Bell Tolls: Le'Veon Bell, Thomas Rawls poised to join exclusive playoff club
A glance at items of interest as the NFL’s divisional playoff round looms ...
Pressure’s on — Matt Ryan: The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is the favorite to snag his first NFL MVP award. But with the Legion of Boom headed to the Georgia Dome on Saturday, the issue of the moment is hardly about Ryan’s regular-season exploits. It’s about the postseason now, where Ryan’s 1-4 career record sticks out like a swollen thumb. Of course, the Atlanta's playoff results from recent seasons can’t all be pinned on the quarterback, but the losses fuel perception. It’s also worth noting that this is a revived version of the Falcons under second-year coach Dan Quinn, with “Matty Ice” deftly pushing the wide array of buttons provided in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. In hitting career highs for completion percentage (69.9%), passing yards (4,944), touchdown passes (38) and a league-leading 117.1 passer rating (while throwing a career-low 7 INTs), Ryan has taken a lot of pressure off the young defense by powering the league's highest-scoring offense. Yet with the Seattle Seahawks' seasoned defense up next, the pressure on Ryan himself to set the tone may be higher than ever.
Who’s hot — Doug Baldwin: After setting career highs during the regular season with 94 receptions and 1,128 yards, the Seahawks’ energetic receiver began the postseason with even more fire. Baldwin burned the Lions for 11 catches and 104 yards to provide the consistent target for Russell Wilson and serve notice that he is not to be underestimated when the stakes are highest. Baldwin is representative of the bigger picture, too, as Seattle hit on so many cylinders — including the running game with Thomas Rawls and the stout performance of the much-maligned offensive line — in its playoff opener.
Rookie watch — Ezekiel Elliott: The bye week earned with claiming the NFC’s No. 1 seed allowed the Dallas Cowboys to add another layer of rest and revitalization for the NFL’s rushing champ. And fortunately, the midweek traffic accident that Elliott was involved in wasn’t anything more serious than a fender bender. Real collisions await, especially with Dallas’ best opportunity to topple Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers likely revolving around its ability to use the Elliott-fueled running game to control the clock and perhaps reduce possessions for Rodgers. In the wild-card round, the value of a playoff rushing game was underscored with the Pittsburgh Steelers' Le’Veon Bell and Rawls both producing single-game, postseason franchise records for rushing. Now Elliott gets his chance.
Next man up — Geronimo Allison: With Jordy Nelson sidelined by cracked ribs, the Packers lose a significant weapon who can stretch the field to open up options for other receivers. Allison, an undrafted free agent from Illinois, will be hard-pressed to fill Nelson's shoes. But at least he’s had some significant game action, stepping up in Weeks 16-17 when Randall Cobb was out with a sprained ankle. Allison earned a measure of trust from Rodgers — perhaps best reflected on a 10-yard, extended-play TD grab at Detroit when he improvised to get open while his quarterback bought time. With Cobb back, often in the slot, expect Allison to line up on the outside opposite Davante Adams when Green Bay goes to three-receiver sets.
Key matchup — Randall Cobb vs. Orlando Scandrick: Cobb tied an NFL postseason record last weekend by burning the New York Giants for three TD receptions, including the 42-yard Hail Mary. He’s also one of the league’s best slot men, which will put him in a matchup against Scandrick, the tough Dallas nickelback who is seemingly closer to form after fighting through a foot injury earlier in the season. Expect Rodgers to test him and corner Morris Claiborne, who's returning from a serious groin injury.
Have you noticed? Ryan Shazier has had much to do with the progression of the Steelers defense and the manner in which the unit tightened up against the run. He flies to the football as perhaps the NFL’s fastest inside linebacker. But lately, Shazier has demonstrated that he’s not to be taken lightly in pass coverage, either, intercepting passes in three consecutive games.
Stomach for an upset? This isn’t exactly the reunion that Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien and Co. would have scripted, as the New England Patriots open the playoffs as a 16-point favorite after winning the teams' regular-season meeting 27-0. Last weekend, Houston’s No. 1-ranked D, led by Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus, took advantage of Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Connor Cook as he made his first NFL start. Now the Texans draw 39-year-old Tom Brady, who was suspended for the Week 3 encounter. You’d think it might help that O’Brien, who was once Brady’s position coach and coordinator, has a troupe that includes so many former Patriots, including defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, nose tackle Vince Wilfork and linebackers coach Mike Vrabel. But familiarity will only go so far, especially with Brady playing like a man on a post-Deflategate mission.
Stat’s the fact: Only five running backs have rushed for a combined 300-plus yards in consecutive playoff games, which is something Bell and Rawls can shoot for, after running for 167 and 161 yards, respectively, in their wild-card wins. Terrell Davis holds the two-game standard, popping off for 366 yards over two games in the 1998 postseasons. Others: Marcus Allen, John Riggins, Natrone Means and Freeman McNeil.
Say what? “Just trying to win a football game,” Patriots receiver Julian Edelman said, via The Boston Herald, when asked about needing one catch to tie Wes Welker’s franchise record of 69 career postseason receptions. Pressed further, Edelman added: “The No. 1 statistic I like is the win-loss column.”
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Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell
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