Secret superstars of the wild-card round

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar names eight unheralded players who could make all the difference for their teams in the wild-card round.

Every NFL postseason has its share of surprise performers. Whether it’s Otto Graham in the Browns’ first year in the NFL schooling the 1950 Philadelphia Eagles in that year’s championship game, or L.C. Greenwood — perhaps the least-known member of the Steel Curtain front four — racking up four sacks against the Cowboys in Super Bowl X, or then-Bills backup quarterback and current Colts head coach Frank Reich authoring the biggest comeback in NFL history against the Houston Oilers in the 1992 wild-card round, or Washington running back Timmy Smith shocking the Broncos with 204 rushing yards in Super Bowl XXII, it’s just as likely that the most important postseason performance comes from a guy whose name you’re not familiar with just yet.

This postseason is no exception, and there are all kinds of potential stars you might not know who are mere hours away from their breakout performance. Here’s one potential secret superstar for each of the eight wild-card teams this weekend.

Buffalo Bills: WR John Brown

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Bills general manager Brandon Beane has made more than his share of smart personnel decisions since he took the job in 2017, and one of the most astute has to be the March, 2019 signing of former Cardinals and Ravens receiver John Brown to a three-year, $27 million contract with $11.6 million guaranteed. All he’s done this season is set career highs in receptions (72) and receiving yards (1,060), while giving second-year quarterback Josh Allen quite the security blanket — especially on deep passes, where Brown has caught 10 of his 27 targets of 20 or more air yards for 332 yards and four touchdowns. No other Bills player has more than five deep receptions, and that’s tight end Dawson Knox.

There are all kinds of plays we should show to represent Brown’s importance to Buffalo’s passing game, but this 53-yard touchdown against the Patriots in Week 16 is the most compelling example.

Out of the right slot, Brown demolishes cornerback Stephon Gilmore on a nasty out-and-up for the only touchdown Gilmore’s given up all season, and then, he smokes safety Devin McCourty for good measure. No other NFL receiver can claim to have beaten both of these defenders on the same play in 2019; 2020 could be more of the same for the defenders trying to deal with Brown. Houston’s average to below-average cornerbacks could find him to be a particularly vexing test.

The one fatal flaw for every wild-card team

No matter how great any NFL team, there’s always that one potentially fatal flaw. Here are the things that could upend each wild-card team.

No NFL team is perfect, no matter how great they may be. The 1972 Dolphins, the only team in NFL history to put up a perfect season from start to finish, lived in an era where they didn’t need much in the way of quarterback performance. So, they could deal with the broken leg and dislocated ankle that cost quarterback Bob Griese eight games in the regular season. The 2007 Patriots, who came within one game of joining the 1972 Miami team with a perfect season, found it more and more difficult to pace themselves through a defensive regression that started with linebacker Rosevelt Colvin’s foot injury in late November.

So, if even the greatest teams in NFL history have potentially fatal flaws, what does that say about the eight wild-card entrants in the 2019 postseason? It says that, for each of those teams, they’ll have to overcome the things that could upend them from the first round on, hoping that the things that make them great are more present at the most opportune moments.

Here are the most obvious flaws for each of those teams as we head into wild-card weekend.

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen’s ceiling

(Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

The Bills have an exciting run game with veteran Frank Gore, rookie Devin Singletary, and quarterback Josh Allen. They have perhaps the strongest defense from front to back in this particular wild-card group. They have Tre’Davious White, the only cornerback this season to pick off six passes without allowing a touchdown. Were it not for the relatively low ceiling Allen brings as a passer, they might be the most formidable team in the 2019 postseason. But Allen’s low ceiling is there, and it might be a problem.

Allen has been reasonably efficient. He’s thrown just three interceptions this season since his three-interception meltdown against the Patriots in Week 4, so at least he’s learned to minimize the damage to his own offense. And he does have 17 touchdown passes in that time period, so productive plays are a possibility — especially in concert with John Brown, who may be the NFL’s most underrated receiver. And certainly, Allen’s two-touchdown game against New England in Week 16 was a nice summary of his growth as a passer this season. But if the Bills wind up in a one- or two-touchdown hole in the playoffs, can Allen turn it loose effectively enough to mount a comeback? For a guy with a big arm, he’s been relatively quiet on bog downfield plays — just 18 completions on 68 attempts for 589 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions on passes of 20 or more air yards this season. And he’s not been terribly efficient under pressure this season, with a 41.2% completion rate and five touchdowns to four interceptions when his dropbacks have been disrupted.

Perhaps the 2019 playoffs is when Allen hits the proverbial next level. If that’s the case, the Bills instantly become as tough an out as you’ll find in this postseason and beyond. If not, everything else will have to work perfectly for a long postseason run.

4 game balls from the Saints’ record-setting Monday night beatdown

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts during Monday Night Football, with Drew Brees breaking a few records along the way.

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The New Orleans Saints made easy work of the Indianapolis Colts during their prime-time matchup on Monday Night Football in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. While the 34-7 scoreline was impressive, the records set were even more so. However, the results could not have been accomplished if not for the efforts of some key players.

Here are the game balls we have given to some players for their extraordinary performances in Monday night’s game.

Marshon Lattimore

The Pro Bowler was tasked with shadowing Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton for much of the night. Even with Hilton returning from injury, the wideout has proven he among the best in the game at his position. Lattimore did a phenomenal job at keeping Hilton quiet all evening.

It was not until the second half of the game when Hilton looked as if he was going to be productive. However, Lattimore continued to shut Hilton out of the game, and the wideout finished with only four receptions and 25 yards receiving. In a night where New Orleans’ pass rush was non-existent, Lattimore helped pick up the slack by playing lockdown defense on the edge.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Starting safety Vonn Bell did not see action Monday night due to injury, and rookie standout Gardner-Johnson took his place in the starting lineup. Before leaving the game with a concussion, Gardner-Johnson made his mark on the defense. During a game where, as previously mentioned, the Saints lacked any real pass rush, the rookie safety attacked the Colts backfield.

Gardner-Johnson led New Orleans in tackles on the evening with eight, and was a constant threat to Indianapolis’ rushing attack. Hopefully the rookie’s concussion will heal similarly to tight end Jared Cook’s and fans can see the special talent take the field against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16.

Michael Thomas

Can’t Guard Mike was back at it on Monday night. After another 12 receptions for a 128 yards and a touchdown, how could we not give the man a game ball? His consistent and repeated performances are becoming the status quo, and as such are beginning to fly under the radar.

Thomas is currently chasing Marvin Harrison’s single season reception record of 143, and is currently 11 receptions behind. That is essentially one game for Thomas, and New Orleans could see two huge records fall in back-to-back weeks.

Drew Brees

Easiest decision on this list. Brees led his team to the 34-7 blowout, while throwing for 307 yards and four touchdowns. Lest we forget he also broke the record for most career passing touchdowns by throwing for 541 touchdowns in his illustrious career. He also threw 30 passes, 29 of which were caught for completions, another record set for highest completion percentage in an NFL football game. Who is this guy, and how is he only 40-years old?

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