NFL Playoffs: Top Storylines Following Wild Card Heading Into Divisional Round

The first weekend of the NFL playoffs kicked things off with a huge bang. It was an exciting weekend of football and every game lived up to its hype and even surpassed its build-up.

We saw a monster upset, hard hits and extravagant plays that will make the history books.

As we say goodbye to Wild Card superstars Jamaal Charles, Michael Vick, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, we say hello to Divisional superstars waiting in the shadows in Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady.

Let’s take a look at the story lines of this exciting Wild Card round and the Divisional playoffs.

1. Seahawks Stun Saints

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Leon Washington #33 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates the Seahawks 41-36 victory against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jon

The Saints, defending Super Bowl champions, traveled to Seattle as 10-point favorites.

Pete Carroll’s Seahawks entered the playoffs with a losing 7-9 record, but were able to host a playoff game in one of American sports greatest home-field advantages.

Their home-field advantage and motivation of playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain was just what the doctor ordered to take down these Saints.

Matt Hasselbeck threw four touchdowns as the Seahawks went on to defeat the Saints, 41-36.

2. Marshawn Lynch Runs for the Ages

The Seahawks traded for Lynch prior to the trade deadline but the Seahawks ground attack was inconsistent throughout the year.

No problems here anymore.

The Seahawks still made the playoffs and are advancing into the Divisional round against the Chicago Bears because Marshawn Lynch sealed the game late in the fourth quarter.

Lynch took the rock and carried it for a 67-yard touchdown, rumbling through defenders and shoving them off him with stiff arm after stiff arm before keeping his balance and cruising into the end zone to put the Saints up 41-30 with 3:22 left in the game.

Lynch rushed 19 times for 131 yards and one of the most dazzling touchdowns in playoff history.

3. Chiefs Crunch Time Crumble

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: A fan of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts in the stands as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Chiefs 30-7 in the 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Doug Pen

The Chiefs emerged this season as one of the league’s biggest surprises.

Todd Haley formed one of the best coaching staffs in the league and the Chiefs lost just one game at home this season, which came in the final week of the regular season to the Oakland Raiders.

The Chiefs definitely could have used that momentum heading into a game with one of the best teams in the league in the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens came in well-prepared and focused for these Chiefs, proving just who runs the tribe. The Ravens beat the Chiefs up and forced turnover after turnover en route to a 30-7 victory.

4. Jets Still No. 1 Chink In Peyton’s Wild Card Armor

For the third time in the Peyton Manning era, the Indianapolis Colts took on the New York Jets in the postseason.

In 2002, the Jets handed Manning one of his biggest defeats ever. Chad Pennington and the Jets beat Peyton Manning and the Colts in Indianapolis, 41-0.

The Jets lost to the Colts last year in the AFC Championship.

This playoff rubber match between the Jets and Peyton Manning did not go the Colts’ way. The Jets made great plays on their final drive and the Colts cost themselves a potential win when they used their timeout, essentially giving the Jets more time to draw up a play to put them in better field goal range.

Nick Folk nailed the kick and the Colts were sent home to watch the remaining playoff games.

5. Where Does Peyton and the Colts Go From Here?

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts talks with head coach Jim Caldwell against the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Ind

There is already trouble in Indianapolis after the Colts’ loss to the Jets.

Reggie Wayne caught one pass for one yard on one target.

Needless to say, he’s not happy considering the Colts lost by, as you would guess, one point.

Even though Manning has taken the Colts to two Super Bowl appearances, winning one, his postseason struggles continue.

Manning is supposed to be the all-time greatest quarterback, but he continues to come up short in the postseason.

The Colts need to regroup and rebuild as soon as possible. They need to find a durable rusher and upgrade their secondary.

First and foremost, Manning needs to get his No. 1 option back on the Colts’ saddle.

6. Packers Pack Up Philly: What Happened to Michael Vick’s Super Bowl?

Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams sent the Philadelphia Eagles home early.

Throughout the season we heard how this was Michael Vick’s year. Arguably the most improved player of the year, he would win the 2010 MVP award and take the Eagles to the Super Bowl to complete his remarkable comeback to superstardom.

Unfortunately, this storybook does not have a happy ending.

The Eagles met one of the hottest teams in the league in the Green Bay Packers.

Clay Matthews put a ton of pressure on Vick throughout the contest and it led to a Tramon Williams interception with 33 seconds left in the game.

Aaron Rodgers and rookie running back James Starks were both excellent. Rodgers threw for just 180 yards but three touchdowns. Even more impressive, Starks rushed 23 times for 123 yards and the Green Bay Packers may have just found their running back of the future.

7. Bears Look to Avenge Regular Season Home Loss to Soaring ‘Hawks

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears runs onto the field during player introductions before a game against the New York Jets at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Pho

Back in Week 6, the Seattle Seahawks traveled to Chicago and upset the Bears, 23-20.

This was Lynch’s debut with the Seahawks and he scored a rushing touchdown to seal the victory. It wasn’t as impressive as his game-clinching Wild Card touchdown against the Saints, but a game-clincher nonetheless.

Lynch will carry a ton of momentum into the Divisional round, but make no mistake about it, this ferocious Bears defense will be gunning for him and the rest of the Seattle offense. This is a dynamic defense with a lot of playmakers, most notably Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher.

Expect Peppers to cause mayhem at the line of scrimmage and disrupt Matt Hasselbeck throughout the afternoon as the Bears look to avenge their early-season home loss with the season now on the line.

8. Young Gunners: Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan to Meet Head-to-Head Again

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers rushes upfield away from Corey Peters #91 of the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on November 28, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

These two met Week 12 in Atlanta and Matt Ryan’s Falcons got the best of Aaron Rodgers’ Packers, 20-17.

The Packers actually had the game until Matt Bryant kicked a game-winning field goal with nine seconds remaining.

Clearly, this is an even matchup.

The Packers enter though with a ton of momentum on their side. The defense is playing far better than they were in Week 12 and the Packers now have a rushing attack led by rookie James Starks.

In the Week 12 contest, both Rodgers and Ryan threw for one touchdown apiece.

This game playoff game will most likely come down to which team has the ball last and which quarterback will prove to be most clutch in crunch time.

9. Battle of Bruisers in Divisional Round: Steelers Host Ravens in Rubber Match

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PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs down Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

With the AFC Championship on the line, the Ravens travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in this AFC North rubber match.

Both of the previous games were two of the most physical games all season. They were all close, exciting games.

In the first meeting, the Ravens beat the Steelers with 34 seconds remaining in Week 4 when Joe Flacco connected with T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a touchdown to give them a 17-14 victory.

The Steelers then traveled to Baltimore and beat the Ravens after Troy Polamalu sacked Joe Flacco and forced him to fumble with 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Ben Roethlisberger would throw a touchdown pass to Isaac Redman with 2:51 remaining and the Steelers held on to win, 13-10.

Two games, two different outcomes, both by three points. This could be the most intense game of the weekend and it will kick off the Divisional round on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

10. Patriots Host Jets in Divisional Round Rubber Battle in Foxboro

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FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 22: Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots shakes hands with Rex Ryan of the New York on November 22, 2009 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 31-14. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

The Jets and Patriots will meet for the third time this season after splitting the regular season.

The Jets handled the Patriots in the second half of their first meeting in Week 2. They actually seemed to disrupt and confuse Tom Brady.

When both teams met on Monday Night Football in Week 13, both teams entered tied atop the AFC with 9-2 records. Rex Ryan ran his mouth leading up to the game only to have it forced shut by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

The Patriots went on to route the Jets at home 45-3 in one of the most embarrassing loses in recent memory.

Once again, Rex Ryan is talking and telling everybody that this rubber match is all about himself against Belichick.

This is the game of the week and will certainly live up to the hype with the AFC Championship on the line.