Anyone else notice that all four home teams have matching 13-3 records?
That's a first, I think. But these teams will obviously not all have the same fate from here on out.
The Eagles are not at full strength, and that might prove fatal this weekend, when they host the Falcons. The Steelers are also not necessarily at full strength this weekend, but they still should have enough to get past the Jaguars. New England is almost an institution for divisional round home games at this point, and it is hard to see how the Titans can match up with them, while Minnesota will be an extremely tough place for road teams to play.
There should be some good games this weekend, as the season keeps whittling down. There are only seven meaningful games left (not counting the Pro Bowl, which feels a lot less exciting).
Let's take a look at the upcoming games:
Saturday Games
Atlanta Falcons
vs.
Philadelphia Eagles
Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) - The Eagles enjoyed the most successful season of almost anyone this season. They got off to a hot start and enjoyed the best record alone in the NFC, before losing one game. Even with that loss, they still managed to lock up the top seed in the NFC before resting their starters in the regular season finale. So, how amazing is it that the Eagles become the first number one seed to be the underdogs in the upcoming divisional playoff game? But that is for good reason. After all, the most important factor in the Eagles enjoying such success this season was quarterback Carson Wentz, and he got injured and will not be in the lineup. Also, the Falcons are peeking at exactly the right time. They had a rocky regular season, but basically played almost exclusively elimination games for the last month, as they were teetering on the edge of elimination from playoff contention. But they stayed alive, and they thrived. They got better and better, until they became very dangerous. They embarrassed the Panthers in the regular season finale, and Carolina was trying to win the division! Then, Atlanta was all over the Rams last weekend, showing some of what got them to the Super Bowl last season. With that in mind, then you can see why the Falcons are favored. And frankly, I personally do not see any reason why the Falcons will not win this one. The Eagles, as hot as they might have been, struggled down the line, and looked relatively flat at the end of the season. They are not at full strength, and the Falcons will not be intimidated by playing on the road. It just feels like the Falcons are enjoying their time, and Philly will be one of their victims. My pick: Atlanta
Tennessee Titans
vs.
New England Patriots
Tennessee Titans (9-7) at New England Patriots (13-3) - I know that there are a hell of a lot of people out there who really want to see the Pats lose this game. But New England enters this game as heavy favorites, and with good reason. Yet, the Titans beat the Jaguars in the regular season finale to clinch a playoff berth, and they then stunned the Chiefs in the second half last weekend, overcoming a 21-3 deficit to pull off an amazing win. Playing the Patriots up in Foxboro is a different ball of wax, however. The Patriots had the top-rated offense in the league, putting up well over 6,000 yards, and scoring the second most points of any team (behind the Rams). Their defense usually holds up when it needs to, certainly enough to allow the points that the offense scores to usually hold up. The Titans finally showed that they are a team on the rise, and should be in the playoffs, gaining valuable playoff experience last weekend. But New England is loaded with talent and experience. They know these kinds of situations. They have a coach/quarterback combination that has won five championships, and you know that they will have a solid plan to approach the Titans, who might feel overwhelmed. Plus, the Pats have home field advantage, and are well-rested. It is hard to see any advantages that the Titans have, or that the Pats do not have. So, my pick in this one is easy. Probably, Patriots Haters are not going to be happy after this weekend, but it hardly seems realistic to think that Tennessee will find a way. The Pats all the way in this one. My pick: New England
Sunday Games
Jacksonville Jaguars
vs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3) - The Steelers are favored by roughly a touchdown. They have a ton of playoff experience, have a potent offense, and a tough defense. They have home field advantage, and should be well-rested. In other words, there is good reason why they are solid favorites against the Jags. Yes, Jax had a successful season, and won their division. And yes, the Jaguars held off the Bills last weekend. But that stopped the bleeding of a bad finish to a promising season. The truth is that the Steelers are not the Bills, and Pittsburgh is a tough place to play. The Steelers are solid on both offense and defense, and they will obviously be fired up. There may be some questions, but really, most of the questions are about whether or not they will have Antonio Brown back in the lineup. Truth be told, whether he will be or not, the Steelers should be able to get past Jax, one way or the other. It would be a major upset if they did not, and I would not put money on it. My pick: Pittsburgh
New Orleans Saints
vs.
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints (11-5) at Minnesota Vikings (13-3) - The Vikings are favored in this one, and you can understand why. After all, they closed out the season as one of the hottest teams in the league, and probably the hottest team in the NFC. They had two weeks to rest, and have one of the toughest defenses in the league. These two teams met in the regular season opener, with the Vikings getting past the Saints, 29-19. This will obviously be a different game, different circumstances. Yet, I see more or less the same results. Yes, the Saints are a dangerous team, especially with their running game. But the Vikings also have a solid offense, with a tough running game, and a decent passing game as well. That, coupled with one of the best defenses in the league, give them the favorite status. Plus, Minnesota is a very tough place to play, and the Vikings are well-rested. They have a lot going for them, and want to be the first team in league history to play in the Super Bowl on their own home field. They should prove to be a bit too much for the Saints this weekend. Have to go with the home team ni this one. My pick: Minnesota
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