Divisional Round Preview: NFC

Divisional Round Preview: NFC

Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers

This matchup was one of the most surprising for people. Even with all the bad luck, the Saints have faced the last few postseasons, this one looked the most promising. They had a solid run defense and an offense that was one of the most dangerous as any in the league. Yet, as the saying goes any given Sunday someone can win or lose. This happened to be the week that Kirk Cousins vindicated himself. He rode himself of some of his past demons when it comes to playing in the primetime games. Now that he has won, this becomes a very difficult matchup for both teams. If you looked at the records the teams seem different. Although if you watch both teams play, they have won the same way. Both have top-notch running games. The Vikings have Dalvin Cook and the ground game, while the 49ers have the three-headed backfields that many teams haven’t been able to figure out yet. Both teams possess a quarterback that been are solid in the regular season but are mysteries in the postseason. Cousins has been tested a few times with bad results until last week while Garoppolo is untested in the postseason as a starter. This matchup is the most important because I have a feeling this game will come down to which team gets the ball last in a close one-score game. The other thing that is highly similar in this matchup though is the defenses. Both are top ten units; the only slight difference is one closer to the top three in terms of overall defense while one is closer to the lower end of the top ten. The Vikings have been playing better defense of late and keeping their team in many games down the stretch. While the 49ers defense has been more up and down of late. They had a shootout with the saints just a few weeks ago and loss to the Falcons because they couldn’t make the stops needed. On the flip side, they did make the key stops against other teams to seal different wins and keep the team in the game. In all, this game will come down to be a one-score game with the win landing the quarterbacks hands. Due to both being relative mysteries I will pick the Vikings in the end only because as a team they have more postseason experience and you can’t knock have experience in difficult situations like this. 

Minnesota 24 – San Francisco 20

Seattle Seahawks vs Green Bay Packers

This is a rematch I personally wanted to see again because every time they have played recently, it has been an instant classic duel of heavyweight teams. In corner wearing the green and yellow trunks you have Aaron Rodgers and in the other corner wearing the blue and green trunks you have Russell Wilson. Both quarterbacks have been playing at a high level for the last eight years and have willed their teams to wins both in the regular season and the postseason. Since Russell Wilson has entered the league the two quarterbacks have both won over 70 games. Which is in the top ten over that time frame. Now this year, in particular, has been a bit different. The Packers are in a philosophy change becoming more of a running based team with an aerial attack to complement it rather than the other way around. While also having a defense that can stop the run, cover all over the field and cause havoc for the quarterback. The Seahawks have been in constant flux for years since the end of the Legion of Boom. Luckily, they still Pete Carroll at the helm so the team is still a running first team with Russell Wilson doing his magic to complement. Unfortunately, the defense still isn’t what it used to be. They have issues stopping the run and getting after the passer. The still playmakers at all the levels and get turnovers but are vulnerable overall as a group. This team also has one major flaw, the injuries late in the season. Its first, second and third-string RB’s are done for the season. Also, they are without starting left tackle Duane Brown. This matchup can be either a competitive one or a blowout for the Packers. All this being said, I’m going with the Packers for the win this round. 

Seattle 20 – Green Bay 31

-By: Darren Braxton

Writer/Interviewer