Divisional round picks
Last week: 0-4
Season record: 156-104-1
First of all, wow. Last week was a bloodbath for my picks, and I'm annoyed and embarrassed. But what I am not is disappointed in the games. That was maybe the most entertaining round of wild card games I can ever remember. Every game was a nail biter and there were some just crazy plays and moments and swings in momentum. Let's hope the divisional round, i.e. the best NFL weekend of the year, lives up to last week's excitement.
Here we go.....
Minnesota at San Francisco--So the Vikings eliminated the favored Saints IN the Superdome. It was the second time in three years that the Saints got knocked out by Minnesota on the last play of a game. And it was the third straight gut-wrenching loss and season ender for the Saints, who still are smarting from that blown PI call in the NFC title game last year that sent the Rams to the Super Bowl. But now the Vikings have to continue their road swing and face a defense that might be better than their own, and their D has to stop Jimmy G and that prolific run game of the 49ers. I think the Vikings can win but I don't think they will this time. Niners 23, Vikings 20
Tennessee at Baltimore--I would say there is no way the Titans can beat the 1-seed in Baltimore, but I mean, they just slayed the Foxboro dragon and gifted us with a Pats-free rest of the postseason. I think the one glaring difference between New England and Baltimore is one guy--Lamar Jackson. Sure, Mike Vrabel has this upstart and very talented Titans team believing. Derrick Henry is a machine and Ryan Tannehill is a good game manager a la Alex Smith. But can they stop #8? I don't think they can and that will be the difference. Ravens 27, Titans 17
Houston at Kansas City--First the Dolphins beat the Patriots in Week 17 and I'm not sure I've ever seen Andy Reid so happy. Patrick Mahomes is probably still not 100% recovered from his knee injury so the 2 week rest was probably welcome. And now this Texans' team that shockingly came from 16 points down late in the game to eliminate Buffalo has a much tougher opponent that now sees a legit potential path to February football. This one is the easiest one to pick of the four. Chiefs 34, Texans 17
Seattle at Green Bay--It's a good thing this game is not on Saturday. I live a couple hours south of Green Bay and we are expecting a pretty big snow storm, 6-10 inches and I have to believe they will have that same system. But Sunday it's expected to be sunny and cold. Regardless, the Packers are facing a team that is on a roll and very dangerous as a 5-seed, with another MVP candidate and one-time Super Bowl champ Russell Wilson coming to town in a part of the country that still loves him. However, the climb from facing Josh McCown one week to Aaron Rodgers the next is a steep one, so this game will come down to the wire, possibly overtime. Seahawks 27, Packers 24
Season record: 156-104-1
First of all, wow. Last week was a bloodbath for my picks, and I'm annoyed and embarrassed. But what I am not is disappointed in the games. That was maybe the most entertaining round of wild card games I can ever remember. Every game was a nail biter and there were some just crazy plays and moments and swings in momentum. Let's hope the divisional round, i.e. the best NFL weekend of the year, lives up to last week's excitement.
Here we go.....
Minnesota at San Francisco--So the Vikings eliminated the favored Saints IN the Superdome. It was the second time in three years that the Saints got knocked out by Minnesota on the last play of a game. And it was the third straight gut-wrenching loss and season ender for the Saints, who still are smarting from that blown PI call in the NFC title game last year that sent the Rams to the Super Bowl. But now the Vikings have to continue their road swing and face a defense that might be better than their own, and their D has to stop Jimmy G and that prolific run game of the 49ers. I think the Vikings can win but I don't think they will this time. Niners 23, Vikings 20
Tennessee at Baltimore--I would say there is no way the Titans can beat the 1-seed in Baltimore, but I mean, they just slayed the Foxboro dragon and gifted us with a Pats-free rest of the postseason. I think the one glaring difference between New England and Baltimore is one guy--Lamar Jackson. Sure, Mike Vrabel has this upstart and very talented Titans team believing. Derrick Henry is a machine and Ryan Tannehill is a good game manager a la Alex Smith. But can they stop #8? I don't think they can and that will be the difference. Ravens 27, Titans 17
Houston at Kansas City--First the Dolphins beat the Patriots in Week 17 and I'm not sure I've ever seen Andy Reid so happy. Patrick Mahomes is probably still not 100% recovered from his knee injury so the 2 week rest was probably welcome. And now this Texans' team that shockingly came from 16 points down late in the game to eliminate Buffalo has a much tougher opponent that now sees a legit potential path to February football. This one is the easiest one to pick of the four. Chiefs 34, Texans 17
Seattle at Green Bay--It's a good thing this game is not on Saturday. I live a couple hours south of Green Bay and we are expecting a pretty big snow storm, 6-10 inches and I have to believe they will have that same system. But Sunday it's expected to be sunny and cold. Regardless, the Packers are facing a team that is on a roll and very dangerous as a 5-seed, with another MVP candidate and one-time Super Bowl champ Russell Wilson coming to town in a part of the country that still loves him. However, the climb from facing Josh McCown one week to Aaron Rodgers the next is a steep one, so this game will come down to the wire, possibly overtime. Seahawks 27, Packers 24
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