300 yards, rush for 75 yards, and throw for two touchdowns in a playoff game – providing quarterbacks with an outstanding performance.
Jones was impressive on Sunday, but he was also facing a Vikings defense that was 31 on yards allowed and 31 against a pass. They allowed 2.07 points per possession, which was 27th in the NFL. This was not an elite defense that Jones played, facing a 13-win team with a negative point margin.
Jones has made amazing strides this year and deserves a contract extension. Maybe win over the Eagles This matter will be reconsidered.
The Vikings will lose next season
Overreaction or reality? Indeed
With the way the Vikings are currently built, Minnesota is bound to slip into mediocrity. Take away Justin Jefferson and the Vikings offense isn’t effective due to a lack of a #2 wide receiver and a below-average offensive line (and Minnesota is improved).
The Vikings defense needs major improvements as it has been one of the worst in the NFL, especially against a pass. the Green Bay Packers Things figured late in the season and Detroit Lions Rising team. The NFC North will not be as easy as it was in 2022.
It looks like Minnesota is the team to fall back on. They have already won 13 matches and had a negative point difference.
JK Dobbins is right about not getting the ball
Overreaction or reality? Indeed
Dobbins was it crows Better came back in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, yet he only had 13 strikeouts leading the team to 62 yards. Like the timeout John Harbaugh left on the table, was he salvaging Dobbins’ campaigns for next season?
Dobbins was the Ravens’ best running back since his return in Week 14, rushing for 397 yards for an average of 7.0 yards per carry. The Ravens decided to give Jas Edwards and Tyler Huntley in the red zone over Dobbins, who had only one carry for two yards in the red zone (two touchdowns overall).
Harbaugh made some huge mistakes in Sunday’s loss, but his biggest mistake was not giving Dobbins a 20-plus. Dobbins was Baltimore’s best point-scoring opportunity and wanted the ball in the postseason. feed him.
the Bengals Offensive line injuries will cost them the AFC
Overreaction or reality? Indeed
Cincinnati’s offensive line was a big reason the Bengals finished 12-2 after an 0-2 start, allowing Joe Burrow and that explosive offense to make the pitch. The Bengals have lost three starting offensive linemen in the past three games, all major losses for a team looking to return to the Super Bowl.
Losing La’El Collins this season was massive and Jonah Williams could be next – both starting line-ups. Alex Cappa takes some of the power to run the ball, leaving Cincinnati scrambling to put the pieces together as Buffalo emerges.
The bills can get a quarterback and Kansas City Chiefs Second in the league in sacks. Burrow overcame a weak offensive line last year, but it’s hard to maintain that success after two straight seasons.
Losing either way could spell doomsday for Cincinnati.