NFL Playoffs 2021: Who to Root For

 Here's how the teams rosters were filled with Iowa Connections this season:

Coaches in italics

C.J. Beathard

7 - Jacksonville : C.J. Beathard / Mekhi Sargent / Coy Cronk (Iowa), Darrell Bevell, Brian Schneider (ISU), Chris Ash (Drake), Anthony Schlegel (Cedar Rapids)

7 - Denver : Noah Fant / Josey Jewell / Michael Ojemudia / Shaun Beyer / Barrington Wade (Iowa), Eric Saubert (Drake), Rico Gafford (Iowa Western)

6 - Buffalo : Ike Boettger / AJ Epenesa / Micah Hyde (Iowa), AJ Klein (ISU), Spencer Brown (UNI), Matt Haack (W. Des Moines)

6 - Green Bay : Jerry Montgomery, Jack Heflin (Iowa), Allen Lazard / Steven Wirtel (ISU), Ryan Mahaffey (UNI), Dominique Dafney (W. Des Moines)

6 - Kansas City : Austin Blythe / Ben Niemann / Anthony Hitchens/Josh Jackson (Iowa), Brendan Daly (Drake), Daurice Fountain (UNI)

5 - Detroit :     T.J. Hockenson / Matt Nelson / Mark DeLeone (Iowa), Geronimo Allison (Iowa Western), Tyron McKenzie (ISU)

4 - Baltimore : LJ Fort (UNI), Geno Stone / Kristian Welch (Iowa), John Harbaugh (Iowa City)

4 - Chicago : David Montgomery, Tom Herman (ISU), James Daniels (Iowa), Mike Furrey (UNI)

4 - Minnesota : Ihmir Smith-Marsette / Nate Stanley / Cole Banwart (Iowa), Kene Nwangwu (ISU)

4 - Houston :    David Johnson (UNI), Jaleel Johnson / Christian Kirksey / Desmond King (Iowa)

3 - New York Giants : Casey Kreiter / Pat Flaherty (Iowa), Elerson Smith (UNI)

3 - Tennessee : Greg Mabin / Amani Hooker (Iowa), Teair Tart (Ellsworth)

3 - Tampa Bay :     Tristan Wirfs, Anthony Nelson, Tom Moore (Iowa)

3 - Los Angeles Chargers :    Bryan Bulaga, Nick Niemann (Iowa), Jay Rodgers (ISU)

3 - New England :  James Ferentz / Carl Davis (Iowa), Nick Caley (ISU)

3 - Dallas : Brandon Smith / Chauncey Golston (Iowa), Aden Durde (NIACC)

3 - Cincinnati :    Joe Burrow (Ames), Riley Reiff / Mike Daniels (Iowa)

3 - Los Angeles Rams :     Alaric Jackson / Jake Gervase  (Iowa), Landon Akers (ISU)

2 - San Francisco :    George Kittle (Iowa), Daniel Bullocks (UNI)

2 - Miami :     Jamal Perry (ISU), Elijah Campbell (UNI)

2 - Washington :     Brandon Scherff (Iowa), Pete Hoener (ISU)

2 - Arizona :    Marcus Robertson (ISU), Don Shumpert (Iowa)

2 - Philadelphia : Reid Sinnett (Johnston), Matt Leo (ISU)

1 - Seattle :    Pete Carroll (ISU) 

1 - Atlanta : Parker Hesse (Iowa)

1 - Carolina : Daviyon Nixon (Iowa)

1 - Indianapolis : Michael Jacobson (ISU)  

1 - New York Jets :    Ross Pierschbacher (Cedar Falls)

0 - Las Vegas:    

0 - Cleveland :

0 - Pittsburgh:       

0 - New Orleans : 

2 of the 4 Iowa-less teams this year made the playoffs (Pittsburgh and Las Vegas), and I have high doubts they will win it all.  So this year's champ will probably have an Iowa Connection.  So, who are we rooting for?  Currently, we are rooting for a Green Bay vs. either Kansas City or Buffalo, but since Kansas City won a couple of years ago, we'll simply go with GB vs. Buff.  

The Wild Card round features 6 different matchups, and here is your rooting guide for each game. For ease, all the home teams have more Iowa Connections.  (Hmm, that's interesting!)

(0) Las Vegas at (3) Cincinnati : Root for Ames' Joe Burrow and the Bengals

(3) New England at (6) Buffalo : UNI's Spencer Brown hopes to protect a Bills victory

(0) Pittsburgh at (6) Kansas City : 4 Hawkeyes hope to lead the Chiefs to victory

(2) Philadelphia at (3) Tampa Bay : Iowa's Wirfs wants a repeat title with the Bucs

(2) San Francisco at (3) Dallas : Rookie Hawkeyes Smith and Golston helping the Cowboys win

(2) Arizona at (3) Los Angeles Rams : CFL top draft pick Aleric Jackson hopes to add a Rams win