The 2014 NFL season is coming down to the wire, with only eight teams still driving for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. Most of the remaining participants were expected to be here at the beginning of the season, while a few are somewhat surprising.
This weekend might be the best of the football campaign, with four contests of quality being played for the right to earn a conference championship game berth. With that in mind, let’s look at the tilts and handicap which of the four underdogs have the best chance to pull the upset.
4. Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks (-10.5)
Carolina is the least-likely team to come out of the Divisional round alive. The Panthers have won five consecutive games and are playing great defense, but the offense simply is not up to snuff. Cam Newton is a tremendous talent but misses too many throws, while the receivers are a one-man band in Kelvin Benjamin. Against Seattle, Carolina goes into perhaps the most hostile stadium in the country at CenturyLink Field. The Panthers will need to score a defensive or special teams touchdown to have a real chance of pulling this upset.
3. Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos (-7)
Whenever you have Andrew Luck, you have a chance. Luck is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the NFL, finishing third for the passing title behind Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees. However, Luck has a limited cast around him outside of T.Y. Hilton. The offensive line has been a mess all season and the running game is non-existent. The Broncos are going to blanket Hilton with Aqib Talib or Chris Harris Jr. and roll the safeties over the top. Luck will need huge games out of tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, while getting a decent defensive effort. Against Peyton Manning, that is a tall order.
2. Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots (-6,5)
The Ravens have a real shot to win this game. Baltimore needed some luck to make the playoffs and got it, and now it appears a very real threat in the AFC. With edge-rushers Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs combining for 29 sacks this season, the Ravens have the defensive recipe for stopping Tom Brady. Offensively, Steve Smith and Torrey Smith need to win on the outside against Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Baltimore has plenty of confidence, having already beat New England twice in the postseason at Gillette Stadium in the Joe Flacco era.
1. Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers (-6)
The Cowboys went 12-4 in the regular season and are the best team of the underdogs. Dallas beat the Detroit Lions in a controversial contest last weekend and now faces the vaunted Packers. Aaron Rodgers poses an extremely real threat for a mediocre Cowboys secondary, but the MVP candidate is not 100 percent with a calf injury. Tony Romo should be able to move the ball against Green Bay’s corners, going to Dez Bryant early and often. Can Dallas topple the Packers at Lambeau Field, where they have not lost all year? It’s definitely possible.
