The first round of the playoffs is over and now we are down to eight teams as we march one step closer to the Super Bowl. Each of these teams got here in a different manner and each will move on due to something different, whether that be the pass, the run, or the defense each team has their own path. Along with each team having their own path, each has a myth they need to prove wrong and that is what we will look at. In this latest edition of power rankings, we rank the remaining teams and look at what myth each team needs to dispel if they want to move on to the championship rounds.
Rank Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
1
Wild Card Result: Bye
Myth to Dispel: They are not as good as last season
It may sound crazy to say, but the popular notion going around is that the Chiefs who went 14-2 in the regular season are worse than last year’s team that went 12-4 in the regular season. One reason this myth came to be is because they are not winning dominantly like they were last season. Let’s say a dominant win is at least three scores, last season they had five games like that, this season they had two such games. Three scores is even a little much, let’s push that back to 10 points and last season they had seven games while this season they only had five games, with each of their final seven wins coming by a score of six or less. Winning close games is one sign of a good team, but a team with this good of an offense it is seen as a bit of an issue. They have not played the Browns this season, but the Browns are an inconsistent team on both ends, stop their run and move the ball and put the notion that you are not a Super Bowl caliber team to bed.
Rank Green Bay Packers (13-3)
2
Wild Card Result: Bye
Myth to Dispel: Without Davante Adams they can’t win
Not sure why you would want to dispel the myth, but if it needs to happen then you need to prove it can be done. Adams has made a legitimate argument for being the best receiver in the league this season and there is without a doubt he is the best receiver on the team. The major focus for every defense in the pass game is to slow down Adams and force Rodgers to throw to his other receivers. While this may be the plan, it rarely happens because he is just so dominant. Adams has only three games with under 50 receiving yards, seven with under 100 receiving yards and a ridiculous 18 touchdowns on the season. He is no doubt the main man of the pass game, but one myth is that you take him out of the equation they won’t win. Of course, you try to keep him in it, but if the Rams and Jalen Ramsey keep him contained, they need to show they have the offense outside of Adams to move on.
Rank Buffalo Bills (14-3)
3
Wild Card Result: 27-24 W against Indianapolis
Myth to Dispel: Lamar Jackson is better than Josh Allen
This one is less of a myth and more of an opinion, but it is that out of the 2018 draft, the best quarterback was Lamar Jackson, then Josh Allen. So far, we really have no reason to say that is false, sure, Josh Allen had a great season, but he is not MVP, no less a unanimous one like Jackson is. This game against Baltimore is going to be about more than just Allen vs. Jackson, but that is no doubt going to be the narrative in the game. Mayfield makes an argument, but Allen and Jackson have easily been the best two QBs from that draft and now we get to see which one will take their team to the championship game. Of course, these two will not actually play against each other, but it will most likely be a shootout that could come down to the final possession. Allen and the Bills have played great all season, but after their wild card game and Baltimore’s game, Allen is going to need to prove he is the QB of that draft to lead their team to the championship game.
Rank Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
4
Wild Card Result: 20-13 W against Tennessee
Myth to Dispel: Lamar can’t throw to win
The Ravens got their first playoff win under Lamar Jackson and now one narrative is gone, that he can’t win in the playoffs, but of course there is always the next narrative. The next one ironically has gone back to the first one in which Jackson cannot win a game by throwing the ball. Early this season it did look like Jackson regressed a little in the pass game, but recently he has looked as good as ever in the pass. Sure, he makes some mistakes still, but overall, he is becoming much more consistent in that aspect. This game will pit two of the best offenses against each other with Allen vs. Jackson and it could come down to the final possession. The Ravens have shown they can beat you with the run, but if it comes down to it then they need to show they can win through the air. The pass has won them the game a couple times this season, but against a defense who can be great it will be another test and challenge for Jackson and the Ravens to overcome.
Rank New Orleans Saints (13-4)
5
Wild Card Result: New Orleans Saints
Myth to Dispel: Brees can lead a team in the playoffs
Drew Brees is a Super Bowl winner, but like certain other quarterbacks’ he gets a bad rep for being someone who cannot win in the postseason. Brees has been in New Orleans since the 2006 season and the Saints have only won one Super Bowl since then. Most teams would take that no problem, but for some reason Brees becomes unappreciated once again. In his career in the playoffs (with the Saints) Brees is 9-7 which really isn’t that bad, but this has to be the season to make his legacy even better. To do this they play the Buccaneers who they are 2-0 against in the regular season, but playoff time is much different and now you play not just Brady, but playoff Brady. This could be the final time we see one or even both of these QBs leading their team to the playoffs, so naturally both of them would like to end the season lifting a trophy. Brees already has one win this postseason, now he has to get another over a division rival.
Rank Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5)
6
Wild Card Result: 31-23 W against Washington
Myth to Dispel: Brady is too old
Tom Brady has challenged adversity all of his career and this year is no different. Brady’s too old, he can’t play at a high level anymore are only some of the things we heard about him this offseason, but he has once again proven people wrong. The argument can easily be made that this is one of the most talented teams Brady has ever played with, but it still doesn’t mean that he did not have to deal with adversity this year. Now comes even more adversity with facing the Saints for the third time this season (0-2). At the end of the day if they lose it may not come down to Brady, but the other two times they played Brady did not have good games, so Brady will need to show he can play against this defense if they want to advance. Brady may be 43 years old, but in the recent weeks he has not been playing like that, but if I had to go with any 43-year-old to lead me to a win then Brady would be the easy choice.
Rank Cleveland Browns (12-5)
7
Wild Card Result: 48-37 W against Pittsburgh
Myth to Dispel: Inconsistent teams can’t make it far
The Browns are probably the most inconsistent team in the league and that is mainly on the offense end, but also true when talking about the defense. Defensively this team has been much more consistent, not good, but consistent. But the offensive side is supposed to be the best part of this team and they have been at times this season, scoring over 30 points seven times during the regular season and in their playoff game. When they are one, they are great, but they have also had disastrous games where they have scored less than 17 points and that has occurred five times this season. Inconsistency is always a tough beast to defeat because you never know when it will strike, and the playoffs is never a time you want it to happen. The playoffs are not a good time for it to happen, but especially when you face the top team in the league, the Browns will need to find a way to show their consistency starting this week if they want to move on.
Rank Los Angeles Rams (11-6)
8
Wild Card Result: 30-20 W against Seattle
Myth to Dispel: They don’t have a reliable QB
It’s amazing to think with virtually the same offense, the Rams went from one of the best offenses in the league in 2018 to a mediocre at best one in 2020. The defense has carried them to where they are this season, but if they want to win the Super Bowl, they are going to need some offense to match their defensive ability. Teams in the past have shown they can win strictly from defensive ability, but this is not one of those teams. That is not saying this is a bad defense because they are not, but this is not a historically good defense that cannot win by themselves. They need their QB to show up for the remainder of their games if they want a chance to win. Assuming the QB for the rest of the season will be Goff, they need him to show he was worth everything he is getting. The debate raged on for so long whether Goff or Wentz was the person people wanted and that debate may be put away now as both are not great, but Goff needs to fight through the pain like a warrior to help this defense win games, especially as they face the top seeded Packers.