SUNDAY GAMES JANUARY 6, 2019

ROUND 1  NFL PLAYOFFS (WILD CARD WEEKEND)

GAME THREE

AFC

AT

MATCH UP

CHARGERS (12-4) AT RAVENS (10-6)

Met once in regular seasons not too long ago. Ravens won that affair.

This is an old school team versus your typical modern age style of team. Ravens run the ball with a control offense with the quarterback doing plenty of options while they  have the ferocious attack defense. While the Chargers pass the ball and dabble runs in the mix. Their defense is pretty good, but mostly a zone type style.

Chargers should not be a number 5 seed as they are tied with the best record in the AFC. Ravens inserted Lamar Jackson and suddenly energized the whole team as they went on and took the division from the Steelers. I think the loss the Chargers suffered a few weeks ago will only help them, this go around. Seeing Lamar Jackson running that style of offense the first time and not defending it, many times I can see how the Ravens can prevail. The second go around Chargers should be prepared and be able to stop them. The Ravens defense is bad to the bone. They will keep this game very close. This is probably the best team Phillip Rivers ever had making it to the playoffs. Chargers have had no problems winning games on the road. I think Phillip Rivers shows enough grit, stands in the pocket and delivers a few key passes that ices this one in a very well fought game.

OUR PICK CHARGERS

GAME FOUR

NFC

AT

MATCH UP

EAGLES  (9-7) AT BEARS (12-4)

These two teams never met during regular season.

The Bears have been impressive all year. While the Eagles had a steady hungover until a switch was made at quarterback a few weeks back. The switch was due to an injury. That injury inserted Nick Foles into the position and St. Nick delivered a Christmas gift to the city of Philadelphia, which is a playoff appearance. They actually get to defend their title which weeks ago you would have said hell no to. Meanwhile the Bears have been winning with one best defenses in the league. The offense has been rolling along with lots of creativity in the play book. It’s a team that could have had a first round bye. A few losses they gave away during the season came back to haunt them. However they exorcised their demons and slayed the evil dragon in Aaron Rodgers and the hated Green Bay Packers.

I know the Eagles are the Super Bowl Champions still. Today that ends with a whimper at Soldier’s field. St.Nick runs out of magic as he crashes his sleigh into the turf of Soldier’s field to end an impressive run, but earn himself a big pay day in the off season by some other team. The Bears defense will shut down the Eagles. The offense will provide enough points not to make this a close game. It will not be a blow out, but Bears will win this one by ten points.

OUR PICK: BEARS