How in the world did we get this far?

[Mr. Scot]

We were 3-8-1 just six weeks ago, and we wound up making it to the divisional round of the playoffs, even winning a playoff game, no less.

The places where we were six weeks ago and where we are now are worlds apart. I am absolutely astonished that we made the journey.

And despite the fact that I watched every single second of that journey, I still find myself asking "how the heck did we go from there to here?

I know the practical answers (down division, schedule, etc) but I'm thinking of the bigger picture.

What's your take? How did this happen?

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

gettleman and cam suck that's how

[magnus]

Just fight.  They kept going, made an opportunity, and then earned it.   Simple as that.  

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

seriously though it was bold personnel decisions and the fact that this team and coaching staff never quit

 

and admittedly running up against an easier portion of the schedule and being in a terrible division

[Plewis]

Character guys like 88, 58 and 59.

[Jackofalltrades]

Character, leadership in the locker room and clearly from Rivera.

Talent upgrades helped too, Bene, Norman, Jones, Remmers, Stewart - Cam healthy.

[LinvilleGorge]

We were helped out by playing in a terrible division.  We definitely improved throughout the course of the season, but without playing in a very weak division, we're not in the playoffs.

[LinvilleGorge]

The other big piece is the coaching staff finally putting the best players on the field.  It's frustrating to me that some of our key players down the stretch spent most of the season riding the pine behind guys who were playing like poo.  Rivera has to get quicker on the trigger with identifying his best players and getting them on the field.

[chknwing]

[Judo Thoreau]

The OLine and DLine playing well at the same times. Improved secondary play. More effective play calling (credit to Cam's audibling).

[Woodie]

The other big piece is the coaching staff finally putting the best players on the field.  It's frustrating to me that some of our key players down the stretch spent most of the season riding the pine behind guys who were playing like poo.  Rivera has to get quicker on the trigger with identifying his best players and getting them on the field.

 

Who?

 

Benwikere was already the nickel but got hurt.  So essentially, he was a starter until his injury, and stepped right back into a starter role once he was healthy again.

 

Boston missed most of camp and early season with a groin injury, so needed to catch up and learn the defense before he was ready to play.

 

Up till this year, Norman has been good in preseason and practice...it was live games where he struggled.  So he had to show he could be trusted before getting quality time.  

 

Philly was given a chance to get on the field as a punt returner, but was not good or reliable.  And he needed to develop as a receiver before being ready to push one of the vets out.

 

Norwell was an undrafted rookie who had the toughness and skillset to develop into a solid Guard, but had gaps in his game and didn't have the technique.  So he needed to develop before getting on the field, and the idea of starting two rookies at OG to begin the year would have been scary...especially with one of them being an UDFA.

 

Turner was a starter until he got hurt.  His biggest issue was his stamina, so we had to rotate him until he was ready to play the entire game without fading late.

 

So, while many want to crucify Rivera for not getting these guys on the field sooner, he really deserves praise for having the balls to drop some vets in order to get the young guys on the field.  Despite what some think, it's the fact he actually recognized their talent that helped turn this team around.  Some, like Norwell, needed a chance to show they had progressed enough to get on the field, but that is very hard to do in-season because practices focus on preparation for the next game and installation of the game plan...and players don't go 100% in practice.  Another point people need to understand is that while some of these guys have stepped up and were ready when they did get their chance, if they had been put out there before they were ready, it could have destroyed their confidence and not allowed them to eventually show their best.

[LinvilleGorge]

Does it really take balls to drop some vets when those vets are playing horrifically?  Maybe the timing was perfect.  Impossible to know without being at practice and in the meetings, but the young guys were definitely ready to go when they were inserted into the lineup.

[EMSMedic79]

 

 

[PanthersClinic]

A lot of Luck was involved. The Browns were a better team with Brian Hoyer. They decided they needed a miracle and started Manziel and it ruined their football team - I don't think they won a game after that personnel decision.

 

Then Ryan Lindley was horrendous in the playoffs - yes, we had a lot to do with that, but he held up his end of the bargain.

 

The defense was impressive vs Ryan and Brees though. That was the peak and that's why we got to the playoffs. They earned it in those division away games late in the year. I remember TD shutting down that creepy looking TE on the Saints.