With the NFL playoffs moving into the divisional round -- with two games Saturday and two more on Sunday -- the matchups are sexier and the stakes even higher. Here are four players (or, in one case, a unit) that could be the deciding factors in which teams advance to the conference championship games on Sunday, Jan. 18:
SATURDAY
No. 6 seed Baltimore Ravens (10-6) at No. 1 New England Patriots (12-4), 4:35 p.m. EST – The theme here has been that if any team is built to beat the Pats in Foxboro, it’s the Ravens, who beat New England at home in the 2012 AFC Championship Game and – with Joe Flacco at quarterback – has a history of winning on the road. Since 1996 when the Ravens were born (following their move from Cleveland), the franchise has 10 road playoff victories, tied for the most ever in league history. And in their three playoff matchups since 2009, Baltimore has won two. But one player for the Patriots could be a difference maker in this one, tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski was injured and did not play in that 2012 AFC title game and wasn’t yet in the NFL when Flacco and Co. beat the Pats in the 2009 playoffs. This time, Gronkowski is healthy and contributing in a big way. The Pats offense is much better when Tom Brady has “Gronk,” who had 82 catches this season for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. If the Ravens can’t get a handle on him, Gronkowski could help lift the Pats into the AFC title game.
No. 4 Carolina Panthers (7-8-1) at No. 1 Seattle Seahawks (12-4), 8:15 p.m. EST – The Seahawks are at home, where they are nearly unbeatable, but they’ve had trouble with the Panthers, a rugged defensive team built much like the Seahawks – with a solid running game featuring No. 1 back Jonathan Stewart and an athletic quarterback in Cam Newton. The Seahawks won both their games against Carolina the past two seasons, but the games were very close (12-7 and 13-9). So why should the Seahawks be confident going into this game? Because since returning from injury after missing the first five games of the season, linebacker Bobby Wilson has been playing like the league’s defensive MVP. His speed, range and smarts could give the Seahawks the deciding factor to stuff Stewart and corral Newton. Over the past six games, the Wagner-led Seattle D has allowed just 39 points. With Wagner in the middle, breaking big plays against the Seahawks can be extremely difficult. He's as fast as a running back. As 49ers running back Frank Gore said late in the season: “That No. 54, Bobby, man. He’s (expletive) fast. Fast as (expletive), man. They play great together.”
SUNDAY
No. 3 Dallas Cowboys (12-4) at No. 2 Green Bay Packers (12-4), 1:05 p.m. EST – Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a strained left calf (some reports even say it’s a tear), so Green Bay’s usually mobile passer may be as nimble as a statue in this marquee matchup. But he says he’s playing, no matter what. That will put a huge burden on the Packers’ offensive line to protect Rodgers. Green Bay’s passing game must be effective if it wants to outscore Tony Romo and the Cowboys. So, this five-man unit is going to be put to the test. This season, the Packers’ line has been sensational in protecting Rodgers. Packers QBs were pressured only 21.7 percent of pass attempts this season, the fourth-best figure in the NFL. Fortunately for the Packers, Dallas ranked just 28th in the NFL in sacks, with 28, getting to the QB on 4.8 percent of pass attempts. But if Green Bay’s offensive front can’t keep Rodgers safe, the Cowboys will have a much better chance of pulling an upset.
No. 4 Indianapolis Colts (11-5) at No. 2 Denver Broncos (12-4), 4:40 p.m. EST -- Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning are in the spotlight on this one, and for good reason. It’s a matchup of perhaps the best quarterback of his generation (Manning) against Luck, who took his place in Indianapolis and has been sensational. But if the Colts are to topple the Broncos on their home field – where they are unbeaten this season – Indianapolis will need some help from its running game. Enter Daniel “Boom” Herron. Early in the season, Herron was behind Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson on the depth chart. But with Bradshaw hurt and Richardson ineffective, the Herron, a second-year player from Ohio State, has emerged as a threat late this season. In last week’s victory over the Bengals, Herron carried 12 times for 56 yards (a 4.7 average). If the Colts can get some big plays from “Boom,” the Broncos’ defense won’t be able to concentrate solely on Luck.
