By Chinmay Kulkarni

There are few quarterbacks in the league that generate extreme mediocrity as Matt Ryan. Since the Falcons appearance in SuperBowl LI, the Falcons, and Matt Ryan have consistently maintained average or slightly before average. The NFC South in contrast, has frankly been one of the better divisions over the past few years, with the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers battling for the division title.  

Yet, we’re about to see a material switch in the NFC South resulting from both Tom Brady and Drew Brees ”“ titans of the division over the past 5 years – retiring from NFL football entirely. Will this mean a severe regression into the bottom part of the league for the NFC South? Possible. But with a changing of the guard to other teams within the division, the Falcons are poised to make a clear run to the NFC title. They have two obvious choices in direction – keeping Ryan and making a run at the playoffs with a good offensive roster, or investing for the future ”“ sacrificing near-term success by trading Ryan and getting younger with the rest of the roster. Let’s look at some potential trade destinations for the Atlanta quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers would be the most obvious choice and the best fit for Ryan. Originally from Pennsylvania, this would essentially be a homecoming for the aging quarterback.

The Steelers clearly have the defensive firepower alone to contend with the best teams in the NFL. With more coaching reinforcements with Brian Flores joining the team, the defense won’t chance at skipping a beat from last season. However, the quarterback position is the missing piece for sustained success. With a Matt Ryan trade to the Steelers, a slightly younger pocket passer would be replacing a just-retired pocket passer in Big Ben.

Would it make sense for the Steelers from a future standpoint? Probably not. Ryan’s contract ends after the 2023 season, making him an unrestricted free agent. With the rest of the AFC North getting much better, along with the rest of the AFC, it might be worth tanking for a few seasons until a generational quarterback is available in the draft. Therefore, Matt Ryan seems like a very temporary solution counterintuitive to the Steelers long-term agenda that will likely not provide the return on investment.

Washington Commanders

I’m not going to lie, writing Washington Commanders for the first time felt really odd. For one, I really liked the Football Team name.

Regardless, Taylor Heinicke was always the short-term solution for a team that has whiffed on quarterback-heavy drafts. Though going toe-to-toe with Tom Brady in the playoffs last season, the Football team needs to think about a long-term solution in a generally easy NFC East.

Matt Ryan seems like another plug-and-chug option for their quarterback woes. In an improving NFC East, Ryan should be just enough to keep up with the Cowboys, with nowhere near the offensive weapons. While the Commanders are also a younger team, adding a quarterback doesn’t seem to be enough to win a playoff game. If they can somehow get a package deal of Calvin Ridley and Matt Ryan, that might be the catalyst to contend for the division title. However, in the present, the wide receiving group in Washington is not enough for even short term success.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos have been in the news most notably for their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. If John Elway manages to swing-and-miss on that acquisition, Matt Ryan is a really good fall-back option. With a decently mobile quarterback who’s not afraid to throw downfield, the host of receiving threats on the Broncos may earn a place with the rest of the supercharged offenses in the AFC.

If needs to be noted what the Broncos would give up in this trade, likely a wide receiver if anything. If the Broncos can keep Noah Fant, Courtland Sutton, and Jerry Jeudy, they should be able to be competitive in most games. However, the bar seems to be set way too high in the AFC, especially in the AFC West. Though Ryan would be a great fit in the big play system of the Broncos, they should not be mortgaging their future for this near-term success that won’t win a division title.

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By: Chinmay Kulkarni

The art of using social media to make claims, muddle the story, and keep people guessing is getting increasingly rare, as people post random hot sports takes on the internet like ”˜Jameis Winston is a Hall of Famer’. However, internet commenters aside, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a knack of sending people spiraling while he plays 5D chess with the entirety of sports media.

Rodgers recently took to social media to relieve his own opinions of the Packers season, his teammates, his personal life, and his future in the NFL. While not an entirely surprising move on his part, Rodgers tends to be a private person with respect to his decisions – keeping speculations at an all-time high while the NFL media tries to piece together his cryptic messages like Nicholas Cage in National Treasure. In this Instagram post, he specifically mentions his best friends on the team and posted a particular image of an empty spot between receivers Randall Cobb and Davante Adams during the national anthem, a spot where Rodgers typically stands.

While the Packers QB was absent during that game, the image still spurs speculation on whether that empty spot could symbolize Rodgers leaving the Packers for another team. The text of his Instagram post was also reminiscent of a goodbye to his teammates, a potential way to end his chapter with the Packers.

While slithery has been at an all-time high, the point remains that a speculated move from the Packers has been anticipated for the past few seasons. Friction between the Packers front office, Matt LaFleur, and Rodgers has caused a deterioration of relationships between the parties, spurring a potential move to the Broncos, Steelers, Niners, or other teams. In the meanwhile, Rodgers likely anticipated the fall out of his post and proceeded to clear his story in person on the Pat Macafee show. He said he loved the moment where Tae and Cobb stood on the sideline and there was no hint of leaving the Pack immediately.

Therefore, while the story remains on the backburner with the shadow of an impending move coming ever so closer, we’ll likely have to wait for the blockbuster trade during the summer.

The story of Former Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett throws a greater wrench in a potential move from Rodgers. Hackett was one of the individuals receiving praise during the Instagram story, all while moving for the head coach job for the Denver Broncos. However, Rodgers has clearly stated in interviews that Hackett is one of his personal favorites. With the Broncos looking to move on from Bridgewater or Lock, John Elway has been bold by making it evident to pursue QB prospects like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins in the offseason. Could we see an overhaul between these two teams involving the plethora of good receiving talent on both teams ”“ it seems likely.

If the Broncos were to somehow get both Rodgers and Davante Adams, they would still pay a heavy price in the talent to lose. We’d likely see Teddy Bridgewater make his return to the NFC North, this time with the Packers, as well as receiving threats such as Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, plus numerous picks being moved.

If Tae and Rodgers can go to Denver, I expect that to be his favorite last hoorah. If Rodgers can’t jump ship with Adams, it seems that Rodgers will remain in Lambeau with Adams and LaFleur. It seems that the Packers won’t let Tae leave (they should franchise tag him), so I expect Rodgers + Adams to remain in Green Bay. Adams was Rodgers’s biggest reason to come out guns blazing in 2021.

There is a chance Rodgers ends his career. Rodgers has always been a cerebral personality, tending to other parts of his life, particularly with a passion for travel and hosting Jeopardy. While these options may seem in the realm of unlikely, Aaron Rodgers has never held back from the media to surprise everyone”¦.

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By Chinmay Kulkarni

The NFL has an embarrassment of riches with it comes to young, promising quarterbacks. Unfortunately, these players have all been thrown into the AFC like an insanely biased game of dart, turning it into a future bloodbath resulting in good teams getting unlucky, and those that catch lightning in a bottle. This year’s Cincinnati Bengals were no different, going from a losing team to winning the division and the conference while losing in the Superbowl.

However, I believe the odds of the Bengals reaching another Superbowl soon is highly unlikely, due to the sole purpose of tough competition in nearly every AFC division. Let’s look at some dark horse candidates that might make it to the AFC Championship game.

Los Angeles Chargers

The LA Chargers are a weird team, making some amazing plays at times, and completely biffing it in others. As one of the worst run defenses in the league, teams like the Raiders and Browns had a complete field day on the soft defense. Next season is likely to be a make-or-break year, as rumblings of Brandon Staley on the hot seat start to emerge while wasting Justin Herbert’s talent.

The Chargers must make the playoffs next year despite the extremely tough division with a potentially elite quarterback at every team depending on off-season signings (ahm Aaron Rodgers). However, they seem like the most likely to copy the Bengals formula, and therefore can still catch lightning in a bottle.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are certainly building something, having winning seasons under Tua despite having a questionable show front office. The signing of the next head coach Mike McDaniel seems to have the binary direction of either going extremely well or extremely poorly. However, unlike the Bears who keep hiring defensive minds, their new offensive head coach will need to create schemes to beat both the Bills and improved Patriots and Jets teams looking to better themselves in the off-season.

While I don’t expect the Dolphins to win the division, they’re still relevant as a wild card team provided they beat the plethora of weaker teams resulting from a relatively easy strength of schedule. However, it’s certain that Miami is building something, and more weapons around Tua will strengthen their case.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are historically one of the most consistent NFL franchises, making the relatively seamless transition between Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson. Unfortunately, this season’s struggles can be attributed to the plethora of injuries to the running game as well as defense. However, even with an absent team, the Ravens were the number one seed for a week this regular season. As one of the grittiest and most talented teams in the league, they should have a straight shot to the playoffs with an easy 2022 regular season. The only case against them ”“ their tough division.

Honorable Mention – New England Patriots

It’s even sacrilegious to say that the New England Patriots can’t flip a switch, taking them to a few divisional rounds or AFC Championship games. The first year for Mac Jones is considered nothing less than a smashing success, with the rookie making an appearance in the Pro Bowl after getting smacked around in the playoffs by the Buffalo Bills.

First, the Patriots must surround the quarterback with talent at the wide receiver and running back position. The Patriots haven’t been too keen to draft extreme playmakers at the receiving positions, but taking a younger prospect from the draft to learn and grow with Jones is a pattern with the plethora of other young quarterbacks in the AFC.

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By: Chinmay Kulkarni

In the world of NFL coaches, the name Zac Taylor is not a household name. As the Cincinnati Bengals head coach, being a part of a struggling, small-market team means not getting much national media attention – both a blessing and a curse to his career and team. Now, Taylor has willed this team into the Super Bowl, with exceptional play-calling and draft intuition that’s left his team on the cusp of a major victory for the city of Cincinnati.

Despite his almost no-name stature, Taylor played quarterback at Nebraska and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2006. The Norman, Oklahoma native committed to the NFL draft, going undrafted while signing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL. It’s safe to say that his playing career never took off, but eventually found a path via coaching.

The meteoric rise to success starts with the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2012. In 2015, he was promoted to interim offensive coordinator under interim head coach Dan Campbell. The Miami Dolphins were a complete clown show in 2015, and it was safe to say that they lost quite a few games that season. Fortunately, Taylor was eventually hired again as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Due to the grooming of Ryan Tannehill in the NFL, Taylor was finally making a name for himself and rose up the coaching ranks. In 2017, he was hired as the assistant wide receivers coach for the LA Rams, becoming a quarterbacks coach in during his tenure as well. Taylor was officially a part of the McVay mafia.

Taylor was eventually hired as the head coach of the Bengals in 2019. The success for the team was not immediate, with Andy Dalton at the helm with a hodgepodge of players from different coaches an drafts being forced to play together. The Andy Dalton saga for the Bengals was destined to end, with the drafting of Joe Burrow as the number one overall pick in 2020. The team greatly improved with the quarterback and wide receiver talent at skill positions, and with an upwards direction, performance was trending north until a season-ending knee injury to Joe Burrow. Fortunately, the team came back stronger in 2021 by drafting Ja’Marr Chase and Evan McPherson, two players that would be known for their dependability. Chase showed that he was arguably the most talented rookie in the NFL in his first tear as a pro.

Zac Taylor has coached for 10 years. In this time, he’s gone from assistant coaching positions to Superbowl head coach. The fact remains that this young, inexperienced team has much to prove. The LA Rams have better players at nearly every single position on the football field. However, the Bengals cannot be slept on and are playing with house money. The team has several years to grow and develop together without being under the gun of time. If Zac Taylor can keep his core together, healthy, and performing at a high level, he and his team should be a playoff contender year after year.

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By Chinmay Kulkarni

It’s truly a bittersweet time in the football season. The 5-month buildup to the greatest single game in American sports is just around the corner, following an amazing set of playoff matchups with twists, turns, and comebacks every round. It’s sad knowing there’s only one game left, and I look back on this season in providing me with hundreds of hours of entertainment, through fantasy football, gambling, and just being a fan of the game. No American sport has the crazy, vivacious, religious following like the NFL, and the Super Bowl is the perfect culmination of that.

Feelings aside, we’ve arrived at a very strange matchup. The Cincinnati Bengals have defied all odds, from midseason struggles, a QB coming back from significant knee surgery, and a weak offensive line. However, as one of the most tenacious teams in the league, their big play offense and reasonable defense have elevated their play to make the most meaningful plays in the most difficult of times. No other moments like this were as pivotal as the AFC championship game, with Mahomes throwing two interceptions, one in overtime, that led to the walk-off field goal from Evan McPherson ”“ likely one of the best young kickers in the NFL. We’ve known the Bengals have always had a great offense, but the defense especially stepped up, bottling up the Chiefs to 3-points in the second half, and making huge plays against the Titans in the divisional round. The Bengals are the more dangerous yet inexperienced team in the Super Bowl, likely to be playing with house money.

The Rams on the other hand, had a very up and down regular season and playoffs. LA seems to play up or down to their opponents. As clearly one of the most talented teams in the NFL with the greatest number of sheer weapons – play calling, grit, and mental errors have caused some mishaps during the season. The Rams seem to play in several close games, rarely beating teams convincingly ”“ seen this season against the 49ers, a team with lesser talent but overall better coached. The inconsistencies of Matt Stafford also rear their ugly head occasionally, reverting back to Lions Matt Stafford that throws 3-INTs per game. A full team effort from all guys plus bulletproof play calling needs to take effect in the Superbowl.

On paper, either team has a very clear game plan. The Bengals need to focus on preventing sacks and defensive miscues, as this game will likely be won on better defense and whether the defense can contain Cooper Kupp. Kupp is likely the greatest wild card in the Rams sleeve ”“ though he’s by far the best WR on the season, teams don’t cover him on 3^rd down or the endzone. The attention to Higbee, Jefferson, and OBJ will be key as well, likely relying on safety help on a tight end or Kupp. The Bengals on offense cannot afford to turn the ball over. It’s not crazy to say that Joe Burrow is a better quarterback than Matt Stafford, with fewer turnovers.  

If there are real winners in this Superbowl, it’s the city of Cincinnati ”“ never did they think about making the Superbowl with a second-year quarterback, and they’ve turned into a really fun fanbase to root with, like Bills Mafia. The Bears and the Jets are also winners as well, beating the Bengals in the regular season. Regardless, this should be a great game.

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By Chinmay Kulkarni

”˜The Dallas Cowboys are the most overrated team in NFL history ”“ that’s a statement from a Cowboys fan. The magic of “America’s team” has slowly faded away in previous memory. It’s insanity to think that performing the same thing over and over again would ever yield different results, but since the turn of the 21st century, the Cowboys have floundered mightily in the playoffs. As nearly every NFL-fan and Cowboys hater has memorized, previous Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has two playoff wins in his career, followed by Dak’s one playoff win against the Seahawks in the 2018 playoffs. I will say that Romo was a first-class QB and one of the best-undrafted gems of all time. Nonetheless, Dallas has failed to advance past the divisional round of the playoffs since 1995, the year they won the Superbowl. Many younger fans like me don’t even have memories of their post-season success, and it’s something of a wild card that TV personalities have used to express disdain over the overhyped “franchise”.

However, it’s not worth dwelling on the past. We all should take a long look in the mirror to figure out what needs to be done. Though the kneejerk reaction is to fire everyone, surprisingly, the fish doesn’t stink from the top down. The Dallas play-calling has been abhorrent, playing the wrong plays at the wrong time, and culminating in the QB sneak on 4^th down at the end of their playoff loss to the Niners.

It’s no doubt that Kellen Moore has built an offense with the best weapons in the league ”“ 2^nd best passing offense, 9^th best running offense, best offense by total yards ”“ the accolades don’t stop on the scoring side of the ball. Jones also really deserves credit for adding figures like Ceedee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and retaining Tyron Smith in the past few years. Unfortunately, these players and awards are meaningless without discipline, being the single most penalized team in the NFL and ceding the most penalty yards per game. Does this team not have the hunger, does this team have a bad coaching staff, are they drafting amazing prospects with a disregard for the intricacies of the game ”“ these are questions that the front office must ask.

A surprising bright spot for the Cowboys has been the defense. Atlanta outcast Dan Quinn has managed to convert a weak defensive unit into one of the best in the league, having the most takeaways of any unit on the season. CB Trevon Siggs and LB Micah Parsons have been elite figures and they could very well wind up as Hall of Fame talents. Parsons has been so impressive that he’s garnered comparisons to Lawrence Taylor. Meanwhile, CB Trevon Diggs was an interception machine, despite being burnt toast a lot of the time. The Boys defense was a fine complement to Prescott and they led the league in turnovers for good reason. But, will it be enough to help the NFC East champions conquer pedestrian QBs in playoff seasons ahead?

The biggest question on defense rests with edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence, who is a $19 million dollar question mark. The fact is that they need him to stay and he might know it, too. Lawrence was a fierce run-stopper, sack machine, and a defensive touchdown highlight reel when he was healthy. The Cowboys could look to move Amari Cooper and make sure they can afford Lawrence. If Cooper leaves, they might be able to obtain Tank Lawrence and soon to be free agent WR Michael Gallup.

The coaching faces in Dallas could have a reshuffle. Dan Quinn and Kellen Moore are already interviewing with other teams for head coaching opportunities. Moore is a hot commodity and every team wants an OC that can put up 5,000 passing yards with a QB. But, Kellen Moore could even stay in Dallas in the near future. Mike McCarthy could feel the ole heat Jason Garrett received if he loses another playoff game. With some of the best weapons in the league on both sides of the ball, which young coach in the NFL wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to coach in Dallas?

All in all, It’s predictable that the Cowboys will make the playoffs next year. The question is, what will happen after that?

The post Can the Dallas Cowboys turn the tide in 2022? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Chinmay Kulkarni

The first-ever Super Wild Card Weekend finally comes to an anticlimactic close, full of games that were either ref shows or all-out pummeling by the heavy favorites. A fun fact for all the bettors out there ”“ favorites went 5/6 in Wild Card Weekend, leaving only the Dallas Cowboys to do the yearly disservice of letting down their fans and handicappers all around the US. However, random stats aside, the Divisional Round is nearly upon us, and it’s chock-full of teams having had historical success. A few intriguing matchups this week from a statistical standpoint make a statement, so it’s once again time to make some predictions.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans

It’s impossible to hate this Bengals team. Joe Burrow has been electric all season, the running game has been efficient, and the city of Cincinnati might be ascending into one of the better fanbases in the NFL. Watching this team is truly a treat, but they’ve recently played some odd games. The Bengals offense sometimes trends towards clunky ”“ something that we saw during the Raiders Wild Card game. Though the Raiders are generally a tough team to play, the Bengals are still a better-coached team, with a better quarterback and better offensive weapons. So, it’s concerning that the Bengals are facing the 6^th best defense in the league in terms of restricting points/game with the Titans defense. The rested Titans are a completely different animal with AJ Brown and Julio Jones back and healthy. With the potential of Derrick Henry back in the lineup, Tennessee is a team that the Bengals strive to be within 5-years. It’s been a great season for the Bengals, but playing on the road to a rested 1-seed that can both run and throw the ball effectively seems like a tall task for the young Bengals.

San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers

This is a clear matchup of quarterback versus quarterback, and Aaron Rodgers has the fire-power around him to place to Packers on his shoulders and carry the 1-seed into the NFC Championship. The Niners have always been a tough, gritty, physical, well-coached team, but with respect to the ease of offense either live or die with the performance of Jimmy Garoppolo. Though these teams have already played this year in Santa Clara, this is a new, more refined Packers team that already has the puzzle pieces together with respect to some of their key defensive players. If there’s a chance to beat the Packers, SF must pressure the quarterback. As one of the top teams in sack percentage, the Niners defense must get Rodgers into uncomfortable situations. However, the Niners are pretty similar to the Raiders in terms of toughness, and I think this will be a low-scoring, defensive affair with the Niners losing to the Packers by one score.

Los Angeles Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is quite literally the sort of game that Tom Brady wakes up for. The Rams beat Tampa at home in week 3 of this season, with this playoff matchup happening in Florida instead. Los Angeles has been a largely inconsistent team this season, hinged by the play of Matt Stafford on whether the Lions version of himself shows up in critical situations. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the Rams are peaking at the right moment, with an extremely strong defensive showing in the beatdown of the Cardinals on Monday Night Football and a blueprint of a game where Cooper Kupp takes a back seat to other receivers on the team. On the other side, Tampa had an easy showing against the weaker Eagles team. Unfortunately for them, their success will come down to their injured offensive line – especially Ryan Jensen and Tristen Wirfs. The Rams have one of the best pass rushes in the league and take advantage of the building injuries and a weaker secondary of the Bucs. The Rams will knock off the defending champs in a high scoring affair.

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs

The rematch of last year’s AFC championship game is coming a bit too soon, as likely the best two teams in the AFC compete in the divisional round for what should be the most anticipated game of the weekend. The Bills and Chiefs are peaking at exactly the right time. The Chiefs put on a complete clown show on the Steelers, throwing touchdowns to offensive linemen and flips into the endzone by Tyreek Hill. However, this is the same situation with the embarrassment of the New England Patriots by the Bills, showing everyone how difficult it is to play in a freezing Buffalo. This game is likely to have the offensive fireworks to wrap up the divisional round on Sunday night, however, the top defense of the Bills is a sight to hold. The defense is something that makes a difference this week, and the Bills beat the Chiefs on the road to advance to their second straight AFC championship.

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By Chinmay Kulkarni

That was a wild week 18 finish to close out the regular season. The bittersweet crossroads of not watching Scott Hanson on my TV screen and addictive playoff football have arrived. Let’s look at some of the NFC teams and make some predictions.

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Since the beginning of the season, the recipe to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been to effectively throw the ball deep to expose their ailing secondary. As the singular worst passing defenses in the league by opponent passes/game, they’ve devoted their efforts to stopping all semblance of a running attack in a very ground-heavy NFC south. The Bucs have a top-3 rushing defense and hold their opponents to the least percentage of running plays per game. Does this sound like a huge problem for the Eagles ”“ YES! The Eagles are the premier running team in the league, using the ground game 51% of the time – the most in the entire league. If the Eagles even stand a semblance of a chance to keep pace with the Bucs’ second-best scoring offense, Jalen Hurts MUST throw the ball. This game will likely be won in the first half, in what should be expected as a game where Tampa scores with ease, and the Eagles struggle to gain momentum on the road.

San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have been a weird team this year. I compare ”˜America’s team’ to the stock market ”“ when the Cowboys stock gets too high, the team struggles mightily ”“ especially in matchups following big wins (i.e.  against the Cards after thumping Washington). Everyone thought the Cowboys were Superbowl contenders after beating the WFT, and their recent 50-point performance against the Eagles is extremely reminiscent of a huge upcoming letdown spot. Meanwhile, the Niners have done nothing but exceed all sorts of expectations, being left for dead when they lost their entire backfield, then left for dead when Trey Lance played around the midseason, and then left for dead for a third time when Jimmy G broke his hand. To the dismay of Saints fans everywhere, San Francisco is in the playoffs, with a strong running game, and top-5 defense with respect to limiting total yards. The Cowboys on the other hand, have the most potent offense in the league, and a rested defense with Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons coming off week 18 rest weeks. The Cowboys should be projected to win this game, but as one of the grittiest teams in the league, don’t be surprised if the Niners keep scoring close to the final whistle.

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

The greatest storylines of these division rivals stand on the Cardinals’ sidelines, with the return of J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins (not confirmed but projected to play in the post-season). While key additions to spreading the ball around come for Kyler Murray’s clunky offense, the Cardinals have everything to play for with respect to post-season success with a young quarterback. Arizona prides themselves on their road warrior status, only losing a Week 15 matchup against Detroit in an opponent’s stadium. The Rams on the other side have been the ”˜on paper’ darlings. If football were played on a spreadsheet, the Rams would win the Superbowl nine times out of ten. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as the best finesse-team in the league has head scratching losses while securing a top-10 offense and defense by simply throwing draft picks into the trash. Much of the Rams’ success will likely depend on play calling and interceptions thrown by Matt Stafford. Therefore, this game will truly show whether the Rams can grit out playoff wins and stop getting in their own way, for their Superbowl or bust season may end abruptly if they continue playing poorly. I still predict an upset victory from Arizona.

Green Bay Packers (Bye)

Despite the drama in Green Bay, the Packers continue to exert their iron fist on the rest of the NFC with the power of weather. The narrative of ”˜going up to Lambeau for a playoff game’ has been beaten since the times of Favre. It’s truly difficult to see success from teams going up to Green Bay and even producing in the frozen tundra. Watching indoor teams like the Rams and the Cardinals seems wrong and borderline torturous for snowbird destination that plays and practices in nice weather. Supremely physical teams like the Niners and Buccaneers seem to stand a better chance in the cold, while the true wild card of Philadelphia are built for the cold if they beat the Bucs in the first round. The Packers maintain one of the best offenses in the league, having a top 10 passing offense and middle of the pack rushing attack. While the defense has been inconsistent, they still hold opponents to some of the least number of points in the league. Going into the playoffs on a loss to the divisional Lions isn’t ideal, but as a very talented team, they own everything for a deep playoffs push.

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By Chinmay Kulkarni

The NFL is a weird place. Teams that peak at the right time don’t make the playoffs, while others getting ”˜struggle wins’ sneak into contention. Somehow finding themselves winning games without performing to their top potential, the LA Rams are currently the epitome of this select group. As of week 17, the Rams stand at the 2-seed in the NFC playoff race and likely locked into the spot with a Jimmy G-less Niners team in week 18. However, their road to the 2^nd seed was one fraught with inconsistency and begs the question ”“ ”˜is this lackadaisical play a sign of playoff struggles this season?’

It’s clear that the buck starts and stops with QB Matthew Stafford, throwing 6 INTS and 5 TDs over the past 3 weeks – wins against Seattle, Minnesota, and Baltimore. His average passer rating of 83 over this stretch furthers the narrative of his unideal play ”“ likely meaning that the incompetence of Kirk Cousins and Tyler Huntley (though he didn’t play that bad) was the key contributor to the victory. When it comes to the Rams against the spread, they stand at 8-8, the clear odds makers darling, losing in this category against weak teams like the Lions, Texans, and Ravens. Clearly, the Rams play down to their competition, and really wake up for high-level competition.

Though stats may not be in favor of the Rams ”“ one of the worst rushing teams and frequent turnovers ”“ LA’s losses come against stiff competition. Their first loss was a week 4 home loss to Arizona, a 3-game losing streak in weeks 9 to 12 (bye week 11) against the Titans, Niners, and Packers. The only suspect competition is likely SF, but Kyle Shanahan has owned Sean McVay’s since coming to the NFC West and may even make the playoffs given their starting QB situation. Surprisingly, Stafford threw for 3 TDs and 1 INT against the Packers at Lambeau in what likely brought back NFC North memories, but it remains whether he can turn the tables come January.  

An interesting stat should be highlighted in favor of Matt Stafford ”“ his success at home versus on the road. Stafford has thrown only 4 INTs at home versus 11 INTS on the road, while completing roughly the same number of TD passes for both home and away games. Should the Rams stay in the 2^nd seed in the NFC, the road goes through So-Fi stadium barring a trip to Lambeau Field in the NFC championship game, faring well for the potential future hall of fame quarterback.

As we look ahead to the playoff picture, a first-round playoff matchup against the Saints seems likely, one that the New Orleans will surely wake up for just to avenge the 2019 NFC championship game pass interference debacle. Unfortunately, Taysom Hill is not the QB of the future, especially considering how clunky Saints the offense fared over the past month. Assuming a first-round victory, the Rams likely host Tampa, another team that surely will wake up for the second-round matchup given their loss to the Rams in the early regular season. This should be the true first test for the Rams, but as injuries and COVID run wild on the Buccaneers, the LA will likely be favored in the second round. Lastly, should they reach the NFC championship game, their road likely ends in Lambeau. A team from southern California has no business winning in Green Bay in January.

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By: Chinmay Kulkarni

The Arizona Cardinals were the power-ranking darlings early in the regular season. Four months later, the supposed powerhouse in the NFL stands as the number one fraud team in the league. Don’t get me wrong, the Cardinals are still a good team ”“ having a good roster, a great quarterback, excellent running game, and superb pass catchers. If football were played in an excel file with only stats and figures, the Cardinals would be Superbowl contenders. Unfortunately, football is still a sport highlighting the human element, a sport of talent and skill.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is a huge part of the problem of his team’s late-season woes, making some head-scratching decisions in crunch time. The Cardinals are amid a three-game skid, losing to the Rams, Lions, and Colts consecutively.

Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is the sign of madness, and likewise, Kliff Kingsbury is 100% an airhead that has little football knowledge and zero ability to adapt. As the Cardinals head coach, he’s started seasons 3-3-1, 5-2, and 7-1, only to fall to 2-7, 3-6, and 3-5 respectively each year. It’s evident that teams figure out his schemes, and last season’s collapse from the upper echelon of the NFC to missing the playoffs is a prime example that the Cardinals stink from the head down.

A lot of coaches in the NFL make boneheaded decisions ”“ Matt Rhule switching back and forth from Cam Newton to Sam Darnold within a game, Brandon Staley’s addiction to going for it on fourth down, Ron Rivera had 50 points hung over his head – there’s an endless list. Kliff Kingsbury fits this mold perfectly, and his decision-making in the loss against the Lions was staggeringly bad – choosing to go for fourth downs unsuccessfully in the early game, and then kicking field goals when the game was already out of reach. There’s very little consistency in the play calling. Their loss to the Colts was also riddled with penalties, with twice as many penalties as Frank Reich (a good coach) and the Colts, and 85 yards of penalties.

It’s not possible to talk about Kingsbury’s career without mentioning his college career. Why the Cardinals decided to hire a college coach with a losing record is a mind-boggling decision. And not only was he bad in college, but the playbook for hiring a coach from college is littered with those that fail in the NFL – Matt Rhule, Bill O’Brien, Greg Schiano, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, Chip Kelly, etc. Judging by Cardinals play, Kliff Kingsbury is set to join the ranks of failed college coaches. It’s difficult to find a Pete Carroll or a Jim Harbaugh that can make a difference and turn around a franchise.

Let’s cut the Cardinals some slack, with big-name injuries piling up. The passing offense took a hit with DeAndre Hopkins gracing IR for the regular season, and the leading TD scorer James Conner being day-to-day for a Week 17 matchup against the Cowboys. Who can forget about J.J. Watt on an already ailing defense?

Looking ahead to the Cardinals schedule – traveling to Dallas in Week 17, scheduling to be a huge matchup for both teams looking to better their playoff seeding. If anything can be indicated from the Cowboys destruction of Washington, the Dallas defense should be able to contain the Arizona offense while moving the ball on offense. Unfortunately, the Cowboys hype train is at an all-time high this week so Dallas will inevitably find a way to screw up like they always do. The already eliminated Seahawks are the last game of the season, one that they should easily win since Seattle has nothing left to play for, barring some big off-season decisions.

There’s not too much of a reason to press the panic button on the Cardinals’ season just yet, but fans notice the pattern and might want to wait before calling this team dead before the date with Dallas. As for Kliff Kingsbury, he’s firmly on the hot seat if the Cardinals don’t perform in the playoffs.

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