(6) Los Angeles Rams 30, (3) Seattle Seahawks 20
The Rams, though inconsistent, are a stingy team that shouldn’t be disrespected, as their victory over a cocky Seahawks team indicates.
This hurts me as a Seahawks fan to say, but its true – you reap what you sow. When I saw players like safety Jamal Adams smoking victory cigars after their Week 16 win division-clinching over LA , I knew the Seahawks would play down to LA or come out flat and I was right. The Rams saw that arrogance from the Seahawks and kept receipts.
The Rams started off with QB John Wolford (3 of 6, 155 yards, one touchdown) under center initially, but a dirty hit by Adams resulted in Wolford being carted off the field and a recovering Jared Goff taking the helm. Goff, after being questionable with a thumb injury, completed nine of 19 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown.
RB Cam Akers led the ground game with 131 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. LA’s receiving corps was led by WR Cooper Kupp, who recorded 78 yards on four receptions. Fellow WR Robert Woods caught the Rams’ sole touchdown pass.
Safety Jordan Fuller led the team in tackles with seven total while CB Darious Williams got the team’s only interception. However, the story of the Rams’ defense was the pass rush, as DT Aaron Donald (2), LB Leonard Floyd (2) and DE Morgan Fox (1) combined for five sacks and made QB Russell Wilson’s life in the pocket very difficult.
Wilson’s offensive funk continued, as he completed 11 of 27 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, though he did pick up 50 rushing yards. The run game was led by RB Chris Carson’s 77 yards on 16 carries.
Though WR D.K. Metcalf struggled against CB Jalen Ramsey, he picked up 96 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions. LB Bobby Wagner led the Seahawks’ defense with 16 total tackles and a sack. DT Jarran Reed recorded two sacks. It’s worth noting that Adams was routinely burned in pass coverage and seemed like a liability when either Wolford or Goff passed the football.
The Rams have a fantastic defense that is arguably the best in the NFC. They’ll need that solid defense when they play the high-powered Green Bay Packers next, as the QB-WR duo of Aaron Rodgers and Davantae Adams is the best in the league at this moment. While the I know the Rams’ defense will show out, I’m no so confident about their offense, especially when they have to go against CB Jaire Alexander. For this reason, I can’t put the Rams over the Packers.
Seattle has an issue where their offense and defense can’t show up in the same game. The season started off with one of the best passing attacks in the league paired with a historically bad pass defense. Now, the defense has been rebuilt over the course of the season and has played very well, but now it seems Wilson can barely complete a pass anymore, much less his signature deep ball to either Metcalf or WR Tyler Lockett. That offensive line needs help, too.
Seahawks’ biggest offseason need: Offensive coordinator/defensive line
(5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, (4) Washington Football Team 23
Let’s be real – Washington shouldn’t be here. But I’ll still cover this game anyway.
For the Buccaneers, QB Tom Brady completed 22 of 40 pass attempts for 381 yards and two touchdowns – a solid outing for what feels like Brady’s 1,000th playoff game. RB Leonard Fournette led all rushers with 93 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. WR Mike Evans balled out with 119 yards on six receptions. WRs Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown both caught touchdown passes.
Tampa Bay’s defense was led by LB Lavonte David’s nine total tackles and one sack. CB Sean Bunting caught Tampa Bay’s one interception.
Unsung QB Taylor Heinicke, who stepped up in Alex Smith’s absence, completing 26 of 44 passes for 306 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Heinicke also led all of Washington’s rushers 46 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Safety Jeremy Reaves collected 10 total tackles while defensive end Montez Sweat got Washington’s only sack. DE Chase Young, who will certainly win defensive rookie of the year honors, was held in check this game after talking about how much he wanted to play Brady prior to the game.
Not really much to discuss with this one, as the outcome was inevitable. Brady sends the only playoff team with a losing record home and the league is all the better for it.
Washington’s biggest offseason need: stable QB situation
(7) Chicago Bears 9, (2) New Orleans Saints 21
Similar to Washington, Chicago had no business being in the playoffs either. The only saving grace for Chicago is that they didn’t have a losing record, but a .500 record of 8-8. The Bears truly are the definition of mediocrity. The most interesting thing about this game is that it was streamed on Nickelodeon.
QB Mitch Trubisky might’ve played his last game in a Bear’s jersey, but at least his potential final game for the team wasn’t a complete disaster. Trubisky completed 19 of 29 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown, although it was a meaningless touchdown at the very end of the game.
RB David Montgomery, who was on an absolute tear prior to the playoffs, recorded 31 yards on 12 carries. The receiving corps was led by WR Allen Robinson, who caught six passes for 55 yards. TE Jimmy Graham caught the Bears’ only touchdown catch at the very end of the game. Chicago’s defense was led by LB Danny Trevathan, who recorded 10 total tackles. Safety Tashaun Gipson got the team’s only sack.
The Saints’ offense was commanded by the reliable QB Dre Brees, who completed 28 of 39 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. RB Alvin Kamara picked up 99 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. The Saints’ receiving corps was led by WR Deonte Harris’s 83 yards on seven receptions. WR Michael Thomas and RB Latavius Murray both had touchdown catches.
New Orleans’s defense was led by safety Chauncey Gardener’s eight total tackles and DT Sheldon Radkins’s sack.
Chicago was destined to be beaten by the Saints, though Chicago seemed liked they might’ve been capable of pulling off the upset, as the Saints’ offense struggled at first, However, once New Orleans got into their groove, they pulled away no problem. The Saints will face off against the Buccaneers for the third time this season, in which the Saints hold the 2-0 series edge.
As for Chicago, what they need to do is obvious – move on from Trubisky and grab a QB in the draft. That defense is still solid, but it would be a major blow if Robinson left town.
Bears’ biggest offseason need: QB
NFC Divisional round (my picks in bold):
(6) Los Angeles Rams @ (1) Green Bay Packers
(5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ (2) New Orleans Saints
