So, those NFC Wild Card games were fun. Apparently, Brock Purdy is the new Tom Brady, the old Brady is washed, and Daniel Jones is a franchise quarterback. It’s only a matter of weeks before all of those lessons are proven wrong, but for now, enjoy it, revel in it, and let the magic of the playoffs get to work.
Of course, the quarterbacks steal the headlines, but the unsung heroes make just as much noise before the scoreboard declares a winner. Who deserves more recognition on their journey to the Super Bowl?
San Francisco 49ers
Starting with our lone team out west, the San Francisco 49ers are loaded. They’ve got the most versatile skill position players in the sport and the best play caller on the planet, so it’s easy to grasp Purdy’s rapid rise. Defensively, a similar sentiment remains: they are absolutely stocked with talent, and defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans is primed for a head coaching opportunity. With so much star power to go around, who flies under the radar?
The answer lies in their back seven. Perhaps the most underrated position group in football entering the year, playing their part in the league’s best defense has earned them some more recognition. Fred Warner is widely known as the best linebacker in football and Talanoa Hufanga’s incredible season has garnered an All-Pro selection.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has been as good as either of them this season. An All-Pro snub through and through, Greenlaw’s versatility as an off-ball linebacker was weaponized by Ryans. His 5.4% missed tackle rate was the fifth-lowest of all linebackers with a snap share of at least 50%. Only 13 linebackers allowed a lower passer rating, and only 10 saw more snaps in the slot.
Greenlaw is yet another elite piece in a defense that is steamrolling the competition. They’ll have their hands full with Dak Prescott and an electric Dallas Cowboys offense, but there’s a reason the 49ers are four-point favorites. Greenlaw’s ability to corral outside runs and take away the middle of the field will be integral to their Super Bowl hopes, which both DraftKings and FanDuel list at +450. At that line, a $100 wager would win $450.
Dallas Cowboys
In arguably the most important narrative-shaping game of the season, Prescott stepped up. By EPA/Play, his performance was a top 15 playoff game of the century. He totalled five touchdowns and complemented an awesome defensive performance.
Now, he’ll visit San Francisco with a Texas-sized weight off his shoulders. Unlike Monday, though, this one won’t fall as squarely on him. Against a Kyle Shanahan offense that could find success with either one of us under center, every stop will be significant.
An explosive, versatile threat to combat the 49ers’ surplus of offensive talent is critical. In this case, his name is Jayron Kearse.
It’s easy to fly under the radar when Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons chase down All-Pro honors alongside you. Like the aforementioned Greenlaw, being a chess piece in his respective defense allows others to make the plays they do. Kearse is one of the league’s best tacklers, and he’ll likely be tasked with tackling the seemingly impossible to tackle Deebo Samuel. Limiting the “easy” big plays will set Purdy up for failure, something San Francisco is yet to face.
A win this weekend will obviously go a long way in accomplishing their +900 odds (BetMGM). If Dallas can find a way to win again, they’ll be thanking Kearse as much as Diggs as Parsons. You can place that bet with more confidence after using their promotion for Bet Basics readers: UP TO $1,500 IN BONUS BETS.
Philadelphia Eagles
For too long, the Philadelphia Eagles had been criticized for porous linebacker play. The Nate Gerry era was…less than ideal, but they’re well past that now. T.J. Edwards may lack the recognition of other Philly contributors, but he’s blossomed under their noses and been key to their success defending the middle of the field.
Selecting high-profile draft tumbler Nakobe Dean wasn’t an indictment on Edwards, but a shrewd talent acquisition, taking advantage of a discount on potentially damaged goods. Edwards initially made his mark as a run stopper. This season, his best year yet, he’s come around as a coverage linebacker.
Edwards is as twitchy as he is rangy and as impactful as he is important to this Eagles defense. The New York Giants rely on scrambles and explosive run plays to gain chunk yards. The 49ers make a mockery of the middle of the field. Dallas isn’t afraid to deploy its weapons from the slot to find mismatches.
Thus, patrolling the intermediate is more than necessary, and Edwards fits the billing. Currently, Caesars is offering the longest odds on them to go all the way, at +550.Whether he’s covering the #3 in quarters or chasing down a quarterback, Edwards will find himself in the middle of Philadelphia’s success.
New York Giants
Identifying an unsung hero for the Giants’ playoff hopes is difficult. Their biggest names are either superstars, noteworthy, or notoriously overpaid. With that said, Isaiah Hodgins is a relatively new name amongst New York fans, but his impact is legitimate.
A “Draft Twitter” favorite, Hodgins found himself on a depleted Giants receiving corps midway through the season. Blessed with the opportunity of lackluster competition, Hodgins has used his big body and athleticism to quickly become one of Jones’ favorite targets. That may be surprising, given his 4.61 40-yard dash, but his strength, explosiveness, and agility are largely superior to similarly-sized counterparts.
Heading into Philadelphia as touchdown underdogs, winning on the perimeter will be necessary. The Eagles defense isn’t soft by any means, but a dominating physical presence outside can cause problems for any secondary.
He showed off an injured ankle on social media after the win, apologizing for a lack of YAC. Still, Hodgins is currently expected to play, keeping their +3000 Super Bowl odds alive (Caesars).
BASIC TIPS
This article largely looks at Super Bowl odds, which are a form of futures bets. These are wagers placed on more distant events than, say, a team’s next regular season game. They are also not limited to the games themselves. Futures can include things like award winners, statistical leaders, and season-long win totals, too. Futures often offer longer odds due to the inherent uncertainty that comes with a longer time frame for things to “go wrong” or otherwise thwart one’s bet.