NFL Playoffs: Big Matchups Continue this Weekend

Posted by Samuel Boafo in Pressbox Hat Trick on January 12, 2017

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The NFL playoffs continue this weekend and many are excited to see how far the Dallas Cowboys will go after going from a dreadful 4-12 season last year to having their best season in over a decade.

The Cowboys have a 13-3 record and had a first round bye. Backup quarterback Tony Romo has been a hot topic but also a afterthought on the field as rookie quarterback Dak Prescott is having record breaking season for the Cowboys. Rookie Ezekiel Elliott has broken the Cowboys rookie rushing record this season and accumulated 1631 rushing yards. Running back Eric Dickerson provided a lot of feedback and some mentorship to Elliott at the beginning of the season where he was not performing as well.

Dickerson currently holds the record for a running back rushing in a season and provide Elliott positive feedback as the season progressed. There is no discussing the Cowboys without their owner Jerry Jones who has made several comments regarding Tony Romo’s position on the team during Prescott’s impressive rookie season. Dez Bryant is there most explosive threat at wide receiver and is adjusting well to the quarterback change we will see if Dez gets a touchdown this weekend.

The Green Bay Packers will have to visit the hostile environment at the AT&T Stadium after coming off a win against the New York Giants last week. Aaron Rodgers is an MVP candidate after leading The Packers with a seven-game winning streak and he will be short handed at the wide receiver position. The Packers star wide receiver Jordy Nelson experienced a rib injury during the New York Giants game that caused him to visit the hospital. The Green Bay Packers will be considered as the underdogs because of the loss of Nelson and home field advantage.The Cowboys will host the Packers Sunday January 15 at 4:40 pm.

The Seattle Seahawks rank fifth in defence and it will be interesting to see how the play against the Atlanta Falcons’ offence who ranked second this season. Wide receiver Julio Jones is the Falcons main weapon and collected over 1,409 receiving yards this season. The Seahawks has to find a way to slow him down to even the odds. The Seattle Seahawks have waived heavily on their home field advantage to give them a spark during games but unfortunately they will not have that luxury and the noisy fan base called “the 12th Man” will be unable to assist them in the Georgia Dome. Running back Thomas Rawls was the difference maker last week against Detroit Lions and rushed for over 161 yards and one touchdown a repeat performance is what the Seahawks need for there unproductive offence against the Falcons.

The Houston Texans are in the playoffs and have the number one ranked defensive without the number one ranked player in the league last year—defensive end JJ Watt. There was many speculation of defensive end Jadeveon Clowney would be a draft bust after numerous injuries, he is the anchor on the Texans defence. Clowney applied constant pressure on the Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Connor Cook last week and had one interception which was the beginning of the Texans 27-14 victory over the Raiders. The Texans will have to bring the same intensity against future Hall of Famer quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The game will take place Jan. 14 at 8:15 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have many ups and downs this season after losing wide receiver Martis Bryant to suspension. The Steelers persevered by being lead by future Hall of Famer quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh have arguably the best wide receiver in football Antonio Brown and their high powered offensive will have to play to their potential to become successful against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins last week and will look to repeat the performance against The Chiefs. The Chiefs are in the middle in the pack statically in most categories and that will pose as an advantage to them as they quietly reach the divisional playoff game against the Steelers. The media does not consider the Chiefs as a threat to the Superbowl and that can be advantage to their players to play pressure free. The Steelers will play the Chiefs Sunday Jan. 15 at 1:05 p.m. at Arrowhead stadium.