NFL
By: Greg Rector
The NFL playoffs begin on Saturday and there are sure a lot of folks dismissing certain teams. We all understand the favorites versus the underdog mindset. That’s okay but to dismiss any team that makes the playoffs from having a chance is sheer folly. Let’s just refresh some memories shall we of playoff upsets focusing on the wild card round. Since 2002 there have been 30 yes count them 30 underdogs to go on to win in the wild-card round. Seven times a wild card team has hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. So for all those over-the-top fans of the favorites and the media types also dismissing the chances for this year’s underdogs, I have a few words for you ” Games are won and lost on the field” not on Twitter and not on a TV studio set. So let’s look at what might seem improbable but could actually happen. Because “Any Given Sunday” is real folks. Trust me as a Dallas Cowboys fan I’m well acquainted with this reality. There’s a reason the optimal word in this round is WILD.
Seahawks vs Niners
I’ll be the first to admit that this seems highly improbable. For Seattle to beat the Niners they certainly need a lot of things to go right. For starters, you need to keep a physical Niners defense away from Geno Smith. The easiest way to do that? Enter Kenneth Walker III the Seahawks’ running back. What if Walker III has himself a day against the San Francisco defense? That would mean the Seahawks also keep that Niners offense on the sideline. What if Seattle runs as well as oh say the Las Vegas Raiders did when they ran for 135 yards in a game that same San Francisco defense gave up 500 yards of total offense and needed overtime to finally get by Las Vegas? What if Geno Smith also has a good day and finds both Lockett and Metcalf to keep the chains moving? How will the Niners respond if those two things happen and Seattle finds itself up by 10 or 14 points? How does rookie quarterback Brock Purdy avoid pressing at that point and further complicate a comeback with turnovers? Is everyone forgetting when the Atlanta Falcons with a guy named Michael Vick at quarterback took down the vaunted Brett Favre-led Green Bay Packers as they forced 5 turnovers and won 27 to 7? Now we all remember Pete Carroll’s coaching meltdown in the Super Bowl, but he’s also won the big game. He has a history with young players and success. One more thing 10 wins in a row is damn impressive, but the possibility also exists that just maybe the Niners won’t be as focused as they should be and the Seahawks take full advantage. No one is invincible.
Dolphins vs Bills
This is the one that almost everyone universally would be shocked by. The Miami Dolphins with their third-string quarterback rookie Skylar Thompson, head to western New York to face the Bills. We all know the Bills’ situation, we know the emotional upheaval due to the Damar Hamlin incident. As unlikely as it would seem once again let’s just for argument’s sake say the Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen repeats what he’s done 5 times in the regular season and throws one or two red zone interceptions. let’s give the Dolphins a pick-six possibly from one of them. What happens if Skylar isn’t making mistakes and finds Waddle and Hill for big plays? The Dolphins’ defense isn’t going to roll over and play dead. What if they are able to keep Josh Allen from hurting them with his running ability and contain him, or better yet sack him several times? Sure it isn’t likely to happen, but not giving them any shot at all is still crazy. Oh and this is also the Miami Dolphins for those too young they might now know that they’ve had the ultimate success with a backup quarterback (Earl Morrall), leading them to a Super Bowl victory for their undefeated season.
Beware of Over Confidence
So as unlikely as these two results would be, I won’t be shocked as fans in San Francisco and Buffalo would be. At least the TV crowd would have to go on air and say how they got it totally wrong or they might avoid doing so and just criticize the daylights out of both favored organizations (I forgot that hot takes rule) in any case there’s simply to much evidence of playoff upsets to dismiss anyone so completely. NEVER SAY NEVER, folks. I’m not predicting these upsets to happen but we’ve all witnessed them in the past. This is the NFL and a brand new season. Sometimes the calls go unanswered.
