Location Matters

Week 16 and 17 in the NFL consists of pivotal divisional matchups and playoff seedings that will make or break your favorite team this time of the year. The next two weeks we will see teams go from playoff bound to preparing family vacations. Home field throughout the playoffs or visiting a team on wild card weekend. With only three teams (New England, Denver, and Indianapolis) wrapping up their respective divisions last weekend; while one team (Arizona) clinching at least a postseason berth, everything is up for stakes these next two weeks. What you don't want to do is having to travel once the calender changes to 2015. Seattle WA, Green Bay WI, Foxborough MA, and Denver CO are not ideal this time of the year for us regulars folks to visit let alone team's in the National Football League.

 

Realistically the Broncos will more than likely be the #2 seed in the AFC. They have a tough road matchup Monday Night in the jungle at Paul Brown stadium against Cincinnati. The team that's behind them are the Colts who travel to Dallas. Cincy lost to Indy but Denver has beating Indy. The Colts currently have the #3 seed and would really need the Broncos to lose the next two and win out but with Oakland as one of Denver's next two opponents all bets are off. Since New England throttled Denver week 9, more than likely the Broncos will stay put. A bye for Manning and company to rest would be what the doctor ordered. The Broncos have played well and could finish with identical records of (13-3) for three consecutive years, but seem far from the record breaking team in 2013. Banged up on both sides of the ball this season including losing linebacker Danny Trevathan (knee) for the season, however Denver remains undefeated at home. In fact they have been (23-3) in the Mile High since Manning's been the signal caller. Being said it's a reason behind the name Mile High and it has nothing to do with legalizing marijuana. The city's elevation is one mile above sea level which is the cause of the high altitude with thinner and dryer air than accustomed to. A trip to Denver could mean a ground and pound game because only Peyton has mastered completing those duck throws. That will be tough as well with the Broncos stout run defense holding opponents to just (71.6) yards per game thanks to the additions they've added this off-season. Pretty sure unless you are Joe Flacco and you got some more miracles up your sleeve it will be tough going to Denver and leaving to see another game.

 

Now I know the Arizona Cardinals are the top seed in the NFC "at the moment" and you can't take anything away from who arguably will be coach of the year in Bruce Arians and the job he has done however; with Ryan Lindley atop of the depth chart at QB, things may quickly descend for the Cards. That ultimately means those other birds from the northwest are about to take flight. If the Seahawks win out, due to stomping Green Bay opening week if they both finish with identical records Seattle owns the tie-breaker. Some help is needed as Dallas is also (10-4) and has already defeated Seattle. With Green Bay finishing out with Detroit and Dallas with Indy in town than traveling to rival Washington the possibilities of the NFC going through Seattle once again is real. The Seahawks are surging at the right time which is bad news for the rest of the NFC. No Percy Harvin or Golden Tate no problem for Russell Wilson. They are numero uno in the run department at (168.8) yards per game while on defense they have risen to rank in the top (5) in most defensive categories including (points against, total yards, passing yards) which they are once again numero uno. Seattle has won (4) straight and (7) of their last (8) including a 19-3 victory on November 23rd against Arizona. A win Sunday and in week 17, teams better get their ear plugs ready if they must travel to Century Link Field. Since opening in 2011 the Seahawks have posted a (31-6) record at home including the playoffs. Dallas has beat them at home and San Diego on the road this season. Both teams methods were basically the same, run the ball efficient, win on 3rd down, keep the clock ticking, and not being intimidated by the "LOB" better known as the Legion of Boom. Sounds easy enough, the execution is the problem. Defining noise, harsh winds, and occasional rain doesn't help your cause much either. The fact remains that only (7) teams have repeated (Green Bay, Pittsburgh(2), Miami, San Francisco(2), Dallas, Denver, and New England) and only the Patiorts have done it since the new millennium. If anyone can repeat Seattle definitely has the formula to pull it off. If it's anyone you don't want to play it's the 12th Man.

 

After being embarrassed at Seattle week 1 than almost losing to the Geno Smith led NY Jets in Lambeau and dominated at Detroit, everyone in Packer land was in disarray. However I believe after a disappointing loss at Buffalo last weekend those fans are a bit more calm after a loss. After that (1-2) start quarterback Aaron Rodgers preached to the choir to just R-E-L-A-X, and Green Bay steamed off a (9-2) record. Aaron Rodgers could have won the league's MVP award a season ago but surely the (10th) year vet will capture it this year. With stats like (35) touchdowns, (5) interceptions, completing 64% of his passes, and a passer rating of (111.2); the odds are heavily in his favor. Although the stats transcend into one tough opponent to play against, its even tougher at Lambeau. The Packers have won home games by an average of (19.5) points per, that's a lot of Lambeau leaping. They have scored at least (35) points in (5) of their (7) so far home games as well put up (50+) twice. The road has been unkind to the Packers unless they are playing at Soldier Field as they are (3-4) outside of Wisconsin. As Aaron Rodgers goes the Green Bay offense follows, the defense on the other hand shows glimpses of dominance but not consistently. The offense ranks in the top (15) in all categories as the defense ranks (15th) or worst in all categories. Head coach Mike McCarthy has concerns with special teams as well but the overall landscape is coming to Lambeau shouldn't be on the agenda. As of late though the postseason hasn't brought them luck at home since winning the Super Bowl in 2010; they are (1-2) at home including a 23-20 loss to the 49ers last year. The Packers are a veteran savvy team so I'm looking for them to take care of business and get one of those top two seeds out of the NFC. The forecast for home field advantage in Green Bay resonates to snow, below freezing temperatures, snow, a Packers win and probably more snow. To this day (5) current teams still haven't won at Lambeau and don't worry about a blackout, as the cheese heads have had (308) consecutive sellouts. For a dome team or a terrible road team this is one place to avoid. For the Green Bay Packers there is no place like Lambeau Field.

 

If their is not at least one football game being played at Gillette Stadium in the month of January it almost seems "un-American". That is at least for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Since being handed the keys in 2001 the Patriots have only missed the playoffs twice (2002, 2008) since Brady has been a Patriot. An asterisk beside that 2008 season as he was injured in week 1 and missed the entire season. Beside those two seasons New England has won (12) AFC East titles including (6) consecutive. The Patriots have been a model of consistency in the NFL and have flourished at home in the postseason. A (12-3) home playoff record over a decade worth of work that includes 3 Super Bowls and 5 AFC championships. The (3) losses were to NY Jets and Baltimore twice. Currently the Pats control their own fate as their a game ahead of Denver and own the tie breaker beating them easily 43-21 in early November. The Broncos seem to be the Patriots only threat at getting to Glendale. Being said New England has owned Denver in Foxborough winning the last (3) regular season games and by double figures in (2) of the (3) contest. Only Baltimore seems to give them fits at home and the Ravens currently sit at #6 in the playoff settings. After a Monday Night debacle at Arrowhead to the Chiefs, New England has won (9) of (10). They lead the league in scoring (31.6ppg) and their defense has held opponents to just (20.0ppg) which ranks eighth. Rob Gronkowski is playing like a healthy pro-bowler with (1,093yds/11TDs) and a running back by committee with Shane Vereen, a rookie in Jonas Gray, and LaGarrette Blount part II the offense has been rolling. With a lockdown secondary and top (10) defense against the run this will be a tough team to beat no matter the venue. Excluding the (3) losses since their last trip to the Super Bowl in 2007, New England has outscored opponents visiting Foxborough (204-112) in the postseason. The weather is frigid, the wind chill is worst, and the opposition is always tough tasks, and if your not accustomed to the Patriots way of play at home you'll find yourself watching them play the following weekend.

 

One thing is for certain with the Super Bowl being played in Glendale, AZ the temperature will at least be in the mid to upper (60s) and since the University of Phoenix Stadium has a roof the chance of any precip is out the dome.