Here we go again: All 4 divisional playoffs are rematches
NEW YORK — There will be a familiar feel to the NFL playoffs next weekend: Every divisional-round game will be a rematch from the regular season, the first time that’s happened in six years.
In the NFC, it’s the Green Bay Packers at the Dallas Cowboys, and the Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta. In the AFC, it’s the Houston Texans playing as huge underdogs at New England, and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City.
The first times around, Dallas beat Green Bay 30-16 in Week 6 , Seattle beat Atlanta 26-24 in Week 6 , New England beat Houston 27-0 in Week 3 with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, and Pittsburgh beat Kansas City 43-14 in Week 4 .
Not that those results necessarily mean much now, especially because none was more recent than October.
The Steelers know how much things can change.
After all, they lost to the Dolphins by 15 points during the regular season, then advanced Sunday with a 30-12 victory over Miami in the wild-card round — their eighth victory in a row.
“We’re not trying to settle vendettas and things of that nature. They beat us fair and square in Week 6. You tip your cap to them for that performance,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “Today was today. And it’s going to be the same going forward. What happened during the regular season is of little importance.”
Here’s a closer look at next weekend, when each game features one starting QB who has won the Super Bowl (Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, New England’s Tom Brady, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger):
PACKERS at COWBOYS, Sunday, 1:40 p.m. PT (opening line: Cowboys, -4)
That loss to Dallas nearly three months ago was part of Green Bay’s 4-6 start. But ever since Rodgers spoke about trying to “run the table,” NFC North champion Green Bay has won seven straight games, including 38-13 over the New York Giants in the wild-card round.
Rodgers has 19 TD passes and zero interceptions during the unbeaten run, but one question now is whether favourite target Jordy Nelson, hurt against New York, will be available.
Green Bay’s pass defence, shaky and beset by injuries, might not have an easy time against Dallas QB Dak Prescott, a preternaturally poised rookie who threw for three TDs in the October matchup. The No. 1-seeded Cowboys’ other first-year sensation, Ezekiel Elliott, gained 157 yards in his first game against the NFL’s eighth-best run defence.
SEAHAWKS at FALCONS, Saturday, 1:35 p.m. PT (opening line: Falcons, -4)
All-Pro quarterback Matt Ryan, a leading MVP contender, and wideout Julio Jones put up NFC South champion Atlanta’s highpowered offence against NFC West champion Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” defence, which is missing injured safety Earl Thomas but still has Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor.
In the first meeting, Ryan threw for three TDs, while Jones finished with seven catches for 139 yards and a score. But most memorable was an incompletion on fourth down with 90 seconds left, when Sherman grabbed Jones’ arm on a deep pass. Definitely a 1-on-1 matchup to keep an eye on this time.
Also worth monitoring: How Atlanta’s so-so defence deals with Seattle’s offence, which seemed reborn as Thomas Rawls ran for 161 yards in a 26-6 win over Detroit in the wildcard round. Falcons head coach Dan Quinn used to be Seattle’s defensive co-ordinator.
“Such a hard-nosed, tough coach, and his team embodies him out there,” Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett said. “It’s like playing ourselves.”
TEXANS at PATRIOTS, Saturday, 5:15 p.m. PT (opening line: Patriots, -16)
New England is one of the biggest betting favourites in a playoff game, and here’s why: Bill Belichick’s Patriots have outscored protege Bill O’Brien’s Texans by a combined 54-6 in their past two head-to-head games.
As good as Houston’s top-ranked defence has been — Jadeveon Clowney’s interception set the tone for a 27-14 win over Oakland in the wild-card round — there is a world of difference between facing a rookie QB making his first NFL start (Oakland’s Connor Cook) and a three-time Super Bowl MVP (Brady). And Belichick will surely dream up some schemes to bedevil Texans QB Brock Osweiler.
STEELERS at CHIEFS, Sunday, 10:05 a.m. PT (opening line: even)
What might matter and might not: Steelers QB Roethlisberger needed a walking boot after hurting his right foot against Miami. If he’s fine next week, it will be fun to watch him, WR Antonio Brown and RB Le’Veon Bell take on Marcus Peters, Eric Berry and the rest of Kansas City’s formidable defence. On the other side of the ball, Steelers LB James Harrison and Co. should be able to handle Chiefs QB Alex Smith, but the question is how Pittsburgh’s defence and special teams will corral rookie speedster Tyreek Hill.
SUNDAY’S STARS
Passing — Aaron Rodgers, Packers, threw four touchdown passes, including a momentumswinging 42-yard heave to Randall Cobb at the end of the second quarter, and finished 25 of 40 for 362 yards in Green Bay’s 38-13 win over the New York Giants.
— Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers, threw two touchdown passes to Antonio Brown in Pittsburgh’s 30-12 win over Miami. Rushing — Le’Veon Bell, Steelers, ran for a franchise post-season-record 167 yards and two scores in a 30-12 victory over Miami. Receiving — Randall Cobb, Packers, caught three touchdown passes, finishing with five catches for 116 yards in Green Bay’s 38-13 win over the New York Giants. Davante Adams added eight receptions for 125 yards and one TD.
— Antonio Brown, Steelers, had five receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 30-12 victory over Miami.
— Jarvis Landry, Dolphins, caught 11 passes for 102 yards in Miami’s 30-12 loss. Special Teams — Andrew Franks, Dolphins, had field goals of 38 and 47 yards to account for all of Miami’s points until a late touchdown in a 30-12 loss at Pittsburgh.
— Christine Michael, Packers, returned a kickoff 31 yards to help set up Green Bay’s third touchdown in a 38-13 win over the New York Giants. Defence — Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison, Steelers. Timmons had 14 total tackles and two sacks, while Harrison had 10 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble in Pittsburgh’s 30-12 win over Miami.
— Clay Matthews, Packers, had a strip-sack of Eli Manning and then recovered the fumble midway through the fourth quarter to help seal Green Bay’s 38-13 win over the New York Giants.
STREAKS & STATS
Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown had touchdown catches of 50 and 62 yards in the Steelers’ 30-12 win over Miami, becoming the first player with two TD receptions of 50 or more yards in a playoff game since Minnesota’s Randy Moss in the 2000 divisional round against New Orleans . . . . The Dolphins are winless in the playoffs since a 23-17 overtime win over Indianapolis in the 2000 post-season . . . . New York’s 38-13 loss at Green Bay was its first defeat in the post-season since falling to Philadelphia in 2008. The Giants’ last playoff loss on the road was against the Eagles in 2006.
MILESTONES
Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell broke Franco Harris’ franchise post-season record with 167 yards rushing in the Steelers’ 30-12 win over Miami. Harris ran for 158 yards in a Super Bowl win over Minnesota 42 years ago, and Bell reached that total by the end of the third quarter against the Dolphins.
DIVINE INTERVENTION?
Aaron Rodgers, a master of the Hail Mary pass, gave Green Bay a 14-6 lead into halftime of the NFC wild-card game against the New York Giants after he hit Randall Cobb with a 42-yard touchdown pass. The pass went farther than that, though, after Cobb somehow pulled in the pass in the back of the end zone with three New York Giants defenders a couple feet in front of him. It was a familiar sight: Rodgers hit Jeff Janis on a Hail Mary against Arizona in the playoffs last season to force overtime. In December 2015, Rodgers also hit Richard Rodgers with a 61-yard pass to beat Detroit in Week 13.
BIG BEN’S BOOT
Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger sported a walking boot on his right foot while talking to the media after the Steelers’ 30-12 win over Miami as a preventative measure.
Roethlisberger tweaked the ankle while throwing an interception on Pittsburgh’s penultimate drive. He sprinted off the field afterward and said he will be ready to go against the Chiefs.
SHUT DOWN
Miami’s Jay Ajayi managed 33 yards on 16 carries, or 171 yards less than he piled up against Pittsburgh in October, in the Dolphins’ 30-12 loss at Pittsburgh.
New York’s Odell Beckham Jr. was held to four catches for 28 yards in a 38-13 loss at Green Bay.
SIDELINED
Green Bay wide receiver Jordy Nelson was knocked out of the Packers’ 38-13 win over the Giants with 11 minutes left in the second quarter with a rib injury. Nelson looked stunned as he rode back to the locker room on the front seat of a cart after getting hurt, hunched forward with his hands on his face. . . . Packers running back Ty Montgomery limped off the field early in the fourth quarter with an apparent left leg injury, but returned. He finished with 27 yards on 11 carries, and 41 yards on three receptions. . . . Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie limped off after the first defensive series with a thigh injury. He returned in the second half to play mostly on special teams.
SPEAKING
“It’s unbelievable . . . . He makes the throw, guys are misjudging it and one of us is able to come up with it.” — Green Bay’s Randall Cobb on his Hail Mary catch from Aaron Rodgers at the end of the first half of the Packers’ 38-13 win over the Giants.
“We wanted to go out there and make a statement.” — Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell after the Steelers cruised to a 30-12 victory over Miami on Sunday.