For the first time since 1997, the San Francisco 49ers are the top seed in the NFC playoffs, a stunning turnaround for a team that owned the second overall pick in the NFL draft just nine months ago.
After four straight losing campaigns, including only 10 wins in coach Kyle Shanahan's first two seasons, the 49ers went from 4-12 to 13-3 this season.
They emerged as the top team in the NFC thanks a big-play offense and a vastly improved defense sparked by Nick Bosa, whom they chose with that No. 2 draft pick.
The Green Bay Packers secured the other first-round bye.
The Seahawks visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and the Minnesota Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints in the other NFC wild-card game.
1. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 3.
Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 29, 49-26 over San Diego Chargers on Jan. 29, 1995.
Yea: The 49ers have won different ways with the defense dominating early and the offense playing better late. The returns of edge rusher Dee Ford and S Jaquiski Tartt should help the defense return to its early form.
Nay: The Niners will still be missing at least one key defensive piece at the start of the playoffs in LB Kwon Alexander and several depth pass rushers also are out for the year. That could limit the improvement on defense. Garoppolo has improved the past few weeks but still has a propensity for turnovers, which could prove costly.
2. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 5.
Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 45, 31-25 over Pittsburgh Steelers on Feb. 6, 2011.
Yea: RB Aaron Jones is Green Bay's first 1,000-yard rusher since Eddie Lacy in 2014 and his 19 total touchdowns (16 rushing, three receiving) tied Carolina's Christian McCaffrey for the league high If first-year coach Matt LaFleur gets Jones the ball early and often and QB Aaron Rodgers can add in a splash of his old magic, Green Bay could find itself in Miami in February.
Nay: Though Rodgers has had flashes of his old greatness, the 36-year-old two-time MVP has played far below his soaring standards. If the Packers are going to win another Super Bowl, they're going to need the Rodgers of old, not the old Rodgers.
3. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 2.
Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 44, beat Indianapolis 31-17 on Feb. 7, 2010.
Yea: QB Drew Brees, who'll turn 41 on Jan. 15, has been in vintage form lately with a big assist from the NFL's top WR Michael Thomas. Brees has passed for 1,188 yards and 15 TDs in the past four games. Thomas racked up a single-season record 149 catches for 1,725 yards and nine TDs.
Nay: While the Saints don't have many weaknesses, they can be their own worst enemy. Their 120 penalties for 1,036 yards ranked sixth worst in the NFL in both categories and their minus-323 net penalty yards ranked second worst.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 11.
Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 52, 41-33 over New England Patriots, Feb. 4, 2018.
Yea: The Eagles are hungry and Carson Wentz is determined to do what Nick Foles did in his absence two years ago – win a Super Bowl. If Wentz continues playing at the MVP level he displayed in December, the Eagles are dangerous.
Nay: Seattle beat the Eagles in Philadelphia 17-9 on Nov. 24. Russell Wilson is 4-0 against Philly. The Eagles have been riddled by injuries and finished the regular season without seven starters on offense. Three of those players could return to face the Seahawks but it's likely two will be game-time decisions.
5. Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 6.
Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 48, 43-8 over Denver Broncos on Feb. 2, 2014.
Yea: If the Seahawks are going to make a deep playoff run, it's going to be because of QB Russell Wilson. He's coming off the second-best season in terms of passing yards, completion percentage and a career-low five interceptions. Wilson's never been asked to carry Seattle in the playoffs. Seattle has enough other parts to make some noise.
Nay: Injuries have stacked up for Seattle. The Seahawks lost their top three running backs, a starting edge rusher, tight end and center to season-ending injuries. Jadeveon Clowney is playing through a painful core muscle injury. Bobby Wagner has a bad ankle as does safety Quandre Diggs. Left tackle Duane Brown underwent knee surgery after Week 16. Eventually the lack of some key stars is likely to catch up with Seattle.
6. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 8.
No Lombardis.
Yea: The Vikings have an accomplished defense that can pose problems for elite QBs and clever play-callers on the other side. The Vikings were sixth in the NFL with an average of 18.9 points allowed and fourth with 31 takeaways. Their play-action passing attack with Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook poses a dual threat and QB Kirk Cousins throwing deep to WR Stefon Diggs, can be awfully dangerous, too.
Nay: The downside on defense is the erosion of the pass coverage. After ranking in the top three in passing yards allowed in the league in each of the past three years, the Vikings dropped to 15th in 2019. They also fell to 19th in the NFL in third down conversions allowed after leading the league in 2017 and 18. The offense carries its own reasons to doubt a playoff run, with Cousins never having won a postseason game in the NFL and a recent dud at home against division rival Green Bay.
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Quarterbacks key to success in NFC | NFL | Journal Gazette - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
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