25 Burning Questions We Want Answered During the 2015 NFL Playoffs
Getty Images
The most wonderful time of the year is finally here: the NFL playoffs. After watching 17 weeks of football, we now have the best teams playing the best games for the best trophy. But even after watching a full season of these teams, there are still so many questions that are needed to be answered heading into this postseason. Here are 25 burning questions that we all would love to be answered during this year’s playoffs.
25. Will Le’Veon Bell Be Back For the Playoffs?
Getty Images
25. Will Le’Veon Bell Be Back For the Playoffs?
Getty Images
Somehow three teams from the AFC North made the playoffs and not a single one of them was the Browns! Upsetting. The Steelers made it in thanks in small part to Ben Roethlisberger but mainly due to the legs of workhorse Le’Veon Bell. But Bell is possibly out for their Wild Card matchup against the Ravens with a hyperextended knee. Everyone in Pittsburgh is hoping he’ll be ready to play, but it seems the back might not be suiting up.
24. Will We See Drew Stanton At All?
Getty Images
24. Will We See Drew Stanton At All?
Getty Images
It wasn’t too long ago the Cardinals were the best team in the NFL and Super Bowl favorites. Two quarterback injuries later, the Cards are the No. 5 seed and in dire need of a Drew Stanton return. But Stanton is out with a partially torn ACL, and it doesn't seem like the quarterback will be ready to play in time for the Cardinals' Wild Card game against the Carolina Panthers.
23. Will Jeremy Hill Continue His Strong Rookie Campaign Into the Playoffs?
Getty Images
23. Will Jeremy Hill Continue His Strong Rookie Campaign Into the Playoffs?
Getty Images
The rookie quickly broke onto the NFL scene this season, rushing for over 1,100 yards, nine touchdowns and running away with the starting spot. The Bengals will obviously look for Hill to continue some of this excellence into the postseason in hopes to take the load off of Andy Dalton and his turnover-prone shoulders.
22. Is This the Last CenturyLink Sees of Marshawn Lynch?
Getty Images
22. Is This the Last CenturyLink Sees of Marshawn Lynch?
Getty Images
The unrest between the NFL and Marshawn Lynch, let alone the Seahawks and Lynch, is well documented. Lynch has even hinted at the notion of retiring after this season. But needless to say, the probability Beast Mode will return to the Seahawks next year is very low. So is this the last time CenturyLink sees the Skittles eater? The answer is yes.
21. Who Will Ndamukong Suh Stomp Next?
Getty Images
21. Who Will Ndamukong Suh Stomp Next?
Getty Images
Fresh off his frozen foot stomping of Aaron Rodgers, Suh is back on the prowl and looking for his next victim. And no one screams “Stomp Me” quite like the Cowboys. Between stomping Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray and maybe running down field and stomping Dez Bryant, Suh will be in stomping heaven in the Lions’ Wild Card game.
20. Will Home-Field Actually Give the Panthers an Advantage?
Getty Images
20. Will Home-Field Actually Give the Panthers an Advantage?
Getty Images
Much has been made of the fact that a team with a losing record has made it into the playoffs and that that team gets to host a playoff game. But the question here is will home-field really give the Panthers that much of an advantage over the tough Arizona Cardinals? I don’t think so. I think the bigger advantage comes from having to play against Ryan Lindley rather than a real starting quarterback.
19. Can Justin Forsett Carry the Ravens?
Getty Images
19. Can Justin Forsett Carry the Ravens?
Getty Images
As the last team in the AFC to sneak into the playoffs, the Ravens have a big uphill battle if they look to make any noise in the postseason. A horrendous secondary makes their defense very questionable, so the Ravens would be wise to waste as much time on offense as possible. Enter Justin Forsett, who’s having a career year and Baltimore will be hoping he’s up to the task of carrying the team.
18. Will Trent Richardson Do Anything At All For the Colts?
Getty Images
18. Will Trent Richardson Do Anything At All For the Colts?
Getty Images
Some people think that on the postseason stage, Trent Richardson will finally show why Jim Irsay traded a first-round pick for the running back. But don’t get your hopes up, people. Richardson won’t be able to do anything as usual, and the Colts will rely on their young quarterback to win them games.
17. What Magic Will Rob Gronkowski Do In the Playoffs?
Getty Images
17. What Magic Will Rob Gronkowski Do In the Playoffs?
Getty Images
For the first time in forever, the best tight end in the league will be healthy for the best part of the season. Gronkowski is finally completely healthy heading into the playoffs, and the NFL has never been happier. After breaking defender’s hopes and dreams during the regular season, one can only imagine the wonders that Gronk will perform in the postseason.
16. Will Cam Newton Win His First Playoff Game?
Getty Images
16. Will Cam Newton Win His First Playoff Game?
Getty Images
For the second year in a row, the Panthers have made it to the postseason. But unlike last year, where the team was dominant entering the playoffs, this year the Panthers hobbled in with a losing record. But can Cam get his first playoff win at home? There is a real chance thanks to the third-string quarterback the Cardinals will be starting on Saturday.
15. Can Ryan Lindley Quarterback a Playoff Win?
Getty Images
15. Can Ryan Lindley Quarterback a Playoff Win?
Getty Images
Speak of the devil, it’s the third-string quarterback who will lose to the Panthers on Saturday. The Cardinals’ fall from grace has been well documented, and it’s sad because it’s not their fault. Injuries are injuries and sometimes they hit the wrong team at the wrong time. Losing your top two QBs before the playoffs is one of those ‘wrong time’ moments.
14. Will Andy Dalton Be Able To Actually Play Well In the Playoffs?
Getty Images
14. Will Andy Dalton Be Able To Actually Play Well In the Playoffs?
Getty Images
I love making fun of Andy Dalton, and why shouldn’t I? He’s the pinnacle of adequate quarterback who hilariously struggles when his team needs him most, and that will be on full display when the Bengals face the Colts on Sunday afternoon. Cincinnati is hoping that maybe this year Dalton will be able to be the good quarterback the city wants him to be, but don’t get your hopes up.
13. How Far Will the Panthers Go?
Getty Images
13. How Far Will the Panthers Go?
Getty Images
The last team with a losing record to make it into the playoffs (7-9 Seahawks in 2011) gave us one of the most amazing runs ever seen by mankind and won a game. This time it’s the 7-8-1 Panthers set to be the losing record team heading into the playoffs. But how far can the Panthers go? They have a good shot at beating the Cardinals, and then they'll face either the Packers or Seahawks which they have no right beating. So not far.
12. Who Won the AFC Arms Race: Patriots or Broncos?
Getty Images
12. Who Won the AFC Arms Race: Patriots or Broncos?
Getty Images
There was an arms race this past offseason between the two AFC powerhouses. The Broncos sign Aqib Talib, the Patriots sign Darrelle Revis. The Broncos sign DeMarcus Ware, the Patriots sign Brandon Browner. Back and forth, each jockeying for position atop the AFC. Now the time has come to see who made the better moves as these two teams will most likely face off in the AFC Championship game.
11. Will the Packers’ Defense Be Their Downfall?
Getty Images
11. Will the Packers’ Defense Be Their Downfall?
Getty Images
The Packers’ offense has been something to behold this season. Aaron Rodgers played himself into MVP talks, and Jordy Nelson played himself out of obscurity and into the spotlight. But throughout the season the defense of the Packers has struggled, and it might be only a matter of time before their struggles catch up with the team. Hopefully for the Green Bay faithful, the defense can match the offense come the postseason.
10. Will DeMarco Murray Be Able To Run On Detroit’s Defense?
Getty Images
10. Will DeMarco Murray Be Able To Run On Detroit’s Defense?
Getty Images
With Adrian Peterson gone from the NFL, someone had to step up to take the best running back in the NFL title, and Murray did just that. Breaking records right and left, Murray put together a fantastic season to become the Cowboys' offense and kept Romo out of the pressure-filled situations he suffers in. But Murray’s first playoff test is the front wall of Detroit’s defense, and it won’t be an easy wall to get past.
9. Can Andrew Luck Put the Team On His Arm and Carry the Colts?
Getty Images
9. Can Andrew Luck Put the Team On His Arm and Carry the Colts?
Getty Images
It’s time Indianapolis accepts that Trent Richardson will do nothing for the Colts and that the team has only one player who can move the offense and win games; his name is Andrew Luck. The young quarterback has his struggles and has shown a knack to throw the ill-timed interception, but maybe this time he’ll be able to carry the weight of the team on his throwing arm.
8. Will the Playoffs Go According To Seed?
Getty Images
8. Will the Playoffs Go According To Seed?
Getty Images
Rarely does anything go according to plan but could this year’s playoffs? With Panthers vs. Cardinals stinking of upset and the unpredictability of Ben Roethlisberger and his merry bunch of Steelers, it’s easy to see how the playoffs could quickly go horribly off seed.
7. Is It Possible For the Seahawks and Packers To Lose At Home?
Getty Images
7. Is It Possible For the Seahawks and Packers To Lose At Home?
Getty Images
Both teams have asserted themselves as dominant forces in the NFC and near impossible to beat at home. The Packers haven’t lost at home all season long, and the Seahawks only lost once in Seattle. Both teams do have home-field advantage, but if things go according to seeding, then the Packers will have to beat the Seahawks at home if they wish to return to the Super Bowl.
6. Which Game Is On Upset Alert?
Getty Images
6. Which Game Is On Upset Alert?
Getty Images
By now you should realize that I think the Panthers will be able to upset the Cardinals due to numerous reasons, but that isn’t the game that screams upset to me. That game is the Colts upsetting the Broncos. Yes, the torch will officially be passed from Manning to Luck as Luck will beat the old Colt when it matters most.
5. Can Peyton Manning and the Broncos Make It Back To the Big Dance?
Getty Images
5. Can Peyton Manning and the Broncos Make It Back To the Big Dance?
Getty Images
Peyton Manning put together one of the greatest seasons ever by a quarterback last year and led the Broncos to a Super Bowl, only to be publicly embarrassed by the tenacious defense of the Seahawks. This year Manning and his Broncos hope they can make it back to the Super Bowl and claim another ring, but I'm not so sure it’s going to happen.
4. Is This the Year Tom Brady Wins His Fourth?
Getty Images
4. Is This the Year Tom Brady Wins His Fourth?
Getty Images
This is the question every Patriots fan is asking -- and probably most NFL fans who don’t take pride in being Patriots haters. Tom Brady has a real shot at winning his fourth ring this year, finally being backed by his top notch tight end and a defense that can actually stop a nosebleed. With the road to the Super Bowl going through Foxborough for the AFC, Brady might be well on his way to his fourth.
3. Will the Seahawks Repeat?
Getty Images
3. Will the Seahawks Repeat?
Getty Images
Mid-season it would have been ridiculous to think the Seahawks would have the top seed in the NFC, let alone even in the playoffs. But here they sit, atop the NFC with a real chance to make it back to the Super Bowl to win back-to-back Lombardi Trophies. Is it going to happen? Who knows? The Hawks have a tough road, primarily a showdown with the high-powered Packers.
2. Can Tony Romo Shake His Choke Image?
Getty Images
2. Can Tony Romo Shake His Choke Image?
Getty Images
When you search “Tony Romo playoffs” in Google, or whatever search engine you use, you will see the image of Romo sitting dejected right after botching the snap for the field goal that could have won the game for Dallas. But now Romo will have a chance to shake that choke image he has and set fireworks off in the postseason. The only question is will he be able to?
1. Who Will Win the Super Bowl?
Getty Images
1. Who Will Win the Super Bowl?
Getty Images
There are so many different scenarios that could play out that predicting even who makes it to the Super Bowl is a challenge. But it is a challenge I happily accept. I said it back in Week 13 when the Patriots played the Packers that that was the Super Bowl preview, and I stand by that. The Packers and Patriots will face each other in Arizona, and Tom Brady will win his fourth ring. There, question answered.
Peter Rogers is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
Several key players for the Colts are in the final year of their contracts. Here are five veterans who may not be returning to Indianapolis for the 2015 season. Read More
With the highly anticipated Colts-Broncos game this weekend, we get to see the Peyton Manning-Andrew Luck matchup that everyone loves. Here are five big unknowns about the rivalry. Read More
With two of football's premier playoff quarterbacks set to square off, Baltimore and New England's rushing attacks may be underlying x-factor in this playoff matchup. Read More
@petahrahgas 
PREV
