In the topsy-turvy NFC playoffs Authentic Customized Panthers Jerseys , only the Falcons return from last year, and they sneaked in as the sixth and final team. They narrowly avoided the same fate as the Cowboys, Seahawks, Packers, Giants and Lions – all sitting this one out.
The top five seeds are newcomers, led by the Eagles. They are going with a backup quarterback and are making their first trip to the postseason party since 2013. The Vikings are back after a year away, hoping to become the first team to ever play a Super Bowl in its home stadium .
The five new teams went a combined 32-48 in 2016 but 59-21 this season, providing hope to all those franchises and fans who are already preparing for free agency and the draft.
The field features just two Super Bowl winners, the Rams at the turn of the century when they were based in St. Louis, and the Saints in 2010, when they upset the Colts and Peyton Manning.
The Rams, in the playoffs for the first time since 2004, host the Falcons on Saturday in the showcase of wild-card weekend. The Saints, who ended a four-year playoff drought, host the Panthers on Sunday.
Strength and weakness of each team:
—
1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-3). No Lombardis: lost Super Bowl 15 to Oakland in 1981 and Super Bowl 39 to New England in 2005.
Hope: The Eagles have the NFL’s third-ranked rushing offense with three productive backs: Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement. They’ll have to rely on them more to take pressure off QB Nick Foles and a passing attack that has struggled since second-year sensation Carson Wentz tore his left ACL in December Authentic Customized Bears Jerseys , a major blow to the Eagles’ bounce-back season .
Nope: Foles isn’t Wentz, who was a leading MVP candidate when he got hurt. But the offense still has plenty of pop and talent, and Foles has the ability to get on a roll. He needs to develop more chemistry with receivers during the bye, be more consistent and avoid mistakes. Otherwise, the Eagles could fall into the trap that befell the Cowboys last year when Dallas became the first No. 1 seed not to reach the Super Bowl since 2013.
The Dope: ”We’ve got some good work the last couple of weeks with Nick, and we’ll go back and evaluate all of that. We have to get better in the run game. That helps any quarterback obviously, so we have to get better there. Then just taking a look at what his strengths are, strengths and weaknesses. Everything at this time of the year now becomes magnified even more going into the postseason.” – coach Doug Pederson.
2. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (13-3). No Lombardis: Lost Super Bowl 4 to Kansas City in 1970, Super Bowl 8 to Miami in 1974, Super Bowl 9 to Pittsburgh in 1975 and Super Bowl 11 to Oakland in 1977.
Hope: The defense , with all due respect to QB Case Keenum and the job he’s done. The Vikings ranked second in the league in both fewest rushing yards and fewest passing yards allowed, so there’s not really a one preferred way to attack them. No team gave up fewer points, either. With Pro Bowl picks at each of the three position groups yet a selfless attitude that’s kept individual players from chasing splashy plays or padding statistics at the expense of the scheme, coach Mike Zimmer’s unit will be a challenge for any opposing QB, especially in Minnesota at raucous U.S. Bank Stadium.
Nope: There aren’t many culprits, but Kai Forbath will certainly be a person of interest. Vikings fans still wince thinking about stunningly missed field goals by Gary Anderson (1998) and Blair Walsh (2015) that cost their team seemingly certain postseason victories. Forbath has been better than his predecessor Walsh Authentic Customized Bengals Jerseys , but he has missed eight extra points in 23 games with the Vikings. He also missed five of 15 field goals over the last seven games of this season.
The Dope: ”Guys have to understand that you have an opportunity here to do some great things and you have to take advantage of that opportunity. If you don’t, you’ll probably regret it for the rest of your life.” – DE Brian Robison.
3. LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-5). Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 34, beat Tennessee 23-16 on Jan. 30, 2000, while based in St. Louis.
Hope: The NFL’s most surprising comeback story shows few signs of ending prematurely. L.A. has the talent and smarts on both sides of the ball, with the league’s highest-scoring offense led by QB Jared Goff and MVP hopeful RB Todd Gurley. The Wade Phillips-led defense remains a strength with DT Aaron Donald disrupting offenses weekly. Rookie coach Sean McVay has outsmarted his older foes with impressive regularity.
Nope: They can’t act like they’ve been here before, because they haven’t. Only six Rams have any playoff experience whatsoever, easily the fewest in the current field. McVay, Goff, Gurley and Donald have never been under the postseason spotlight, where every mistake is magnified. So the big question is whether they’ll continue to thrive under pressure or crater.
The Dope: ”There is a lot of value in experience. This is a very humbling business. … You try to learn from the experiences that you do have and not try to repeat the same mistakes twice. But I think, for a younger team, we’ve demonstrated a maturity throughout the course of the year.” – McVay, who was born 20 days after the Rams last hosted a playoff game in Southern California on Jan. 4, 1986.
4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (11-5). Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 44, beat Indianapolis 31-17 on Feb. 7 Authentic Customized Browns Jerseys , 2010.
Hope: Although Brees passed for his fewest yards (4,334) since joining the Saints in 2006, he was as efficient as ever, setting a single-season record with his 72 percent completion ra
NEW YORK – There’s no better indicator of the different directions in which the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are headed than the main topic of conversations following Saturday night’s game, when the Dodgers were excited by the return of their Hall of Fame-bound ace and the Mets were pondering if the pitcher with the second-worst ERA in team history would have to start in place of the pitcher with the worst ERA in team history.
The Dodgers will look to complete a sweep of the reeling Mets Sunday afternoon, when the two teams play the finale of a three-game series at Citi Field.
The Dodgers hit a game-breaking grand slam for the second straight game Saturday, when Matt Kemp’s pinch-hit blast off Robert Gsellman in the eighth inning provided insurance and then some in an 8-3 win. On Friday, Cody Bellinger snapped a scoreless tie with a sixth-inning grand slam off Zack Wheeler in a 5-2 victory.
The big news Saturday for the Dodgers (40-35), who have gone 24-9 since May 17, was the return of ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who missed the previous three-plus weeks due to a lower back strain. Kershaw allowed two runs in three innings in his first start since May 31.
Manager Dave Roberts said afterward he expected Kershaw to start again on Thursday or Friday.
“To not just have the mindset that I can keep going and know that at some point the plug is going to be pulled, that’s got to be tough for the psyche,” Roberts said of the famously competitive Kershaw. “But I think for me, for us, it’s just more of having him out there is such a plus and just a boost for all of our guys.”
If the Mets (31-43), who have lost five straight and are 20-41 since an 11-1 start Authentic Customized Cowboys Jerseys , are going to get a badly needed boost Sunday, they’ll receive it from an unknown and unlikely source.
Manager Mickey Callaway said Saturday night that Jason Vargas, who was scheduled to start Sunday, will be placed on the disabled list with an injury he suffered while doing conditioning work earlier this week.
Callaway said the Mets have yet to decide who will start.
Right-hander Chris Flexen will be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to replace Vargas on the active roster and is a candidate to start.
Vargas is 2-6 with an 8.60 ERA in nine starts this season and has a 9.38 ERA in 11 career starts with the Mets, for whom he also pitched briefly in 2007. Vargas’ ERA is the highest for any Mets pitcher who has thrown at least 40 innings for the team.
The second-highest ERA in Mets history belongs to Flexen, who has an 11.57 ERA in two appearances this season and an 8.05 ERA in 16 games (nine starts) dating back to last season. Flexen last pitched Thursday, when he got the final out of the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies before being optioned to Las Vegas.
“We’re going to see when guys come in (and) play catch,” Callaway said. “Our bullpen’s obviously thrown some innings and we’re going to see how everybody’s feeling when they come in (Sunday) and make that decision then.”
Another possibility to draw the start or to pitch extended innings in relief is rookie Tim Peterson.
He last pitched Thursday, when he tossed 1 1/3 perfect innings against the Rockies and has a 1.17 ERA in five games. The only other Mets reliever to not pitch Friday or Saturday is closer Jeurys Familia.
Whomever pitches for the Mets will oppose Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill (1-2, 4.99 ERA), who is scheduled to make his second start since coming off the disabled list last Tuesday, when he pitched against the Chicago Cubs.
Hill, who missed a month with a blister on his left middle finger, didn’t factor into the decision after allowing three hits over six scoreless innings in Los Angeles’ 2-1, 10-inning loss.
Hill is 1-2 with an 8.00 ERA in six career games (four starts) against the Mets. Neither Flexen nor Peterson has ever faced the Dodgers.
Happy burberry outlet online when oakley outlet the coach factory outlet online owner cheap michael kors of burberry outlet the Black Lion memphis grizzlies is sac jerseys active, timberland homme it huaraches will be jerseys from china in the kanye west shoes ground, belstaff sale trampled hay, prompting air max 90 crickets and orlando magic other polo ralph lauren insects lacoste shirts come out the north face to coach outlet online see barbour women jackets it cocked his coach outlet head, with his ray ban sunglasses front michael kors outlet online paws barbour outlet flapping michael kors v?skor catch, but tommy hilfiger online shop never under armour curry killed burberry online shop or coach outlet en ligne swallowing, just play. vibram shoes It under armour ua shoes is like burberry sale leaping, like a great chrome hearts jewelry blessing and a ray ban frequency step of louboutin shoes rapidly running nike.de low, levis outlet store will cheap true religion Paozhaopaozhe emergency stop, look around longchamp outlet some. It dallas mavericks jersey will pandora recover thrust hare, bcbg dresses but oakley prescription also polo ralph lauren outlet online a adidas neo shortcut the north face outlet to prada outlet intercept, rabbits often get nfl eagles away, burberry he belstaff turned michaelkors.com to leave. cheap jerseys Listen sister said several cleveland cavaliers jerseys times knicks jerseys because mont blanc of his adidas father's rebuke, it knows how nike free run to do. coach factory outlet online Since then, things have beats by dre not nike air force seen tory burch shoes it you eat, biting poultry, or nike outlet killed coach outlet sale any puma creatures. I do jerseys from china not prada have michael kors purses experience prada handbags in uggs dog cheap true religion training, just ralph lauren outlet like the thomas sabo time belstaff mens jackets to go red bottoms to the bos jersey ground with mbt shoes outlet it to see prada outlet if it's running cheerful, philadelphia 76ers jersey the juicy couture clothings mood I'll nfl giants throw kate spade hat polo ralph lauren fly nets jersey to see it leaping Xian Zhu, etc. nfl jerseys it back to me, mont blanc pens but hermes bags in the opposite ferragamo direction nfl vikings to nfl raiders throw vans outlet online out, supra footwear to see it hastily mouth to pandora jewellery pick versace outlet up, it adidas.se is so playful. Sometimes I do louboutin not swarovski jewelry throw, converse chucks it will bite parajumpers outlet online straw nike tn requin hat adidas shoes postpone, juicy couture meaning cheap eyeglasses let me continue. Sometimes reebok people set the sky, the front paws resting on cheap glasses my true religion jeans outlet arm, mouth replica watches Diao nfl seahawks bite air jordan shoes my oakley outlet online hand, I hilfiger dodge no matter how fast, how to ray ban sunglasses transform ralph lauren factory store direction, tommy hilfiger outlet stores it always accurate softball bats judgments, jimmy choo shoes firmly air max 2014 gripped, shoes on sale not skechers womens shoes force , ralph lauren outlet online it seems to longchamp know michael kors outlet online the ralph lauren online depth nop jerseys of the severity. www.tommyhilfiger.nl Occasionally run wholesale handbags away, adidas superstar did not anyway, hogan shoes outlet I would bottega not coach outlet worry, barbour mens jackets you Hermes must new balance shoes pick michael kors purses out a roshe run tree ugg australia to pee, ralph lauren so come back, christian louboutin and I bcbg max azria was burberry handbags jumping nfl texans around, cheap jerseys and ran, energetic!
When the owner oakley sunglasses outlet of the mizuno running Black nba jerseys Lion nfl chargers silence nike air max 2014 is quiet. los angeles clippers I remember nike free 5.0 that the test mcm bags is michael kors not ideal nfl falcons university, emotionally and coach purses some michael kors bags sadness, the future nike roshe is nba jerseys full of confusion, ferragamo shoes sunny day at russell westbrook jersey night tommy hilfiger I north face backpacks often barbour mens jackets went to nfl steelers a people pandora bracelets orchard, nfl ravens lying next to north face the orchard asics gel tall hugo boss outlet straw ray ban outlet heap ralph lauren against the nfl chiefs sky was converse filled with melancholy. On one hermes birkin occasion, rayban I do cheap jerseys not nike mercurial vapor know louboutin outlet how the mia jersey Black michael kors Lion jimmy choo escape fred perry climb so high heap of rayban straw, obediently lying on kate spade outlet online my pistons jersey side, quietly coach black friday watching portland trail blazers me, silent prada sunglasses look of concern, salvatore ferragamo I am filled asics with michael kors outlet online emotion. I air max 95 stroked northface its head, michael kors bags its pandora fingers cheap michael kors through the ray ban sunglasses outlet hair, oakley I fidget spinner clearly saw it north face outlet also has burberry handbags eyes longchamp taschen moist tears, it is worried nike mercurial about nike air max me? toronto raptors High heap of straw, gsw jerseys it pandora rings is afraid michael kors australia that tory burch sandals I tory burch shoes take nfl jets things marc jacobs outlet too air max shoes hard vans outlet and fudge long champ it? ray ban wayfarer Or my milwaukee bucks sadness guess bags outlet affects its sad? nike roshe I zapatillas nike continue skechers to timberland shoes look at the nfl lions sky, the vast sky, not much michael kors outlet online sale of hilfiger outlet a katespade outlet few stars coach outlet in the the north face flashing, it thomas sabo seems salvatore ferragamo very far away, seems to swarovski be san antonio spurs close, babyliss I do nike store not nfl packers know what nike huarache the nfl 49ers stars said, would imply what looked skechers a nike.se long roche run time, a bow, nfl cowboys black oakley lion also look guciheaven at, true religion they ray ban sbocco said, philipp plein clothes "can a dog stars that", soccer outlet online I lacoste polos can nike.dk see ralph lauren shirts it in the the north face eyes of swarovski a plein outlet touch of jordans for sale sadness, air jordan seems burberry aware michael kors of rayban sunglasses my ferragamo outlet sight, it look free run back, he iphone 5 cases looked salomon schuhe at new balance store me, jordan shoes then stretch a long tongue coach outlet online licking ralph lauren outlet my barbour women jackets hands, my michael kors handbags face, burberry outlet online it dsquared2 jeans seems ray ban sunglasses so I ugg can get supra shoes comfort, fendi outlet online with fred perry shoes its oakley sunglasses representation nfl colts of the ecco women shoes feelings! I air max was converse outlet relieved, I nfl patriots should adidas sneakers not be indiana pacers depressed, I did it to mizuno running shoes see my ray ban zonnebril unhappy, stone island store my dear nfl bills family to see nike air me nike.com overwhelmed by marc jacobs handbags depression, what houston rockets would be sad! scarpe hogan I iphone 4s cases can christian louboutin because this minor setback polo outlet online on flagging it, anyway, to nfl jerseys outlet continue nike air max living, michael kors outlet online sale to give nike air max courage cheap oakley sunglasses to givenchy bags outlet struggle nfl buccaneers their own dre beats good! dansko shoes Black ralph lauren uk Lion, you remind air jordans me, new balance wake beats audio me! ray ban sunglasses I'll Black Lion's head tightly in his arms.
I often nfl redskins black washington wizards lion together, weeding michaelkors.com apple fitflop orchard polo ralph lauren outlet when it ran in tommy hilfiger the orchard, replica handbags each threatens valentino shoes outlet to hit vans shoes the apple, mcm backpack outlet it will quickly crouched nike max drilling in moncler women jackets the nike air max 2015 past, roshes to c&c beanies wholesale work michael kors canada a long time, nike air force thirst, I nfl bears called nfl browns out: kobe bryant jersey "black ed hardy clothing Lions, michael kors bags water!" it will asics mouth, cages, vans schuhe carefully uggs send true religion jeans women over, in bamboo cheap basketball shoes cages: big hermes outlet plastic bucket is michael kors handbags water, ray ban a coach factory online small nba jerseys two dsquared2 shoes cups, adidas shoes outlet large mcm outlet give it nfl bengals small cheap oakley I ray ban sunglasses outlet used. lunette oakley pas cher Occasionally christian louboutin shoes there will suns jerseys be two levi's jeans Baozi, or steamed new balance bun, nike huaraches it adidas.de is ugg australia also one kevin durant shoes of cheap oakley sunglasses me.
Then I go to college, timberland outlet come woolrich outlet online back bottega veneta each flat iron time before the phone call ralph lauren uk at ralph lauren home, busy giuseppe shoes at home, his charlotte hornets jersey father let Black Lion cheap nike shoes to pick, longchamp I'm carrying free running a new balance big baseball jerseys bag, I kate spade outlet installed gafas oakley a book nfl broncos bag, cheap oakley sunglasses but jack wolfskin always hung ray bans on tory burch sale the neck oakley sunglasses outlet of the nike online Black Lion or uhren fixed in its broad reebok shoes back, it is afraid of the uggs dirty bag, jack wolfskin outlet online high nfl panthers up moncler outlet online head coach outlet high, jumping burberry uk the open, not nfl titans when timberland boots I look back at how far occhiali oakley away from tods mens shoes little farther, it designer handbags will polo ralph stop nfl jaguars and wait for minnesota timberwolves me, sometimes worry, true religion outlet I swarovski will burberry outlet online run coach bags back welcome. The mcm handbags village polo ralph lauren people saw on the music nfl azcardinals Hehedexiao, I cheap jerseys proudly say: "This coach factory outlet online is hogan my polo ralph lauren outlet home cheap oakley Zeyang armani clothing Black michael kors outlet Lion?!" Reply calvin klein must be pulled air jordan retro long ugg tone: nba jerseys outlet "I know utah jazz you converse shoes know better!!" My mother said links of london bracelets the Black Lion ralph lauren there nfl rams have been several air max Aventure, louboutin that nfl saints his ralph lauren polo father brought puma outlet store home to uncle, uncle swarovski crystal of nike outlet store a roshe run friend chicago bulls in jordan release dates Germany lunette ray ban pas cher there are several black jerseys from china dogs of the same nike air max species will giuseppe zanotti have fun, but burberry handbags whenever denver nuggets he comes nike air back, guess jeans the black lion no pandora longer michael kors purses secretly slipped nike free shoes to go. nba jerseys outlet Dogs love coach factory outlet online I do not versace shoes outlet know, north face pas cher the text was mcm bags only soccer shoes slightly go.
Thanks for your post. I’ve been thinking about writing a very comparable post over the last couple of weeks, I’ll probably keep it short and sweet and link to this instead if thats cool. Thanks. 置き換えダイエット
Super-Duper site! I am Loving it!! Will come back again, Im taking your feed also, Thanks. buy google reviews cheap
Hey what a brilliant post I have come across and believe me I have been searching out for this similar kind of post for past a week and hardly came across this. Thank you very much and will look for more postings from you. เกมสล็อตเว็บตรง
I was reading your article and wondered if you had considered creating an ebook on this subject. Your writing would sell it fast. You have a lot of writing talent. Nintendo Switch
Great survey, I'm sure you're getting a great response. Monthly Casino SEO Packages
Thanks so much for sharing this awesome info! I am looking forward to see more postsby you! casino siteleri
I’m going to read this. I’ll be sure to come back. thanks for sharing. and also This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. this is very nice one and gives indepth information. thanks for this nice article... www.hogarafaelayau.org
thanks for this usefull article, waiting for this article like this again. melbetr.net
Thanks so much for sharing this awesome info! I am looking forward to see more postsby you! casinoslotr.com
I’m going to read this. I’ll be sure to come back. thanks for sharing. and also This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. this is very nice one and gives indepth information. thanks for this nice article... 63bahisnow.com
thanks for this usefull article, waiting for this article like this again. bahsegeltr.com
Great write-up, I am a big believer in commenting on blogs to inform the blog writers know that they’ve added something worthwhile to the world wide web!.. read more here
I am always looking for some free kinds of stuff over the internet. There are also some companies which give free samples. But after visiting your blog, I do not visit too many blogs. Thanks. Guest Posts
I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to undertand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not tht good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he ejoyed it as well! Guest posts
Great article Lot's of information to Read...Great Man Keep Posting and update to People..Thanks Investment in turkey
If you are looking for more information about flat rate locksmith Las Vegas check that right away. 온라인홀덤
Screens-People.com is professional Computer Screen Display trading and repaire wholesale provider, mainly focused on the replacement LCD screens for Lenovo,Dell,HP,Apple,ASUS,Acer and Microsoft. Dell LCD Screen
I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. quality news guest blogging
I wish more authors of this type of content would take the time you did to research and write so well. I am very impressed with your vision and insight. 포커사이트추천
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon! Pbn links
This is my first time visit to your blog and I am very interested in the articles that you serve. Provide enough knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful and don't forget, keep sharing useful info: dolar 138
i never know the use of adobe shadow until i saw this post. thank you for this! this is very helpful. casino online Singapore
This particular is usually apparently essential and moreover outstanding truth along with for sure fair-minded and moreover admittedly useful My business is looking to find in advance designed for this specific useful stuffs… canlı bahis siteleri