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Saturday 6 January 2018
Topsy-turvy NFC playoff field: 5 newcomers plus Falcons

By ARNIE STAPLETON and Foles has the ability to ally a one preferred way 23-16 on Jan. 30, 2000, days after the Rams last
AP Pro Football Writer get on a roll. He needs to to attack them. No team while based in St. Louis. hosted a playoff game in
In the topsy-turvy NFC play- develop more chemistry gave up fewer points, ei- Hope: The NFL’s most sur- Southern California on Jan.
offs, only the Falcons return with receivers during the ther. With Pro Bowl picks prising comeback story 4, 1986.
from last year, and they 4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
sneaked in as the sixth and (11-5). Last Lombardi: Super
final team. They narrowly Bowl 44, beat Indianapolis
avoided the same fate as 31-17 on Feb. 7, 2010.
the Cowboys, Seahawks, Hope: Although Brees
Packers, Giants and Lions passed for his fewest yards
— all sitting this one out. (4,334) since joining the
The top five seeds are new- Saints in 2006, he was as
comers, led by the Eagles. efficient as ever, setting a
They are going with a single-season record with
backup quarterback and his 72 percent comple-
are making their first trip to tion rate. And Brees didn’t
the postseason party since need to throw as much
2013. The Vikings are back because the Pro Bowl run-
after a year away, hoping ning back tandem of Mark
to become the first team to Ingram and rookie Alvin Ka-
ever play a Super Bowl in its mara combined for 1,852
home stadium . yards rushing. They also
The five new teams went a performed well as receiv-
combined 32-48 in 2016 but ers, particularly on screens,
59-21 this season, providing each gaining more than
hope to all those franchises 1,500 yards from scrim-
and fans who are already mage.
preparing for free agency In this Dec. 31, 2017, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles’ Nick Foles (9) throws a pass over Dallas Nope: Although the de-
and the draft. Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence (90) during the first half of an NFL football game in Philadelphia. fense made remarkable
Associated Press
The field features just two strides this season — par-
Super Bowl winners, the ticularly in sacks and inter-
Rams at the turn of the cen- bye, be more consistent at each of the three posi- shows few signs of ending ceptions — injuries have
tury when they were based and avoid mistakes. Other- tion groups yet a selfless prematurely. L.A. has the added up over the course
in St. Louis, and the Saints in wise, the Eagles could fall attitude that’s kept indi- talent and smarts on both of the season. They lost a
2010, when they upset the into the trap that befell the vidual players from chasing sides of the ball, with the productive starter at each
Colts and Peyton Manning. Cowboys last year when splashy plays or padding league’s highest-scoring level of the unit: defensive
The Rams, in the playoffs for Dallas became the first No. statistics at the expense of offense led by QB Jared end Alex Okafor, middle
the first time since 2004, host 1 seed not to reach the Su- the scheme, coach Mike Goff and MVP hopeful RB linebacker A.J. Klein and
the Falcons on Saturday in per Bowl since 2013. Zimmer’s unit will be a chal- Todd Gurley. The Wade strong safety Kenny Vac-
the showcase of wild-card The Dope: “We’ve got some lenge for any opposing QB, Phillips-led defense remains caro.
weekend. The Saints, who good work the last couple especially in Minnesota at a strength with DT Aaron The Dope: “It’s been a long
ended a four-year playoff of weeks with Nick, and raucous U.S. Bank Stadium. Donald disrupting offenses season. We’ve had our ups
drought, host the Panthers we’ll go back and evalu- Nope: There aren’t many weekly. Rookie coach Sean and downs at times. We’ve
on Sunday. ate all of that. We have to culprits, but Kai Forbath McVay has outsmarted his shown ourselves what is
Strength and weakness of get better in the run game. will certainly be a person older foes with impressive possible. Obviously, you
each team: That helps any quarterback of interest. Vikings fans still regularity. play the regular season to
___ obviously, so we have to wince thinking about stun- Nope: They can’t act like give yourself an opportu-
1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES get better there. Then just ningly missed field goals by they’ve been here before, nity to get into the tourna-
(13-3). No Lombardis: lost taking a look at what his Gary Anderson (1998) and because they haven’t. ment and that’s where we
Super Bowl 15 to Oakland strengths are, strengths and Blair Walsh (2015) that cost Only six Rams have any are now.” — Brees.
in 1981 and Super Bowl 39 weaknesses. Everything at their team seemingly cer- playoff experience whatso- 5. CAROLINA PANTHERS (11-
to New England in 2005. this time of the year now tain postseason victories. ever, easily the fewest in the 5). No Lombardis: lost Super
Hope: The Eagles have the becomes magnified even Forbath has been better current field. McVay, Goff, Bowl 38 to New England in
NFL’s third-ranked rushing more going into the post- than his predecessor Walsh, Gurley and Donald have 2004 and Super Bowl 50 to
offense with three produc- season.” — coach Doug but he has missed eight ex- never been under the post- Denver in 2016.
tive backs: Jay Ajayi, Le- Pederson. tra points in 23 games with season spotlight, where ev- Hope: They have one of
Garrette Blount and Corey 2. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (13- the Vikings. He also missed ery mistake is magnified. So the league’s best defenses
Clement. They’ll have to 3). No Lombardis: Lost Su- five of 15 field goals over the big question is whether behind LB Luke Kuechly, LB
rely on them more to take per Bowl 4 to Kansas City the last seven games of this they’ll continue to thrive Thomas Davis and DE Julius
pressure off QB Nick Foles in 1970, Super Bowl 8 to season. under pressure or crater. Peppers. They also have
and a passing attack that Miami in 1974, Super Bowl The Dope: “Guys have to The Dope: “There is a lot of more playoff experience
has struggled since sec- 9 to Pittsburgh in 1975 and understand that you have value in experience. This is than any team in the NFC
ond-year sensation Carson Super Bowl 11 to Oakland an opportunity here to do a very humbling business. playoffs — by a wide mar-
Wentz tore his left ACL in in 1977. some great things and you ... You try to learn from the gin — and a versatile for-
December, a major blow Hope: The defense , with have to take advantage experiences that you do mer league MVP at quar-
to the Eagles’ bounce- all due respect to QB Case of that opportunity. If you have and not try to repeat terback in Cam Newton .
back season . Keenum and the job he’s don’t, you’ll probably re- the same mistakes twice. Carolina has three times run
Nope: Foles isn’t Wentz, done. The Vikings ranked gret it for the rest of your But I think, for a younger for more than 200 yards in a
who was a leading MVP second in the league in life.” — DE Brian Robison. team, we’ve demonstrat- game this season, and that
candidate when he got both fewest rushing yards 3. LOS ANGELES RAMS (11- ed a maturity throughout bodes well for the playoffs
hurt. But the offense still has and fewest passing yards 5). Last Lombardi: Super the course of the year.” — where the ground game is
plenty of pop and talent, allowed, so there’s not re- Bowl 34, beat Tennessee McVay, who was born 20 magnified.q