NFC wild card games promise big match-ups

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Brady is looking earn his 10th Super Bowl appearance and potentially his seventh Super Bowl

By Flynn Travers, Staff Writer

The NFC wild card games are approaching this Sunday and the games include some teams that few would have expected to be contending for the title this year. The new arrivals to the contending scene will make this weekend’s NFC wild card games some of the most interesting in years.

In one game, Carolina faces New Orleans, as the divisional rivals face off once again this year. This time it will be loser goes home.

The Saints won both earlier games and they will also be at more of an advantage as they will be defending their home turf, where they had a 7-1 record during the season.

The home field advantage is not the only thing going for them, as they will have standout rookie running back Alvin Kamara, who had 1,901 all purpose yards this year. Also in the backfield with him is running back Mark Ingram, who had 1,124 rushing yards.

However, one cannot talk about the Saints without discussing MVP candidate and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, who turned in another incredible season.

Their defense has improved greatly compared to recent years, led by a spark from rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

They will have their hands full with the Carolina Panthers, who have star QB Cam Newton and their own greatly improved defense. The Panthers will come in to New Orleans with the seventh total ranked defense in the league.

They will rely on defensive star Luke Kuechly to put a stop to the Saints’ lethal offense.

The Panthers will also need a big performance from wide receiver Devin Funchess.

The key to the game will be how the Panthers handle the crowd noise and if they can hand the Saints their second home loss of the year. They will be able to. Prediction: Saints

In the other NFC game, the upstart Rams will be taking on the Atlanta Falcons, who are fresh off a Super Bowl appearance last year.

The Rams have a legit MVP candidate in Todd Gurley, who leads the league in touchdowns. The Rams also have possibly the best player in football in Aaron Donald, who will wreak havoc on the Falcons’ offensive line.

The Falcons will need to use their own experience from last year’s playoff run to go in to LA and earn a win.

They will need a big performance from Julio Jones, possibly the best wide receiver in football, and they need to take advantage of the Rams’ 18th ranked defense with Matt Ryan and Devonta Freeman.

The key to the game will be how breakout quarterback Jared Goff and Gurley perform in the first playoff games in their young careers. Goff will go for 300-plus yards and will push the Rams to a playoff victory that their fans have been wanting.