It's that time again.
Time for NFL playoff football. Most teams have already been eliminated, as the regular season ended last weekend. But now, we reach the elimination rounds of the "second season."
There will be six games played this weekend and, once it's all said and done, there will be six fewer teams left by Tuesday morning.
Let's take a look at the Wildcard weekend to come:
Saturday Games:
LA Chargers at Houston Texans - Admittedly, I was never much of a believer in the Houston Texans this season. Yes, they won the AFC South, but it felt almost like it was a default kind of division title. That was likely the weakest division in the entire league, and the Texans likely would not have fared as well if they were in another division. But they won the division title, giving them homefield advantage in this game. That might help. However, I feel that the Chargers are the better overall team. Coach Harbaugh has brought that trademark discipline, and the team has some real talent. Plus, they had playoff experience just a few seasons back. They also looked like the better team, and ended on a high note, appearing far more impressive than the Texans, who lost most of their important games (and some in lopsided fashion), while ending last week with a lackluster win over the Titans, who "earned" the first overall pick in the draft. The Chargers should be able to take this one.
My pick: LA Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens - These two teams ended the season going in very different directions. The Steelers seemed like they owned the AFC North just weeks ago, until their season went into a tailspin. Their offense became stagnant, and they dropped their last four games, going from a two-game lead in the division to losing the division by a two-game margin. All in the final four weekends. Meanwhile, the Ravens seemed to be experiencing a somewhat turbulent, inconsistent season, only to get red hot right at the end, when it mattered the most. They are clicking, and just look like a well-oiled machine at the moment. Plus, they just beat the Steelers handily a few weeks ago. There is nothing obvious to suggest that these two teams will suddenly reverse directions in this game, and the Ravens feel like they have every meaningful advantage heading into this showdown.
My pick: Baltimore
Sunday Games:
Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills - With everything riding on the results, the Broncos absolutely crushed it last weekend, shutting out Kansas City, 38-0. However, that was a KC team without their stars and many, if not most, of their starters. In other words, that was a Chiefs team nowhere near full strength. Still, the Broncos qualified for the postseason for the first time in nine years. The last time that they played in a postseason game was Super Bowl 50 which, incidentally, they won. However, this team is a far cry from that Super Bowl championship squad. And going to Buffalo in January, to take on the Bills, is a tall order. The Bills lost last weekend, but like with the Chiefs, they mostly rested their starters. That means that they should be well-rested, relatively healthy, and focused on the playoffs. On some level, it feels like they have been itching for these playoffs ever since that field goal sailed wide right against the Chiefs last January. They should be able to take advantage of playing at home and convincingly earn a win.
My pick: Buffalo
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles - The Packers might not have stumbled as badly as some other teams to get to these playoffs. Green Bay looked like one of the relative elites in the NFC. But towards the end of the season, they sank with costly losses as they got closer to the finish line. Admittedly, I thought that they might have one of the better records for a lower seed. Instead, they were edged out of the sixth seed and enter as the seventh, which is why they have to take on the Eagles in Philadelphia. And Philly right now look like monsters. They have a team that seems made for the postseason, with a tough running game and a dangerous, potentially explosive offense, as well as a decent defense. Some people feel that they might best the Lions in Detroit, should those two teams meet later this month. Not sure if that's true or not, but it sure feels like they have more than enough to get past the Pack this Sunday.
My pick: Philadelphia
Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - This should be a really good, tough, entertaining game. There are some games which, frankly, feel a bit like mismatches this weekend. But this particular game feels like both teams have a real shot at winning. Both teams have shown something, and each has earned some impressive wins this season, including in recent weeks. While the Bucs have home field advantage, they have hardly been dominant playing at home, sporting a 5-4 record there. Indeed, the Bucs suffered most of their losses right at home in Tampa. Washington went 5-3 on the road. Not exceptional, but pretty good, nevertheless. Both of these teams have some weaknesses, particularly on defense. Yet, both of these teams have offenses which can explode at any point. Washington has been particularly dangerous very late in games this year. So this one is a tough one to pick. Really, this game feels like it could go either way. But I will go with the team which feels like the better overall team, if by an ever so slight margin. And to me, that appears to be the road team.
My pick: Washington
Monday Night:
Minnesota Vikings at LA Rams - The final game of this Wildcard weekend will be played on Monday night. Assuming this game will indeed be played at it's scheduled time (not a certainty, given the Los Angeles wildfires, which are still raging), this is another very intriguing match-up. When I visited Minnesota a couple of years ago, I remember overhearing a conversation between Vikings fans at a convenience store. They were coming off an impressive 2022 season, and one expressed enthusiasm for the coming 2023 season. The other one kind of dismissed that, and assured the other that the Purple & Gold will "break your heart in the end." Certainly, last weekend's blowout loss in Detroit was just such a heartbreak. The question to me is how well they recovered from that one. Because overall, I feel that the Vikings are the better of these two teams, and probably by a wide margin, even. They have a far better defense, a potentially explosive offense, and have been winning with far more consistency. But did last weekend's loss take the fight out of them? Going on the road with a 14-3 record to face a 10-7 team, knowing that they will likely have to be on the road all the way to the Super Bowl, should they go? Still, the Vikings enjoyed one of their best overall records in franchise history, earning the second most regular season wins in franchise history in the process. I still feel that they are the better of these two teams, and by quite a bit. That all happened for a reason, and my suspicion is that they come out swinging and earn an impressive win against the Rams in this one.
My pick: Minnesota
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