One week after ending the season as the toast of the NFL, several playoff-bound teams fell back to earth this weekend, seeing their seasons end against battled-tested foes.
The Colts, Redskins, Vikings and Bengals were no longer darlings for beating the odds and making the postseason. Instead, they were the latest to be ousted, with the Packers, Texans and Ravens proving their pedigree, and the Seahawks continuing their surprising ascent. Four teams were revealed as being good but not good enough, while the four other teams silenced doubts about their potential for at least another week.
So, without the ups and downs of the regular season clouding the view, and with the true test of the playoffs beginning, what have we learned? Were Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III ever that good? Are the Texans dominant again? Did Joe Flacco prove he is elite? Can the Packers win it all?
We’ve got answers to those questions and more.
