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Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP
They playoffs arrive with a super wildcard weekend packed with intrigue. The field is wider than ever after a rollercoaster regular season, any contender from the hobbled giants, plucky upstarts and surprise packages can make a case for a deep playoff run, all will believe they can live for another week until the league’s true heavyweights, San Francisco and Baltimore, enter the fray.
What the Browns need to do to win: Joe Flacco has to continue the no-fear approach that yielded an unlikely run to the playoffs. The 38-year-old’s stats through five games – 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns – extrapolated out across 17 would make him a contender for MVP. Keeping him well protected – he has been given a tidy 2.6 seconds to work from the pocket on average – has been the key ingredient to the eye-popping passing numbers.
What the Texans need to do to win: Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik needs to show a little more faith in CJ Stroud. The Texans struggled against the Indianpolis Colts last week after the 75-yard touchdown on the opening play as Slowik tried and failed to establish the run. Devin Singletary’s 24 carries for 62 yards slowed them down significantly. Stroud has to have more opportunities to make plays.
Key player: Myles Garrett, DE, Browns. The finest edge rusher leads the league’s stingiest passing defense. The consistency with which he beats offensive linemen, a 30% win-rate that drops to 29% when two men take him on per ESPN analytics, is his superpower. No quarterback is safe.
Prediction: Browns over Texans
Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs (Saturday, 8pm EST/1am GMT)
What the Dolphins need to do to win: The Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, has to throw everything at Patrick Mahomes. Even if Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert are healthy enough to play, Miami’s offense is unlikely to be the powerhouse it was earlier in the year. That means Fangio’s unit has to do the heavy lifting through sacks…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-wildcard-weekend-predictions-steelers-090025228.html
Author : The Guardian
Publish date : 2024-01-12 09:00:25
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