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POST-SEASON
REVIEW
A look back at this year's 12 playoff teams
After
a month of games and one of the most thrilling Super Bowls ever, the
NFL playoffs are in the books. Twelve teams battled over 11 games, and
in the end, a Wild Card team--the New York Giants--won it all. A look
at how all 12 teams fared, and their prospects for next season...
NEW
YORK GIANTS
Result: Won the Super Bowl 17-14 over the Patriots; beat the
Packers 23-20 in overtime in the NFC championship; beat the Cowboys 21-17
in the NFC Divisionals; beat the Bucs 24-14 in NFC Wild Card weekend. Key stat: 11. That was the number of straight road games the Giants
won, culminating in the Super Bowl. That includes a 4-0 road record in the
playoffs. Wait 'til next year: This team's biggest strength is their
defensive line, and they face some tough issues in the offseason if key
leaders Michael
Strahan and Steve Spagnuolo are gone. Strahan, the veteran end who
leads that line, might retire and Spagnuolo, their defensive coordinator,
may leave for a head coaching job. While those are just two guys, their
losses might be devastating to this team. Veteran wideout Amani
Toomer reportedly may also retire. That said, their Super Bowl win
has to give this team a lot of confidence and head coach Tom Couglin
appears ready to return with a contract extension. Key free agents: free
safety Gibril
Wilson; linebacker Kawika
Mitchell; linebacker Reggie
Torbor; place-kicker Lawrence
Tynes; punter Jeff
Feagles; running back Derrick
Ward.
NEW
ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Result: Lost the Super Bowl 17-14 to the Giants; beat the Chargers
21-12 in the AFC Championship; beat the Jaguars 31-20 in the AFC
Divisionals. Key stat: Five. That was the number of Tom
Brady sacks the Patriots' O-line gave up in the Super Bowl, the
most all season long. Wait 'til next year: The only reason to think the Patriots might
decline a little in 2008 is their linebacking corps is aging and their
secondary may lose some key guys this offseason. That said, their offense
should remain the NFL's best, their coaching staff should remain intact
(which is new for them), and they are, as a group, likely to be even more
motivated next season than they were this season (especially considering
how disappointingly theirs season ended). They may need to figure out how
to shore up their offensive line a little, which was exposed in the Super
Bowl. Key free agents: star wideout Randy
Moss may opt to test the market; linebacker Tedy
Bruschi; cornerback Asante
Samuel; cornerback Randal Gay; free safety Eugene
Wilson.
GREEN
BAY PACKERS
Result: Lost 23-20 in overtime in the NFC Championship to the
Giants; beat the Seahawks 42-20 in the NFC Divisionals. Key stat: 29. That was the number of yards featured back Ryan
Grant rushed for in the Divisionals loss, his lowest total in any
start all season. Wait 'til next year: No doubt, whether Brett
Favre returns or not will play a major factor in this team's 2008
title chances. He really turned back the clock in 2007 and he remains the
heart and soul of this fast-improving bunch. Head coach Mike McCarthy is
due an extension and the team found a nice option at running back in Ryan
Grant. If Favre returns they have to be considered a contender in
2008. But that's a big if. Key free agents: star QB Brett
Favre might retire; defensive end Core Williams; linebacker Tracy
White; backup QB Craig
Nall; cornerback Frank
Walker.
SAN
DIEGO CHARGERS
Result: Lost 21-12 to the Patriots in the AFC Championship; beat
the Colts 28-24 in the AFC Divisionals; beat the Titans 17-6 in AFC Wild
Card weekend. Key stat: Two. That was the number of carries LaDainian
Tomlinson got in the AFC title game before re-hurting his knee and
having to sit out. Wait 'til next year: If not for injuries to Tomlinson, Antonio
Gates, and QB Philip
Rivers, the Chargers might have given the Patriots a better game.
They remain one of the NFL's most talented young teams, and the fact they
won a playoff game this year will only build confidence. Head coach Norv
Turner showed he is still growing as a field general, and while Rivers
still does too much trash-talking he played a gutsy game in the AFC title
game. This is a team on the rise. Key free agents: top backup running back
Michael
Turner; cornerback Drayton
Florence; backup QB Billy
Volek.
JACKSONVILLE
JAGUARS
Result: Lost 31-20 to the Patriots in the AFC Divisionals; beat the
Steelers 31-29 in AFC Wild Card weekend. Key stat: 66. That's the total combined ground yardage managed by Maurice
Jones-Drew and Fred
Taylor in Jacksonville's AFC Divisionals loss to the Patriots. Wait 'til next year: Their Divisionals loss to the Patriots was
disappointing but the Jags nonetheless took a major step forward by
winning in the Wild Card game. That gave the whole organization a
confidence boost, as did the emergence this year of QB and team leader David
Garrard. Jax still focuses a little too much on the run (on
offense and defense) but they are nevertheless looking like a rising power
in the AFC. Key free agents: wide receiver Ernest
Wilford; fullback Greg
Jones; defensive tackle Grady
Jackson; strong safety Sammy
Knight; backup QB Quinn
Gray.
SEATTLE
SEAHAWKS
Result: Lost 42-20 to the Packers in the NFC Divisionals; beat the
Redskins 35-14 in NFC Wild Card weekend. Key stat: 20. That's the total ground yardage put up by Seahawks'
featured back Shaun
Alexander in the team's Divisionals loss to Green Bay. Wait 'til next year: Head coach Mike Holmgren will be back for
2008, as will a dominant veteran defensive core that really showed
improvement in 2007. So the big question facing this group is what to do
at running back. They made great adjustments to a pass-first offense in
2007 with Alexander injured and slumping, but it's debatable whether he
can return to greatness now that he's over 30. What the team does at
running back may determine their Super chances in 2008. Key free agents:
wideout D.J.
Hackett; cornerback Marcus
Trufant; place-kicker Josh
Brown; offensive lineman Sean
Locklear.
INDIANAPOLIS
COLTS
Result: Lost to the Chargers 28-24 in the AFC Divisionals. Key stat: 2-1. That's the ratio of catches to lost fumbles totaled
by wideout Marvin
Harrison in the Divisionals loss (as Harrison had just two
catches). It was Harrison's first game since Week 7. Wait 'til next year: Head coach Tony Dungy has already said he will
be back, which is the best reason to think this bunch is still a Super
Bowl contender going forward. The knee injury to Harrison and his
advancing age suggest he might not be able to return to his previous
greatness, but the Colts have taken good steps to add depth behind him
with rookie Anthony
Gonzalez. More good news: their run defense was much improved this
season over their Super Bowl year. Key free agents: tight end Dallas
Clark; offensive lineman Ryan
Lilja; offensive lineman Jake
Scott;
DALLAS
COWBOYS
Result: Lost to the Giants 21-17 in the NFC Divisionals. Key stat: 0-2. Quarterback Tony
Romo's career playoff record at the helm of the Cowboys. Wait 'til next year: The good news for the Cowboys is they showed
during the regular season that they have the pieces to compete for a Super
Bowl. Now comes the bigger question: can Romo and head coach Wade Phillips
win in the playoffs? Neither has been very successful in the postseason,
and that continued this season. But as long as Terrell
Owens remains in good shape and the team keeps its current
positive mojo, there's no reason to think they can't learn from this year.
Key free agents: running back Marion
Barber; free safety Ken
Hamlin; defensive end Chris
Canty; running back Julius
Jones; offensive lineman Flozell
Adams.
PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
Result: Lost 31-29 to the Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card weekend. Key stat: 1-4. That's the Steelers' record in their final five
games of the season, including their Wild Card loss. Wait 'til next year: Overall the new regime of head coach Mike
Tomlin went well. For much of the regular season their defense was the
class of the NFL, and the offense finally started clicking behind a
rejuvenated Ben
Roethlisberger. Hopefully Willie
Parker can make a full recovery from his broken leg, because he's
key to their offense. The big question for Tomlin is whether he can keep
his team motivated and focused all season long, especially considering
their late swoon. Key free agents: offensive lineman Alan
Faneca; linebacker Clark
Haggans; fullback Dan
Kreider.
WASHINGTON
REDSKINS
Result: Lost 35-14 to the Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card weekend. Key stat: 21. That's the number of points the Redskins gave up to
the Seahawks in the final 6:06 of their NFC Wild Card weekend game. Wait 'til next year: Yet again, the Redskins are headed for an
offseason of major changes. Head coach Joe Gibbs has already resigned and
defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been fired, which means lots of
change at the top. The good news is that the remaining player personnel
managed to gel well in the season's second half. One never knows with a
new coaching regime coming in, but the core pieces should still be around
for another playoff run in 2008. Key free agents: backup QB Todd
Collins; long snapper Ethan
Albright; offensive lineman Jason
Fabini; kick returner Rock
Cartwright; backup QB Mark
Brunell; punter Derrick
Frost.
TENNESSEE
TITANS
Result: Lost 17-6 to the Chargers in the AFC Wild Card weekend. Key stat: Zero. That's the number of touchdown passes thrown by QB Vince
Young in the team's final three games of the season (including
their Wild Card loss). Wait 'til next year: After heading into the season under the cloud
of the Pacman
Jones problems, the Titans did a lot with a roster that isn't
loaded with stars. Defensive tackle Albert
Haynesworth emerged as a dominant force in the middle of the
defense, and as he went, so went the team. The offense remains a work in
progress (especially with Young struggling as an NFL sophomore) and
offensive coordinator Norm Chow has already been fired. If the O can catch
up to the D, watch out. Key free agents: defensive tackle Albert
Haynesworth; offensive lineman Jacob
Bell; wideout Justin
Gage; defensive end Travis
LaBoy; defensive end Antwan
Odom; tight end Ben
Troupe; place-kicker Rob
Bironas; offensive lineman David
Stewart; tight end Bo
Scaife; defensive back Vincent
Fuller.
TAMPA
BAY BUCCANEERS
Result: Lost 24-14 to the Giants in the NFC Wild Card weekend. Key stat: 1-4. That was the Bucs' record during the final five
games of the season, including their Wild Card loss. Wait 'til next year: Despite their early exit from the postseason,
the Bucs have to be happy with their season overall. They went from last
in the NFC South in 2006 to first in 2007, and did it after a mostly
painless overhaul of their aging defense. Defensive coordinator and
resident guru Monte Kiffin has already been reösigned, and the team has
to be pleased with the breakout performance of running back Earnest
Graham, who gave the team the dependable offensive workhorse they
lacked in 2006. They just need to rejuvenate their passing game before its
core gets too old. All-in-all, things are looking up. Key free agents:
possibly cornerback Brian
Kelly; cornerback Sammy
Davis; defensive tackle Jovan
Haye; tight end Anthony
Becht; running back Michael
Pittman; tight end Jerramy
Stevens; offensive lineman John
Wade.
