Every team is psyched to be in the playoffs, but only one has the most to lose over NFL Wildcard Weekend? Will a loss hurt the Packers or the Seahawks most? Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
Of the eight teams playing this weekend, each has had a rather successful season by definition. All eight made the playoffs and are in position to make a run at a Super Bowl title. However, not all situations and scenarios are equal.
Between the four wildcard games, which team would have the most to lose with a loss?
It shouldn’t be Minnesota, Houston or Washington, right? They are all glad to be here, Houston especially, and any postseason run made would be gravy. They also each have difficult round-one matchups despite being home teams.
The Chiefs and Steelers would certainly be disappointed if they lost their first playoff game, but it wouldn’t be soul-crushing. Both are on the road against division winners and are playing without their full complement of offensive stars. It would be hard for KC to lose to a team like Houston after winning 10 straight, but it wouldn’t set the franchise back at all.
Setting the franchise back is something to be considered for Cincinnati. The Bengals have this aura surrounding them that they can’t shake; it’s the feeling that this team is not able to win in the postseason. This would be deadly to add another loss to…except for the circumstances.
The Bengals are playing against the Steelers, one of the hottest teams in football, and are doing so without their starting quarterback Andy Dalton. A round-one exit would be demoralizing but explainable.
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That leaves either Seattle or Green Bay as the answer. Both had rocky regular seasons. Seattle righted the ship and looks good now; Green Bay never did. Does that mean a loss would be harder to stomach for the Seahawks? These were the two, heavy favorites out of the NFC entering the season. No other teams were even on the radar.
I kind of feel as though a loss for the Packers would be the worst-case scenario. It would be one more scratch in a year from hell. And suddenly Aaron Rodgers isn’t golden-boy winner capable of carrying an offense on his own. We all expect him to eventually turn this around; after all, he’s Aaron Rodgers. But what if he never does?
DAN:
Nearly every team has a strong caveat to fall back on if a loss comes their way over Wildcard Weekend. While we agree in most cases, you are ultimately wrong with slapping the ‘most to lose’ label upon Green Bay.
The Packers lost their best wide receiver before the season began. The team is not nearly as good as we’d like them to be, considering their lack of a consistent run game, among other issues. Green Bay was my favorite to go all the way last summer, but I put too much stock in Aaron Rodgers’ abilities as a single human being. His team has deteriorated around him this season, so a loss would not be a huge disappointment. The team already lost the division, backing into the playoffs. If they win, it will be a major boost. A loss simply ends the nightmare.
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I’m on board with your logic for our AFC teams and the Vikings. While I actually expect Cincinnati to beat the Steelers, its easy to write off a loss because their backup quarterback is playing. The other wildcard teams are all feeling good about themselves. No defeat will ruin their season at this point.
Seattle is the team with the most to lose this weekend. The Seahawks won a Super Bowl, then lost a Super Bowl. They are defending NFC Champions, who rebounded after a poor start to the year. After a hot December, everyone expects them to decimate the likes of Minnesota. Marshawn Lynch is back. Can they three-peat in the NFC?
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While I feel the pressure and expectations are unfair, they are no less real. If Seattle loses, then tons of questions arise about the team going forward. Arizona has supplanted them atop the NFC West. Jimmy Graham proved himself a non-factor. Lynch proved himself to be a question mark and injury risk. All of these issues become magnified with an early playoff exit. Seattle, you have the most to lose with a loss.