The NFL Playoffs 2016 Storylines are big and bold, with Peyton Manning leading the way. Will he go out on top, or on the bench? Which storyline is best? Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
Now that we have entered the divisional round of the NFL playoffs and the top-seeded teams will see action, I’m interested in determining the top potential storyline that could come out of this postseason.
Here are a few basic options of intrigue. Feel free to add your own.
1) The Broncos win a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning on the sideline as a backup
2) The Panthers finish 18-1
3) The Chiefs finish the year winning 14 consecutive games
4) Road teams win every game up to the Super Bowl
5) Seattle wins the Super Bowl by defeating the top four MVP finishers one after another (Adrian Peterson, Cam Newton, Carson Palmer, Tom Brady)
Number one would be fascinating. It would mean Denver struggles on offense, like it has all year with Manning in at quarterback, and turns to Osweiler. If the Broncos win the Super Bowl after this move, it will forever tarnish Manning’s legacy more than actually losing this year. Everyone knows he is washed up, but being benched and having his team succeed without him would be a bigger mark.
It’s certainly unlikely that Denver would come to the point of benching Manning (if he doesn’t get hurt again) but still end up winning out. It’s more likely that either Carolina or Kansas City win out. If either of those things happen, which is the more impressive season? I suppose the answer has to be Carolina, but the Chiefs’ season is wilder because of how it began.
The last couple of these are a bit more fun and perhaps don’t have the lasting impact. If every road teams win, it will mean everything and nothing at the same time. It will mean this season was beyond fluky, and there will be nothing really to take away from it.
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Assuming Russell Wilson doesn’t finish in the top four of the MVP, it would also be neat to see Seattle run through all the contenders. But, again, it wouldn’t really mean anything outside of a footnote.
My vote for biggest storyline would be KC winning it all after starting the year 1-5; however, the one with the lasting impact would be if Denver won without Manning at the helm.
DAN:
Those are some good NFL Playoffs storylines, but you missed three of the biggest looming on the horizon. I’ll add these to your list, then eliminate the contenders and crown a champion.
6) Patriots win back to back Super Bowls, erasing all memory of Deflategate.
7) Seahawks make their third straight Super Bowl, winning two titles in three years.
8) Peyton Manning goes out on top.
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While cool, you hit the nail on the head with the Panthers finishing 18-1 or road teams winning every game until the Super Bowl. Both storylines are simply interesting. The real story here is that Carolina wins a Super Bowl a year after being a division winner with a losing record. Moving on.
Seattle defeating the top four MVP candidates is also interesting, but not a monumental story. Kansas City winning 14 straight would be incredible. Adding in their 1-5 start and that storyline is a major one. Just not as big as our final four.
I love the storyline of New England repeating as champion. All of the injuries. The Deflategate fiasco. Winning a second straight title changes everything for the Patriots. Yet it is second fiddle to the Seahawks making a third straight Super Bowl and winning their second in three years. That streak bests the back to back.
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Ultimately the biggest Playoff storyline is Peyton Manning. If he’s benched and they win a Super Bowl, that is definitely a big deal. But if Manning leads the Broncos to a championship and retires on top of the sport, that’s the biggest story. It’s so rare that a player has a chance to retire as a champion. While Manning says he wants to keep playing, I don’t see him passing on this opportunity. His entire legacy changes. He will always be remembered as a winner.