Rodgers tries to keep Packers rolling
Bell hungry for his first experience in the playoffs
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers won’t be the only quarterback in Green Bay this weekend who knows how to “run the table.”
Eli Manning has gone streaking, too, for the New York Giants. In fact, Super Bowl runs in the 2007 and 2011 seasons took the Giants through Lambeau Field each time.
Two of the league’s marquee franchises meet again in Titletown when the Packers host the Giants in an NFC wild-card game today.
“We just know what it takes to win, and obviously the feeling of being on the other side of that, which we’ve had,” Rodgers said about the importance of postseason experience. “We’re pretty hot right now and usually the teams that are hottest and can stay healthy are the teams that are there at the end.”
The NFC North-champion Packers (10-6) roll into the playoffs on a six-game winning streak. They haven’t lost since Rodgers said he thought that Green Bay could “run the table” after falling to 4-6.
In some ways, this season has a similar feel to the Packers’ wild-card run in 2010, when Green Bay also finished the regular season 10-6 and overcame a slew of injuries to win the Super Bowl.
Rodgers is leading the way again: 15 touchdown passes and no interceptions during the six-game winning streak. A master at extending plays playing behind a good offensive line, he is giving receivers time to get open and delivering laser-like throws.
“I just see a guy that’s playing with an edge … and he’s playing with a killer instinct,” first-year Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said.
STEELERS: The feeling of helplessness remains very real to Le’Veon Bell.
Bell was standing on the sideline in sweatpants each of the last two Januarys, his knees in various stages of repair, the Pittsburgh Steelers trying to soldier on in the playoffs without their do-everything running back.
Not this time. When the AFC North champion Steelers (11-5) sprint out of the tunnel today to face Miami (10-6) in the wild-card round at not exactly tropical Heinz Field, Bell will be at the front of the pack: healthy, hungry and totally hyped for his long overdue playoff debut.
“I am obviously going to be excited, anxious and pumped-up, and I need to keep my energy up, have my teammates feed off my energy, and let them know how important this game is to me,” said Bell, who averaged an NFL-high 157 yards from scrimmage in 2016.
Bell is not the only one. For the first time since their last trip to the Super Bowl six years ago, the Steelers enter the postseason with all their bold-faced names available, most notably wide receiver Antonio Brown and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
“There’s no excuses,” guard David DeCastro said.
BRONCOS: Two down and one to go for John Elway in his search for Gary Kubiak’s successor. Denver’s general manager tweeted Saturday that he “spent the morning with Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta. He’s very bright coach who’s had a tremendous year and has a great future.”
Elway met with Shanahan, the 37-yearold Falcons offensive coordinator, a day after interviewing Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub, 54, in Kansas City.
Next up on Denver’s docket is Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, 44. Depending on the outcome of today’s Dolphins-Steelers game, Joseph’s interview will either be in Miami or Denver next week.
BROWNS: Cleveland fired defensive coordinator Ray Horton on Saturday night and the Browns have an agreement in place for former Buffalo coach Gregg Williams to replace him. The Browns ranked last or near last in virtually every major statistical category in 2016.