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War Room 1998 NFL Playoffs Preview
Posted: Tuesday December 29, 1998 11:34 AM
The War Room has taken the NFL's 12 playoff teams and ranked them from favorites to long shots, taking a quick look at each team in the postseason field and what their chances are to show up in Miami for Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31. 1. Minnesota Vikings (15-1)The NFC Central champions are the hottest team in the NFL entering the playoffs, and they are in the midst of a fantasy season that has seen them break the NFL record in scoring and match the league record with 15 wins, totally dominating most of their opponents. This is the most explosive offense in the NFL, led by a revitalized Randall Cunningham at quarterback, and the addition of WR Randy Moss spreads the field and makes them almost impossible to match up against. They have also had a great year from their ageless kicker Gary Anderson, who has not missed in 1998. However, the unwritten story here may be on defense, as these Vikings lead the NFL in takeaways/giveaways, and although they are not the most talented defense in the league, they fly to the football and gamble with the assurance that if they make a mistake or give up a big play, their offense will get them the ball back. This is a team with a great head coach, a strong home-field advantage in the Metrodome and tons of confidence heading into the playoffs. However, the toughest test in their road to Miami may be in the second round, when they likely play the winner of the Green Bay-San Francisco game. This is a Viking team that appears to be on a mission, and it's difficult to imagine them not winding up in Miami. 2. Denver Broncos (14-2)The defending Super Bowl champions got a much-needed win on Sunday vs. Seattle, with a huge day from tailback Terrell Davis, and they now enter the playoffs back on track. They certainly did not want to go into the postseason with a three-game losing streak. While many so-called experts have started preaching the demise of the Broncos, remember they have not had a lot to play for in the last few weeks in terms of motivation, and they are also an aging veteran team that is probably tired and can certainly use the Bye week to get their legs back. This is a team that knows how to focus, and they've been waiting for the playoffs since training camp opened in July. There is too much veteran leadership on this team to allow them to slip in the playoffs, although, if anybody has a shot at beating them at Mile High Stadium, it could be the streaking New York Jets. Even with all of their struggles in the month of December, this still has the look of a Denver-Minnesota Super Bowl. 3. Atlanta Falcons (14-2)For weeks we have all been saying that the Falcons are pretenders, and that the bubble would burst at any moment. Obviously, we were wrong. Watching the NFC West champions totally dismantle a solid Miami Dolphins team on Sunday was reason enough to believe in this team. They have a quality QB in Chris Chandler that can spread the ball around if his offensive line gives him time (although they are near the bottom of the League in sacks allowed) and they have a great running back in Jamal Anderson, who gives them offensive balance. They are a very opportunistic defense with an all-out "attack mentality" and what they lack in overall talent, they make up for in hustle and big plays. Much like Minnesota's defense, they create a lot of turnovers. With head coach Dan Reeves returning for the playoff, they should be able to win their first game, likely against Dallas, but it will be much tougher if they have to travel to Minnesota. A healthy Chris Chandler gives them a chance, but it is difficult to see them getting beyond the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. 4. N.Y. Jets (12-4)The Jets may be one of the hottest teams in the NFL, as they finished the month of December in strong fashion and now appear to be the only legitimate AFC obstacle in the way of Denver returning to the Super Bowl. With a week off, they should improve their overall team health, and they are actually a team that matches up well with the Broncos if they get past their second-round opponent (Buffalo, Jacksonville or New England). Defensive coordinator Bill Belichick is a master game planner, and the Jets may have the only defense in the league that can slow down the Broncos, if they have a good day. If Curtis Martin can get the running game going to get them balance, the Jets should have a fairly easy road to Denver, and the AFC Championship Game could be a dandy. However, before we all get carried away, remember going into Mile High Stadium and beating a focused defending Super Bowl Champion is an uphill battle, and the Jets may not be quite up to that task. 5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)It is uncharted territory for the 49ers to enter the playoffs as a wild card and not be thought of as a Super Bowl favorite. They are still a dangerous offensive football team capable of playing with anybody, including Minnesota, but most of their problems have been on defense, which does not bode well in the playoffs against Green Bay in the first round and likely Minnesota in the second round. Steve Young and company have certainly been in enough big games to know what's at stake, but this isn't quite the 49ers dynasty of old. The feeling here is that they will have enough to get by Green Bay at home in the first round, but they will run into a buzzsaw at Minnesota in the second round, which could be the best playoff game of the year. An offensive shootout between the Vikings and 49ers would be a treat for the fans, but this 49ers team may not have quite enough gas to get to Miami. 6. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
The Packers, much like the 49ers, are not accustomed to entering the playoffs as a wild card, and especially as second fiddle to their NFC buddies, the Minnesota Vikings. They have struggled all season to maintain any type of consistency, especially on offense, and particularly in the run game. The loss of RB Dorsey Levens devastated this team and they have not had offensive balance the entire season. They have played solid defense most of the year, but their lack of ball control on offense puts an aging group of defenders on the field too much, and they have the look of a tired team. Not having a playoff game in Green Bay is a huge setback for them, but with Brett Favre at the helm, anything can happen. They may really struggle to get by San Francisco this weekend, and if they do, they have the Vikings waiting with open arms, having already embarrassed them twice. There is a lot of pride and leadership on this Packer team, but they have a look of a group that could have an early exit and start the rebuilding process in Green Bay. 7. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5)A month ago it looked like the Jaguars might be the only team in the AFC that could play an up-tempo offensive-type game with the Denver Broncos in the playoffs. Their offensive explosiveness appeared to be to their advantage in a "run and gun" type game. However, the injury to QB Mark Brunell has really slowed them down, and their lack of consistent defensive play has made this team sputter most of the year. They are in the bottom third of the NFL in most defensive categories, and they need huge offensive days to win games. As we all know, you're not going to go far in the playoffs if you don't play consistent defense. A healthy Brunell will make them entertaining, but after watching the Minnesota Vikings dismantle this Jaguar team and put up 50 points in Week 16, they don't have the look of a group that will go very far in the playoffs, although a win in round one is certainly possible. However, a win the following week against the Jets is unlikely. This is simply not the same Jacksonville team that started the season. 8. Miami Dolphins (10-6)This has been a gratifying year for Jimmy Johnson and his young Dolphins. He is a defensive coach by nature, and he now has a group of defenders that make him proud. They are in the top echelon in the NFL in almost all defensive categories, although they have lost one of their brightest performers, defensive end Jason Taylor, for the playoffs due to a shoulder injury. They are opportunistic, they create a lot of turnovers, and give their offense field position. Speaking of their offense, Dan Marino may have to carry this team throughout the playoffs. They simply do not have the power run game that Jimmy Johnson covets, and they have thrown the ball more in recent weeks as they made their playoff run. It is great to see Dan Marino winning games with his arm, but this team does not have enough offensive balance to go deep into the playoffs, and even if they survive round one against Buffalo, it is difficult to see them competing with Denver. This has been a nice season for Miami, but until they have a run game, they won't be a Super Bowl contender. 9. Buffalo Bills (10-6)This has been a storybook year for this proud franchise, as very few people outside the organization thought of them as a playoff team. They had the look of an aging team in a rebuilding mode, but Doug Flutie changed all that. They have been a very smart and efficient team all season and rank in the top third in he NFL in most offensive and defensive categories. This is not a great or dominating Bills team, but it makes the most of its chances, and they seem to have the ability to control the flow of a game on both sides of the ball. They have a legitimate chance to beat Miami on the road this weekend, but it is difficult to see them defeating the Jets at the Meadowlands the following week. This is a nice playoff team in a storybook season, but it is not a serious Super Bowl contender. 10. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)Although the Cowboys had a nice win on Sunday over a fairly hot Washington Redskins team, they still do not enter the playoffs as a very hot team. They locked up the mediocre NFC East title early and they have really struggled in the latter part of the season, losing three out of their last five games. They are not a very explosive team on either side of the ball, and if they don't get back cornerback Deion Sanders for the playoffs, which is unlikely, they will lose their best playmaker. If Emmitt Smith gets the run game going, they should have enough "juice" to beat the Arizona Cardinals at home in round one, and they could give Atlanta all they want in round two, in what could promise to be a fairly entertaining game. However, even if they did survive the first two games, it is inconceivable to see this team winning the NFC Championship Game against Minnesota, or even San Francisco or Green Bay if they were able to defeat the Vikings. This is a good, but not great, Dallas team that has had a nice year, but needs a strong off-season in free agency and the draft to return to a legitimate Super Bowl contender. 11. New England Patriots (9-7)Although the Patriots are "limping" into the playoffs, they have shown character and resiliency in the last month that many people thought didn't exist. This is the most "banged up" team entering the playoffs, and they are likely to be without QB Drew Bledsoe, and they are already missing WR Terry Glenn and MLB Ted Johnson. They simply don't seem to have enough "difference makers" on either side of the ball to compete . They will likely get spanked in Jacksonville in round one, unless rookie RB Robert Edwards can have a huge day and keep Jacksonville's offense on the sideline. This was a team that looked like a Super Bowl contender heading into the season, but injuries have taken their toll, and for the Patriots to even be in the playoffs, is a tribute to Pete Carroll, his coaching staff and the Patriot players. 12. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)The Cardinals finally have something to cheer about, as they enter the playoffs with a dramatic last second win over San Diego. However, nothing comes easy for this team, and although many people do not think they are a legitimate playoff team, they are in, and at least for a week they can celebrate. This is a team that never does it the easy way, as Jake Plummer has brought them from behind in six of the Cardinals nine wins. They now face an uphill battle when they travel to their NFC East nemeses, the Dallas Cowboys. It is unlikely that they can get out of Dallas with a win, but with a mobile young QB in Jake Plummer and an outstanding receiving duo of Frank Sanders and Rob Moore, anything is possible. However, this is a young football team that will get better, and they look like a playoff team for years to come even if they are ousted in the first round this year.
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