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Four of this season’s top teams enter the play-offs this weekend.

It all starts on Saturday night when Joe Flacco and his in-form Ravens travel to Foxboro to tackle the New England Patriots. Flacco completed 18 of 29 passes for 259yds and two touchdowns in last week’s wildcard win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Baltimore QB seems to like January. His seven road play-off wins are the most by a quarterback since the 1970 merger.

Tom Brady has had another 4000+ yard season. He’s thrown 33 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions from his 373 completed passes. His number one receiver is Tight End Rob Gronkowski with 82 receptions, 1124yds and 12 TDs. He’s the man Baltimore will need to watch in freezing conditions, but we all know Brady is the coolest customer inside the pocket and can see the field better than anyone.

Newton vs Wilson

The defending Super Bowl champs enter the fold in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Cam Newton got his first postseason win last weekend, but he knows he has to do better against a solid Seahawks defence. He’s also got to compete against “The Twelves”. The Seattle fans get CenturyLink rocking and make it difficult for even the elite signal-callers. But, Seattle’s offence isn’t invincible and Carolina’s D is looking strong.

Ice Bowl Part 2

Green Bay’s success this postseason could come down to the fitness of Aaron Rodgers. The Quarterback’s calf muscle has a slight tear in it in addition to being significantly strained, according to league sources. The injury is not expected to prevent Rodgers from playing in Sunday evening’s divisional round playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, but it could affect how mobile and effective he is.

The Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy told reporters this week that Rodgers was back in practice on Thursday, for the first time all week, and “looked good”.

The opposite QB, Tony Romo, is the league’s top rated player in his position this season. His wideout, Dez Bryant, is the league’s leading receiver and their running back, DeMarco Murray, tops the rushing charts.

We might get a classic in -21C conditions.

The Master vs The Apprentice

Peyton Manning takes on the team he won the Super Bowl with in the weekend’s final game.

Andrew Luck is the man who replaced Manning as the Colts’ quarterback. A lot has been made about these two this week, but Luck was quick to point out, “We face the Broncos, in a sense. I’ve never been into the quarterback versus quarterback thing, you know, we’re not on the field at the same time. But I have a lot of respect for (Manning) obviously. What he does, what he still does, is amazing. He’s a stud, but I’ll worry about the Denver defence. That’s what I’ve got to worry about.”

Manning missed all of last week’s workouts with a thigh injury, but he’s declared himself fit for this one.

In the Luck vs Manning bracket, Luck narrowly leads the veteran in yardage: 4,761 yards, just ahead of Manning’s 4,727

When these teams last met in September, Manning picked up three touchdowns in their 31-24 home win. Luck produced two TDs for Indy.

This is too close to call.

They say there’s no such thing as an off season in the NFL. Here’s a list of key dates coming up in the next few months:

Jan. 15: Deadline for underclassmen to declare for 2015 NFL Draft
Players with at least one year of eligibility remaining must reach their decision by this point. It will be a quick turnaround for Ohio State and Oregon players, who will play their final game Jan. 12. Last year, a record 98 underclassmen declared for the draft.

Jan. 17: East-West Shrine Game
The annual college all-star game in St. Petersburg, Florida, pits draft-eligible prospects against each other in an exhibition that serves as the endpoint of a highly scrutinized week of practice. This year’s teams are coached by former NFL coaches Mike Singletary and Jim Zorn.

Jan. 24: Senior Bowl
Similar to the East-West Shrine Game but loaded with a number of potential first-round picks. The practices for this game draw hundreds of coaches, general managers and scouts to Mobile, Alabama, for a game that is treated as the city’s Super Bowl.

Jan. 25: Pro Bowl
The game will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, which is also the site for Super Bowl XLIX.

Feb. 1: Super Bowl XLIX

Feb. 7: First of five NFL Regional Combines opens for draft-eligible prospects
Designed for players who are not invited to the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis, the events provide a showcase for some potential diamonds in the rough. This year’s will be held in Davie, Florida; Houston (Feb. 14); Dove Valley, Colorado (Feb. 21); Owings Mills, Maryland (Feb. 28) and Lake Forest, Illinois (March 7).

Feb. 16: Teams can start designating Franchise and Transition players
Teams can designate one of their unrestricted free agents with each one of these tags. The franchise tag, which is used much more frequently than the transition tag, provides a player with a guaranteed, one-year deal that pays commensurate to the top five players at his respective position. The deadline to lock up players with these tags is March 2.

Feb. 17-23: NFL Scouting Combine
The main event in terms of evaluating draft-eligible prospects will once again be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

March 1: College Pro Days begins
Coaches will cross the country to watch college prospects go through drills and exercises similar to what they performed at the Combine, but in the comfortable environments of their respective college campuses.

March 7-10: Teams can enter into contract negotiations with unrestricted free agents
This allows teams to talk through and even finalize deals with players, but nothing is official until 9pm (GMT) on March 10.
March 10 (before 9 p.m. GMT): Teams must be under 2015 salary cap, exercise options with restricted free agents
It’s unknown yet what the salary cap will be for each of the NFL’s 32 teams, but it’s anticipated to be higher than last year’s total of $133 million.

March 10 (9 pm GMT): 2015 league year and free agency officially begins
It’s showtime.

March 22-25: Annual league meetings
Owners and NFL officials head to Phoenix, Arizona, for their annual three-day meetings to discuss a variety of issues.

April 20: Clubs with returning head coaches can begin off season workout programs
Teams with new head coaches can begin two weeks earlier.

April 30-May 2: 2015 NFL Draft
Starting with the first round on a primetime Thursday, the three-day event will be held in Chicago for the first time since 1964.

May 8-11: Post-draft rookie minicamps
Teams can opt to hold them from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday. They can also conduct them on the following weekend.

Saturday: 9:35pm – Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots (Sky Sports 2)

Sunday: 1:15am – Carolina Panthers vs Seattle Seahawks (Sky Sports 2)

Sunday: 6:05pm – Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers (Sky Sports 3)

Sunday: 9:40pm – Indianapolis Colts vs Denver Broncos (Sky Sports 3)

BBC Five Live will broadcast live commentary of Super Bowl XLIX on Feb 1st.

Darren Fletcher will provide the commentary alongside analyst Rocky Boiman, a Super Bowl-winning linebacker. The game in Arizona kicks off at 11:30pm.

BBC Radio will also feature the two Championship games on 5Live Sports Extra. The NFC contest kicks off at 8pm and both Darren and Rocky will call the action from the AFC Championship at 11.30 p.m on Sunday January 18th.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. When the Cowboys needed Romo he stepped up.

With 1’50” left on the clock in the first half his short pass to Terrance Williams set the receiver off on a 76yd touchdown. That play brought Dallas back into the game after trailing 14-0. Matt Prater converted a 39yd field goal just before the interval but the momentum certainly shifted Dallas’s way.

The Lions had gone 99yds for one of two first quarter touchdowns, but Matthew Stafford couldn’t get them in the end zone again. Detroit was driving with a 20-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter when the officials announced a pass interference penalty. The call was reversed without explanation and the Lions saw a 10-yard shanked punt after they tried to draw Dallas offside on fourth and one.

Romo took the Cowboys 59yds in 11 plays, including a 21yd pass to Jason Witten on fourth and six. The winner came in an 8yd pass to Williams.

The Lions haven’t won a play-off game since the 1991 season, when they beat Dallas. Ndamukong Suh was left in tears at the end of this one. It’s likely that he won’t play for Detroit again, but Motown have a lot to look forward to once they get over this one.

Dallas travel to Green Bay on Sunday evening.

Panthers D Bites Cardinals

The Carolina Panthers held the Arizona Cardinals to 78yds in the first wildcard game of the weekend. Their defence forced three turnovers in a 27-16 win. It was the franchise’s first play-off win in nine years and the fewest yards ever allowed in an NFL postseason.

In the second half Ryan Lindley was intercepted twice and sacked four times.

Cam Newton overcame two turnovers and threw for 198yds and two touchdowns. Jonathan Stewart’s fine rushing form continued as he rain for 123yds and a score.

Don’t expect many points when Carolina head to Seattle in the divisional round on Saturday night.

Same Old Story For Dalton

The Cincinnati Bengals became the first team in NFL history to lose four consecutive opening round games. Andy Dalton tied Warren Moon for the most consecutive opening round play-off losses.

Andrew Luck threw for 376yds as the Colts dominated the second half in this 26-10 victory.

Luck is 0&2 on the road in the postseason. Will it be third time lucky when he travels to Denver on Sunday?

Ravens Defeat Rivals In Pittsburgh

The Baltimore Ravens dominated their division rivals Pittsburgh at Heinz Field in a 30-17 victory late on Saturday night.

Ben Roethlisberger was sacked five times. He passed for 334yds, but the game was won on chances taken. The Steelers were reduced to field goal chances while the Ravens were clocking up touchdowns.

Joe Flacco threw two second half touchdowns, including an 11yd score for Torrey Smith in the third quarter. Crockett Gillmore scored off a 21yd pass in the fourth after Big Ben was picked off.

This was the Ravens’ first postseason win in Pittsburgh. They travel to New England on Saturday.

On Saturday night 5thDownUK took part in a live debate of BBC Five Live about the support for American Football in the UK. Channel 4’s expert pundit, Mike Carlson, joined in the discussion as we highlighted the passion of UK fans for America’s game.

There appears to be an opinion that the sport has a cult following on this side of the Atlantic, but stats from recent years prove otherwise. Gone are the days when the only coverage we got was late on a Sunday night on Channel 4, or later Channel 5. Thanks to Sky Sports we now have Thursday night action, two evening games on a Sunday and Redzone. Next season they will give Monday Night Football, having taken the rights from Eurosport. We also get the Sunday night games on C4 and their fantastic highlights show.

Wembley has sold out every game, except one, since the International Series began in 2007. That exception was the Chicago Bears vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in 2011, but that was because the game wasn’t announced until August of that year and tickets were late going on sale. It was no fault of NFL UK because the labour dispute in the league dragged on for so long. More than 70,000 fans attended, so it was hardly a disaster.

Outside of the States UK fans are the biggest consumers of the NFL’s podcasts. We’re granted access to the league’s Game Pass and its flagship Total Access show. Last year we were brought the draft live! The British market is constantly being tested and it always proves profitable.

500,000 people have packed Regent Street two years running. That’s no fluke. Tens of thousands of fans filled Trafalgar Square four weeks later. When London hosted the Champions League Final we never saw scenes like the ones NFL fans brought to the capital. It’s because the sport is growing and its fans are passionate.

This weekend The Times had a column dedicated to the wildcard games. The Mail Online has a special section to gridiron and the day after the Lions vs Falcons game in October the photo on the back page of The Metro was not of the Manchester United vs Chelsea game, it was of the Matthew Stafford.

Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, knows a London franchise will be a success and that’s why he wants a team over here. The owners have backed it and the Government have said they’ll do all they can to get us a franchise.

This is no longer a pipedream, it’s going to happen. The NFL’s Play 60 initiative has been introduced to schoolchildren over here when teams have visited. They’re the fans of the future and they’re being educated more than the current so-called cult following ever were. How long until Home Counties schools start forming their own leagues? As interest expands, so too will participants in this great game and then we’ll see the next generation of Menelik Watson and Jack Crawford running out in front of their home fans.

Sky Sports promises to bring us more action next season. It won’t be too long until we see it mainstream across terrestrial networks. Just like a London franchise, it’s going to happen.

You can hear the debate on here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04vkbqm go two hours and twenty minutes in.

Sat – 9:35pm: Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers (Sky Sports 2)

Sun – 1:15am: Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Sky Sports 2)

Sun – 6:05pm: Cincinnati Bengals vs Indianapolis Colts (Sky Sports 2)

Sun – 9:40pm: Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys (Sky Sports 2)

It’s the dawn of a new year and that can only mean one thing – it’s play-off time! Let the fun begin.

An enthralling season came to an end last week and now we’re gearing up for Wildcard Weekend. The action starts in Charlotte as the only team in the postseason with a losing record take on the faltering Cardinals. At the end of November the Panthers had only won three of their first twelve games. They clinched their play-off berth in exciting fashion by winning their final four games, including the 34-3 victory in Atlanta. That game in Week 17 was a shoot-out and came just a few weeks after their star quarterback broke bones in his back as a result of a shocking car accident.

Arizona haven’t had much luck with injuries this year. Despite losing three quarterbacks at certain points throughout the season, they managed to clinch their place in the postseason by mid-December. Concerns will be with their form going into January. After winning nine of their first ten games they only won two of their final six. No team has played a Super Bowl in their home stadium and Arizona are favourites to falter at the first hurdle this weekend.

In the early hours of Sunday morning two divisional rivals go head-to-head as the Baltimore Ravens travel to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers will be without their star running back Le’Veon Bell after he suffered a knee injury last weekend in the clash against the Cincinnati Bengals. Bell was the second-leading rusher this season, so his absence will be a blow.

The Ravens have a strong defence, so this is going to be a huge test for Ben Roethlisberger. Baltimore sneaked into the play-offs and will be feeling confident going into this one.

On Sunday evening it’s the other AFC wildcard game, from Indianapolis. Andrew Luck’s Colts take on Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals. Luck’s stats dipped in December and the Bengals need to stop him from finding his rhythm if they are to pick up their first postseason win since 1990.

Luck threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals in October and they were beaten quite convincingly in last week’s shootout in Pittsburgh.

The stars will be out in the Lone Star State on Sunday night. Matt Stafford, Golden Tate, Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson travel to Dallas to tackle Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray.

Murray has been inspirational this season and he comes up against a dominant Lions defence. The Cowboys haven’t made the postseason since 2009 and they were written off by many at the start of the season. Romo has had one of his best seasons, throwing 34 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. His partnership with Bryant is what most franchises dream of, but it’s their defence that’s suspect.

This is an intriguing encounter between two big shooters. The winner could go a long way.

Are you already planning next year’s fantasy football roster? Here we have your top 5 scorers from each week of the 2014 season.

It’s Week 17! Where did the season go? It doesn’t seem that long ago we were getting excited about the first of three Wembley games. Now we’re speculating on who will be getting the boot on Black Monday.

Come the 29th of December there will be 20 teams looking ahead to next year. With a few tweaks here and there franchises will become forces to be reckoned with, or so we hope. Maybe next year.

Though let’s not get ourselves down. Christmas might be over, but there’s still a lot at stake this weekend. Just look at the AFC. Seven of the eight games in this conference involve playoff teams/impact the playoff picture.

If the Broncos beat division rivals Oakland they will be guaranteed the second seed, giving Peyton a week off.

Kansas City, without their starting quarterback Alex Smith, need to beat San Diego and have the Ravens lose and the Texans lose/tie to Jacksonville to stand any chance of making the postseason.

The Chargers just need to beat the Chiefs to secure a berth. Smith’s injury impacts the Ravens, who need a victory or tie at home to Cleveland and hope the Chargers lose or tie to sneak in. The Texans need to win and have Baltimore and San Diego lose to make it into Jan.

The divisional title, and a home game, is up for grabs when Cincinnati travel to Pittsburgh. Both these AFC North teams clinched their places in the play-offs in Week 16. The Steelers are rocking at the minute and have found form at the right time of year.

Another form team will take the top seed in the NFC with a win on Sunday. Seattle, written off by so many at the start of November, are red hot and have swept aside all pretenders to their thrown in recent weeks. They host the St Louis Rams.

The game at Lambeau could see the winner clinch a bye and the loser the 6th seed. The Lions have the defense to stop Rodgers at home and their offense has been clicking. It’ll be a tense night for both sets of fans.

It’s a play-off at the Georgia Dome for Carolina and Atlanta. Whoever wins clinches the number four seed and the losers pack up for another season. Will Matt Ryan and a healthy Julio Jones be too much for the Panthers? Whoever makes it will do so with seven wins for the season. Just how far can either team go in January?

Some might say the NFL is only just heating up now. Thankfully it’s one of those sports where anything can, and will, happen right up to the Super Bowl.

It’s not often that established Quarterbacks get benched. Recently RGIII has had to suffer the indignity of holding the clipboard while fully fit, but this weekend we’ll see a veteran – Jay Cutler – on the sidelines, watching on while Jimmy Clausen stands under centre for the Chicago Bears.

It was only a short 4 months ago that the Bears back-office made Cutler the highest paid player in the league for this season….now, with the Bears looking down the barrel of last place in the NFC North, it’s fair to ask – has it all been Cutler’s fault?

Despite a difficult relationship with the Chi-town fanbase, the answer is no – it’s not all his fault. There are a lot of big names on the Bears’ roster that have either not stood up this season, or have fallen to unfortunate injuries. However, Cutler’s negative body language, combined with his bulging wallet, has meant that all eyes fall on him. He will argue that he’s had a banged up receiver corps – not once has he had both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery at full strength. He can also argue that he’s had a stuttering Defence that can’t give enough time on the field – the Bears D has fallen off a cliff since Brian Urlacher retired, and the wave of high profile free agent pickups this last summer has not halted the slide.

So now that Cutler is backing up Clausen this week, what can we expect the Bears to do this off-season? One thing is for certain – there are going to be some twitchy seats in Chicago this January – Phil Emery is the executive who said Cutler is worth a 7 year contract. Marc Trestman is the “quarterback whisperer” whose job it was to tap the potential in this elusive gunslinger. Cutler himself is now a man who has failed to live up to the hype – there is clearly a scenario where all 3 are no longer in Chicago come next September.

If the Bears clear house, then they’ll be picking high enough in the draft to start anew. If Emery and Trestman get more time, then Cutler’s contract can only really hurt them if he doesn’t get another starting gig for the 2015 season, which would be highly unlikely. However, if Cutler remains with the Bears, then you have to think its highly unlikely that it’s going to be under the current management, who have just sent the clear message – “you’re not as good as we thought you were”.