Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
Say you want about the #Bears kicker, but they led 15-10 with 4:48 left and their top-ranked #NFL defense gave up a 12-play, 80-yard TD drive (the TD coming on a 4th down). That was the game.
BTW: The #NFL’s 1st, 2nd and 4th ranked defenses were one and done this weekend
Mitchell Trubisky (30th) and Lamar Jackson (31st) per PFF, lost today with the top two defenses in the #NFL behind them.
Still on deck: Drew Brees (No. 1) Patrick Mahomes (No. 2) Tom Brady (No. 5) and Jared Goff (No. 8)
Also, the 3rd and 4th highest ranked QB’s by Pro Football Focus – Andrew Luck and Philip Rivers – went on the road and beat the 4th and 2nd ranked defenses. The only top-10 ranked QB that lost – Russell Wilson – did so, arguably, becase he was handcuffed by his OC.
Tony Dungy@TonyDungy
In the Wild Card round the Colts D allowed 7 points, Eagles D-15, Chargers D-17, Cowboys D-22. Next round they’ll see Mahomes, Brees, Brady and Goff. A tougher test but defense still matters in the playoffs.
Bucky Brooks@BuckyBrooks
If you sit down and talk to NFL coaches on both sides of the ball, they will tell you that you need to throw early and run late. Use play-action on early downs at the beginning of games because EVERY defensive coordinator makes stopping the run a priority.
Ryan McCrystal@Ryan_McCrystal
Teams who win run more, but only after taking a lead in the second half. The first half run/pass split difference is negligible
Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Home-team record/win % in each playoff round
WC: 90-56 (.616)
Divisional: 152-62 (.710)
Conference: 94-46 (.671)
So yeah, home teams own the divisional round
Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
One thing that won’t/can’t get talked about this week but probably will happen…old pals Sean McVay and Jay Gruden putting their heads together to talk about Dallas.
Geoff Schwartz@geoffschwartz
I’ve been luke warm on the Cowboys for the last six weeks. Probably time to start warming up to them. They just keep winning. I can’t deny that. They have a defense that can make it an ugly game this weekend in Los Angeles and can shorten the game w/their running game