NFL Playoff Picture: Week 4 Edition
By Martin Bater
NFC Bubble Teams:
- Minnesota Vikings
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Previously in this NFL Weekly Playoff Picture (a slide ago), I said that the Broncos had taken Adrian Peterson’s best punch. Why? Because of this.
Now THAT is what I call a burst of speed. Untouched for 48 yards and into the end zone for his third touchdown in the last two games.
In those two games, Peterson has averaged 103.5 yards per contest and 5.7 yards per carry after averaging 77.5 yards per game and 3.95 in the first two.
Keep in mind that he hasn’t carried the ball more than 20 times in three of those four weeks, so just wait until he goes back to being the constant workhorse we all know he can be.
Meanwhile, the Vikings are already two games back of the Packers in the NFC North, but their next four opponents (Chiefs, Lions, Bears, Rams) don’t have winning records and boast a combined mark of 4-12.
- Seattle Seahawks (2-2)
Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
I don’t know why or how the Seahawks have a penchant for miraculous Monday Night Football endings, but I do know that Kam Chancellor is a badass.
Are you not entertained!? Give the man his money already, because without him Seattle would be 1-3 already this season. Oh, and without the refs not knowing the rules too.
However, a referee being cataclysmically wrong on a crucial call in front of a primetime national audience that sorta kinda wondered if that was illegal but wasn´t sure doesn´t take away from a great play.
Chancellor not only made Calvin Johnson, one of the best receivers in football, look foolish one yard away from a game-winning touchdown, but he also led the team in solo tackles with six and was second to Bobby Wagner in total tackles with 7 against Detroit.
The Seahawks are now 2-0 with Chancellor back in the fold and faces two undefeated teams in the next two weeks: Cincinnati and Carolina. Then there are back-to-back dates on the road against San Francisco and Dallas, but a championship team does not look too far ahead when their immediate challenges are so daunting.
Next: NFC Wild Cards