32 NFL teams began the season last September. After just over four months of playing games, only 14 teams remained chasing that elusive Lombardi Trophy. Two teams that finished with the best record in the AFC and NFC have received a first-round bye and they are the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions. The Chiefs are vying to become the first team in Super Bowl history to win three straight Lombardi Trophies.
Several teams have won back-to-back titles (Dolphins, Steelers twice, 49ers, Cowboys, Broncos, & Patriots) but no team has pulled off a “three-peat.” Kansas City cruised through a 16-1 season albeit they did have some difficult games. Detroit had a few close ones but in other games, smashed their opponent. What lies ahead are some very intriguing matchups and as every playoff team knows, everything that took place in the regular season can be tossed out. It’s a new season and every team comes to the post season with a 0-0 record so to speak. How many games a team won before the playoffs matters no more. This is one-and-done territory.
Six games take place between Saturday and Monday night all deemed “wild card” playoff games. It begins late Saturday afternoon when the Los Angeles Chargers and first year head coach Jim Harbaugh head to Houston and that is where we begin.
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston: The Chargers are one team that was most feared in either conference. With a defense that has yielded the fewest points in the league and a dangerous offense, Los Angeles strolls into Houston riding a three-game winning streak. Houston lost two of their final three games to finish 10-7 while the Chargers posted a record of 11-6. The Texans have not been playing their best football in the latter part of the season and the explosive offense of the Chargers will be too much for them to handle. Chargers 34 / Texans 17
Pittsburgh at Baltimore: No one but no one is giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a shot in this matchup. That is most likely because they are on a four-game losing skid and in three of their final four games were blown out. Their once turnover happy defense has been nothing of the short in this slump the team is experiencing. However, the pressure is heavily on the shoulders of the Ravens. They are expected to defeat the Steelers, they have been talking “Super Bowl or bust,” and with Lamar Jackson having a M.V.P. type season, he has a reputation of being a failure in the postseason. Jackson has been to the playoffs four times and to the second round twice, only to still be waiting on a Super Bowl appearance. But based on Pittsburgh’s last four games, unless they bring their “A” game, they won’t win. Ravens 27 / Steelers 17
Denver at Buffalo: This looks like the year the Bills get to the big dance again and after four previous failures all in succession, the Jim Kelly led Bills could not bring home a Lombardi. Can Josh Allen do what Kelly’s Bills could not? Buffalo gets an easy start on that path as Denver is simply outmatched. The Bills have already defeated the defending champion Chiefs in the regular season so if it boils down to those two again, it will be a very intriguing championship game. All Buffalo in this one. Bills 41 / Broncos 20
Green Bay at Philadelphia: Green Bay is banged up and Jordan Love has a hand injury and is currently listed as questionable. The Pack has already lost wide receiver Christian Watson for the season with a torn ACL. Since January 3, MarShawn Lloyd and Jaire Alexander have both been put on IR. The list of questionables is long with Zayne Anderson, Brenton Cox Jr., Romeo Doubs, Andre Dillard, Quay Walker, and Evan Williams all on that list. On the flip side, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts is questionable with a concussion which would mean a dose of Kenny Pickett if he can’t go. Philly has injuries as well with C.J. Uzomah placed on injured reserve and A.J. Brown, Nakobe Dean, and DeVonta Smith all questionable. Given all that, I see the Eagles getting it done here but by a close margin. Eagles 27 / Packers 24
Washington at Tampa Bay: This will be Baker Mayfield’s third trip to the postseason, one with Cleveland where he won one game and last season with Tampa where he again won one game. Now, he’s playing the best football of his career with perhaps his most talented team around him for his entire career. Jayden Daniels has had a special rookie campaign, but the Bucs are more talented in my opinion and that will carry the day. Bucs 35 / Commanders 23
Minnesota at Los Angeles Rams: The day everyone was waiting for with Sam Darnold happened in the final week of the season. As he led the offense all season due to an injury to rookie J.J. McCarthy, Darnold and the Vikings built a 14-2 record only to lose in a big way to the Detroit Lions on the season’s final day, which gave the Lions the #1 seed and the division title. For Darnold, he finally fell down with an 18 of 41 day and just 166 yards passing while having a poor quarterback rating of 55.5. Now the Vikes march into Los Angeles and like the Buffalo Bills will try to reach the Super Bowl again where Minnesota has lost four times. The Vikings problem is facing Matthew Stafford. The former Detroit quarterback has won the Super Bowl with the Rams, and when on, he is an outstanding passing quarterback. There have been plenty of naysayers regarding the talent of the Vikings, so they have something to prove. This should be a very tight game. Rams 20 / Vikings 17
For the record, my final regular season record for picking the winners was 171-99 for a success rate of 63%. Not too shabby. Now the most important games of the season are on the docket.
Regular Season Picks
Week 1: 12/15
Week 2: 8/16
Week 3: 8/16
Week 4: 11/16
Week 5: 7/14
Week 6: 9/14
Week 7: 9/15
Week 8: 11/16
Week 9: 10/15
Week 10: 5/14
Week 11: 11/14
Week 12: 7/13
Week 13: 13/16
Week 14: 8/12
Week 15: 8/16
Week 16: 12/16
Week 17: 12/16
Week 18: 10/16
Postseason Picks
Wild Card Round: TBD
