A Look Back- The Wild Weekend of the NFL's Divisional Round

By The Rabbi, Video Editor for 

"On The Sportslines"

This weekend was Divisional round weekend and if I had published my picks...I would be 0-4.  Yup, that's right....against the spread I would have been 0-4, game picks I would have been 2-2.  I lost my pre AND postseason Super Bowl picks in one freaking day.  I would think that deserves a recap, don't you?

Hey, did you hear that Ray Lewis is retiring at the end of the postseason?  Just thought I'd mention that somewhere in this column if you hadn't heard it 10 million times on TV.

Baltimore 38, Denver 35 (In a game so nice, they almost had to do OT twice)

Summing this game up in 10 words or less:  Peyton wasn't MVP-like, Baltimore's offense was.

Why Baltimore won:  Blame it on Denver, but the answer is simple...Joe Flacco?  Yup, Joe Flacco (sorry, had to convince myself that he was good this weekend).  Here's a shocker for you...in the last two years, Joe Flacco has OUTPLAYED Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in playoff games.  The potential of having a good receiving corp like Mr. Boldin, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Reliable Tight End that comes up in the clutch (this was Todd Heap for so many years, now it's Dennis Pitta) finally came to fruition in a big playoff game.  

Why Denver Lost:  Peyton Manning is 8-11 in his playoff career.  That's not a good record.  Remember when one Super Bowl got you vindication for all the failures of your career?  That might not work with Mr. Manning at all.  Peyton just has to always be one Super Bowl behind Eli.  Also...can we talk about that touchdown that Jacoby Jones had to tie the game for Baltimore?  How does one person get so open?  Denver was such a mess defensively; nowhere near resembling the unit we saw for the past two months.  Peyton's second loss as a #1 seed may be just as, or even more devastating than the first one he had in 2005 when his Colts lost to the 6th seeded Steelers.

What I'm looking for from Baltimore Sunday:  Ray Rice touches in the first half hitting double digits.  He only had seven in the first half Saturday.  The Ravens may have a problem if he has single digit touches early again.

San Francisco 45, Green Bay 31

Summing this game in 10 words or less:  Colin Kaepernick was nice on his feet, 180 yards worth.

Why San Fran won:  Colin Kaepernick's 444 total yards is a nice place to start.  The best thing about this game to me wasn't even the fact that he torched the Packers secondary; it's that he torched the Packers secondary after starting the game with a Pick-6.  Don't players who are in their first playoff start feel any pressure?  Colin Kaepernick is not an ordinary man at all.  Just watching him on Saturday pretty much means there's no way that you can prepare a good defensive game plan against the Niners.  Want to put eight in the box?  Colin's gonna throw to a rejuvenated Michael Crabtree.  Want to go Nickel?  Frank Gore can run the ball.  Want to go Man-to-Man and only rush four?  Oh yeah, Colin Kaepernick can run for a TD at any time.

Why Green Bay Lost:  Okay, now let's put this in perspective...no team in the history of the NFL Playoffs allowed a 100 yard rushing QB...and the Pack almost allow a 200 yard rusher?  It may be a little bit of Green Bay's Defense contributing to that when that's the case.  Also, Green Bay was outrushed 3-1 by the Niners.  Remember how I just mentioned the layers of dimensions to San Fran's Offense?  That's how One-Dimensional the Pack are and going to be until they find a decent runner.  It doesn't even have to be a superstar, just a solid threat to go for 100 yards sometime in a 16 game season.  The Packers don't have that right now.

What I'm looking for from San Francisco Sunday:  This was the highest scoring weekend of playoff football EVER.  Can San Francisco's Defense rise up next Sunday?  We'll get into this later on in the week, but I don't truly believe that San Francisco is going want to have to score 30 again next week...they may lose if they do.

Atlanta 30, Seattle 28

Why Atlanta won:  They had the ball last.  They played amazing in the first half of the game and Matt Ryan played loose.  The Falcons played like they had nothing on the line and a had a lot of fun.  They built up enough of a lead and used the running game in a big way, going for 162 yards.  That set up Atlanta's already dangerous passing game, which accounted for three touchdowns.  Matt Ryan wasn't the most steady QB during the game (that second interception to set up the Seahawks third TD being the prime example), but just like most times this season, when the Falcons needed a game winning drive with 30 seconds to go, Ryan delivered.  It's not the way you want to live all the time though.

Why Seattle lost:  30 minutes and 30 seconds.  The first 30 minutes when the Seahawks should have come up with a minimum of six points (which would have put the game within two TD's going into halftime at worst) and the final 30 seconds where Seattle's secondary completely folded.  You're going to tell me that twice when a team needed a game-tying or game-winning score within the final minute, that team didn't just deliver (Baltimore and Atlanta), but deliver with ease?  Yup, this is the NFL in 2012-2013.  A Two-Minute Drill used to be a special thing to me.  I used to see memorable drives to win games.  This drive just seemed commonplace to NFL fans.  17 seconds to get into field goal range?  Come on!  Oh, and the two defenses that gave up these drives were Top 10 defenses in the NFL this season.  Seattle just fell victim to not being the last team with the ball.  That's what did them in.

What I'm looking for from Atlanta Sunday:  A lot.  Matt Ryan looks like the overmatched QB in this game against San Francisco and he needs to prove that he's far from that.  The Falcons need the same running attack they had against the Seahawks, get all three of their big time backs going.  Remember when I said a few paragraphs ago that the 49ers probably don't want to have to score 30 to win again?  This is what Atlanta has to do.  When you're the underdog (which even though the Falcons are home, they are), the more points that are scored, the more unpredictable the game can be.  This is what Atlanta has to do next Sunday: get into a shootout.

New England 41, Houston 28

Why New England won:  They're a better team?  Yup, I'm going with that.  Even without Rob Gronkowski, the New England Patriots showed just how dangerous they are offensively.  In this day and age in the NFL, the teams with the best QB's and best offenses usually come out on top, and Tom Brady is one of the best QB's and the Patriots are one of the best offenses.  The best of the best of the rest of the teams left in the playoffs.  The sad thing is, this wasn't even close to the Pats best offensive performance.  We know they can be better, and I have a feeling when they're playing an elite team, they will be.

Why Houston lost:  Oh yeah, I'm implying that Houston is not an elite team.  They came into their regular season matchup with the Pats 11-1, flying high, and well on their way to a #1 seed and the most favorable matchups in the AFC.  They left that matchup on their way to disaster-town.  Matt Schaub played less confidently as the last month of the season wound down.  Houston's defense got shredded the last month of the season by Indianapolis, Minnesota, and New England.  They need a kick in the ass for next season because they cannot continue the way that they've been playing; at the second tier level that they've truly been at.

What I'm looking for from New England Saturday:  I want to see the offensive performance from the Patriots this year against the Ravens that they didn't have last year.  Baltimore was able to do what they wanted defensively against New England last year, they just couldn't finish the deal.  If Tom Brady can save his best offensive performance in the last few years for this Sunday against the Ravens, the Patriots will make the Super Bowl.  Again.  Shoot me now when that happens.

I'll get more into the conference championships later this week.  Until then, I'm out.

It's Not You, It's Me - The Story of the NFL Season Firings.

by Steve Rabinowitz, OTSL Video Editor

Hey y'all, I'm the Rabbi, video editor for On The Sportslines, and I'm finally back in the blogging mood.  Today's topic is one of job security....a lot of job security.  This past Monday, 12 different head coaches and GM's were shown the door in one of the biggest bloodbaths in NFL History.  NINE franchises were affected, getting rid of a coach, a GM, or just saying screw it and getting rid of both.  When a franchise is in shambles, I always think THREE big things are to blame:

1.  Leadership: The coach is the main problem and this team can definitely win with someone else.

2.  Front Office: Decision making is all off.  Since the owners can't be fired, it's time to let go of the most public face of decision making: the General Manager.

3.  Personnel: Will always get the #1 blame in most fans eyes, this is the true reason why nothing is working.  Usually you need to look at the signal caller first and foremost in this situation.

Through that formula, let's look at the reasons why nine franchises needed a change immediately.

San Diego Chargers:

Problem:  In what used to be THEIR division, three consecutive non-playoff seasons is inexcusable.  Especially when they had the most talent in their division for at least two of those three years.

How the Chargers handled it:  Goodbye Norv Turner and AJ Smith.  Cue this being the moment when SD fans believed Marty Schottenheimer staying would be best for the growth of the team and the containment of AJ.

How I would have handled it:  Easiest move to make.  Both parties needed to go and fast.  The failure to get rid of both parties in time led to half of the Chargers games being blacked out locally on TV in 2012.  However, the backwards progression of Phillip Rivers into a turnover machine (46 turnovers in the last two years), makes me wonder if Rivers is on borrowed time in 2013.

Arizona Cardinals

Problem:  Started 4-0, then the fact that they overachieved caught up with them in a hurry.  First came Kevin Kolb as QB, then John Skelton, then Ryan Lindley, and then Brian Hoyer.  All that led to the Cards losing 11 out of their last 12 and having their record more Cards-ian, so to speak, finishing at 5-11.

How the Cards handled it:  Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt is shown the door, GM Rod Graves goes right with him.  

How I would have handled it:  I think once Kevin Kolb got hurt in Week 6 versus Buffalo, Whisenhunt knew he was in trouble.  He had no one available to play the position consistently and he wound up coaching like a coach on the hot seat would, looking for that one spark he would never find.  Whisenhunt had to go for the way he handled the QB situation, and Graves had to go for the lack of return on the Kolb deal.  Whoever gets this job (and luckily for OTSL Steeler fanatic Jay Kaplan, it may be Steeler offense ruiner Todd Haley), will have weapons....except for the biggest one: QB.

Cleveland Browns:

Problem:  New Ownership + Back-to-Back 5-11 Seasons + No Playoff Victories (since returning to the league) = Impatience by all involved.  This is why Colt McCoy only got a full year as a starter before the Browns drafted someone older to QB the team.

How The Browns handled it:  Clean sweep.  Pat Shurmur is probably not getting a head coaching job for a while, Tom Heckert is probably not getting a GM role either, unless Andy Reid's first choice for his GM in Kansas City - Packers personnel man John Dorsey - doesn't work out.

How I would have handled it:  When dealing with an ownership change, the only way you can get anyone to START to be convinced to keep you is to win....Shurmur and Heckert did not win as a combo.  The cupboard was pretty bare in Cleveland, but sadly this is the patience level in the NFL: it's not long.  The Browns just need a little bit of patience in their next head coach, so of course they're basically interviewing major college prospects (Bill O'Brien of Penn St, who said no; Chip Kelly of Oregon; and Doug Marrone of Syracuse).  If they think a college coach is going to breathe life in this franchise, they've got another thing coming.

New York Jets:

Problem:  Back to back AFC Championship appearances in 2009-2010 is good, but if you don't see a Super Bowl (or at least get to one), nothing is good enough.  Once the Jets cupboard ran bare in 2011-2012, not only do you get the disdain from the previous two years, BUT ADD to that, the hatred of Jets lifers that are now going 44 years-plus without a Super Bowl appearance.

How the Jets handled it:  Mike Tannenbaum, a holdover from the Mangini administration, goes.  Rex Ryan and Marc Sanchez stay and I think we can safely say that Tim Tebow is to blame for all of this.  Every single bit.

How I would have handled it:  You know, I was originally going to say yesterday this was the right move, but then the Rex Ryan tattoo-gate came out.  Yes, Rex Ryan had a tattoo of his naked wife wearing ONLY a Sanchez jersey.  If the Jets want to win the back pages, THEY WIN!  Enough is enough.  Mike Tannenbaum should have stayed in the organization, and everyone else should have been let go.  Yes, Rex Ryan was brash and confident when he was winning....now, he double talks during press conferences whenever people ask him questions (he cursed out the reporter who approached him in the Bahamas), and he's in the Bahamas when he should be doing a post-mortem on the season.  Get rid of him.  Also, find a stop gap for QB next season, because not only is Mark Sanchez rattled, but he seems like he's hit his peak as a primetime player.  Paging Alex Smith/Michael Vick/Matt Flynn/Random backup QB for next season.

Jacksonville Jaguars:  

Problem:  Other then having the worst fanbase in the NFL?   Actually it has grown a little bit in the last few years, but a 7-25 record over the last two years might stop that.

How the Jags handled it:  Gene Smith, the GM who oversaw no winning seasons in his four years, got canned.  Mike Mularkey as of this writing is still a question mark, but the assistants have been told they can look elseware.

How I would have handled it:  Four years after the franchise came off one of their better seasons in 2007, they've only managed to get to eight wins once.  That was enough to say bon voyage for Smith.  I think Mularkey will be given another chance, especially because the Jags owner Shahid Khan didn't fire Mularkey immediately, and lets face it, with seven coaching spots open now, is anyone going to WOW you in the next few weeks?  As for the personnel, remember when there were questions if Blaine Gabbert was a better QB right now then Cam Newton?  Despite Newton's lack of wins, I feel that's not really a question.  Chad Henne can lead this rebuilding process next year, he's a decent stopgap.

Buffalo Bills:

Problem:  They get off to a 5-2 start a year ago and finish 6-10!  They have preseason hype this year because of their great defense and Mario Williams!  They STILL end up 6-10!  Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills, but they still end up in the same place.

How The Bills handled it:  Chan Gailey is out as Head Coach despite GM Buddy Nix saying he was safe in NOVEMBER (some job security there).   Nix will eventually get replaced by assistant Doug Whaley, in a transition period.  Some job security there too.

How I would have handled it:  A Buffalo Bills leadership change is like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.  You can say Chan Gailey is at fault, but who can really right this ship? Ken Whisenhunt?  Doug Marrone?  Chip Kelly?  There's not too many names that can handle a mediocre QB such as Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Almost everyone, including Nix has said they'd like to start anew with a franchise QB.  So, it looks like Fitzpatrick is going to have to take a backup role.  His other option is a one way ticket to Free Agency.  Bills Owner Ralph Wilson, who's handed the reigns of the team to CEO Russ Brandon, was one of the causes for all this "stability" (stable as in bad, stable as in no playoffs since 1999) and was one of the main cogs in the Bills decline this decade.

Chicago Bears:

Problem:  7-1 to start the season, 10-6 to finish it.  No playoffs for the second year in a row, and this year you can't completely blame a major Jay Cutler injury for it.  The Bears offense is just stagnant.

How the Bears handled it:  But you CAN blame Lovie Smith for all of this.  He was shown the door, becoming the third losing Super Bowl head coach to get a pink slip this year.  Oh, and if you want to take a guy who has turned things around with a mediocre QB in the past (are you listening Buffalo?), then Smith is your guy.

How I would have handled it:  Personnel is my main issue here.  While it's amazingly great to get QB Jay Cutler's best friend in the whole wide world, WR Brandon Marshall to be the #1 guy, you still need more cogs.  Do you want Cutler to have better than a 19-14 TD-INT ratio in 2013?  Then you need a #2 Wide Reciever.  Otherwise, when Marshall goes down, could wind up being nothing more than a six or seven win team.  It's also not a good sign when your "Franchise QB" has a total of ONE playoff victory (against a 8-9 Seattle team) in four seasons.  If there was a chance to get a big time QB this year, I'd say Chicago needs to get him, but the Bears have a bigger need for a #2 WR option.  They also need a strong willed coach (paging Bruce Arians) to get them through a rugged 2013 schedule.

Philadelphia Eagles:

Problem:  Once proclaimed the "Dream Team" after their bevy of free agent signings, a 12-20 record in the two seasons since is pretty much a sign that the dream is not alive.

How the Eagles handled it:  In a move that made every Eagle fan and their mother happy, Andy Reid was shown the door after 14 seasons.  At least Andy got to the big one ONCE, Eagle fans.  You could be the Jets right now.

How I would have handled it:  Even if Andy could have turned it around, it was time for a new direction.  Andy needed a fresh start and so did the Eagles.  Fans better be patient with QB Nick Foles though, it's not easy for a second-year QB to adjust to the NFL; although with the weapons he has in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, Foles can't regress or he'll have to go.  The Eagles have interviewed the afformentioned Bruce Arians and Seahawks Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley.  Now Bradley would be about as unknown of a hire as Reid was in 1999.  I hope Eagle fans don't lose it if that turns out to be the selection.

Kansas City Chiefs:

Problem:  This year?  Everything.  The Good News?  It led to the #1 pick after a 2-14 season.  The Bad News?  This is a weak draft year without any frontline QB's which happens to be issue #1 for the Chiefs.

How the Chiefs handled it:  Good-bye Romeo Crennel, who was only hired after a 2-1 finish to 2011 anyway.  As of this writing today, GM Scott Pioli is also gone, probably to go back to the Patriots and just improve them in ways they didn't even think they needed to improve.  DAMN THOSE PATRIOTS!

How I would have handled it:  Oh, this was easy too.  Romeo should stick to being a Defensive Coordinator, just like Norv Turner should stick to being an Offensive Coordinator.  Romeo's headed back to the assistant ranks.  As you might have heard, Andy Reid has accepted this head coaching job, and like I said before, he really needed a fresh start.  Reid did enough with what he had in Philadelphia - five NFC Championship appearances in his tenure - that he deserves another chance to head up a team.  If Reid fails though, we can finally say it was his fault the Eagles failed.  Or was it Donovan McNabb's fault, or was it...eh, you get the point.

Before we go, there are four big NFL Wild-Card playoff games this weekend for those teams that had successful seasons, and I'm going to pick them in the quickest and most confident way that I can:

Cincinnati 20, Houston 17
Isn't it sad that you feel less confident about the Texans THIS year with a reasonably healthy lineup and healthy starting QB then you did with the with a banged up team a year ago and a THIRD STRING QB?  That's a little of both teams for me.  The Bengals improved a lot (especially on defense) at the end of the season and Matt Schaub reminded all of us why this will be his first playoff game.  I like the Bengals here, but this is the tightest contest of the weekend.

Green Bay 38, Minnesota 14
Blowout City!  Green Bay is a much better team and will know all of the Vikings tendencies because it will be the third time these teams have played in six weeks.  The reason I picked a blowout here is simple: Aaron Rodgers just shredded the Vikings secondary last week and Christian Ponder didn't win once outdoors this year.  Adrian Peterson can have as great a day as he wants, but if Ponder puts up the same 119 yards he did in Week 13 versus the Pack, Green Bay can put 10 in the box.  It won't matter.

Baltimore 27, Indianapolis 17
Yeah, Chuck-strong has to end sometime, and it ends here.  Was Baltimore a mediocre team the second half of the season?  Hell yes they were!  But the talent on the Ravens, coupled the motivation to not end Ray Lewis' magical, killer (sorry wrong word) career, is too much.  Oh, and what's so great about Indy anyway?  They took advantage of finally having a reasonably good QB (who should be FOURTH in rookie of the year voting, but that's for another blog), and a cupcake schedule.  They got the big lift after the win against the Packers in Week 5 (when Pagano left the team) and rode the wave of mediocrity to here.  Sorry boys, magical ride ends here.  Although a Colts-Broncos matchup next week.....

Washington 24, Seattle 21
Welcome to the, "Call-it-a-hunch-but-I'm-picking-this-team-to-win-and-I-have-no-clue-why" game.  Logic points to Seattle taking care of business against a team that falls right into their match-ups.  However, I still don't trust the 'Hawks on the road against a good team (their best road win in the second half of the season was versus Chicago) and I feel like Alfred Morris can take over this game....as long as RG3 isn't as limited again; and I don't think they will be.  So this is the one true "upset" of the weekend.

Talk to y'all next week.  Maybe I'll expand and expound on why I don't like Andrew Luck that much.