SATURDAY 4:30PM
Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5) @ Houston Texans
A tradition unlike any other. The Texans have played their last 7 playoff games on Wild Card Weekend in the Saturday 4:30PM slot. A familiar, tasty albeit mild, treat to kick start the weekend ahead. Truth be told, the Texans are skidding into the playoffs in a most unimpressive fashion. Injuries abound and CJ Stroud has taken a significant step back. The defense is still humming, though, and should keep them in darn near any game. They’ll face Justin Herbert and his band of no-name receivers (save for rookie stud Ladd McConkey; but still, when a rook is your most notable playmaker you’ve got a problem). I have a never-ending faith in Herbo as a player and believe he is destined to do great things. I see him gutting the Bolts to a victory here in a squeaker. Beyond the Herbo factor, I’ll take Jim Harbaugh in a coaching matchup against DeMeco Ryans any day. And the Texans offensive coordinator is fully stuck in mud. Brace yourself for first down runs up the middle for 1 yard over and over and over again. Riveting stuff.
Who scores? Nico Collins. Dude is a stud and last man standing in the infirmary the Texans call a wide receiver room.
SATURDAY 8:00PM
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens (-8.5)
Always fun when a bitter division rivalry gets a showcase in the playoffs. The Ravens are clearly the better team, but this is one of those rivalries that always seems to play out close regardless. Zay Flowers will miss this game, while George Pickens is good to go for Pittsburgh. George will have to keep his head on straight and pop a few highlight plays for the Steelers to steal this one. There was a clip going around this week from the Ravens’ locker room in which you can hear a Ravens player joke that George Pickens is soft. That could either catapult him into hyperdrive and he could go off… or he could totally melt down and wind up ejected. Either way I can’t wait to watch. On the Ravens side of things, Lamar needs a win here BADLY to shed the label of a regular season merchant and playoff choker. There’s a good chance he just wrapped up a third MVP season and seems to be on a collision course with Josh Allen next weekend. LFG.
Who scores? Mark Andrews. On a full blown heater in the second half of the season and totally in sync with Lamar.
SUNDAY 1:00PM
Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills (-8.5)
I’ve done little this season to hide my love for Josh Allen and the Bills, and my disdain for Sean Payton and the Broncos. Thus it is only fitting that they found each other in the playoffs. And truthfully, what Denver has done this season is impressive. Namely the kid Bo Nix slotting relatively seamlessly into the league and taking his team to the playoffs. But there’s a HUGE difference between playing nice comfy regular season games at home and a cold, nasty playoff game in Buffalo with 70,000 Mafia members covered in ketchup, mustard, and buffalo sauce screaming and throwing snowballs at you. Not to mention Josh Allen and his immaculate flow. The Broncos real hope here is their defense. Patrick Surtain is one of the last true lockdown cornerbacks we have. But who’s he going to lock down? Amari Cooper? Sick, dude. Bills roll. James Cook goes nuts.
Who scores? Josh Allen. Next question.
SUNDAY 4:30PM
Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles (-5.5)
A banger to kick off Sunday between 2 legendary NFC teams. There were times throughout this season that each of these teams were seen as legit Super Bowl contenders, and other times as total losers not worth a damn. Most recently, the Eagles appear to be peaking and ready to smash their way to New Orleans and the Packers are stumbling into a potential killing floor. Jalen Hurts finally cleared the concussion protocol so he is good to go. Saquon, AJ Brown, and Devonta Smith got a nice rest last week. And the Eagles defense is operating as one of the most deadly units in the league. Meanwhile, the Packers lost Christian Watson for the year, totally decimating their deep threat potential. Tough scene for the Pack. HOWEVAH. Jordan Love is a true talent and has some of the Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, gunslinger magic in him. Don’t forget – the Packers won in Dallas last year as the #7 seed. The only #7 seed to ever win a game. If Jalen Hurts comes out rusty, shaking off those concussion cobwebs, Love could jump all over them.
Who scores? Jalen Hurts. You think they care he has a head ouchy? No, son, get your dome in that pile and get that pigskin across the goal line.
SUNDAY 8:00PM
Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
What a gravy season for the Commies. Rookie QB comes in and turns out to be a revelation – taking a truly embarrassing organization all the way back around to the playoffs. A fun story, no doubt. But look across the field and what to my wondering eyes does appear but Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and 20 other Buccaneers. On, Bucky! On, Jalen! On, Sterling and Cade! To the 30! The 20! Go all the way!
Idk… just caught a Christmas bug for a sec.
Anyway, love this game as the Sunday night cap. Neither team plays a lick of defense and both QBs have the ability to put the team on their back. Should be a fun one in the Bay.
Who scores? Baker Mayfield. Shimmy, shake, bake.
MONDAY 8:00PM
Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) @ Los Angeles Rams
The Vikings are absolutely kicking themselves for dropping that game to the Lions last week. The Lions are chilling back at home, prepping and resting for next week; while the Vikings travel to LA (actually Arizona) to play a super dangerous Rams team. I say actually Arizona because the California fires have driven the Rams out of the state and to the Cardinals’ stadium to host this game. A weird situation, and who knows what some Rams players have dealt with this week. Will it galvanize the team and drive them to bring the metaphorical fire to the field? Or cause distraction, heartache and discomfort culminating in an early playoff exit? The Vikings, meanwhile, are staring down the barrel of an utter collapse. It’s hard to imagine a team winning 14 games in the regular season and getting bounced on Wild Card weekend. Which is why it sucks so bad that Sam Darnold sucked so bad last week and cast the entire team into doubt. Not to mention the Rams’ coach, Sean McVay, is a Super Bowl winning coach and a complete football sicko. This dude had an extra week to prepare and should have an offensive game plan akin to Sun Tzu’s finest work. The Wild Card Weekend nightcap promises to be a spicy nug.
Who scores? Puka Nacua. Just watch how open Puka finds himself over and over throughout the game. It’s insane. I believe teams are still overweighting the power of Cooper Kupp and overlooking Puka. FOOLS.
Leave a Reply