Ladies and Gentlemen, Your 2009/10 NFL Playoffs

Now that the regular season has come to an end 12 teams are still alive, those that have made the NFL’s postseason. With several of the powerhouse teams skidding, the Super Bowl now looks to be anyone’s to take. Here’s a glimpse at those teams who will be fighting through the postseason in hopes of coming away with an NFL Championship

Baltimore Ravens

Sixth Seed AFC

While they hold the same 9-7 record as the Jets, they are technically sixth seeded because of tie-breaking procedure.

How they got here: Among the most consistent teams overall, Baltimore started 3-0, then leveled off to 3-3. From that point on they have alternated a win with a loss in virtually every game. The only break to this routine was a pair of back to back wins against the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in weeks 14 and 15.

Where they are strong: Baltimore’s offense is fueled by the 5th ranked rushing attack. The duo of Ray Rice (over 1300 yards and a pro bowl) and Willis McGahee ( 14 touchdowns) give the team a great 1-2 punch for pounding the football.
On defense the team is led by a veteran core, and boats the third ranked defense in the NFL.. They can occasionally be exposed in the passing game, but a stout against the run with the 5th ranked rushing defense in football.

Weakness: After a hot start, Joe Flacco slipped back to a more modest form. Across the second half of the year Flacco only went above 240 yards twice (256 against the Colts in Week 11, 289 against the Steelers in week 12).

While ranked 8th against the pass, the Ravens corners can be exploited. They also are dinged up, with 17 players listed as probably or questionable for the wildcard matchup with New England.

Philadelphia Eagles

Sixth seed NFC

While holding the same record as Green Bay, they are seeded sixth because of tie-breaking procedure.

How they got here: With an injury to Donovan McNabb the team got off to a modest 3-2 start. After that they turned it on the rest of the year, going 8-2 in a 10 games stretch between weeks seven and 16. They held the division with a one game lead over Dallas entering the regular season finale, but were devastated 24-0 by a Cowboys team that took the division via tie-breaking procedure thanks to a 2-0 record against Philadelphia.

Where they are strong: Philadelphia holds the 10th rated passing offense in the NFL. This is a bit deceiving however because of the injury to McNabb and the team’s poor week 17 performance. Donovan McNabb finally has an array of weapons with Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson and is putting them to good use.

On Defense the Eagles are ranked 9th in stopping the run, and 12th overall.

Weaknesses: With a host of premier quarterbacks in this year’s playoffs, the Eagles have been vulnerable against the pass, ranking 17th in the NFL. The running game is also limited, ranking 22nd in the league (though that is slightly deceiving with Reid’s play calling and Westbrook’s injuries).

New York Jets

Fifth seed AFC

They share a 9-7 record with Baltimore, but hold the seed via tie-breaker

How they got here: After a 3-0 start against three teams thought to be playoff bound (Houston, New England, and Tennessee), the Jets cooled considerably. By the end of week 11 they were thought out of the playoff hunt at 4-6 behind a loss in their second matchup with the Patriots. The team turned their fortunes around, going 5-1 in their last six games to secure the top wildcard seed in the AFC.

Where they are strong: Defense. The Jets are strong in all aspects of defense, ranking first overall, while going best against the pass and eighth against the run.

On Offense the Jets a fueled by Thomas Jones’ legs and the top ranked rushing game in the NFL.

Weakness: The passing game. Mark Sanchez has looked very the rookie after his early success, throwing 20 interceptions on the year (with time missed to injury) behind a 63.0 passer rating.

Green Bay Packers

Fifth seed NFC

They share an 11-5 record with Philadelphia but hold the seed via tie-breaker

How they got here: The team had a tough first half in which they slipped to 4-4 following a loss to the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They got hot in the second half, going 7-1 (with the lone loss coming by a single point against the Pittsburgh Steelers to enter the playoffs as one of the hotter teams in the NFL.

Where they are strong: Green Bay has successfully made the switch to 3-4, becoming the only NFC team to rank top 5 in overall defense (second behind the Jets). They are powered by the number one run-stopping defense and fifth ranked passing defense.

Offensively they are a pass-favoring team with good balance (1,253 yards on the ground for Ryan Grant, 4,400 yards passing for Aaron Rodgers). The solid balance puts then sixth in the NFL in total offense.

Weaknesses: Though they have improved in this area, they still gave up far too many sacks. Aaron Rodgers tied Ben Roethlisberger for the most sacks taken on the year with 50. That’s almost 30% more than the closest other quarterback on a playoff team (Joe Flacco at 36). Ryan Grant’s running tends to be streaky and have little middle ground, being either a big game or a fairly weak one (only one game with between 65 and 95 yards).

Cincinnati Bengals

Fourth seed, AFC North Division Winner

How they got here: Across the first half of the year Cincinnati was making an argument to be the best among “the other teams” (with the Colts, Saints, and Vikings dominating power rankings) behind a 7-2 start that included sweeps of Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The Bengals crashed to normalcy after, finishing the year at 10-6 behind a 1-3 final quarter of the year.

Where they are strong: Cincinnati’s big physical defense outmuscled their division rivals en route to the fourth ranked defense in football. The defense was a strong balanced group going sixth and seventh against the pass and rush respectively. They also retooled their high powered offense to match their division’s big-tough image, riding Cedric Benson to a top 10 rushing attack.

Weakness: That running attack looked much stronger in the first half. They are also one of only two playoff teams (Jets) to rank below 20th in passing (26th overall). A former team strength will be further hindered by the tragic death of deep threat Chris Henry and a slowed Chad Johnson (injured but currently expected to play).

Arizona Cardinals

Fourth seed, NFC West Division Winner

How they got here: By being the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde team. They started a solid 7-3, continued to look strong by overmatching then juggernaut Minnesota, but followed it with a loss to division-mate San Francisco. They finished the year 10-6, but four of those losses came against .500 teams.

Where they are strong: Through the air. Arizona still boasts one of the scariest passing attacks in football, with Kurt Warner throwing to Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston. The running game, while not exactly scaring anyone, showed signs of life especially in the second half.

Weakness: Aside from inconsistency the team also ranks in the bottom half of the league in rushing offense (28th), overall defense (20th), running defense (17th), and passing defense (23rd). Each aspect of the team has been able to give strong games (witness the defense harassing Minnesota’s high powered offense) but taken in the context of the entire season, this team has been fairly one-dimensional.

New England Patriots

Third Seed, AFC East Division Winner

How they got here: The Patriots got off to one of their more modest starts in recent memory, reaching the season’s three-quarter mark with a 7-5 record. The turned it on in December, putting a three game winning streak together before falling to the Texans in week 17 to finish the year 10-6, a game behind last year’s Cassel-led (but playoff missing) team.

Where they are strong: Experience in the playoffs. They have a veteran offense that has seen more than one super bowl hoisted. Tom Brady has been listed as one of the best playoff quarterbacks of all time, and has an array of weapons to throw to. The much maligned defense is not as strong as year’s past, but posted a respectable 11th overall ranking.

Weaknesses: The passing game will start the playoffs with a tremendous hole in the slot where little Wes Welker used to reside. The running game has been hampered by injuries all year, and while Taylor and Maroney will likely be active, neither will be 100 percent.

Dallas Cowboys

Third Seed, NFC East Division Winner

How they got here: The Cowboys rode a streaky year that saw a 6-2 division leading start slip to 8-5 and start fears that they might not even get a wildcard berth. They silenced critics by going 3-0 to close the year, including a win over Philadelphia in week 17 to retake the division lead just in time for the playoffs.

Where they are strong: Balance. The team ranks top ten in five of six major statistical categories (overall offense, passing offense, rushing offense, overall defense, rushing defense). That balance gives them the number two overall offense this year behind New Orleans. They have proven strong against NFC playoff teams, going 3-1 against those they faced in the regular season including the win that broke New Orleans unbeaten streak.

Weaknesses: History. More than any other team Dallas has tremendous pressure to win early, having failed to win a playoff game since 1996. With an owner that will not hesitate to remind the team what is at stake, pressure can be a strong factor.
Statistically the team’s weak point is a 20th ranked passing defense. Also of concern is the team’s inability to translate yards into points. Despite being second in the NFL in offensive yardage, the team has the 14th ranked scoring offense. That disparity is the greatest among playoff bound teams.

San Diego Chargers

Second Seed, AFC West Division Winner

How they got here: San Diego looked as though it would repeat 2008’s mediocrity after losing several key players to injury early (including pro-bowl nose tackle Jamal Williams for the year in week one) and starting the year 2-3. As the team retooled themselves around the injuries, they neglected to lose another game, riding an 11 game winning streak to close the year, including wins over several playoff teams (Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia).

Where they are Strong: San Diego’s strength is its passing game and offensive efficiency. They translate the 5th ranked passing game into the fourth overall scoring offense in the NFL. With an array of weapons including Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson, they are also the only offense to have never been held below 20 points this year, a testament to offensive consistency.

Weaknesses: The running game has improved in the second half, but is still nothing like it was in years past. On defense they are ranked middle of the road in virtually all categories, but have proven especially vulnerable to power running games, playing slightly undersized in the middle with nosetackle Jamal Williams on IR.

Minnesota Vikings

Second Seed, NFC North Division Winner

How they got here: The Minnesota Vikings started the Brett Favre era strong, starting 10-1 before slipping a bit to go 1-3 across the next four games before they ended the year with a 44-7 drubbing of the New York Giants to end the year with a 12-4 record,

Where they are Strong: Brett Favre has turned in an MVP caliber year into the 8th overall passing offense in the NFL. The strong front line of the Vikings Defense has given the team the sixth ranked rushing defense, as well as sixth overall defense in the NFL. They have an array of weapons that force teams into picking their poison.

Weaknesses: Despite boasting one of the elite running backs in the NFL in Adrian Peterson, the Vikings rushing offense is only 13th, not terrible but considerably lower than expected. On defense the team has proven vulnerable to the pass, with the 19th ranked passing defense in football.

Indianapolis Colts

First Seed, AFC South Division Winner

How they got here: Although seven of their fourteen wins have come with fourth quarter comebacks, the team simply refused to lose with Peyton Manning behind center. They started the year 14-0, losing in the final two games with key starters spending significant time avoiding injury on the bench, much to their fans’ chagrin.

Where they are strong: One of the best quarterbacks in football put together one of his best seasons in directing an injury depleted group. The Colts boast the highest ranked passing attack among playoff teams (second in the NFL only to Houston). The team has proven its depth by overcoming many injuries to hold the NFL’s best record going into the playoffs.

Weaknesses: The Colts hold the 32nd ranked rushing attack in the NFL, 130 yards behind the 31st ranked San Diego Chargers. On defense the team ranks 19th overall thanks to a leaky (24th overall) run defense. They have not proven dominant despite their record, having started the fourth quarter behind in half of their fourteen wins.

New Orleans Saints

First Seed, NFC South Division Winner

How they got here: The Saints spent the bulk of the year leading many people’s power rankings. They started the year 13-0 behind a powerhouse offense and opportunistic defense. To close the year they have stumbled, looking vulnerable for several weeks before a week 15 loss to Dallas began a three-game skid to close the year.

Where they are Strong: The team still holds one of the scariest passing offenses in football, and has tempered it with an improved running game. That balance puts them first in overall offense in the NFL, as the only team averaging above 400 yards per game (403.8). The defense has been much improved, being especially apt at forcing turnovers and translating them into points.

Weaknesses: The running game has improved drastically, but has been inconsistent at times, especially late in the year. Likewise the defense is very big-play reliant, and when they cannot force turnovers are not going to win games on their own, ranking 25th overall in the NFL.