Matt Bowen's NFL Divisional Playoffs Film Study

Throughout the playoffs, former NFL defensive back Matt Bowen will bring you his film study: a breakdown of personnel, matchups and scheme on the postseason stage.

Five Players to Watch in the Divisional Playoffs 

1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

If Rodgers is still limited by the calf injury that has kept him off the practice field, will we see the same game plan Green Bay used in the second half of the Week 17 win over the Detroit Lions when the Dallas Cowboys come to Lambeau Field on Sunday?

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Given Rodgers' mobility issues in that matchup versus the Lions, Mike McCarthy shortened the route tree (inside breaking routes) and let the quarterback work exclusively out of the Pistol and Shotgun alignments.

The Packers ran the slant-flat combo, packaged plays and worked the ball to the middle of the field with Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and tight end Richard Rodgers. Plus, we can’t forget about Eddie Lacy’s impact in that game, as he produced 100 yards versus the Lions front seven. That helped write a balanced offensive script. 

There will be throwing lanes for Rodgers to target the Dallas defense versus both single-high and split-safety looks on Sunday. And if the quarterback is still limited in his movement, expect McCarthy to adjust the call sheet once again to create opportunities in the passing game. Rodgers can still produce numbers (as he did in Week 17) with a reduced game plan.

2. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys

In crucial game situations, Tony Romo is going to throw the ball to Witten. That has to be an automatic alert for the Packers defense on third (and fourth) down, in the red zone, two-minute drill, etc. Think a basic option route here where Witten can work away from leverage and use his footwork/size at the top of the break to create separation.

I would expect the Packers to throw multiple guys at Witten. That means we could see Micah Hyde, Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or even Clay Matthews matching up to the Cowboys tight end.

Dallas will run the football with DeMarco Murray, and Dez Bryant is the most dangerous receiver in the league when he gets one-on-one coverage. But the Packers have to shut down Witten when Romo needs to make a play. It’s on them to play with technique versus Witten to win those matchups.

3. C.J. Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos

The Broncos are a much more physical team with Anderson running the ball in the zone and power schemes—especially when they bring a sixth offensive lineman on the field.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

As you can see here, the Broncos can run the stretch and zone schemes (both open and closed) along with the one-back power (guard pull) given the ability of the offensive line to win at the point of attack. That allows Anderson to showcase his acceleration through the hole, lateral quickness at the second level and the power to finish when he drops his pad level on contact.

I think the Broncos can establish the run game versus the Indianapolis Colts and control the tempo while creating even more opportunities for Peyton Manning on Sunday. Look for Anderson to be featured in the game plan. He should produce numbers versus this Indianapolis front seven.  

4. Jamie Collins, LB, New England Patriots

The Baltimore Ravens will run the zone schemes, use the boot action and test the eye discipline of the Patriots linebackers on Saturday afternoon in Foxborough. That’s the game plan in Baltimore, along with middle of the field throws to the tight end position.

Given his versatility, we will see Collins play multiple roles in the Patriots game plan. Look for the linebacker to pressure, play as an underneath defender in coverage or match to the tight end. He is a dynamic player.

But in my opinion, it starts with defending the run game. If you want to slow down the Ravens and their play-action concepts, then pursue to the ball and eliminate the cutback lanes in those zone-based schemes. If the Patriots win on early down and distances, we will see Collins' versatility even more when Flacco has to make plays in true passing situations.

5. Kam Chancellor, SS, Seattle Seahawks

The Carolina Panthers-Seattle Seahawks game might be the most physical matchup of the weekend, but I can’t wait to watch Chancellor in Seattle’s Cover 1 and Cover 3 schemes.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

This is where Chancellor can add to the front versus Jonathan Stewart, impact the quarterback runs with Cam Newton and match up to tight end Greg Olsen in coverage. Chancellor is much more than just a “box safety”, as he has the skill set to play the deep middle of the field. But I see his value on Saturday night as the eighth defender rolling down at the snap.

Keep an eye on Chancellor when he fills the hole versus Carolina. He plays like a linebacker at the point of attack: tough and physical. Plus, focus on the safety’s ability to win versus Olsen when the Panthers remove the tight end from the core of the formation. He is very underrated in man coverage.

Five Matchups to Watch in the Divisional Playoffs 

1. Darrelle Revis vs. Steve Smith

Smith got too many free releases last weekend when the Pittsburgh Steelers played Cover 3. That allowed the Ravens wide receiver to run the deep over route (crossing route), curl, slant, etc. in combinations designed to create throwing windows against zone coverage:

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

With Revis, that’s going to change. And I hope we get to see the Patriots cornerback play press-coverage all afternoon versus Smith. Even when the Ravens align in bunches, New England can press the point man (receiver on the line) and still get the matchup of Revis versus Smith.

Revis has the best technique in the league. There is no question about that. But Smith's quick release and upper-body strength will test him. Plus, Smith is one of the most competitive players in the game. This is a great matchup to watch on the playoff stage.

2. Luke Kuechly vs. Russell Wilson

Think about the read-option, the seam routes down the middle of the field and Wilson’s ability to escape pressure. This is where Kuechly can display his speed to the ball to contain the quarterback and take away the middle of the field throws in Cover 2.

Take a look at Kuechly matching to Larry Fitzgerald on the seam route (two-deep coverage) in the Panthers’ Wild Card Game win:

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

You can see the range and the acceleration here from the linebacker to make a play on the ball while eliminating a scoring opportunity for the Arizona Cardinals. This reminded me of Brian Urlacher running the seam in Cover 2. 

Yes, Kuechly has to make an impact versus Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks running game. We know that. But I’m more focused on his ability to close down the inside throwing lanes while limiting Wilson when the quarterback pulls the ball down to run.

3. Dom Capers vs. Dez Bryant

Check out this route scheme that produced an explosive gain for Bryant and the Cowboys when the wide receiver got matched up versus a linebacker in the Wild Card Round win over the Lions:

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This is a basic Hi-Lo Crossers concept (two-level read with a pick inside), but the Cowboys shift the running back out to a No. 1 alignment (count outside-in). That forced the cornerback to widen (zone defense) and allowed Bryant to go to work versus a linebacker on the shallow drive route.

When the Packers play man coverage, this won’t be an issue. (Cornerbacks will match to Bryant.) However, when they play zone coverage, how will Capers game-plan to take away this specific route that showed up multiple times on the tape from last Sunday? Green Bay must be able to identify this route and alert the alignment/split of Bryant in its pre-snap keys.

4. Andrew Luck vs. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware

During the Wild Card Game win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Luck displayed his ability to manage the pocket and delivered one of the best throws of the season when he stepped up, kept his eyes down the field and found Donte Moncrief for six points. A bucket throw to the upfield shoulder. Ridiculous play:

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Why is that important? Because Luck will have to continue managing the pocket on Sunday afternoon given the outside rushers in Denver. Both Miller and Ware can win one-on-one matchups versus the Colts and collapse the edge. This is when Luck will have to slide, climb and work from a muddy pocket to make plays.

I believe the Colts have to establish some sense of a run game on Sunday to take the pressure off Luck. If not, Ware and Miller will be in pass-rush mode all afternoon. Use the run to slow them down.

5. Rob Gronkowski vs. Ravens Secondary

I’m very interested to see how the Ravens plan to limit Gronkowski. Will Baltimore use more nickel packages? Go “big nickel” to bring three safeties on the field? And does it show a single-high safety look to Tom Brady? That can be trouble, as Brady will hold the free safety in the middle of the field to create a one-on-one for Gronkowski.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

I liked what the San Diego Chargers did versus Gronkowski in the regular season, as they used a linebacker to jam the tight end off the release with a safety picking up the coverage down the field. But there is no real “blueprint” to defending him given his ability to gain leverage on the seam route or corner route.

If the Ravens play 2-Man, look for Brady to split the safeties consistently with Gronkowski working in the middle of the field. But regardless of what the Ravens use from a coverage perspective, they can’t allow Gronkowski a free release. That isn’t going to cut it.

Tape Session

Here are three schemes/concepts to focus on when you sit down to watch the playoff games this weekend.

Green Bay’s Packaged Plays

A packaged play is a run scheme with a pass built in (offensive line run blocks). In Green Bay, the inside zone is paired with the stick concept—and no one gets the ball out quicker than Rodgers.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

As you can see here, Rodgers reads the safety down in the box (and the linebackers attacking the line of scrimmage off their run/pass keys). That’s an easy read for him to target Jordy Nelson on the inside stick route with the second-level defenders vacating the throwing window.

We could see these packaged plays often on Sunday if the Cowboys want to play Cover 3 to bring an extra defender in the box to limit Lacy.

Seahawks’ “Triple Option”

The Seahawks will run the “triple” option with a pass built in off the mesh-point read (quarterback-running back exchange). This allows Wilson to hand off on the inside zone, pull the ball on the keep or throw the fade/curl depending on the coverage look.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

In this example from the Seahawks-Panthers matchup in Week 8 of the regular season, Wilson reads the defensive end (crashes on the dive) and then “options” the Cover 2 cornerback. With the cornerback squatting (and the deep-half safety attacking downhill), Wilson has an open target to throw the fade.

Wilson missed on this throw (should have been a touchdown), but it wouldn’t surprise me if Seattle came back to this exact play given the amount of Cover 2 Carolina is playing.

Ravens' Pressure Schemes

I really like this pressure look the Ravens used in the Wild Card Weekend win over the Steelers, as it produced a sack off the pre-snap disguise:

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The Ravens are showing six-up, but this is only a four-man pressure with the linebacker matching to the tight end (called a vertical hook defender) and the defensive tackle dropping to the underneath hole (step into the throwing lane). This created confusion for the Steelers offensive line and allowed the Ravens to get a free runner off the edge to Ben Roethlisberger.

Keep an eye on the Ravens defensive front when they bring their sub-package onto the field versus Brady. There will be a lot of movement and disguise to create pressure.

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41