BOSTON (WEEI.com) -- The playoffs are here, but the New England Patriots do not yet know their opponent. Because they are the No. 2 seed in the AFC and have earned a first-round bye, they will not know whom they will play until after the games on wild card weekend. The Patriots will host the highest seed to come out of the weekend.
If the Houston Texans (No. 3 seed) beat the Indianapolis Colts (No. 6 seed), the Texans would travel to Gillette Stadium, but if the Colts win, then the winner of the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5 seed)-Baltimore Ravens (No. 4 seed) game would travel to New England for the 1:05 p.m. game on Jan. 13.
The coaching staff and players will all say it doesn’t matter whom they play. But it actually does matter: Some potential opponents are matchup nightmares.
Here’s a breakdown of the three potential opponents and whom the Patriots want to see most.
Houston Texans
The Texans won the AFC South with an identical record as the Patriots at 11-5, but the Patriots held the tiebreaker to get the bye because of a win at Gillette Stadium in Week 1. The Texans started the season 0-3 then won nine straight games to get to where they are now.
Deshaun Watson had a solid season with 26 passing touchdowns to nine interceptions, and his play was a main reason for the nine-game win streak. Running backs Lamar Miller (973 yards) and Alfred Blue (499 yards), as well as Watson (551 yards), gave the offense one of the better rushing attacks in the league. In the passing game, DeAndre Hopkins (1,572 yards) is one of the best receivers in the NFL. But Demaryius Thomas, acquired at the trade deadline, was lost for the year to an injury last week.
Defensively, Houston was ranked fourth in points allowed, but 12th overall. The Texans were better against the run -- the third-best rushing defense and 28th against the pass. The unit has the same playmakers as always: J.J. Watt (16 sacks), Jadeveon Clowney (nine sacks), and Whitney Mercilus (four sacks). Also, linebacker Zach Cunningham was very good this season, leading the team with 107 tackles. Before Week 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when it allowed just three points, the unit had allowed at least 22 points in three straight games.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens finished the year by winning six of seven games to win the AFC North. A quarterback change sparked the late-season run with rookie Lamar Jackson taking over for Joe Flacco. The offense is now much more run-oriented and has given opposing defenses fits. The Ravens weren’t tested much against good teams over the course of the year, and they went 1-2 against playoff teams.
For the year (seven starts), Jackson had a 58.2 completion percentage for 1,201 yards, six touchdown and three interceptions, and he ran for 695 yards and five touchdowns. Gus Edwards has also been impressive in the running game, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Baltimore's passing game is balanced with wide receivers John Brown, Willie Snead, and Michael Crabree each having between 607 and 715 yards receiving. Overall, the offense was the ninth-best in the league and 13th in points scored.
Defensively, the unit is back to what it was a few years ago. The Ravens ranked No. 1 overall and No. 2 in points allowed -- and ranked in the top five in stopping both the run and the pass. It is worth noting the defense doesn’t really force turnovers (17 forced, 22nd in league), it’s just a physical defense that forces a lot of punts. Players to keep an eye on are linebacker C.J. Mosley (105 tackles), linebacker Za’Darius Smith (8.5 sacks), linebacker Matt Judon (seven sacks) and of course veteran outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (seven sacks).
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles finished 12-4, but because they did not win the AFC West, they are the No. 5 seed. Not only do they have to play on wild card weekend, they have to travel. That likely won’t bother them: They are 7-1 on the road. The Chargers are 2-3 against playoff teams, and enter the playoffs as winners of five of their last six games.
On offense, they are led by Philip Rivers once again. The veteran quarterback had another good year, passing for more than 4,300 yards with 32 touchdown and 12 interceptions. Keenan Allen is their best receiver (1,196 yards), and Mike Williams (664 yards) and Tyrell Williams (653 yards) are solid No. 2 and 3 options. Antonio Gates is still a threat at any time. Also, tight end Hunter Henry is expected to return for the playoffs after tearing his ACL. Don’t sleep on the run game, either. In 12 games, Melvin Gordon ran for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards a carry. The offense ranks sixth in points scored and 11th overall.
Unlike in years past, the Chargers defense is very, very good, ranking ninth overall and eighth in points allowed. The defense fares well against both the run and pass, entering the playoffs ranked ninth against both. This will be Joey Bosa’s first postseason. He’s tallied 5.5 sacks in seven games. The unit's best player may be defensive end Melvin Ingram, who leads the team with seven sacks and also has 43 tackles, including eight for losses. Like the Ravens, they don’t force many turnovers (20, 16th in league), but they make you earn everything.
Verdict: Texans
The Patriots should be rooting for another divisional round meeting with the Texans (the two teams met two years ago in New England, a 34-10 win by the Patriots). The Ravens and Chargers aren’t good matchups, and the Patriots have won eight straight games against the Texans.
Baltimore’s offense would be tough for the Patriots to stop because they struggle with speed and mobile quarterbacks. Defensively, the Ravens have always been able to give the Patriots fits, especially with their physicality. The Chargers may be less of a matchup problem, but their 8-1 record on the road (should they beat Baltimore) would be scary.
It seems the Patriots just know how to beat the Texans. They have consistently kept Hopkins and Watt in check, so the question would be containing Watson, who is a much different player now than he was in Week 1 coming back from an ACL injury. Another factor is Bill O’Brien, who has seemed to make a few mistakes each time he takes on his former team.
By Ryan Hannable