NFL Playoffs – Tom Brady launches his quest for the “Big Eight”, icy match (-17°) in Buffalo

What will be the poster for the 56th Super Bowl in history, to be held on February 13 in Los Angeles, in the brand new SoFi Stadium, home of the Rams and the Chargers? First elements of response during this first weekend of the playoffs. If the Green Bay Packers and the Tennessee Titans are exempt from this “Wild-card round” after finishing with the best record in their respective conference, the twelve other qualified teams are on deck from Saturday to Monday.

CONFERENCE NATIONALE

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4) – Philadelphie Eagles (9-8)
Sunday, 7 p.m. (French time)

Operation “Big Eight” for Tom Brady. After winning his seventh Vince Lombardi trophy last year, the first with Tampa, the legendary quarterback will once again be aiming for nothing but the coronation. Brady, 44, hasn’t really slowed down this season, to the point of being the favorite again in the race for the MVP title. The Buccaneers will leave largely favorites against Philadelphia, whose main offensive weapon, the ground game, risks colliding with the strong point of the Florida defense, precisely the defense against the run.

Dallas Cowboys (12-5) – San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
Sunday (10:30 p.m. French time)

A historic clash between two of the most successful franchises in history. But this is the first time since 1995 that this great classic is held in the playoffs. San Francisco is miraculous. Led 17-0 by the Rams in the last regular season game, the 49ers snatched their place in the playoffs at the cost of a crazy end to the game and an overtime victory.

The key stat for SF? Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has gone seven games this season without throwing an interception. Result, 7 victories. Conversely, San Francisco is 2-6 when its playmaker is intercepted at least once. Opposite, Dallas cornerback Trevon Diggs has 11 interceptions this year. Unheard of for 40 years.

Both teams have playmakers in attack (Deebo Samuel in particular is in explosive form in San Francisco) and despite the home field advantage, the Cowboys may have inherited the worst opponent for a wild-card round. Quarterback Dak Prescott, excellent this season, must now rise to the occasion in a context under high tension to justify the hopes of the Texas public.

Los Angeles Rams (12-5) – Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
In the night from Monday to Tuesday (2h15, French time)

Arizona has long been the hottest team in the NFL this season. But after winning seven of their first eight games, the Cardinals began a gradual slide. They remain on four defeats in their last five outings. Not really the ideal momentum before approaching the playoffs. But the Rams ended their campaign by falling at home against San Francisco, dropping a game they quietly mastered.

The Californian defense has incredible assets at all levels: Aaron Donald on the defensive line, linebacker Von Miller, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. But the Rams secondary is also disturbed by injuries. In attack, Matthew Stafford remains an enigma. If the former number one in the draft had a prolific season statistically, some of his throws challenge (17 interceptions). Above all, his experience in the playoffs remains limited.

The good news for Arizona? Maybe playing outside. The Rams do not have the strongest “fanbase” in the country and the Cards have been much more effective away from home this season (8 wins in 9 trips) than at home (3-5). The two regular season matches between the two teams have also resulted in a victory for the visiting team.

CONFERENCE AMERICAINE

Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) – Las Vegas Raiders (10-7)
Saturday, 10:30 p.m. (French time)

The match that will open these 2022 playoffs. Two teams who can no longer wait for post-season success. Cincinnati’s last success dates back more than… 30 years. 18 for the Raiders. The Bengals are a team on the rise, in the wake of the explosive offensive tandem of quarterback Joe Burrow and rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase (who broke the record for receiving yards for a rookie).

The Las Vegas franchise has alternated between the very good and the mediocre this season, but by beating the Chagers on the wire last Sunday, it composted its ticket for the playoffs. A first for five years. Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue, Nevada’s two pass-rushers, will have to put maximum pressure on Joe Burrow. Finally, one thing to watch: Cincinnati is the most disciplined team in the league, while the Raiders have the third-highest penalty total this season.

Buffalo Bills (11-6) – New England Patriots (10-7)
In the night from Saturday to Sunday (2h15, French time)

What if this was the… coldest game in NFL history? The United States are expecting a new “Ice Bowl” next night in Buffalo, where the Bills host New England for a tasty duel between two teams from the same division (AFC East), which always offers additional salt to a playoff game. The mercury will display at “maximum” -12° and should drop to -17°! “It’s no fun for anyone to play in these temperatures, judge Josh Allen, the Bills quarterback. When you find yourself on the ground after a tackle, it hurts even more. But more than a physical barrier, it is a mental barrier. You have to go beyond.”

Regardless of the weather, we will actually have to play this match and it looks undecided. It will be the third meeting of the season (and the third in just over a month) for the two teams, each having won… away from home. Buffalo will have home-court advantage Saturday, but that’s not a guarantee. The Patriots quickly digested the departure of legend Brady, with his successor as QB, Mac Jones. Slight advantage all the same on paper to the Bills, strong from their experience of last year, where they had approached the Super Bowl by reaching the conference final.

Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) – Pittsburgh Steelers (9-1-7)
In the night from Sunday to Monday (2h15, French time)

Sacred two years ago, again present at the Super Bowl last year (defeat against Tampa Bay), Kansas City will try to lay down the law for the third time in a row in the AFC. The Chiefs have long worried this season (they had lost four of their last seven games), before operating a spectacular “turnaround”, both in attack, where Patrick Mahomes regained his superb, and in defense. Result, eight consecutive victories and a quiet qualification for the playoffs.

Kansas City receives Pittsburgh to start its way to Los Angeles. To say that Andy Reid’s men are favorites is an understatement. Of the 14 teams involved in the playoffs, Pittsburgh is probably the weakest on paper. Their anemic attack is led by Ben Roethlisberger, who is a few weeks away from his 40th birthday and perhaps a few hours away from retirement, since this is his last season. The Steelers were crushed in the same spot just three weeks ago. But the troop of Mike Tomlin will have nothing to lose and it counts in TJ Watt the one who will perhaps be elected best defender of the year.