The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • C02

PHILLY.COM C2 THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER FRIDAY, JAN. 6, 2017 WILD CARD Raiders at Texans, Saturday at 4:35 p.m. Dolphins at Steelers, Sunday at 1:05 p.m. A mix of familiar, fresh faces A big decision looms on Peters Expect the usual from two veteran QBs. But can Cook and Osweiler deliver? ASSOCIATED PRESS The AFC playoff field features a mix of familiar faces and fresh blood at quarterback, and this time none of them will have to fret over seeing Von Miller ready to wreck game plans and Super Bowl dreams.

While the defending champion Denver Broncos sit this one out and search for a new coach, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberg-er, and Alex Smith return to the playoffs this month. The other half of the teams will turn to quarterbacks who have never taken a single snap in the postseason: longtime backup Matt Moore in Miami, backup-to-the-backup Connor Cook in Oakland; and Brock Osweiler, who was benched but is back up in Houston. The AFC gets wild-card weekend started Saturday when the Raiders visit Houston. On Sunday, the Dolphins will visit Pittsburgh. New England has its customary bye week its sixth straight and Kansas City earned its first bye since 2003.

Here's a look at this Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' vaunted offense will pose a challenge for the Dolphins, ap driven by the emergence of 2014 top overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, who shook off two injury-riddled seasons to pile up 16 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hits, and six sacks. The Texans won't go far if their quarterback play doesn't improve dramatically. Osweiler returns after being benched two weeks ago for Tom Savage (concussion) and will try to jump-start a putrid passing game. He threw more interceptions (16) than TD passes (15) in his first season of a four-year, $72 million deal. For Oakland, Cook will be the first NFL quarterback to make his first career start in the playoffs.

He replaced Matt McGloin (shoulder). Dallas targeted Cook in the draft only to watch Oakland grab him, then settled for Dak Prescott. If somehow Cook is as good as Prescott, maybe the Raiders can shock the field. Realistically, the Raiders' Super Bowl dreams shattered when Colts pass rusher Trent Cole twisted Derek Carr to the ground on Christmas Eve and Oakland's star hollered, "It's broke!" six times. Without Carr, it's hard to see how Cook can lead a team with a deficient defense to four wins in the playoffs.

WILD CARD Lions at Seahawks, Saturday at 8:15 p.m. Giants at Packers, Sunday at 4:40 p.m. Giants-Packers: Old, cold rivalry Browns' Coleman denies role in assault ASSOCIATED PRESS Browns rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman has denied being involved in an alleged assault that left a victim hospitalized. Coleman was named in a Cleveland police report following an incident Dec. 31 at a downtown condominium building.

According to the report, a witness said a verbal confrontation between a group of four men and a couple getting off an escalator escalated into a physical altercation. The victim awakened after the dispute and did not recognize any of the men, but was told by his female companion that Coleman was the one who assaulted him. The police report said the victim, Adam Sapp, spent one night at Lutheran Hospital. He told police he suffered a concussion, ruptured ear drum, and bruises. Coleman's attorney said the No.

15 overall pick last year was not involved. Cowboy suspended Dallas defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended for at least a year for another violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. It's the third time this season Gregory has been suspended. The first was a four-game ban, followed by 10 games on top of that. The latest suspension makes him ineligible for the playoffs, which will start Jan.

15 for Dallas, the top seed in the NFC. The suspension is for one calendar year, meaning Gregory could be eligible for the playoffs without another violation if the Cowboys make it again next season. Gregory played the final two games of his second regular season, recording the first sack of his career in the finale against the Eagles. The first suspension was announced in February, and he was away from the team during training camp while in rehab. The second suspension was announced in September, but Gregory remained with the team while serving the 14-game ban.

Saints aides leaving A person familiar with the decision said New Orleans Saints special-teams coordinator Greg McMa-hon, linebackers coach Joe Vitt, and three other assistants won't be back. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because none of the coaching moves, first reported Thursday by the Sporting News, had been announced. Vitt was interim head coach for 10 games in 2012, when Sean Payton was suspended in connection with the NFL's bounty probe. Vitt, who was suspended six games in 2012, was part of Payton's original staff in 2006, as was McMahon, who was promoted to coordinator in 2008. NFL Playoffs Wild-Card Round AFC Oakland at Houston, Saturday at 4:35 (ESPN) Miami at Pittsburgh, Sunday at 1:05 (CBS3) NFC Detroit at Seattle, Saturday at 8:15 (NBC10) N.Y.

Giants at Green Bay, Sunday at 4:40 (Fox29) Divisional Round AFC Lowest seed at New England, Saturday at 8:15 (CBS3) Highest seed at Kansas City, Sunday at 1:05 (NBC10) NFC Highest seed at Atlanta, Saturday at 4:35 (Fox29) Lowest seed at Dallas, Sunday at 4:40 (Fox29) Las Vegas Line By Pregame.com NFL Playoffs ASSOCIATED PRESS There's a lot more to the playoff history between the Giants and Packers than a scarlet-faced Tom Coughlin standing on a frigid sideline in Green Bay, on Jan. 20, 2008, in New York's numbing overtime win in the NFC championship game. The win in temperatures that felt like minus-23 with the windchill factor catapulted the Giants to their third Super Bowl title two weeks later. A fourth would follow after the 2011 season, with New York again stunning the Lam-beau Field faithful with a 37-20 win in a second-round playoff game over a Packers team that went 15-1 in the regular season. The postseason story between two of the NFL's old By Zach Berman STAFF WRITER Jason Peters started all 16 games for the Eagles at left tackle in 2016 and earned his ninth Pro Bowl selection.

He played better this season than he did last season and expressed a desire to continue playing. But Peters will turn 35 later this month and will count $11.2 million against the salary cap next season. The Eagles would save $9.2 million if they cut Peters, and they have already planned for life after Peters by giving Lane Johnson a contract extension that counts at least $10 million against the salary cap in each of the next four seasons. If Peters plays for the Eagles in 2017, the Eagles would be allocating $21.2 million of their salary-cap space on their starting offensive tackles. But after the way Peters played this season, it would be difficult to move on from him.

"We started this press conference talking about Brian Dawkins as a Hall of Fame finalist. I have no doubt at some point we'll be saying the same thing about Jason Peters," Eagles executive Howie Rose-man said Wednesday. "He has really ingrained himself as a leader of this football team. Anyone who watched us play saw the impact he has on the game. We certainly want to have him back." Peters has done too much for the Eagles for Roseman to say otherwise, but Roseman didn't specify at what price they want Peters next season.

That will be one of the key questions this offseason. The Eagles are going to need to find a way to open cap space. Other players would seem to be in more danger of being cut or forced to accept less money Ryan Mathews and Connor Barwin, for example. But anytime a 35-year-old tackle counts $11.2 million against the cap, there will be questions. There's also the question of what Peters wants to do.

His career already puts him in discussion for the Hall of Fame. But Peters has not won a playoff game, and that remains a motivating factor. "At the end of the day, quarterback Carson Wentz has a lot of upside, and I'd definitely come back to try to protect his blind side," Peters said. "I really want a ring. I'd be sad to play all these years and not even be close." E3 zbermanphillynews.com (ffiZBerm www.philly.comeaglesblog parted during the Kelly era.

When those guys were drafted by the Eagles, however, Tom Heckert was the general manager and Andy Reid had final say on personnel. Owner Jeffrey Lu-rie is on record as saying that Roseman did not start having final say until 2012, when the Eagles took Cox in the first round. That was a terrific pick, even if he is actually 26 and not 25, as Roseman stated. Regardless, he is the defensive foundation of the team and Roseman proudly admits that he has hitched his wagon to Wentz on the offensive side. Those are his guys and they are a good place to start.

But the Eagles are thin in a lot of other places and Roseman is as much to blame for that as his old nemesis Kelly. Only Roseman has a say in the Eagles' future now and, at best, that's an uncomfortable situation. E3 bbrookoverphillynews.com brookob Field. Unlike the Ravens, their division rival, Pittsburgh has never beaten Brady in New England (0-4). For the Dolphins, if Jay Ajayi can run wild again, Miami has a chance.

In one-score games, the Dolphins have won eight straight. After a 1-4 stumble under first-year coach Adam Gase, the Dolphins won nine of 10 before losing their finale to New England. Oakland at Houston Despite losing J.J. Watt, the Texans allowed the fewest yards in the NFL. Houston's success was Fair Park in Milwaukee in 1939, City Stadium in 1961, which was renamed Lambeau Field in 1965.

Coughlin got New York back to the playoffs in 2005 and '06 and won a championship in '07, winning the conference title in what was the coldest game in Giants' history. Center Shaun O'Hara said it was so cold that it felt like he had broken every one of his fingers and was going to lose a couple of them. "I had never in a football game before ever questioned would we survive," O'Hara said. "The survival aspect definitely became a part of it. There are games where you are tired and games where you are sore and you wonder, 'Am I going to cramp Never before had I felt I would be OK are Flyers Hall of Famer Eric Lindros, Flyers de-fenseman Shayne Gostis-behere, Villanova men's basketball coach Jay Wright and his NCAA championship team, the 76ers' powerhouse 1966-67 team, and St.

Joseph's coach Phil Martel-li. Bill Barber, a Hall of Famer left winger with the Flyers, will sign auto right to an extent. Free-agent addition Brandon Brooks, despite the acute anxiety that forced him to miss a couple of games, was an upgrade at right guard and rookies Hal-apoulivaati Vaitai and Isaac Seumalo showed promise when thrust into starting roles. Still, the Eagles ranked 18th in yards per rushing attempt at 4.1 and Wentz was hit 98 times, tied for ninth in the NFL. Jason Peters, as good as he was in 2016 when he wasn't leaving the line of scrimmage too early, will be 35 next season.

Lane Johnson, meanwhile, is one PED suspension away from the end of his career. It is the foundation, however, that Roseman is most excited about. "When we look at our team going forward, we've got a 24-year-old quarterback and we've got a 25-year-old highest-paid player," Roseman said, referring to Cox. "We have weekend's AFC games: Miami at Pittsburgh Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown have never been on the field together during the playoffs like they will be this month. Throw in a healthy O-line and the likely return of tight end La-darius Green and Pittsburgh should have the AFC's most diverse and dynamic offense.

Unlike the adage that defense travels, all that offensive firepower doesn't always translate on the road. The Steelers averaged 28.25 points at home and 21.6 points away from Heinz est franchises dates to 1938, and the annals of the seven playoff games between them is rich. The playoff rivalry will resume Sunday when the Giants (11-5) and the NFC North champion Packers (10-6) will meet in a wildcard game at Lambeau. The Packers have a 4-3 edge in playoff games. The Giants won the first one and the NFL title in 1938, beating the Packers, 23-17.

The Packers would win the next four games and NFL championships in 1939, '44, '61 and '62. You know about the last two. The first five were interesting, too. Even some of the sites were not what you would expect, with games at the Polo Grounds ('38 and '44) and Yankee Stadium ('62) in New York, State son Wentz was voted the best story of the year by the PSWA. Tickets are available at or by calling 267-546-7277.

Phillies announcers Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen are the winners of the Bill Campbell Award, given for broadcasting excellence. Among the honorees BOB BROOKOVER back Anthony Brown. None of this is to say that Wentz was a bad selection. He had a solid rookie season with an obvious lack of weapons and handled the heat of his position and his new city with remarkable aplomb. You can argue that he would have been just as good or better than Prescott if he had stood behind center in Dallas.

You just cannot argue that he had a better season than Prescott. It was suggested in this space before last year's draft that the Eagles should have sought their franchise quarterback in a later round and worked on strengthening other positions of need like corner-back, wide receiver, and the offensive line. I still think it would have been the better way to go. Roseman contended that the offensive line was the other place besides quarterback in which the Eagles are in better shape now than a year ago and he is Inquirer's McLane wins the Stan Hochman Award BY THE INQUIRER STAFF The Inquirer's Jeff McLane is the winner of the second annual Stan Hochman Award, which will be presented at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association's 113th annual dinner Feb. 3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill.

McLane is a veteran Eagles reporter. His Sept. 7 piece on quarterback Car BY if they called the game off, this is so unbearable." Zenner best white guy? Zach Zenner brushed off comments made by Seattle's Michael Bennett, who said the Detroit Lion was the best white running back in the NFL, insisting he wasn't bothered by the eyebrow-raising comments. "Everyone's entitled to their opinion," Zenner said. "It sounded like he said some pretty nice stuff, so I'm appreciative of that." A lot of people are saying nice stuff about Zenner these days, keeping his race out of the conversation.

The undrafted, second-year pro from South Dakota State is the Lions' No. 1 running back entering their NFC wild-card game Saturday night at Seattle. graphs for free after the event. Hochman, known for his distinctive writing style and his incomparable interview ability, was an award-winning columnist for the Daily News for 55 years before his death in 2015. The Inquirer's Mike Siel-ski was the winner of the inaugural Hochman Award last year.

got to make sure we surround that talent with people who can be here and build with them." Roseman did manage to get in his obligatory dig at former head coach Chip Kelly, who is definitely deserving of ridicule. Only a rudimentary knowledge of the Eagles is required to know they have a desperate need for playmakers at wide receiver and running back. "It seems like a long time ago we were leading the National Football League in 20-plus plays and I don't have a DeLorean time machine to go back in time and get some of those guys back," Roseman said. The Eagles last led the league in big plays runs of 10-plus yards and receptions of 25-plus yards in 2013. They also led the league in that department in 2010 and 2011.

Those were the days when they had LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin, all of whom de Roseman's record does not inspire confidence ROSEMAN from Cl they will finally be able to follow the instructions of their fight song again. "Being able to move up from 13 to two and get Carson Wentz was something we were really excited about," Roseman said. "We understood with the amount of resources we put into that trade that it was going to be hard to do a lot else. But we also felt there was value in free agency and the draft at the O-line position." Imagine how excited the Dallas Cowboys must have been, then, to be able to wait until the fourth round and the 135th overall pick to draft Dak Prescott, who is 23 years old and clearly coming off a better season than Wentz. That, of course, is after they selected superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott two picks behind Wentz.

The Cowboys also acquired rookie starters in the third and sixth rounds in defensive tackle Maliek Collins and corner- Favorite Pts. OU Underdog SATURDAY HOUSTON 3V2 36V2 Oakland SEATTLE 8 43 Detroit SUNDAY PITTSBURGH 10 4512 Miami GREEN BAY 412 4412 NY Giants Home team in capitals..