WILD CARD WEEKEND (NFL PLAYOFFS)

SATURDAY GAMES

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

When I think of the Raiders and Bengals match-up, my thoughts go immediately to Bo Jackson’s last game in the NFL due to his hip injury he suffered versus the Bengals.

The Raiders season has been good, bad and ugly at times on and off the field. The Bengals have played very well, but at times turn back to their Bumble state. Raiders as an organization have made the playoffs twice in 19 seasons. While the Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990. Whichever team wins, this will be a huge deal just for both teams’ dreadful playoff history in the last few decades.

OFFENSE: EDGE BENGALS

The quarterback position is always the most important position in the game. Joe Burrow had a great regular season for the Bengals throwing 34 touchdowns. Derek Carr has played well for the Raiders, but is prone to bad mistakes in the red zone. Bengals have a slew of of play-makers for Burrow to choose from, especially Ja’Marr Chase who has risen to stardom in season one for the Bengals. Raiders receiver Hunter Renfroe’s game has risen. Who else will make the tough catches if Renfroe is taken out of the game? Running back Joe Mixon has had a great year and is a back that can make catches out of the back field and run the ball well in between the tackles. Josh Jacobs’ power running game showed up versus the Chargers. Can he carry it over into the post-season?

DEFENSE: EDGE BENGALS

Both teams have a defensive end that can change the momentum of the game. Mad Maxx Crosby for the Raiders and Trey Hendrickson for the Bengals. These are two guys that can kill the quarterback. Bengals defense is ranked in the middle of the pack of the NFL. While the Raiders defense is bottom tier as quarterbacks can pick that defense apart. The Bengals front can get pressure on the quarterback constantly as they have done all year.

I like the Bengals playing at home in cold weather. Raiders, coming from a warm climate, playing in the cold is going to make it very hard for a team like that to get an upset. Last week, Raiders won the game versus the Chargers to get in the playoffs. Raiders had problems getting off the field on defense on 4th down. Justin Herbert was converting big chunks of yardage on 4th down.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT BUFFALO BILLS

In the Rocky trilogy, this third match up of the Bills and Patriots would feature Rocky Balboa going up against Clubber Lane. Patriots won the very first match up of the year between the Bills and Patriots. In Buffalo, in a wind storm, as the Patriots ran the ball the entire game. Bills struck back in game two of this saga and won very convincingly at the Patriots place.

OFFENSE: EDGE BILLS

Let’s face the facts. The Bills have the better quarterback with Josh Allen over the rookie, Mac Jones. Allen has the experience in the playoffs the last two seasons which gives the Bills a big edge. I give the Patriots the edge in the running game with their committee of backs. Bills have all the play-makers in the receiving game. Bills had a few of their play-makers out in their last game versus the Patriots due to Covid reasons.

Other guys stepped up. Isiah McKenzie torched the Patriots secondary.

DEFENSE: EDGE BILLS

Patriots have the grand scheme of Bill Belichick. The Bills defense has been a top unit most of the year. The Bills have been stellar versus the pass. The running game as Belichick’s Patriots did the first game in Buffalo, ran it down the Bills throat. Bills stepped up their game versus the run of the Patriots in the rematch. I like the Bills’ chances of executing getting to the quarterback, and rattling the rookie Jones rather than the Patriots getting to Josh Allen.

Bills will shut down the Patriots run. Josh Allen does well in prime time games, so look for the Bills to kick the Patriots to the side of the road in this one. They’ll get the job done at home and move on to the next round.

OUR PICK: BILLS

SUNDAY GAMES

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Buccaneers met the Eagles on a Thursday night game earlier in the season, which Tampa Bay won. The Buccaneers built up a lead & the Eagles made a game out of it coming back, but ended it coming up short and eventually losing the game.

OFFENSE: EDGE BUCCANEERS

Tampa Tom. Tom Brady is all I should have to say when it comes to having the better offense. Eagles like to run the ball & it is what they do best. Buccaneers have a well-balanced offense and do both very well. Passing the ball is their strength. Buccaneers have had a slew of injuries over the last few weeks. Tampa Bay is expecting to get some of those guys back for the start of the post-season. Can Jalen Hurts beat the Buccaneers with only his arm?

DEFENSE: EDGE BUCCANEERS

Buccaneers are one of the top teams against the run. The Eagles defense looked very bad in the last week of regular season. The Cowboys used the Eagles defense like a whore house and did whatever they wanted to do without leaving cab fare at the end. The Buccaneer defense is chalked up filled with veteran guys who have seen it all. The Buccaneers defense have the playoff experience as it is the same unit basically from last season’s Superbowl run.

The Buccaneers will start the post-season at home. Buccaneers will stop the Eagles’ bread and butter, the running game. The Eagles will be the Buccaneers’ first victim in defending their Superbowl trophy from last year. I can see Tom Brady having an axe to grind versus a demon of his past, the Philly Special.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS

Old rivalry is renewed between the Cowboys and 49ers? Some epic games have been played between these teams over the years. Cowboys and 49ers did not play each other this season.

OFFENSE: EVEN

I know the Cowboys have a high-powered offense that can run and pass. The 49ers have a great running game. The 49ers seem like they have plenty of running backs that can do well in their system. Jimmy Garoppolo is no Dak Prescott, but he finds ways to win games. The passing game the Cowboys have is the advantage of all the play makers they have. Who do you cover? The 49ers have Deebo Samuel who is just a beast at the wide receiver position with 77 catches and 6 touch downs for over 1,400 yards this season.

DEFENSE: 49ERS

Cowboys defense has improved a lot from the 2020 team. Cowboys find ways to force turnovers. The 49ers defense is solid. The 49ers put the Rams offense on ice last week. The 49ers defense can get to the quarterback. The 49ers are one of the top teams in the leagues sacking the quarterback. Trevon Diggs, on the Cowboys defense, can change a game in an instant with interception. He’s one of the best ball hawks in the league this season.

I think the 49ers are one of the teams that nobody wants to face right now. I think the 49ers will control the clock with their running game, making time crucial for Dak Prescott. If Cowboys don’t blow out teams, they can struggle at times in close battles and Dak Prescott can make mistakes.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Chiefs blew the doors off the Steelers wagon in week 16. Chiefs are looking to get back to the Superbowl for their third straight season. For the Steelers, it’s all about Big Ben Roethlisberger’s last stand. Big Ben is looking to walk off into the sunset after this season. Steelers beat the Ravens last Sunday and hoped that the Raiders and Chargers would not tie just to get into the playoffs from the back door.

OFFENSE: EDGE CHIEFS

Patrick Mahomes is already a young superstar in this league. He has plenty of weapons at his disposal including the best tight end in the league, Travis Kelce. Let’s face the facts. Big Ben Roethlisberger’s arm looks like it’s going to fall off. Big Ben can’t throw the deep ball and has to rely on the short passing game and the running game. Chiefs have gotten their running game going when they want it or need it. Like an on-and-off switch for Andy Reid’s offense. Mahomes can also make plays with his legs.

DEFENSE: EDGE CHIEFS

Steelers have too many injuries on the defense side of the ball, which has been their MO this season. Can Steelers’, T.J Watt, wreck havoc and make the play or two to give his team the edge? Steelers have been having problems stopping the run. The Chiefs seem to always have that playoff defense switch that goes on in the post-season. Chiefs defense has not played well in the last few games. That defense switch did go on during the Chiefs’ winning streak during the season when people were starting to write off the Chiefs.

Chiefs at home is a tough contest to win for any opponent coming into Kansas City at this time of the year. This game will be closer this go-around. I think the Chiefs defense will find a way to stop the Steelers running game leaving Big Ben’s Roethlisberger arm to win the game. Steelers get off to slow starts. Chiefs get off to fast starts. Patrick Mahomes will keep the Chiefs ahead by ten points throughout the game. I think the Steelers are the weakest in the tournament.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT LA RAMS

This is the third battle of the year between the Cardinals and the Rams. The series this season has been split with each team winning on the road. This is the second match-up of the wild card weekend that has division rivals squaring off. This will be the first playoff game being played on Monday night.

OFFENSE: EVEN

Both offenses have been riding the struggle bus. Can another weapon in the passing game for Kyler Murray emerge for the Cardinals? Can Matthew Stafford win a playoff game? With DeAndre Hopkins out for the year, the Rams have the better receiving core with the dog, Odell Beckham Jr., and Cooper Kupp. If James Connor is healthy and able to play, it gives the Cardinals the better running games because he can catch the ball and be a duel threat for the Arizona offense. Kyle Murray can get big chunks of yardage with his legs as well.

DEFENSE: RAMS

Rams has a superstar cast on the defense. Can this Rams unit play well and be dominating on the field, not just paper? Will JJ Watt be able to play for the Cardinals? How much will Watt contribute on defense if he does play? Cardinals’ defense overall is limping into the playoff scene. Can the best defensive player in the league, Aaron Donald, step up his game to even a higher level?

The Cardinals have gone 1-4 down the stretch after a great start. It seems like whoever wins this game, can be a team that can find their way into the NFC Championship just getting that confidence from the victory. Rams have not really looked impressive over the last few weeks as well. Cardinals looked bad versus a bad Detroit team which is what stands out to me. The missing ingredient that has hurt the Cardinals is not having their number one guy, DeAndre Hopkins. AJ Green is this shell of his former self. This game will be all about the Rams defense playing well and acting cohesive as a unit, like they have done at times this year. It will be the key in this one.

OUR PICK:RAMS