5 Things We Learned from NFL Divisional Round Playoffs
As the NFL divisional round playoffs came to a close this past Sunday night, many questions were answered. It was a "learning experience" for both the teams and spectators alike. What was the primary lesson of this "learning experience?"
Legitimacy.
Indeed, the NFL divisional round playoffs educated eight teams in legitimacy this past weekend. Four were pleased with the results, while the other four had to walk away dealing with both the lesson and the bitter taste of a playoff exit.
The weekend taught onlookers a lot about the future of the best quarterbacks in the league, how important defensive and special teams playmakers can be and much, much more.
Like any good lesson, the information gained will be memorized for the tests in the coming weeks, but before those tests roll around, let's take a closer look at the five things we learned from this past weekend.
Andrew Luck Wasn't Passed the Torch, He Took It
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The most important thing to realize about Andrew Luck's success with the Indianapolis Colts in the postseason thus far is that he has earned every bit of it. Luck has played at a level in the past couple games that is on par with elite quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
And while Luck's numbers over the past two games aren't too impressive...
| Opponent | Passing Yards | TDs | Interceptions | QBR | Completion Percentage |
| Bengals | 376 | 1 | 0 | 85.4 | 62.8% |
| Broncos | 265 | 2 | 2 | 73.6 | 70.5% |
He's won. He's had a poise and confidence typically only found in players way beyond Luck's years. And when it has mattered most, Luck has delivered.
The Colts' 24-13 win over the Denver Broncos is already being hailed as a "passing of a torch" when it comes to the new age of the NFL. Manning's unconvincing performance has many wondering if he's even one of the top QBs in the league anymore. Luck, meanwhile, performed well, and besides two interceptions, he was consistently the better QB in the game.
Luck also beat Manning with teammates who have nowhere near the talent level of the Broncos. That's not to say Reggie Wayne and company aren't a solid group, but between Julius Thomas, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Emmanuel Sanders, the Colts are a step below.
And it's not like Luck got a big helping hand from the running game either. Running back Dan Herron had 23 carries for a meager 63 yards, averaging 2.7 yards a carry.
With all of this in mind, Luck's performance with the Colts probably deserves even more credit than he received.
He doesn't just lead the Colts, he carries them.
The argument for Luck becoming the face of the NFL, should he defeat Tom Brady, will not only be a viable option, but possibly an indisputable one. However, Brady and the New England Patriots will be Luck's biggest challenge of his NFL career, especially since Brady is the winningest QB in playoff history with 19 wins.
It should be a duel for the ages.
The Dallas Cowboys Aren't There...Yet
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First and foremost:
Dez Bryant caught this pass.
There's no debate. However, Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys are the victims of a situation that didn't have a proper rule, which probably stings way more than the ruling against the Detroit Lions the week before.
"as I went to the ground I rolled over and I tipped the ball to gain better control.. We lost and I accept it but please change that rule
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 12, 2015"
It is very easy to make the argument that the Cowboys' season should've ended in the Wild-Card Game. But the decision to pick up the flag was made, and it allowed the Cowboys' to stay alive, beat the Detroit Lions 24-20 and advance to face the Green Bay Packers this past weekend.
The Cowboys' 21-26 loss to the Packers ended a season that should be considered successful. The Cowboys overcame their December curse to finally reach the playoffs and possibly set the standard for the 2015 season.
Head coach Jason Garrett and the Cowboys surprised a lot of critics by winning six straight games after the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. What was more surprising was how the Cowboys handled adversity in the second half of the season. They never seemed to quit and went undefeated in December.
If the Cowboys can retain their important free agents and grab a few talented players in the NFL draft, the Cowboys could come back with a vengeance in the 2015 season.
It has to be recognized that the Cowboys performed on the same level as Green Bay. Both offensively and defensively, the Cowboys matched up with a Packers squad many thought was considerably better.
Here's a quick run-down of how well the Cowboys performed:
- Quarterback Tony Romo played an intelligent game, completing 15-of-19 passes for 191 yards and two TDs. He threw no interceptions and did not lose a fumble.
- Running back DeMarco Murray had 25 carries for 123 yards, a TD and a fumble. It was a consistent day and almost a typical performance by Murray, save for the fumble.
- The Cowboys' defense held the Packers to 425 yards, a respectable amount. They also forced three fumbles but were only able to recover one of them.
It was an all-around solid day that would typically produce a victory for the Cowboys. There was only one real reason the Cowboys lost on Sunday:
Officials.
Aaron Rodgers May Not Be Healthy, but That Won't Stop Him
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Aaron Rodgers seems invincible.
His performance in the Green Bay Packers' 26-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys was the best offensive performance of the playoffs thus far, slicing and dicing the Cowboys' defense for 316 yards, three touchdowns and a 125.4 QBR.
Oh, and by the way, Rodgers did all this with a strained calf.
Rodgers seemed to be in pain at times in Sunday's game, and during the first half he struggled. However, a reinvigorated second half is what separated the Packers from the Cowboys and led to Packers advancing to the NFC Championship Game.
The Cowboys' defense put up a valiant effort, but Rodgers was playing smart, confident and focused. He found receivers with typical precision, including Davante Adams for a 46-yard touchdown. Adams had his best game all season, bringing in seven catches and 117 yards as well as the touchdown score.
There has been a lot of speculation about whether he'll be able to play the full 60 minutes against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, but Rodgers said otherwise in his postgame press conference on Sunday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky:
"I think I've got 120 minutes left in me," Rodgers said Sunday. "So I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I can play all those minutes."
If Rodgers is healthy enough to perform, he's the best quarterback in the playoffs. In a group of players that includes Andrew Luck, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson, that's a very high honor.
The Packers don't expect Rodgers to practice more than absolutely necessary in preparation for the matchup against the Seahawks this upcoming Sunday. And anyone knowing the quality of the Seahawks' defense, Rodgers will need to be in the best shape possible.
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The Seattle Seahawks Are Playing Their Best Football of the Season
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The reigning champions of the NFL aren't going anywhere.
In what was the most dominant performance of the divisional round playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks overpowered the Carolina Panthers 31-17. The Panthers could not win on either side of the ball, thanks to key playmakers like Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor.
Wilson had an outstanding day, throwing for three touchdowns and 268 yards. Wilson has found a groove with receivers Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Luke Wilson.
Averaging 12.2 yards per completion, Wilson has continued his success with finding receivers deep, including a 63-yard bomb to Kearse for a score.
Wilson is playing well and was the driving force of the Seahawks offense, especially after a relatively weak day by Marshawn Lynch, who only had 59 yards on 14 carries. The Seahawks are so dangerous due to their ability to adapt, whether it be in the running or passing game.
On defense, members of the "Legion of Boom," Sherman and Chancellor, were the primary playmakers.
Sherman posted a solid day, and picking off Cam Newton early in the game set the tone for how the Seahawks defense planned to dominate the day.
While Sherman had a good performance, Chancellor had the bigger of two performances. Chancellor had 11 tackles, and most importantly, had a fourth-quarter interception he took back 90 yards and a score.
Chancellor also impressed with his incredible display of determination and athleticism on special teams, hopping over blockers to try and block three straight field-goal attempts by Graham Gano. (Here's the first attempt.)
As the season progressed, it became apparent the Seahawks squad this year wasn't quite the team it was last year. The way it finished the season and handled the Panthers has started to make people think otherwise, however.
This Seattle team has gained momentum with every game this season, and it showed the offense will produce consistently and allow the defense time to prepare and make the big plays it has become so well known for.
Tom Brady and the Patriots Can Handle Adversity
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The New England Patriots handle adversity like they do with every situation: stick to the plan, and make sure Tom Brady gets a chance to win the game.
In the Patriots 35-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens, they overcame a 14-point deficit twice. This is mostly thanks to Brady, which comes to no surprise, considering Brady and playoff wins go together like New England and clam chowder.
Brady took control on offense early and had to throw all game to create a way for the Patriots to pull out a victory. He almost seemed comfortable, and that may be the key to the Patriots success. Brady threw for 367 yards, three touchdowns, and ran in a 4-yard score.
Being down the whole game obviously caused the Patriots to throw more, but the lack of any production by running backs Brandon Bolden, Shane Vereen and LeGarrette Blount caused the Patriots to fully rely on Brady to lead them.
The defense is also at blame for the amount of throwing the Patriots did. Two big interceptions to seal the game late were all the Patriots' defense had to offer, and for the good part of four quarters, the Ravens' offense had no trouble.
However, even with all these mistakes and issues, the Patriots still won. They found a way to advance, and they have Brady to thank. This Patriots team wouldn't be here without him.
This is not the Patriots you're used to seeing.
They are not the dominating force that can dominate from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. They will not be better than you at every position.
But as long as Brady is directing plays and leading the team, they will compete. Guarantee it.
While the Divisional Round Playoffs gave us a lot of answers, they also brought up some questions that will no doubt be answered in the coming weekends games.
The big question that this article proposes: Which quarterback will shine the brightest?
All four QBs(Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck) are playing their best game right now, and the head-to-head battles that will occur this weekend could be legendary.
Got a question? Got an answer to my question? Answer below in the comments and tell the community what you think.
All statistics were found at Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.
All quotes were found at espn.go.com unless otherwise stated.
Evan Reier is a first-year journalism major at the University of Alabama and a member of Bleacher Report's APSM program. Follow Evan on Twitter and Instagram at @evanreier.
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