NFL wild-card playoffs: Big questions, judging overreactions

nfl playoffs Officially work is going on with Ram only narrow edge Panthers to begin action. is next packers-bears on Saturday night.

What are the main lessons and takeaways from each wild-card matchup, and what’s next for these teams? We asked national NFL reporter Dan Graziano and NFL analyst Ben Solak to help size up each matchup from the opening round and look ahead from all angles. For each wild-card game, Solak is answering a big remaining question and Graziano is assessing the validity of a potential overreaction.

Let’s move on to breaking down the surprisingly close Rams-Panthers game bryce youngThe future of. And check back throughout the weekend for more instant reaction as the games happen.

,bryce young Going to get a top-10 QB contract this offseason.” Overreaction?

Yes, overreaction. Look, there’s huge respect for Young and the Panthers here. The Rams won, but Carolina made us all look good who thought it could pull off the upset. Young was fearless and fun and all teams wanted their quarterback to be in big moments. He was 21 of 40 passing for 264 yards and one touchdown, and he also ran for a touchdown. he hit Jalen Coker He went for the go-ahead TD with 2:39 left, only to see his defense inexplicably go into prevention mode with plenty of time left, as the Rams marched down the field for the winning score. But Young did everything he could to keep his season alive – in which he threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions – en route to a division champion. Yes, 8-9 division champion, but still.

All that said, it’s too early to commit to the Panthers. If Young wants to sign Sam Darnold Or Baker Mayfield Type of deal, go ahead and do it, Carolina. Given the promise Young has shown this season and the investment the team has already made in him, it’s worth it. but if he wants tua tagovailoa Wealth? uh uh.

Young is signed through 2026, and the Panthers have an option for 2027, which I’m confident they’ll pick up because there’s no reason not to. If they do that they’ll basically get him for $30 million over the next two years. This is a perfectly reasonable investment that will allow them to gather more data and decide whether or not he is the franchise guy they believed in when they traded him for the first-round pick in 2023. The fifth-year option (and the franchise tag, obviously, if they want to do so in 2028) offers the team an opportunity for Young to prove himself again.

Young doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who needs the validation that would come with a long-term deal. I’m sure he knows a lot of things he can improve on and is looking forward to the opportunity to work on them. Heck, it’s better to wait and have an even better year in 2026 and negotiate on that. Big advice to Young and the Panthers, but it’s still very early. –Graziano

The lingering question: What have the two games against the Panthers taught us about the Rams?

There are several big differences between the Panthers regular season upset The Rams and their near-postseason repeat. The connecting thread is how successfully the Panthers tested the Rams’ defensive backs in coverage. In the first matchup, the key was to make shots late in the drive to score big touchdowns; In this game, the Panthers destroyed explosives Tetaroa McMillan And coker. The ball came out quickly to Young, which helped neutralize the Rams’ pass rush, as Carolina relied on its supersized receivers against the Rams’ smaller defensive backs. This usually worked.

Nickelback Quentin Lake Returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Week 11, and was immediately tested by the Panthers. Lake was targeted 10 times and allowed 7 receptions for 83 yards, as big slot Coker in particular gave him trouble (5 catches on 5 targets for 62 yards). As the Rams move forward, I expect more teams to test that secondary in 50-50 and competitive situations, whether it’s down the sideline or in the middle of the field. This is not a large group, and the physical receivers present challenges accordingly.

Of course, the Rams have struggled with turnovers against Carolina as well: three takeaways in the first game, then one in the second (plus a blocked punt). In general, the Panthers perform well at discouraging and forcing play-action passes. Matthew Stafford To play more patiently. And when he plays patiently, he is forced to fight more or take more checkdowns – not his preferred playing style. –Solak