NEW ORLEANS
New coach Matt LaFleur has melded his offense to fit Aaron Rodgers, running back Aaron Jones provides a terrific complement, and the free agency additions on defense, most notably the Smith Brothers (Preston and Za’Darius) , make Green Bay a very dangerous opponent.
“We’re going to be a tough team to deal with in the playoffs,” Rodgers said.
Yep.
You certainly can say the same for the Saints, who had some crazy things happen in the last two years to keep them from claiming an NFL championship. If their defense finds its stinginess, the Saints could be unbeatable. Their offense is rolling, with Drew Brees seemingly in his prime at age 40, Michael Thomas an uncoverable receiver, and imaginative play calling that not only entertains, but can swing outcomes.
“When you look at the stretch of the past five or six weeks, the emphasis is how do we get better? How do we improve? How do we get ourselves in the best form going into the playoffs?” Brees said.
They are close. versatility seemingly with more regulars out injured than on the field is uplifting. No one has done a better job coaching with less to work with than Doug Pederson. The same can be said about quarterback Carson Wentz.
So we’re not going to overlook them as they host a wildcard game.
“Guys are stepping up every day,”standout DT Fletcher Cox said. “When a guy goes down, it just brings this team so much closer. When guys get chances, they’ve been taking advantage every time they get a chance and guys are playing at a high level.”
Like the Eagles, the Seahawks have been damaged by the injury bug. Now, they head to Philly in meeting of two overachieving teams that shrug at the odds.
Russell Wilson has had another great season — that’s about all he’s ever had — and Pete Carroll has rebuilt his defense quicker than anyone could have surmised.
One of the better wild-card entries of recent years — that just shows how top-heavy the NFC is — the Vikings could pull off a road win next weekend. They also don’t instill much confidence because of their inconsistencies.