As each round of the NFL playoffs approaches, we’ll be re-ranking the remaining post-season teams vying for the Super Bowl differently. This week: the Glass Jaw edition.
Then there were four.
From Andrew Luck’s heroics to smothering defence from the Seattle Seahawks, there’s plenty to like about each team left in the NFL playoffs with Conference Championship Weekend looming, but nobody’s perfect.
Ranked from most glaring to least, here are the biggest weaknesses of the AFC and NFC title contenders.
1) Indianapolis Colts
Big questions at running back
The Cleveland Browns haven’t had many things to brag about since reforming in 1999, but completely jobbing the Colts in the Trent Richardson deal is one of them.
Richardson didn’t even play in last week’s win over Denver, with coach Chuck Pagano stating Richardson just didn’t know enough about special teams to dress him. So what does Richardson know about? Certainly not playing his position effectively. Richardson had a prime opportunity to prove his worth when Ahmad Bradshaw went out for the season, instead he’s been beaten out by a dude named “Boom” Herron and another back with just 10 rushing attempts prior to the post-season.
Now, the last two times the Colts have squared off against the New England Patriots (both blowout wins for New England), it’s come down to the run game or lack thereof. Indy has managed just 88 yards on the ground compared to a staggering 480 from the Patriots. If New England’s much-improved secondary shuts down the Colts’ receivers, will Indy be able lean on its run game? The past suggests not.
2) Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers’ bum calf
The way Peyton Manning performed over the final few weeks of his season just makes what Rodgers has done since suffering a minor tear in his left calf that much more impressive.
Rodgers was carted off the field in a Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions, only to return and lead the Packers to an NFC North title. Last week in the divisional round — his first game since the Lions showdown — No. 12’s injury appeared to be having its way with the probable MVP in the first half…then Rodgers put together his best second half of the season on the way to a win over the Dallas Cowboys.
But the Cowboys aren’t the Seahawks, not by a long shot. Seattle’s defence is going to pose a much bigger threat to Rodgers, whose mobility is significantly hampered by his injury. The most aggressive defensive team in football will make getting after Rodgers its main priority, and, should the Seahawks succeed, the Packers stand little chance of surviving.
3) New England Patriots
Pressure on Tom Brady
Tom Brady had one hell of a game against the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, leading the Patriots back from a pair of 14-point deficits on the way to a riveting 35-31 win. Last Saturday proved once again that Brady fuels almost every New England victory. On the flip side, he’s also usually the reason the Patriots go up in flames.
Don’t get me wrong, Tom Brady doesn’t lose games singlehandedly, but when he’s under pressure by the opposing defence the Patriots look like a different team. Despite four losses in 2014, New England was only dominated twice this season: in the opener against Miami and in the now infamous loss to Kansas City. In Week 1, the Dolphins sacked Brady four times and hit the Golden Boy seven other times, while the Chiefs sacked Brady three times, plus two other hits and two interceptions.
By no means was New England dominated in their loss to Green Bay, but Brady did come under a lot of pressure as he was sacked once and put on the ground six other times.
You get my point. During this season – like in many before it – when opposing defences get to Tom Brady, the Pats struggle and often lose.
4) Seattle Seahawks
Lack of a true receiving threat
Winners of 10 of their last 11, it’s hard to point out a real flaw in the defending Super Bowl champions. But if there is one true element the Seahawks are missing, it’s a legitimate No. 1 receiver.
Seattle ranked 30th overall in total passing this season. They were led in receiving yards by Doug Baldwin (825) and in receiving touchdowns by leading rusher Marshawn Lynch (4). Yes, Russell Wilson has had a spectacular season despite less-than-impressive passing numbers and the absence of a deep threat (especially after the loss of rookie Paul Richardson to a season-ending ACL injury) hasn’t hurt the Seahawks this season. But if Seattle’s run game were to prove ineffective in any of the two possible remaining games and they were forced to rely mostly on Wilson and the pass game, would the Seahawks be up to the task?
Let’s take a trip down hypothetical lane here, where the Seahawks face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Bill Belichick’s No. 9-ranked run defence is stuffing Lynch and containing Russell Wilson from breaking out of the pocket, where the third-year pivot is at his best. With Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner playing press coverage on the outside, a weakness in the hard-nosed game of Pete Carroll’s team could be exposed.
