Breaking It Down: The Key to Success for Every NFL Playoff Team
Now that the NFL playoff picture is clear, it's time to look ahead. It's no secret that Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are all keys to their teams' success. However, if these NFL teams want to walk away with the Lombardi trophy, it's gonna take more than just the effort of their star players.
So here's a look at every NFL playoff team and the key to their postseason success.
Atlanta Falcons
1 of 12
Key:
Home-Field Advantage
Why?
Because home field is what you want and no one is better in their own house than Matt Ryan. He’s 20-2 at the Georgia Dome.
However, the Falcons are coming off a loss to the New Orleans Saints (don’t look into a win against an awful Panthers team). The Saints never seem to get rattled in their building and they could be heading back there. If the Saints win (and they should) and the Eagles win, then it’s a rematch and Matty Ice better take care of business in his house.
Baltimore Ravens
2 of 12
Key:
Free safety Ed Reed
Why?
Forget Ray Lewis, Ed Reed is what makes that defense hum. He’s got that rare ability that very few safeties in the league have to be wherever the ball is. However, Reed also has been injured on and off all season. Without him in the lineup, and especially with back-up Tom Zbikowski out as well, the Ravens will have a big whole in their secondary.
If they want to compete, Reed must remain healthy.
Chicago Bears
3 of 12
The Key:
Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub
Why?
If we have learned one thing about the Bears this season, it’s that they are far more dangerous when Hester is given the opportunity to make plays on special teams.
The only problem is that teams are wise to this and are trying to keep the ball out of his hands. It’s going to be up to Toub to find inventive and creative ways to make teams pay for kicking it away.
Toub has, in recent weeks, played returners Johnny Knox and Daniel Manning in front of Hester in the return game to make teams pay for kicking it short. More creative things could get Hester more involved and make the Bears that much more dangerous.
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Green Bay Packers
4 of 12
Key:
Cornerbacks Sam Shields and Tramon Williams
Why?
While Charles Woodson has had the best career in the Packers secondary, these two corners have been responsible for stepping up and doing the dirty work in the last few weeks. Shields has been mostly on special teams, but has been helping cover the deep receivers.
Williams has been one of the Packers more durable cornerbacks and asked to defend the other receiver while Woodson covers the slot. If they are going to beat Vick and then move on to Atlanta, they are going to have to step up and protect the secondary. If they can do that, they’ll see the defensive line pressure people and the Pack will be sitting pretty.
Indianapolis Colts
5 of 12
Key:
Running backs Donald Brown and Joseph Addai
Why?
This season has proven that Peyton Manning, for as amazing as he is, needs help. Indy needs to establish a running game. The Colts have the 28th ranked run defense in the NFL. If Manning can’t get on the field, he can’t be effective.
Kansas City Chiefs
6 of 12
Key:
Wide receiver Chris Chambers/Tight end Tony Moeaki
Why?
The Chiefs will be a tough test in the first round. They’ll be taking on a very confident and strong Ravens defense. They are going to let the Chiefs run all over them the way they have the rest of the NFL.
With that being said, it’s going to be important for Chambers and Moeaki to come up big in the secondary. Dwayne Bowe will most likely command double coverage, so if Chambers and Moeaki can get open and make plays, it will be a tough day for the 20th-ranked Ravens pass defense to handle.
New England Patriots
7 of 12
Key:
The Rookies: Cornerback Devin McCourty/Tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez
Why?
No one has been a bigger boon to the success of Tom Brady this season than the tight end combo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. These two guys have combined for 87 receptions and 16 touchdowns.
Combine that with the play of cornerback Devin McCourty. He’s had six picks, two forced fumbles and a sack to go along with 15 passes defended. These rookies have been asked to step up and have answered the bell. They need to continue to play big to give New England a chance.
New Orleans Saints
8 of 12
Key:
Running backs Chris Ivory and Reggie Bush
Why?
The play of these two guys will make or break the season for the Saints. Reggie Bush may have never reproduced his college magic, but without him in the mix for New Orleans, they lack a certain versatility. He’s a matchup nightmare for the rest of the NFL. If he’s back and playing at full strength, New Orleans can make a run.
Chris Ivory is just coming back from a hamstring injury. These things can be tricky and pop back up again. Ivory has been the key to New Orleans running game. He’ll need to stay healthy for New Orleans to compete.
New York Jets
9 of 12
Key:
Quarterback Mark Sanchez
Why?
It seemed early on that Sanchez was figuring it out. The error prone quarterback had engineered wins against Detroit, Cleveland and Houston. But somewhere between a 9-0 loss to the Packers and a blowout by the Patriots, Sanchez has been dismal.
Since the Cincinnati game the week before, Sanchez has thrown six picks to just two touchdowns. With a mediocre quarterback rating and a Jets team that is reeling, Sanchez will have to be better than he’s been if they want to get through a tough AFC.
Philadelphia Eagles
10 of 12
Key:
Offensive Line.
Why?
The key to the Eagles in most cases is Michael Vick. He’s such a nightmare for teams because he’s dangerous in the pocket and more dangerous out of it. However, the Vikings and the Bears did a great job of containment by getting to Vick.
If the Eagles are going to take on a tough Green Bay team and beat strong defenses like Atlanta or Chicago, they’ll have to figure out how to protect Vick and let him escape the pocket.
Pittsburgh Steelers
11 of 12
Key:
Running back Rashard Mendenhall
Why?
If the Steelers hope to get to the AFC Championship game and then past New England possibly, they are going to need a solid ground game. In the last 12 games, Mendenhall has rushed for 100 yards or more in only one game.
The more productive he is, the more they will keep potent offenses like New England and Baltimore off the field. Plus it opens up the field for Big Ben.
Seattle Seahawks
12 of 12
Key:
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck
Why?
The Seahawks don’t have much hope of getting past New Orleans, but if they have any hope it rests on the arm of Matt Hasselbeck. He’s got the poise and the experience to go toe to toe against New Orleans.
He may be well past his prime, but he’s better than Charlie Whitehurst.
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