NFL Playoff Predictions: Projecting The Top 15 Round One Performances
With the Wildcard Weekend upon us, it's time to start some heavy duty predictions.
We'll look at the players who could have the Top 15 statistical performances this weekend.
It's going to be a good weekend for stat geeks because you'll have the Packers versus the Eagles, which provides us with Michael Vick, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews and DeSean Jackson in play.
Peyton Manning will be looking to add to his postseason honors, and the Kansas City Chiefs will be looking to make their own mark this weekend.
There are quite a few familiar names on this list, so let's see where they rank.
15. Santonio Holmes
1 of 15
Santonio Holmes quickly has become an integral part of the Jets offense. While quarterback Mark Sanchez hasn't been playing at an elite level, Holmes has.
Expect what offense the Jets generate through the air to go mainly through Holmes.
14. Ray Rice
2 of 15
Ray Rice verse the Chiefs should lead to a great stat line. The Chiefs have the 14th-ranked rushing defense in the league, and that means Rice has a chance to punch through the line and get some good yardage.
With Joe Flacco and the aerial attack, though, don't expect 150 yards on the ground, but Rice still should have a pretty good day.
13. Dwayne Bowe
3 of 15
Dwayne Bowe and Matt Cassel are becoming very good friends. Bowe has 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
Bowe should have another good day as the Ravens have been less than stellar verse the pass this year.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
12. Ed Reed
4 of 15
Even if the Chiefs win the game, the story recap will say something like "Ed Reed's Performance was Wasted."
Ed Reed plays the safety position at a level other players only wish they could ascend to.
Expect some picks, and expect Matt Cassel to throw away from Reed, assuming he doesn't anticipate what's coming and show up anyway.
11. Clay Matthews
5 of 15
Clay Matthews is a monster, and the Green Bay Packers probably had one of the best first-round drafts of any team by picking him in 2009.
Matthews probably has a picture of Michael Vick above his bed this week, and there's probably a Michael Vick dartboard in the locker room.
Clay Matthews will make sure Vick thinks about him all off—season, hoping to never meet him again.
10. LeSean McCoy
6 of 15
LeSean McCoy may be stuffed by Clay Matthews, but if Michael Vick does his job, Matthews will be out of position, and McCoy will get some big gains on Sunday.
9. Jamaal Charles
7 of 15
Jamaal Charles is one of the best young running backs in the league, and look for him to absolutely explode next year when he becomes the Chiefs feature back.
You should get a little taste of that this weekend as the Chiefs dual threat of Charles and Thomas Jones hit the Ravens defense with everything they've got.
8. Darelle Revis
8 of 15
Darelle Revis has battled injuries throughout the season, but this is the playoffs.
Revis Island will be a vacation spot for several receivers this weekend, and Peyton Manning will have to be very careful.
7. Joseph Addai
9 of 15
Joseph Addai should be a key factor in this week's game against the New York Jets.
With all the focus on Peyton Manning, it's critical Addai has a good game, so he'll be an integral part of the gameplan.
Expect Addai to make his mark, and remind the league he's still around.
6. DeSean Jackson
10 of 15
DeSean Jackson has become one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the league, and he's pretty good at returning kicks.
Jackson is becoming Michael Vick's favorite target, and don't expect that to change this weekend.
5. Joe Flacco
11 of 15
Joe Flacco is a name you're going to see in the postseason a lot over the next decade.
Flacco has matured into a very good quarterback, and with Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Todd Heap catching his passes, Flacco should continue to put up great numbers.
4. Peyton Manning
12 of 15
Peyton Manning is looking to make everyone forget the regular season, and he can do that with a good performance against the Jets on Saturday.
While Darrelle Revis will be roaming the secondary, Manning is too good of a signal caller to be intimidated by Revis, and he's smart enough to not let Revis completely shut him down.
Manning will be the story of the Jets game, and it will be for a good reason.
3. Aaron Rodgers
13 of 15
Aaron Rodgers may be facing the Eagles defense, but with the lack of a running game, most of the offensive numbers are going to come from Rodgers by default.
Rodgers will try and win this game through force of will, and his will is strong.
2. Michael Vick
14 of 15
As long as Michael Vick can keep away from Clay Matthews, he has plenty of good weapons to throw to, plus his own running ability.
Vick will want to make his first playoff game start since returning to the league a memorable one, so look for big numbers from Vick, and a game to remember.
1. Drew Brees
15 of 15
Drew Brees is facing the Seattle Seahawks defense, which isn't very good.
I could make a few snarky comments here, but I'm not.
The Seahawks made the playoffs by winning their division, even if they did it with a 7-9 record and rank near the bottom in almost every major defensive category.
Brees will have 400 yards and at least three touchdowns. It's going to be a good day to be a Saints fan.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")