AFC PREDICTIONS SATURDAY JANUARY 4,2020

AFC (WILD CARD ROUND)

GAME ONE

BUFFALO BILLS AT HOUSTON TEXANS

This is a match up of two teams with bad playoff history. Houston has a lot of first round exits. Plus in a few of the games they have been blown out completely. The Bills suffered one of the worst droughts in sports not making it to the post season. In 2017 they finally broke that horrible streak. We Bills know the Bills history in the Superbowls. This is playoffs and not the Superbowl. Something has to give in this match up as one city will be a happy while one will live through another nightmare.

HOUSTON TEXANS

The return of JJ Watt for the Texans could be a huge lift for this team. Deshaun Watson is the biggest key if the Texans  want to advance to the next round. Someone else besides DeAndre Hopkins will have to come up with some big plays to make this happen for the Texans. The Texans will need to protect Watson from that attacking front of Buffalo, which is the X-factor.

BUFFALO BILLS

For the Bills it’s been all about their defense this season. The trend will have to continue as they need to set the tone early and the whole game and put a stop to Texans offense. They need to stop Deshaun Watson from making plays with his feet, a huge key in this contest. Plus they need to contain DeAndre Hopkins and stop him from making a big play. Bills quarterback Josh Allen will need to make some plays for the offense as well. He needs to avoid the sacks that back up this offense at times. Look for Allen to take advantage of the Texans and make a few big plays with his feet. Frank Gore is my X-factor, he will do something big on the offense with a big run.

OUR PICK

I like the Bills in this one for a few reasons. Bills were 6-2 on the road this season. I think the Texans line is a weakness the Bills defense can exploit. Bills defense is good stopping the passing attack. Even with JJ Watt back, I think the Bills offense can score on that unit.

OUR PREDICTION BILLS 24-13 TEXANS

GAME TWO

TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Titans have been one of the hottest teams in the league. They made the switch at quarterback from Marcus Mariota to Ryan Tannehill and the Titans took off. Titans then hit a few bumps in the road. But they continue to fight and it took the very last week to clinch a spot in the AFC. The Patriots have stumbled as well to the finish line. Losing to the Dolphins in the final week of regular season with something to play for. That loss has them now playing in the first week of the playoffs which that is not the norm in New England. This match up has Patriot blood versus Patriot blood. Head coach of the Titans, Mike Vrabel, is a former Patriot player who won three Superbowls with the Patriots. Played for Bill Belichick. Now he is coming into New England to slay his former head coach Bill Belichick and the Evil Empire.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Nobody schemes better than the mastermind of Bill Belichick. The Patriots will focus and stop their biggest threat Derrick Henry and the Titans running game. Patriots will rock the running game with all of their backs sharing the load. Look for Sony Michel to get the bulk of carries.  The Patriots will use Julian Edelman the spark plug to convert third downs and get nice chunks on first down. Biggest X-factor Tom Brady has to step up his game and make some key passes to other people if Edelman gets double teamed.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Ryan Tannehill has to deliver the big plays with the passing game. Dolphins exploited corner back Stephon Gilmore last week with their passing game. The result is a Dolphin win. Derrick Henry should still find some success running against a shaky run defense the Patriots have. The Titans need to stop Edelman.  You can force Brady into mistakes if you have his security blanket and spark plug in check. The Titans special teams is the X-factor making something happen.

OUR PICK

I’ve been down this road before. I think I will test this road until the Rebellion is successful versus the Evil Empire. I like the Titans to pull off the unthinkable.  Patriots playing in the wild card round is very different then their norm. Bill Belichick has the usual two weeks to plot and rest before they play a playoff game. Patriots have been stumbling. The Titans are one of the hottest teams in the league. Even with the Titans two losses in the last three games, all were very tight games. Titans are a team that can beat you a few ways as well. They don’t make mistakes. I think head coach Mike Vrabel has seen what the Patriots did to Bill O’Brien’s Texan teams working on his staff. He has played for Bill Belichick as well. He can come up with something that will work.

OUR PREDICTION TITANS 24-21 PATRIOTS

 

 

We are remembering Sam Wyche, who passed away this week. Plus we get to insult the Cleveland Browns’ football IQ. At least they fired Freddie Kitchens. Now they can print up some new shirts for the Browns ownership just in case they make yet another bad hire.

“WHAT WE LACK IN INTELLIGENCE, WE MAKE UP WITH GOOD INTENTIONS”

We are throwing snowballs AT EVERYONE. We roll out the playoff power rankings for the 12 remaining teams.

#1.BALTIMORE RAVENS (14-2) Ravens are the hottest team in the NFL. They even beat a Steeler team trying to make the playoffs during the last week of the season with their back up RGIII. Many of their starters were resting and the Steelers did not do much. They conclude the regular season winning 12 in row. They have a first round bye and get to rest this weekend. Right now they are the scariest team in the playoffs. Nobody wants to play them. I think this Raven team is scarier than any of those crazy man Ray Lewis teams the Ravens did very well in.

Lets hope Lamar Jackson does not follow the same road of a Ray Ray.

#2.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-4) The Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the league, winning their last six games. They secured a first  round bye.  The Chiefs have one of the youngest stars in the league at quarterback. Patrick Mahomes has playoff seasoning from last season which makes this Chiefs team even better. We know their offense can get it done. This is a well coached team with Andy Reid as their head coach. The  Chiefs defense has been on the rise all throughout the second half of the season which makes this team way more dangerous than last season. X-Factor picking up Terrell Suggs. Could be a weapon of mass destruction in the playoffs with lots to prove being cut by the Cardinals.

#3.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-3) Saints find themselves playing on wild card weekend with a 13-3 record. The NFC conference is so loaded with talented teams. The Saints mission for redemption from last season’s mugging has to start somewhere.

Yes, they are on a Mission from God. So how much for the little girl? Saints have a chip on their shoulders. The  opposing team to start things off is the Vikings who took a playoff game from them a few seasons ago with less than a minute on some fluke play. Then the referees last year did not blow the whistle after the Rams defender just raped the receiver. League did nothing. Even the challenge versus pass interference is bogus because of that game. Saints have demons, dragons, and closet monsters to overcome. They have the team. Will they succeed with them versus the World?

#4.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-3)

The 49ers finally closed the door on their division on the final game of the season. With that win over Seattle, it also got the 49ers team a first round bye. 49ers either look like the best team in the conference at times or they can just lay an egg. It’s a solid team on both sides of the football. We will see what Jimmy Garoppolo can do in the playoffs. Will the experience be a factor playing on this level for the first time? Can Kyle Shanahan slay his past demons from his play calling in the second half of the Superbowl when he was the OC for Atlanta, and saw Tom Brady and the Patriots come back and take that game?

#5.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (11-5) They say cockroaches would survive a Nuclear war. That is the same thing for pond scum that we call Pete Carol. Seahawks can be in any playoff seed from top to bottom and they are creepy crawlers that just get bigger if you squirt raid on them.

Like in the episode of Taxi where Louey Depalmer had to get outside help to kill the cockroach that is Pete Carol. Seattle can win on the road like they did well this season. Road warriors seems the winning recipe in Seattle these days. As the home turf in coffee town is not the way it used to be. Russell Wilson is one of the best leaders in the game. Derek Jeter of the NFL. Does all the little things right and this team is so dangerous because they can find a way to beat you on any given Sunday.

#6.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-4) The Evil Empire to me does not look like anything special this season. Tom Brady is not lighting up the score board. Death Star these days in New England is just a four banger motor, not the once upon a time V-8 gasoline sucker. The defense and the running game have saved them this season. Can they repeat and make it back to the Superbowl? Last year I said the same thing about this team. The Patriots in the playoffs are a different animal. This year the Evil Empire did not get the first round bye. They will be playing in wild card weekend. The whole galaxy is waiting for the fall of the Empire.

It would be heard around the world. However they still have the evil genius still leading the way and plotting a wrath of Khan through every NFL city.

#7.GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-3) Maybe it’s just the hate I have for the Packers that causes us to have them number seven in the power rankings. They have one of the best records in the league. They have secured a first round bye. Something is just not right with this team. They struggled to come back and beat a very bad Lion team in the last week of the season. The first round bye was on the line so they had something to play for. Then they lose to the Chargers in LA because they were hungover during the season. These days the Packers running game I’m scared of, more then Aaron Rodgers’ arm. The Packers defense has improved. Is it a scary unit? We do know Rodgers has a lucky horseshoe up his ass so big he wins playoff games in the last minute like he invented the last minute drive.

#8.BUFFALO BILLS (10-6) I’m old school at times. I believe great defense and great pitching in baseball win playoff games. The Buffalo Bills defense is electric. One of the best units in the playoffs.

The Bills defense  puts their opponents in bad situations. In long yard situations. Bills are well coached and do not make mistakes. Bills can win games on the road. They will need more from their offense if they want to avoid going one game and out.  Plenty of years where great defenses just wrecked havoc through the playoffs and the offense just did enough. That will have to be this team’s recipe.

#9.TENNESSEE TITANS (9-7) Titans to me are one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs. They have the great running back in Derrick Henry.

Love the way this guy lays out the stiff arms against opponents. The Rise of Ryan Tannnehill at quarterback made this team for real. They have fed off his leadership and play and the Titans’ lethargic offense became one of the league’s top powerhouses. Titans defense is a very good unit. The Titans special teams can change the momentum of a game. Can this team knock out the Empire in week one of the playoffs?

#10.HOUSTON TEXANS (10-6) The Texans go as far as Deshaun Watson can bring them. On offense this team can put points upon the board. On defense, the return of JJ Watt is what their defense can use right now.

A defense that has seen a young rookie in his second game, Drew Lock and the Broncos put up a 40 point beat down on the Texans. Watt’s presence will help improve that side of the ball. If he can make some big plays that is cherries on the sundae. On offense can they protect Deshaun Watson? Watson can do a lot with his feet and make broken plays look like one of the greatest highlights of the weekend. Can this team avoid that first playoff game exit?

#11.MINNESOTA VIKINGS  (10-6) Vikings this year, I Iiked how they have a very balanced team on both sides of the football. Now the Vikings to me have too many big question marks with this team. Will Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook be able to suit up for this game? Vikings laid an egg versus the Packers on Monday Night right at the end of the season. A win there they could be in a different spot instead of a road game to New Orleans. That is the biggest question, can Kirk Cousins win the big game? Vikings like to take the ball out of his hands and run the ball more than pass with Cook in the back field. Then not to have his security blanket in Adam Thielen is very tough, but he could be getting used to it as he missed quite a few games. What can these two guys do banged up even if they do suit up?

#12.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (9-7) The Eagles snuck through the back door again to make the playoffs again this season. Eagles take advantage of a bad division and beat up on their own division down the stretch to make it in. Eagles come in very banged up at the playmaker spots on offense. They had guys from the practice squad suit up. They probably had the beer man take a few handoffs. Do they have the Invincible scripted in their play books this weekend?

How many trick plays does Doug Peterson have? Will Nick Foles be suiting up for the Eagles this weekend? Carson Wentz will have to create some of his own Eagle magic if this team can escape wild card weekend with a victory. Wentz could be ….

Or Eagle fans will be on his door step after the game with pitch forks and torches.