Image Source: Nate Tice
Key Takeaways:
- The NFL’s divisional round is a crucial weekend with eight teams competing for a spot in the conference championship game.
- Key matchups include the Bills’ "mirror" fronts against the Broncos’ offense, the 49ers’ beleaguered defense against the Seahawks’ Sam Darnold, and the Patriots’ Drake Maye taking deep shots against the Texans’ defense.
- The Rams have a clear advantage on offense against the Bears, but the Bears’ size at pass-catcher could pose a challenge for the Rams’ smaller defense.
- Coaches will need to make strategic decisions to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses and gain an edge in the playoffs.
Introduction to the Divisional Round
The NFL’s divisional round is often considered the best weekend of football, with eight teams competing for a spot in the conference championship game. Each team has a reasonable shot at the Lombardi Trophy, making every matchup crucial. In this article, we’ll break down the key matchups and strategies that could decide the outcome of each game. As one analyst noted, "The playoffs turn into a hyperfixation of weaknesses because that’s what other teams are trying to exploit."
Bills vs. Broncos
The Bills’ "mirror" fronts could be a key factor in their matchup against the Broncos. According to the article, "McDermott loves to throw is to run ‘mirror’ fronts on passing downs against more dynamic quarterbacks who will look to scramble and extend plays (like Nix)." The Bills have used this strategy successfully in the past, including in their wild-card matchup against the Jaguars. However, the Broncos’ offense has been effective in running the ball, and the Bills’ run defense has been struggling. As the article states, "The Broncos will have an advantage running the ball in this game. The Bills’ run defense ranked among the league’s worst over the back half of the season and the Jaguars had no issues ripping off explosive runs last weekend."
49ers vs. Seahawks
The 49ers’ beleaguered defense will face a tough test against the Seahawks’ Sam Darnold. As the article notes, "When Darnold is pressured this season, he is 26th in EPA per dropback and ranks 32nd in interception rate (in the bad way), had the third-most fumbles, averages 5.2 net yards per attempt (which ranks 11th) and has the highest rate of balls batted down at the line of scrimmage among the 36 NFL quarterbacks with 200 or more pass attempts this season." The 49ers’ pass rush has been struggling, and they may need to try something new to get to Darnold. The article suggests that the 49ers’ coordinator Robert Saleh may need to "break tendencies and try to heat up Darnold, speeding up his decision-making and turning this side of the ball into a gash-or-be-gashed type contest."
Texans vs. Patriots
The Texans’ defense has been flying around, and they’ll look to shut down the Patriots’ Drake Maye. However, Maye has been effective in taking deep shots, and the Texans’ defense has been vulnerable to deeper targets. As the article states, "On throws of 20 or more air yards, the Texans’ defense ranks 18th in EPA per play. On throws of 20 or fewer air yards, they rank first." Maye has been successful in exploiting these vulnerabilities, and the Patriots may look to attack the Texans’ defense in this way.
Rams vs. Bears
The Rams have a clear advantage on offense against the Bears, but the Bears’ size at pass-catcher could pose a challenge for the Rams’ smaller defense. The article notes that "The Bears feature a big offense. Time and again, that size came into play for the Panthers" in their matchups against the Rams. The Rams’ defense has been vulnerable to condensed formations, and the Bears may look to exploit this weakness. As the article states, "Condensed formations (with players packed more tightly to the ball), especially with in-breaking routes, are something that I’ve seen generate big plays against the Rams’ defense."
In conclusion, the divisional round is shaping up to be an exciting weekend of football, with each team looking to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses and gain an edge in the playoffs. Coaches will need to make strategic decisions to outmaneuver their opponents and come out on top. As the article notes, "The playoffs are a time for adjustments and creativity, and we can expect to see some innovative strategies from each team."
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-divisional-round-preview-1-key-for-each-matchup-including-drake-maye-deep-shots-and-bears-biggest-literally-advantage-024203634.html
