In the divisional round we rebounded from a horrific wild card weekend of predictions going 3-1. Our one blemish came from the Commanders beating up on the Lions as they knocked out the number one seed in the process. My thoughts before that match up were how can a rookie quarterback beat a Detroit team that many had winning the Superbowl. That’s why they play the games because anything can go down on any given Sunday. With two games this Sunday, we have to get them both right to have a great week. The two winners will go the Superbowl.
NFL PLAYOFFS ROUND THREE (CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS) STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THE SUNDAY SLATE
#6.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (14-5) AT #2.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (16-3)
PLAYOFF HISTORY WASHINGTON (1-0) PHILADELPHIA
The Commanders and the Eagles will meet up for the third time this season. Both teams reside in the same division, the NFC East, and know each other well. They split the series during the regular season with each team winning one game. Last week the Commanders gave the Lions a beat down scoring 45 points while knocking off the NFC’s number 1 seed. The Eagles took care of the Rams in a game that got too close for comfort late in that one.
Jayden Daniels has had an impressive rookie season as he helpped turn around a Washington franchise that was face down in the gutter. Daniels has won his first two playoff games. He led a come-from-behind victory in the last meeting versus the Eagles with under a minute drive that he capped off with a touchdown pass. Meanwhile the Eagles quarterback, Jalen Hurts. is banged up which could be a concern. Jalen Hurts did not really do anything special versus the Rams last week. He will be looking to get the Eagles back to the Superbowl for the second time of his career. Hurts is now 4-3 in the post-season play for his career.
This will be the fifth time that two teams from the NFC East have squared off in a conference championship. The last time time was 1986. The winners of the last two of these conference championships with NFC East teams went on to win the Superbowl. The 1986 NY Giants and 1982 Washington Redskins. In this match the Commanders will have the better quarterback due to Jayden Daniels is playing lights out and is healthier than Jalen Hurts who suffered a knee injury against the Rams. The Eagles have the advantage with their running game versus the Commanders run defense. Saquon Barkley has had 3 rushing touchdowns on just 3 carries totaling 130 yards versus the Commanders defense in two meetings. Barkley is playing his best football right now. He should feast on the Commanders defense that plays 95% in nickel coverage. Look for Hurts and Barkely getting off the bus and running in this one. Daniels has had something brewing the last two playoff games with wide receiver Dyami Brown who has 11 for 187 yards and touchdowns. As a fan I would love to see the Commanders make it to the Superbowl. Can a rookie QB accomplish that tall task? The Commanders will be without some big guys in the trenches in this one. Sam Cosmi, the right guard for the Commanders, tore his ACL against the Lions. In the first two games he has squared off against Eagles stud defensive linemen Jalen Carter. The Commanders will also be without one of their starting defensive linemen Daron Payne who has issues with his knee and fingers. Daniels will not have that protection even though he can run and make plays on the run. Stopping Barkley will even be harder for this Commanders team. The Eagles really should have won the second meeting as they had dropped a pass by one of their receivers. If he caught it, it would have been a first down and they would have run the clock out before Daniels’ epic game winning drive. I like the Eagles defense. I think Barkley is too hard to handle for this Commanders defense.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
#2.BUFFALO BILLS (15-4) AT #1.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (16-2)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Chiefs (4-2) Bills
Did the Chiefs benefit on some calls by the referee last week as they put away the Texans at home? The Bills got a break when Ravens tight end Mark Andrews dropped a ball that could have tied the ball game on a two point try late in that contest.
Patrick Mahomes is now 16-3 in post-season play. Josh Allen finally gets the Bills past the divisional round and now improves his playoff record to (7-5) for his career.
Here we go again!! Bills & Chiefs squaring off for the 4th time in recent years. The Chiefs have wiped out the Bills out of the playoffs three straight times including a AFC Championship game in 2021. Patrick Mahomes vs Josh Allen in a total of 8 games are even at four a piece. Mahomes is 3-0 versus the Bills and Allen in post-season. Allen has dominated Mahomes and the Chiefs during the regular season. The Bills have lost 7 straight road playoff games. Four of those road playoff games were with head coach Sean McDermott. You have to go back to 1992 when the Bills beat the Dolphins on the road in the AFC Championship. The Chiefs are looking to head back to the Superbowl to win their third title in the last 3 seasons. The Bills are looking to get back to the Superbowl since 1994, the last out of 4 straight losses in the 1990’s. The Chiefs have the edge being at home. They also have the psychology aspect as they owned the Bills in the post-season. The Chiefs defense can get to the quarterback as they sacked CJ Stroud 8 times last week. Meanwhile the Bills defense has forced the most take-a-ways, a league high of 35 which that total includes post-season. From the eye test right now, Josh Allen is playing at higher level than Patrick Mahomes. In the post-season Mahomes has a switch that brings him to the same level as Allen or beyond. How lucky can the Chiefs get? Winning that thriller overtime game years ago during which the Bills had the lead by three points with 13 ticks left on the clock. Mahomes and company drive down the field and get the game tying field goal to send it to OT. Then Mahomes and the Chiefs get the ball first and game over. Then the missed field goal that could have tied the game last year in Buffalo by Tyler Bass. Can the Bills fight through all their bad playoff history? How do the Bills defense stop Travis Kelce? This will be another chapter in epic playoff games by these two teams. The Bills defense is healthier than they were last season when they met in post-season. They say three is the charm. Sometimes on the 4th try in sports, you are golden. The Michael Jordan Bulls cleared that hurdle getting through the Pistons in the 90’s in post-season. The way Josh Allen and that Bills offense is playing, who do you cover? The Bills offense adapts to whatever the opposing defense gives them to control the ball most of the game. That could lead to an ice cold Mahomes and Kelce. I think it’s time that the Chiefs take the fall and Bills move on. I think the Bills defense will play a big role like they did versus that Ravens offense last weekend.
Back in the 1970’s, football on the gridiron was a much different game than present times. The vicious hits a defender could get away with. In today’s game the league and fans would want the defender’s head using their helmet as a wrecking ball. Launching your self in the air like a heat seeking missile. Don’t get me wrong, today’s game is still violent. Yesterday’s game was an MMA fight in the octagon. Perhaps a better way of describing it it is Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome. In 1978 in a preseason game, the Assassin struck a vicious blow on the Stingley family. Nicknamed the Assassin, Jack Tatum played for the Oakland Raiders at the safety position. He was nicknamed the Assassin because he laid people out. In that game in 1978 between the Raiders and Patriots, he put a vicious hit on wide receiver Darryl Stingley and ended his career. Darryl was paralyzed and would never walk again. You would think that would be the end of football in the Stingley family for generations to come. However that was not the case as Darryl’s son would play football and his son Derek Jr. is in his third season with the Houston Texans, made the Pro-Bowl, and was named All-Pro corner back this season.
Darryl Stingley’s son Derek was 7 years old when his father was paralyzed. Darryl was born in Chicago in 1951. He played his college ball at the University of Purdue. In 1973 he was drafted by the Patriots in the 1st round of the NFL draft 19th overall. He played 5 seasons in the NFL, all with the Patriots. He was coming off his best season in the NFL before his career ended with that vicious hit that compressed his spinal cord and broke his cervical vertebrae. All of which meant he had to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In 5 seasons Darryl played 60 games in the NFL, caught 110 balls tallying up 1,883 receiving yards, and hauled in 14 touchdown passes. From the wheelchair he never forced his son to play the game that sent him to that chair. His son Derek almost went in another direction. Instead of football he was going to play baseball.
Derek Stingley was born in the Windy City of Chicago in 1971. He followed his father and went to Purdue University. Derek played both football and baseball. He would end up graduating back at home from Triton College. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. He played three seasons in the Phillies farm system. Then decided football was his real passion. Derek would make the Jets practice squad which is the furthest he ever followed his dad’s footsteps in the NFL. Derek had a solid life in Arena Football as you remember where quarterback Kurt Warner came from. After baseball he played with a semi-pro football team, the Louisiana Bayou Thunder. He played nine seasons in Arena Football and played a different position than his father. Defensive back. His father Darryl was on hand when he saw his son take a horrific hit by Thomas Orr of the New York City Hawks on June 14th, 1998. Derek was unconscious for ten minutes on the turf. Many thought this was going to be like father like son. That did not happen as Derek suffered a concussion and would play again. In 1999 the Jets signed Derek to their practice squad. In 1999 he made the All Arena team. He was part of the Arena Bowl championship team with the Albany Fire Birds. He did play for his home team, the Chicago Rush. He racked up 443.5 tackles with 19 interceptions in his Arena Football career. He also went into coaching after his playing days came to an end. As a Arena Football head coach, he had a record of 9-32 which is not very good. He is still coaching today.
I was watching the Texans’ last two playoff games and I was impressed with how Derek Stingley Jr. played. I would definitely want him on my team. Derek Jr. was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on June 20th, 2001. You have to wonder if his father, Senior, set down roots in the state of Louisiana when he first played semi pro football after he was done playing baseball. At the age of 5 Derek Jr. had his grandfather Darryl die in 2007. He always remembered getting the cool Darth Vader stuff from his Grandpa for his birthday. Derek Jr. would take a different path than his father and grandfather. He would play his college football at LSU and he would follow his father and play defense. Derek Jr. was drafted high like his grandfather. In 2022 the Houston Texans selected Derek Jr. in the first round number 3 overall after one hell of a career at LSU. Derek Jr. has three full NFL seasons under his belt. He had 5 interceptions this season on Houston’s defense that had the most interceptions in the league during regular season. In the wild card round, Derek Jr. intercepted two Justin Herbert passes versus the Chargers, a game the Texans won. One of those interceptions he ran back for a defensive touchdown. Derek Jr. made the Pro Bowl this season and has 37 games under his belt with 11 career regular season interceptions. Derek Jr. is heading down a path where he may be the best ever to play the game in the Stingley family. A family where they bleed football. It could have easily been a different story after that devastating hit that crippled his grandfather. Or even his father being knocked out for ten total minutes laying on the turf with everyone watching breathless. Praying and hoping another family nightmare would not be happening again. In the military, how many families lost a loved one on the battle field which did not stop others members of those families from joining up to serve their country. You can say this about the Police getting killed in the line of duty. Then another member of your family follows your footprints. Actor Tom Selleck’s Blue Bloods, is a police drama that lasted over a decade where policing was the family business. In the 1990’s movie, Back Draft, their is a family of firefighters. Killed in the line of duty from a bad fire. Never stopped the family from following in the footsteps of their loved ones. Theses things happen from occupations that are dangerous to mankind.
What could have Darryl Stingley’s career been if he did not get paralyzed? He came off a 39 catch year with 657 yards and a 5 touchdown season. His best season. As for Jack Tatum he would play 136 games in the NFL in a football career that lasted ten seasons. He had 37 interceptions in his career. He played 9 seasons wearing the silver and black. He played his last season as an Oiler for the city of Houston in 1980. The Assassin was a 3x Pro Bowler. He was part of a Raiders Superbowl title. In 1979 after that Tatum hit on Darryl, the NFL changed their rules outlawing the use of the helmet to butt, spear, or ram a opponent. Not to use the top or crown as a weapon of mass destruction. Let’s remember Tatum did not get flagged from that hit on Darryl. He did not get fined or suspended by the NFL. They say that Tatum never apologized after ending Darryl’s career. Jack Tatum did try to visit Darryl shortly after that game in the hospital, but the Stingley family turned him away. That hit defined Tatum for the rest of his career. Tatum would later show no remorse in two books he wrote about his playing days and his life. The first one was called “They Call Me the Assassin,” and the second one, “They Still Call Me Assassin: Here We Go Again.” You have to imagine that hit and other hits made Tatum extra money in his life because of the nickname, assassin. It is a sad story because Darryl may have definitely lived a longer life not being confined to a wheelchair. It shows you something about a family overcoming tragedy and able to persevere like the Stingley family has. Derek Stingley Jr. may be the best yet. Perhaps another generation will appear down the line if he has kids. The Stingleys are the Blue Bloods and not even an assassin can stop them from having football in the blood because the family is stronger than anything.
Last April the Chicago Bears took the top quarterback projected to go number one in the draft by taking Caleb Williams. How did that work out so far? Jayden Daniels who was selected number two overall in last year’s NFL draft, right now has the Commanders in the NFC Championship. The Bears had another disastrous season finishing 5-12 for the year and fired their head coach after the bad turkey day game against the Lions on Thanksgiving. Since the firing of Matt Eberflus, the Bears have conducted 17 interviews with all sorts of candidates. Big names with experience that have won a Superbowl. Up and coming college coaches that made their own splash this season. Many assistants. They even gave their interim coach Thomas Brown an interview. The Lions lost to the Commanders on Saturday night and Ben Johnson became the guy as the Bears did something they normally do not and paid him the big bucks to come to Chicago and keep the hottest assistant from going to the Raiders or the Jaguars. The Bears are paying a rookie head coach 13 million per season which is the 7th highest in the NFL from the 2024 season.
Who is Ben Johnson and why is he that hot shot coordinator every team wants? Every team in the NFL is looking for the next young mastermind on the offensive side of the ball like Sean McVay of the Rams to help their team light up the score board. Johnson is only 38 years old and looks like he just came from the dorm room pulling an all-nighter playing John Madden football with his frat buddies. Johnson’s first coaching job was at Boston College from 2009-11 as a tight ends coach. Then the Dolphins brought on Johnson to their team from 2012-18 as he held various roles and eventually worked with Dan Campbell who was the Dolphins tight end coach as he was promoted to the interim coach in 2015. Johnson worked as offensive assistant, quarterbacks coach assistant, tight end coach assistant, and wide receivers coach assistant until he was promoted to wide receiver coach. In 2019 he came to Detroit with Campbell as he took the Lions head coaching job. Before being promoted to the offensive coordinator Johnson served a few roles as the offensive quality coach, tight ends coach, then passing game coordinator. Then in 2022 Johnson became the man calling the plays. He turned Jared Goff into a stud quarterback. The Lions offense roared and finished the top 5 in points and total yards for the last three seasons. The Lions have been to the playoffs the last two seasons and Johnson has been a part of the two wins and two losses. The last one definitely hurt as the Lions were the number one seed in the NFC, had a first round bye, and were upset by the Commanders.
The Bears have not found an even decent coach to replace Lovie Smith, who they fired years ago. The Bears have gone cheap with their hires by hiring buffoon after buffoon like Marc Trestman, Matt Nagy, and Matt Eberflus. All three guys that had assistant jobs in the NFL but never had a head coaching job. None of those guys were the top assistants at the time. None of those guys were young guys like a Ben Johnson. The Bears went differently than they normally do by shelling out the big bucks to get the young bright mind to become the franchise’s 19th head coach. However the Bears went with their normal recipe in hiring a guy without any head coaching experience which could bite them on the rear. This is a Bears franchise that is treading water right now after their 4th straight losing season. Many thought they had the perfect off-season with the free agents they signed and how they drafted Caleb Williams. The same thing that bites this Bears franchise every year. The lack of an offensive line. Then the head coach. The Raiders made an offer to Johnson. He must have done something incredible that made Tom Brady like him as he is part owner of the Vegas Raiders. They say that Jaguars owner Shad Khan wanted Johnson as well. He is brain dead when it comes to football in general. Ryan Poles, the Bears General Manager, wants the top of the line in everything as he drafted Caleb Williams and now got the top assistant out there. The interviews Johnson had must have impressed the Bears president Kevin Warren who convinced the cheap fucks to pay up. The McCaskey family are one of those cheap many owners we have in Chicago unfortunately running our sports teams.
Now Ben Johnson will be making one million more than John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. He will also be only one million behind Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers. My feeling is Johnson played this perfect. He reminds me of Sly Stallone with that first Rocky movie script. Hollywood wanted to buy it from him but did not want him to act in the movie. Stallone waited until his opportunity came along and got what he wanted. For Johnson he could have taken a job last year as a head coach. He would only interview with a team if he really wanted to be there. I think Caleb Williams is the biggest reason why he is here. The Bears have cap space. They have play makers. They have a solid defense. Johnson even has landed a new defensive coordinator former Saints head coach Dennis Allen. Allen is a great D-coordinator but a bad head coach. The Bears mean he’ll have another top ten draft pick coming up in April. Signing Johnson may also weaken the Lions in the future. Tell me if you have heard this story before about suddenly everything is working out for the Bears?
You know everything the Bears touch turns into a dumpster fire. This is the franchise that has not won the Superbowl since 1985. The last time the Bears had a franchise quarterback you have to back to the 1940’s when Sid Luckman was behind center. The Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky instead of Patrick Mahomes. Caleb Williams did some nice things last year. Jayden Daniels has done better things. Even Bo Nix has been better than Williams, another quarterback drafted in the first round. Nix had the Broncos in the playoffs. What if Ben Johnson turns into Josh McDaniels? Yes I said it. McDaniels was that hot offensive coordinator for the Patriots for years. Then he took the Broncos job. Which he knew Jay Cutler was a bum right away. He still flopped in Denver. Then he took another head coaching job for the Raiders which was another belly flop. Johnson can call a great offense. Maybe the QB whisperer Williams needed. The experience of never being the head coach, you have to be worried. I wouldn’t have minded like Jon Gruden or even a Mike McCarthy – guys with experience that could also develop Williams. Pete Carol, I did like that idea. The age gap there between quarterback and head coach may have not worked out. The Bears ownership usually likes yes men over guys who will come in and do it their way. Hope Johnson is not like that. He will need an offensive line which I hope he remembers what that looks like. Because the Lions had one of the best in the league. This looks great on paper. The Bears got the top QB in the draft and now have the brightest young mind available to mold their Quarterback. This is the Bears so most likely something will go wrong with this signing.
Before Michael Jordan won his first NBA title, his Chicago Bulls teams were bullied by the Detroit Pistons aka the Bad boys. Three straight seasons from 1988-1990, the Pistons eliminated the Bulls from the Eastern Conference post-season. Two of those seasons the Bulls and Pistons played in the Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons were nicknamed the Bad Boys because they completely mugged the opposing teams when they had the ball. The NBA actually played defense back then. The Pistons won back to back titles in 1989 and 1990. Many fans and experts thought Jordan would not get over the hurdle of the Pistons getting in their way. In 1991 the Bulls finally got past the Pistons in grand fashion and Air Jordan’s legendary status would take off and soar to new heights. The Bulls slayed their bully by sweeping the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. The Bulls would go to the finals, beat the LA Lakers, and win their first NBA title in their history. It was the first out of six from Air Jordan led teams. Can Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills finally get over the Chiefs hurdle, slay his demons, and do it in the Air Jordan style of fashion?
The Kansas City Chiefs have eliminated the Buffalo Bills from the post-season the last three seasons. This started in 2020 when the Bills and Chiefs met in Kansas City in the AFC Championship. Chiefs gave the Bills a beat down 38-24 ass kicking. In 2021 these two teams met up in the AFC Divisional round in an epic thriller. Perhaps one of the best games of all-time. The Chiefs beat the Bills 42-36 in overtime. Then last year again in the Divisional round, the Chiefs escaped Buffalo with a 27-24 win. It was the kick that went wide right for Tyler Bass and the Bills. The Bills found a way to get out of the divisional round yesterday by holding off the Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs beat the Texans at Arrowhead on Saturday afternoon. Here we go again; the 4th playoff meeting between these two teams in Kansas City with a trip to New Orleans on the line for all the marbles – the AFC Championship. Can Josh Allen beat the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in the 4th try in his back yard?
When Michael Jordan tangled with the Detroit Pistons, his nemesis was Isiah Thomas. Do you remember what Air Jordan said about Thomas on that ESPN documentary called The Last Dance? It was not love that Air Jordan was expressing about the former guard for the Pistons. For Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes is obviously his nemesis especially in the post-season. Allen has Mahomes’ number in the regular season as he has beaten Patrick 4 times, which you may call that the booby prizes.. Which is the most wins by any opposing Quarterback has beating the turd named Mahomes. Allen gave the Chiefs and Mahomes their first loss of the season in regular season. That was a 30-21 win by the Bills in front of the home fans, the Bills Mafia. The Chiefs only suffered two losses this season. The second loss by the Chiefs came from the Broncos in the last game of regular season when KC rested ten of their starters.
The Bulls/Pistons and Bills/Chiefs have other similarities. The Pistons and Chiefs both have that X-Factor playing the meathead role. The Pistons have center Bill Laimbeer who tortured teams with cheap shots after cheap shots on defense and going to the boards. The flagrant elbow calls that Laimbeer got away with back then. The Chiefs have Travis Kelce as their meat for brains. Every time that douche speaks to defend Patrick Mahomes, he sounds like Rocky Balboa on steroids. “Yo, Taylor Swift get over here.”
Taylor Swift is another reason most of America will get behind the Bills against Kansas City because of the camera shots of her during the game. Who cares about Swift and what the hell she is wearing? If the Chiefs win next Sunday then here we go again with Swift invading the sacred Superbowl show like bad halftime shows. Josh Allen and the Bills could save America just by exorcising their demons and slay the Chiefs dynasty. Will the NFL script allow that to happen? The Chiefs are nauseating as they won most of their games this season with some kind of break from a fluke blocked kick or penalty. I guess you can say the Bills got one of those Chiefs breaks when Ravens tight end Mark Andrews dropped the tying two point conversion try. However there was plenty of time on the clock left for the Bills to have won last night if the conversion was a success.
This is the game of sports where the ball can bounce your way at times. I think the Kansas City Chiefs had to use up all their 9 lives on breaks in these playoff games. We want to see the Chiefs fall flat and get knocked out. We want to see Josh Allen take his legendary status to the next level. Allen has played like a beast. Alien-like all year. It may be his time. His turn. It would not feel right if he did it without knocking off his nemesis, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. Not saying the Bills would be instant winners in the Superbowl if they do beat Kansas City. Not sure how you would bet against them. I think it is time for Josh Allen to do his Michael Jordan impression finally taking down the bad boys. For Allen beating the Chiefs could change the NFL football landscape for years to come. The Patriots dynasty crumbled. Who would not want to see the Kansas City get the Nuggies kicked out them and finally see less of these nauseating State Farm commercials. Let’s root for Josh Alien Allen to have his finest moment of his career and end the tyranny of the Chiefs. Hope he does it Air Jordan-like where the Pistons refused to shake the Bulls’ hands after being eliminated.
The Wild Card weekend was a disappointment in picking the winners. We got the easy ones. The two games that could have gone either way, we lost on them. I think most people had Chargers picked over the Texans. This weekend we hope to redeem ourselves with a better day at the office.
NFL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND (DIVISIONAL) STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THE SATURDAY GAMES
AFC
#4.HOUSTON TEXANS (11-7) AT #1.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: CHIEFS (2-0) TEXANS
The Chiefs were the number one seed, had a bye last week, and are well rested. In the last game of regular season, Kansas City rested 10 starters including Patrick Mahomes. The Texans throttled the Chargers in the Wild Card round. Either the Texans found their mojo from last year or the Chargers are a very bad team.
The road to the Chiefs three peat starts in this match up. Patrick Mahomes has another switch in post-season as he is (15-3) all-time. Just sick!!! Meanwhile CJ Stroud in his first two seasons in the NFL has notched a playoff win in the Wild Card round.
The Chiefs and Texans met up in December in which Kansas City won that game (27-19) and did it rather easily. The Texans will need their defense to stand tall like they did against the Chargers putting pressure on Justin Herbert and forced 4 turnovers. The Texans pass rush did well but now face a different animal that is impossible to cage in. Patrick Mahomes can pull the ole Houdini act on any defense in the league and make plays happen on the fly. The Texans will need another big game out of that nut job running back they have, Joe Mixon, comparing these Texans to the past Bengals team that went to the Superbowl. This Texans team is nowhere close to that Bengals squad. CJ Stroud has two of their biggest weapons out with season ending injuries. Meanwhile the Chiefs aerial attack just got better with Hollywood Brown back from an injury and he has the rust knocked off him as he has played a few games to close out the regular season. They have the speedster Xavier Worthy. Let’s not forget the meathead at tight end position Travis Kelce. It’s not happening at least this round that the Texans can go on the road playing in the cold at Arrowhead Stadium and winning. That would be like the Washington Generals beating the Harlem Globe Trotters. It’s not happening. The Chiefs defense will play well. Mahomes will razzle dazzle the crowd like a point guard on the hardwood floors and dish out the ball to all his guys as the Texans will have no clue how to stop it. Mahomes stays a BEAST in the post-season.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
NFC
#6.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (13-5) AT #1.DETROIT LIONS (15-2)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: WASHINGTON (3-0) DETROIT
The Lions carved up the Vikings in the last game of regular season to get the number one seed. They had a week off earning themselves a bye. Jayden Daniels had himself an impressive playoff debut as the Commanders knocked off the Buccaneers with the walk off doink kick in the last few ticks left on the clock.
The Commanders had a stretch back in regular season where they lost to teams with winning records in close games. It seems like Jayden Daniels has figured out how to win close games against good teams. Daniels led a nice drive down the field to upend the Eagles late in the season. The Commanders beat a solid Buccaneers team with Baker Mayfield who was coming into post-season as one of the hottest quarterbacks in the tournament. The Lions will get their two headed monster at running back for this game. David Montgomery will be suiting up for this one. Montgomery has been out for several weeks with a knee injury. The Lions defense played well against the Vikings offense who can put up points on the scoreboard. They held them to 9 in that last regular season game. That is the biggest question for this Lions team. Can they defend in the playoffs with all those injuries? The Lions offense have tallied up 2,669 (YAC) Yards after the catch which averages out to 6.7 per reception which is one of the top in the NFL. The Commanders defense can tackle. They have allowed a league low of only 1,551 YAC after the catch. Who wins that battle should decide this game. I think the Commanders will give the Lions a scare in this one. Look for Detroit to run a well balanced attack with the run game and aerial attack to bleed the clock dry most of the game. Daniels will make some big plays in this one. I think the pressure will mount too high on the rookie quarterback and that will lead to some mistakes. You know Jared Goff will have a mistake free game is what my gut is telling me. The Lions at home will rule this jungle. After Saturday both number one seeds stay alive.
OUR PICK: LIONS
THE SUNDAY GAMES
NFC
#4.LA RAMS (11-7) AT #2.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (15-3)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: RAMS (2-1) EAGLES
The Eagles churned the Packers into Swiss cheese last week in the Wild Card round. The Rams adjusted going on the road to Arizona to play their home game there due to the wild fires in LA. The Rams took care of business at Cardinals stadium and put down the Vikings with ease.
Jalen Hurts evened up his playoff record at (3-3) with the win at home last weekend. Matthew Stafford now is a game over the .500 mark with his win in Arizona and is now has a 5-4 record in post-season play.
In week 12 the Eagles gashed the Rams defense for 314 rushing yards for the win. The Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley had 255 yards on the ground. The Rams are 3-2 on the road under Sean McVay in post-season. The Eagles defense had a solid week forcing the Packers into multiple mistakes and coming away with turnovers. I think the Rams will throw everything including the kitchen sink at the Eagles running game. They want Jalen Hurts to throw the ball to beat them. The Eagles defense will face their challenges with Matthew Stafford’s aerial attack. Stafford really did not have access to all his weapons in that win last week versus the Vikings. Stafford has played well in post-season wearing a Rams uniform. Can LA who are coming all the way from the warm west coast win a playoff game in cold conditions? At Philadelphia with a crazy fan base that will be loud and energetic. This will be a close game. I think Hurts will just do enough in this one to get his Eagles by the Rams. I like the Eagles defense who are coached by Vic Fangio. That is my decider in this contest. Eagles defend their home from the invaders.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
AFC
#3.BALTIMORE RAVENS(13-5) AT #2.BUFFALO BILLS(14-4)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: BILLS (1-0) RAVENS
The Ravens beat up their division rival the Steelers last week at home. The Bills gave the visiting Broncos a second half beat down in Buffalo last weekend.
Lamar Jackson looks like he now has the Steelers’ number which was not the story coming into the season. Jackson now has beaten the Steelers in back to back games going back to the regular season. He improves his post-season record to 3-4 all-time. Josh Allen has mastered the Wild Card round and is now 6-5 in the post-season.
This is the game of the weekend. You have two quarterbacks that have been the debate all year by the experts or at your bar stool over who should be the MVP. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are duel threats and they are number 1 & 2 in NFL playoff history with rushing yards for a quarterback. Jackson has 602 yards and has played less post-season games than Allen. Allen has ran for 609 rushing yards and has played more post-season games. These two teams met during regular season and the Ravens gave the Bills a beat down at home in that one. The Ravens unleashed Derrick Henry on the Bills banged up defense as he steamrolled for 199 rushing yards in that Ravens win. This go around the game is in Buffalo and the Bills will have their linebackers for this one. The first meeting the Bills were without three defensive pieces that start with Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard and Taron Johnson. The last time the Bills and Ravens met in post-season was in the divisional round in 2020 as the Bills advanced to the AFC championship game when they met the Chiefs in that epic playoff game that went to OT. Can the Bills stop the Ravens running game? That is the biggest key for Buffalo. Can the Ravens defense contain Allen in the pocket? That is a key for Baltimore. The Ravens defense is stout versus the run. Allen may have to beat them with the pass. However it will be in single digits in Buffalo on Sunday. The running game for both teams will be high priority. This game could go either way. As a football fan which team would you rather see knock out the Chiefs next week? Kansas City has gotten both these franchises and knocked them both out the post-season last year. If you could only combine both teams against Kansas City. That is not going to happen. Lamar Jackson really has not played in any games this cold. The coldest game for him was in the 20’s. The Bills are undefeated at home this season. I like Allen breaking through this divisional round as history does repeat itself in these NFL games. Allen to me has the better completion percentage and can beat you with his arm if he has to. This Bills offense is designed to beat you a few ways. Jackson will look like a freeze pop and make the mistakes that will cost the Ravens this game. The Bills defense my gut feeling says will play their best game of the year as they are healthy.
In the wild card round last weekend, the Bills Legend of the Game was former defensive lineman, Kyle Williams. The Legend of the Game’s job in Buffalo is to pump up the crowd before the game. Right before the kickoff between the visiting Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills, Williams’ speech was an oldie but a goody for the Bills Mafia.
Kyle Williams delivered as he screamed through the microphone as every Bills fan even not at Highmark Stadium around the nation had that ringing through their ears sending goose bumps in a feeding frenzy on their arms. Kyle used the Bills former legendary head coach Marv Levy’s line. “Where else would you rather be as the crowd screamed… BUFFALO!”
The Bills went on and won that game with the second half slaughter of the ponies from Denver. Now the Bills brass turns the Legend of the Game to former Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as the Legend of the Game in the divisional round on Sunday night versus the Baltimore Ravens. The Bills Mafia are excited as Fitzpatrick has been a fan favorite and they are hoping to have the luck of the FITZMAGIC paying off dividends in this clash of titans match up between the visiting Ravens and Buffalo.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was originally drafted by the LA Rams back in 2005 in the 7th round of the NFL draft from Harvard University. He has played for nine different teams in the NFL. The list starts with the Rams, Bills, Jets, Dolphins, Bengals, Buccaneers, Titans, Texans, and the Redskins. Fitzpatrick played in 166 NFL games and had a record of 59-87-1 with 34,990 passing yards. He threw 223 touchdown passes and was always a gunslinger at heart. When you’re a gunslinger, you are going to throw interceptions and he had 169 of them. Fitzpatrick’s 17 year NFL career he played with the Bills the longest which was 4 seasons. During those 4 seasons he had a 20-33 record completing 59.8% of his passes for 11,654 passing yards with 80 touchdown passes and 64 interceptions in 55 games. The Bills went through a 17 year post-season drought and during that span Fitzpatrick was probably the team’s best QB. After Buffalo, Fitzpatrick and his beard became a mercenary, a QB for hire, and went team to team. He never guided a team to the post-season but came close. During 17 years in the NFL, his 223 touchdown passes were the most thrown ever by an Ivy league graduate. In 2018 wearing a Buccaneers uniform, he threw over 400 passing yards in 3 consecutive games which is a NFL record he has to himself. He has thrown 4 total games with 400 or more passing yards in his career which is tied with the great Dan Marino and Peyton Manning for the most all-time in NFL history. Being QB for hire has set some other NFL records. He is the first ever QB to start for 9 different teams. He is also the first QB to throw at least one touchdown pass for 8 different franchises. The Redskins were the only team he played for that he did not get that touchdown pass.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has a 17 year career in the NFL and is now an analyst for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime video. Obviously still saving that Harvard education for a rainy day. In 17 years in the NFL with multiple teams, he probably had great memories at each place. His home was where he played the most games. The place he became a bonafide NFL quarterback wearing a Bills uniform. Wearing that number 14. As he built up a relationship with one of the best fan bases in sports, the Bills Mafia which never forgets. In January of 2022 when the Bills were at home for a playoff game against the hated Patriots, guess who was shirtless in the crowd with his sons rooting on the Bills.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was. The Bills won that game against their archrival that night. Fitzpatrick as an Amazon Prime analyst always shows the love of the Bills over the years. After one of the Thursday night games, Josh Allen met with the post-game show which included Fitzpatrick wearing one of his old number 14 jerseys. Then this past season Fitzpatrick went shirtless on the set after a Bills win during the post-game show.
That night Josh Allen was the guest once again and Fitzpatrick finished the show shirtless. So obviously Fitzmagic is a great pick for the Legend of Honors guest this weekend when the Bills will need that crowd pumped up and more versus a great Ravens team. The biggest question of the day: Will Fitzpatrick be firing up this crowd shirtless in single digit weather this Sunday night or will he be covered from his waist and up? If you’re a Bills fan, your pecking order of favorite QB all time might be Josh Allen Jim Kelly flipped either way at 1 and 2. I was not around for the 1960’s or the 70’s watching the Bills quarterback play back then. Number three could be Doug Flutie or Ryan Fitzpatrick. You could flip those two choices either way as well. We know Fitzpatrick pumping up the crowd will be legendary and “must see” television. If the Bills win, Fitzpatrick may be a staple at the Legend of the Game status for years to come. Let’s hope they do win. Nothing wrong with a little luck of the FITZMAGIC for the Buffalo Bills and the Mafia.
The NFL is must see television for what takes place on the field and off the field. We have come up with the ten people that we think were the biggest losers this season in the NFL and hurt their own team in the process. Guys that get paid millions of dollars to act like spoiled children. Some of them had temper tantrums and lost their cool. Some of these guys should call it a career and hang up the spikes for the the performance just on the field. I even threw one owner under the bus because he should sell the team not knowing anything about the game itself. Not putting the right people in charge. I could have added other owners as well. All these guys should be heckled for what they have done this season in some way or the other. I have a list of ten names starting with top of the barrel pond scum working all the way down to the depths of just putrefied organisms that don’t need light to survive.
#10. DE’VONDE CAMPBELL 49ERS
Once you quit on your own team, there is no turning back. No way to spin the situation to your own favor. It was a Thursday night game between the 49ers and Rams. De’Vonde Campbell made 12 starts this season at outside linebacker for the 49ers replacing the injured Dre Greenlaw. When Greenlaw came back, Campbell went to the bench. Greenwell re-injured himself in that first game he played. Campbell refused to go into the game, walked off the field, and headed back to the locker room. Dude, why did you even suit up for the game? The 49ers pretty much after the game released Campbell. He annoyed many of his teammates in the process pulling a move like that. Campbell has played in the NFL 9 seasons & probably has made enough money to retire. I don’t think he will field any offers from other teams any time soon.
#9. SHAHID KHAN
I would be nauseated to be a Jacksonville Jaguar fan. Believe me people have witnessed me being a Bears fan and we have one of the worst owners in the NFL. Anytime the Jaguars find their way to the post-season after piling up bad season after bad season, it crumbles right away. Is Trevor Lawrence a stud or dud quarterback? How many coaches has Shahid Khan been through since he purchased this team? The whispers you heard about him wanting to move the Jaguars to London, England are so irritating. Why do the Jaguars still play multiple games in England every season? Doug Pederson looked like a good hire. The Florida sun melted his brain away as he was fired on Black Monday. Who will the big name be this time? The uniforms are hideous. The team looked like it had promise for years to come and then goes to shambles that quickly. I’d rather have Kobra Khan owning the Jaguars which is the least talked about Florida team in the state, than Mr. Oil Wells Shahid or however he became a rich cat. Mr. needs to hire somebody that knows football. Someone that can find that next head coach they need. Stay out of London. Just stay out of the football operations period.
#8. ODELL BECKHAM JR.
Odell Beckham Jr. is a dog that should be put down. He should not be some final piece for some playoff team in some crazy idea to help them win the Superbowl. He was supposed to be that 3rd winger in the Miami aerial attack that was going to be the better version of the greatest show on turf the 1999 Rams. In 9 games, Beckham had 9 catches for 55 yards. The Dolphins eventually cut ties with him. It seems like the injury with the Rams in the Superbowl is still lingering. He did have a big game in that Superbowl before going down with an injury. No front office in the league should pay this dirt bag more than the minimum next year. He should just hang up the spikes and call it a career is what my eyes are telling me. Take him to the vet and put him down. He’s the kind of dog you take out back of the shed.
#7. KIRK COUSINS OR THE ATLANTA FALCONS
Can you blame Kirk Cousins taking a 4 year deal worth 180 million? No way I’m turning down that kind of cheddar. Cousins got this type of money coming off a serious Achilles tendon injury with Minnesota during the 2023 season. Cousins went 7-7 as a starter for the Falcons. He finished with 18 touchdown passes compared to 16 interceptions. He was rusty out of the gates. Captain Kirk got better as the season went on. The Falcons at one point looked like they would win the NFC South. Then the wheels came off the bus towards the end of the season for Cousins as he looked bad. More interceptions than touchdown passes down the stretch. Definitely not worth that amount of money he got paid. The Falcons were getting criticized for drafting Michael Penix number 8 in the NFL draft after giving the big money to Cousins. Penix looks like a solid pick. Now you’re stuck with Cousins eating away the salary cap next season if you don’t trade him. How many stupid Cleveland Browns franchises are out there that would want to trade for Cousins? Speaking of the Browns, they need a QB. You’re stuck with cap problems now in Atlanta. Cousins could be better next season after only one full season since the injury. He’s 36 years of age and he should have never got that kind of money in the first place. Now you have Penix. You do not need Cousins. But you may be stuck with the most expensive back up QB in the league.
#6. AZEEZ AL SHAAIR HOUSTON TEXANS
Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended for three games for a hit on Jacksonville’s Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he gave himself up on a slide. Al-Shaair ended up hitting Lawrence in the head and knocked him out of the game. Lawrence would be carted off with a concussion. Al-Shaair then was involved in the brawl between the Jaguars and the Texans that took place after the hit. Then he was kicked out of the game and heading into the locker room. Then things would get hostile again with more Jaguars players. He had his helmet off during some of this conflict and looked like a mad man possessed. The Texans line backer was fined twice for late hits out of bounds before he ended Lawrence’s season. When he played for the 49ers years before he had one play, he clutched Tom Brady’s throat a few years back. We may give him a hall pass on that play. Of course he apologized after the game in hopes the league would go easier on him after the Lawrence hit. He said he went to a dark place after the suspension. Tick tick tick. Just like a time bomb ready to explode as he most likely will not learn from flying off the handle like he done.
#5.TYREEK HILL MIAMI DOLPHINS
Tyreek Hill is another guy that quit on his team in the last week of regular season. The Dolphins needed to beat the Jets. They also needed the Broncos to lose to the Chiefs to qualify for post-season. The Chiefs rested many of their starters and the Broncos pretty much had an easy day at the office. Meanwhile the Dolphins were losing to the Jets. You have to think Hill was scoreboard watching in the 3rd quarter. That is when he walked off the field and called it a day and a season. The words from his teammate were caught on the microphone from wide receiver Jaylen Waddle with his hands up in confusion. “Hey Cheetah. You done?”
The clock was stopped as the Jets had challenged the previous play late in the third. Hill sat down on the bench the Dolphins would go on without their star receiver down only 18-6 with plenty of time remaining. After the game, Hill would say to reporters that he was dealing with an issue. Everyone assuming an injury. McGenius Mike McDaniel after the game said he was unaware of any injury. Even though he knew that post-season was not in the cards this season, he left his brothers to fight the rest of the battle. A division rival is enough to play for? Even ending the season on a high note with a win can benefit the team next year. Leaving your guys out there too while he sat on the bench is why this prima dona makes this list. He has always had that reputation of a guy that needs the ball or else he will bitch. He thinks he walks on water. No I in team Mr. Hill. Which is giving him too much respect.
#4. AARON RODGERS
Why would the New York Jets bring back Aaron Rodgers? Just because he beat the Dolphins in the last week of the season. Rodgers now joins that elite 500 touchdown club of quarterbacks to have thrown that many touchdown passes. He made history, but Rodgers has single-handedly destroyed the Jets team this season. The Jets were in need of a quarterback before they signed Rodgers. At the time they had a young stud defense. They had some intriguing play makers both at the running back position and in the wide receiver room. Signing Rodgers was going to solve all their problems. It did not happen. In year one Rodgers would only last a few plays in his Jets debut as he tore his Achilles tendon and was sidelined for the entire season. Rodgers played all the games this past regular season. He got the Jets head coach fired. He even got the Jets General Manager fired. After all the moves he made, Rodgers did not pan out. Rodgers played most of the season like shit. He blamed others rather than taking the blame himself on why the team was a disappointment. He was a cancer in that Jets locker room. It’s time for Rodgers to go back to the darkness retreat cave and hang up the spikes for good. I know he will resurface with another team because he will want more touchdown passes than his former teammate, Brett Farve. Which he is not far away in the pecking order. Some stupid team will take a risk on Rodgers once again. He may follow the same Farve path and go to Minnesota after his Jets career comes crashing down.
#3. TYRIQUE STEVENSON
The corner back for the Chicago Bears is more mush mouth than a defender in the NFL. Tyrique Stevenson has been in the NFL two seasons and the Bears should have cut him for taunting fans in Washington in the last play of the game with time still on the clock. It could happen to anyone. No, it does not. It happens to stupid people who want to be noticed and want to be important. Jayden Daniels and the Commanders set up for the Hail Mary play while Stevenson was taunting the Washington fan base on the field. He then was late to the party in the end zone as he let his guy be wide open in the end zone. Instead of covering the open man, he went for the ball. The ball was tipped right to an open receiver and Commanders win the game. Stevenson turns into a laughing stock and the butt of all jokes around the water cooler Monday morning. He has not learned his lesson after that game. Still taunting players on the other team and hooting and hollering. He has probably cost the Bears more games with his play than actually helping your team win games.
#2.DESHAUN WATSON
Karma is a bitch you scum bag. Deshaun Watson is a sociopath who will never admit he is wrong in being a sexual predator. His play on the field this season means he should look in the mirror because he is not worth 230 million dollars as the Browns made the worst trade in NFL history… period. On October 20th, Deshaun Watson’s season ended when he tore his Achilles tendon. It’s the second year in a row where his season ended early with an injury.The Dawg Pound, which is the home crowd for the Browns, booed him off the field because he is a dirt bag. Not because he was injured. Watson blamed others this season yelling at his offensive linemen because of his bad play. Just like having over 20 different women file sexual assault charges against you. In which you paid them to go away. If that is not guilty, then give me a million dollars and I’ll write sweet things about you. Karma bit him in the rear recently as he tore the same Achilles tendon practicing in Miami and will need another 7 months to recover and may miss most of the 2025 season. I will not celebrate someone being injured even if it’s a dirt bag like Watson. Watson should not be the second highest paid player in the NFL. He still has two years remaining on his deal. He would be better just to go away and perhaps join Aaron Rodgers in his darkness retreat cave. He will eventually resurface. Snakes usually do.
#1 GEORGE PICKENS
The Pittsburgh Steelers really know how to draft bipolar play makers. Everyone remembers crazy Antonio Brown who has played most of his NFL career without a full deck upstairs. Let’s not forget running back Le’Veon Bell, another doozy the Steelers drafted. The latest Steeler play maker that has a few missing screws in his head is wide receiver George Pickens. He’s only in his third year in the NFL and looked like he was going to be a solid receiver for the Steelers for years to come. The great Pickens blamed the snow as the big reason why Jameis Winston and the Browns beat the Steelers. Like it was not snowing when the Browns had the ball and scored in that game. In the final play of that game after the failed Hail Mary, Pickens got into a scuffle with Browns corner back Greg Newsome II. The two got tangled up on the final play. Then weeks later Pickens is targeted 6 times versus the Bengals and he dropped three of them and ended up with zero yards for the day. Pickens’ demeanor was pathetic on the sidelines in the last few weeks. He was upset with fans and was held back in one occasion. He was late for the Christmas game when the Steelers played the Chiefs that afternoon. The Steelers fans would love to ride this guy out of town. Look for Pickens to be in another uniform next season. It does not pay to be young and stupid.
Our record in the NFL regular season does not mean anything and is thrown out the window when it comes to the post-season. Now we dive into the first round of the playoffs and we dissect each match up the best we can. We have predictions for each match up. We hope the Kansas City Chiefs get ousted and do not make the Superbowl. That is my first goal. Which many of you have the same opinion. We do not want to see that meathead Travis Kelce rejoicing with multiple Taylor Swift showings in a Superbowl win. The Chiefs and Lions have that first round bye. Next week we hope we have a prediction to axe the Chiefs out of the tournament. My second goal is to try to make the right prediction on each match up in front of me. These match ups are intense because many of these games can go either way. These are my wild card picks. All games are straight Pick-Em and nothing to do with the spread. Hope we knock each match up out of the park.
NFL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND STRAIGHT PICK-EM
SATURDAY GAMES
AFC
#5.LA CHARGERS (11-6) AT #4.HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7)
NO PLAYOFF HISTORY
It seems like the Houston Texans have locked down the first game of the post-season that is always scheduled on Saturday afternoon. Jim Harbaugh looks to become the second head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in his first season with two different teams.
C.J Stroud is (1-1) in post-season with both games coming last season. Justin Herbert is (0-1) all time in post-season. He started that game where the Chargers blew a 27 point half time lead to the Jaguars.
The Texans were the experts’ sexy pick going into the regular season with the belief that they would go deep into the post-season. The Chargers lost many players in the off-season and it looked more like a rebuilding year for them. Jim Harbaugh has a lucky horseshoe up his rear because he can turn around a franchise quickly and he did. Many did not expect the Chargers to make it to post-season. Justin Herbert has thrown the least amount of interceptions. He goes against the defense that have the most interceptions this past season. Chargers have been rolling while the Texans have been stumbling most of the second half of regular season. CJ Stroud is struggling with two of his top receivers done for the season in Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. The Chargers offense can eat up the clock with a well-balanced attack by Harbaugh. The Chargers pass rush will cause Stroud some problems. From the eye test, the Texans have not been good while the Chargers have played solid football for several weeks now. The Texans are just off to me. They are going through the motions and are not the same team that beat the Browns in the first round of post-season last year. I like Herbert taking care of the football and milking away the clock to a mistake-free game by LA.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
AFC
#6.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) AT #3.BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Steelers (3-1) Ravens
These two division rivals, the Steelers and Ravens, will meet for the 3rd time this season. They split the regular season series (1-1).
Russell Wilson is (9-7) all-time in the post-season. All of those games for Wilson came wearing a Seahawks uniform. Then Lamar Jackson who is (2-4) all time in post-season. Jackson went (1-1) in post-season last year.
Lamar Jackson slayed the Steelers dragon in the last meeting when these two teams faced off. The Ravens gave the Steelers a good solid beat down. The Steelers have struggled down the stretch as they are on a 4 game losing streak. For Jackson, the Steelers are the only team all-time in the division he has a losing record to, as he is only (3-5) all-time. The Steelers will be looking to insert their back up QB in certain situations and see if Justin Fields can provide an offensive spark. The Steelers offense need a jump start because the Wilson battery has run dry. The Steelers defense played well versus a top offense in the league last week holding Joe Burrow’s Bengals to 19. The Steelers only scored 17. The Ravens have put up a ton of points and their defense has gotten better. The Ravens defense is nowhere near what they were last season in post-season. One of the top units in the league. Mike Tomlin Steelers have lost their last 5 playoffs games as they’ve been one and done. I see it happening again. The Steelers will use Derrick Henry and Jackson’s legs to eventually wear out a Steelers defense that will show up and play well. The question is: Where’s the Beef in the Steelers offense? Fields is not the answer.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
SUNDAY GAMES
AFC
#7.DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) AT #2.BUFFALO BILLS (13-4)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: BILLS (1-0) BRONCOS
Last Sunday the Broncos needed to win to get in. They did it at home versus the Chiefs and blew them out (38-0). The Chiefs rested 10 of their starters. The Bills rested many of their starters in a loss to the Patriots in New England.
The rookie quarterback for the Broncos, Bo Nix, will make his first career playoff start. The Bills’ Josh Allen has started 10 playoff games where he is (5-5) all-time.
The Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. The Bills have one of the best offenses in the league. Can Bo Nix thrive on the road in a very hard place to win in Buffalo? The Broncos will have to take advantage of the Bills’ 3rd down defense which is the worst in this post-season tournament. Last year Sean Payton came into Buffalo with Russell Wilson and beat the Bills in a regular season game. The Bills are a different animal than that team. You can not pin down one guy on this Bills offense. The Bills offense line is solid and Allen can make plays on the run which can cripple even the best of the best defenses in the league. Bills are (8-0) at home this season. They are (4-1) under Allen in the wild card round. The Bills will be healthier on defense, which they will need. I think the Broncos will play well. The Bills have done well against rookie QB’s. The Broncos have struggled winning games against teams with a winning record. The Bills Mafia behind you in this one will not help this Broncos team. Bills prevail in the second half and put the Broncos away late third quarter.
OUR PICK: BILLS
NFC
#7.GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-6) AT #2.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (14-3)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Eagles (2-1) Packers
The Packers lost to the Eagles during the regular season. Jalen Hurts will be back for this game as he missed the last few games from a concussion. The Packers have a concern with Jordan Love’s elbow which he hurt playing the Bears in the final game of the season.
Jordan Love is (1-1) as a starter in post-season. Jalen Hurts had the Eagles in the Superbowl a few seasons ago and has a (2-3) playoff record as a starter.
Can Jordan Love have a short memory mentally and not relive the injury he suffered when the Packers played this same Eagles team in Brazil? Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns in that game versus the Packers. Barkley has three straight games versus the Packers where he has tallied at least 100 or more scrimmage yards in those contests. The Packers are still one of the youngest teams in the NFL. So, can they pull out an upset in this one? Josh Jacobs has been unstoppable in recent weeks and did not play the full game versus the Bears. He did not leave the game with an injury. I have some concern over Love’s elbow injury. I think the Eagles defense can contain Jacobs from not having a huge game. The Packers have not done well record-wise against teams with winning records this season. They have given these teams battles but have fallen short. This is a game where you think the Packers can pull off the upset. I feel Jalen Hurts will respond with a nice game and use Barkley to do most of the heavy lifting. Love makes mistakes and he will throw 1 or 2 interceptions that the Eagles will cash in on. Then eventually Philadelphia will prevail at home which is a tough place to win.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
NFC
#6.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (12-5) AT #3.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-7)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Buccaneers (2-1) Redskins
Jayden Daniels should be a lock for rookie of the year for the Commanders. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders and ruined the debut of Daniels’ first start in the NFL in the first week of the season.
This will be the first ever playoff start for the rookie Jayden Daniels who guided the Commanders to post-season in his very first season in the NFL. For Baker Mayfield, this will be his 5th start in the post-season. He is (2-2) all-time in post-season. Mayfield beat the Eagles last season & then lost to the Lions in the divisional game.
This game has the signs to be an old fashioned shoot out between the Commanders and the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers offense ranks number (4) in the NFL scoring 29.5 (PPG) points per game. The Commanders ranked number 5 in points per game in the NFL with 28.5 PPG. Who has the better defense? The Buccaneers defense since the bye in week 11 have allowed only 17 PPG. The Buccaneers defense are (6-1) down the stretch of the season. They have allowed only 3.3 in the second half of that stretch. Meanwhile the Commanders defense is better versus the pass than the run. The Commanders rank number 30 against the run this season in the NFL. This should be good for Buck Irving who is probably licking his chops because when he reached the 80 mark in yards on the ground, the Buccaneers are (6-0) in that 7 game stretch to end the season. The Commanders have had some magical comebacks in the last few weeks. Besides the Hail Mary play by Daniels versus the Bears, he had a nice drive to put the Eagles on ice a few weeks back. It may be who has the ball last is the team that wins this score fest. The Buccaneers still have many holdovers from that Tom Brady led team a few years back. The Commanders lack the post-season experience as the Buccaneers have did this and done that. I like Mayfield to stay red hot. I think Daniels makes a great impression in his first ever start in the NFL. The Commanders fall short. Perhaps like a field goal short.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
MONDAY NIGHT
NFC
#5.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-3) AT #4.LA RAMS (10-7)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: RAMS 5-2 VIKINGS
This game will be played at Arizona, home of the Cardinals, who are on the couch watching the post-season. They moved the game due to the LA wildfires that are creating havoc on the west coast.
Matthew Stafford has won a Superbowl and is (4-4) all-time in post-season play. Then you have Sam Darnold who has never started a playoff game in his NFL career. Darnold has played in one playoff game as a 49er in a mop up role.
The Vikings were brought back down to Earth last week on Sunday night versus the Lions. It snapped an impressive winning streak of 9 games and at the same time, the loss dropped them to the number 5 seed. If they would have won, they would have a first round bye with the number 1 seed. The Rams have had a roller coaster season for them up and down, they are very streaky and could be very dangerous in the post-season. The Vikings this season won 14 games which is the most ever by a wild card team in NFL history. The Vikings lost to the Rams in regular season. The Vikings defense could not contain the Rams receiver Puka Nacua who had a big game. Brian Flores, the defensive coach, has elevated this Viking defense to another level which should throw everything at the Rams including the kitchen sink. Both the Rams and the Vikings defenses have to blitz these quarterbacks to throw their game off. The Lions did that to Sam Darnold last week and he missed some easy throws. This match up has some stud receivers as we need to mention Cooper Kupp, the other Rams weapon of mass destruction. Then the Vikings may have the best receiver in the NFC in Justin Jefferson. Both teams have a solid running game behind them. This could be a shoot out, but it would not surprise me if the score ends up like 20-17 either. In close games, the Vikings know how to seal the deal. The Rams baffle me because they can score 40-something points versus the Bills and then be held to 13 against the Cardinals. Both teams have young bright minds as head coaches. Sean McVay seems to be on a different level than most leaders in the game. You have to chalk up experience to Stafford. Did the deal that Darnold signed with the devil expire last week in Detroit? If the Vikings are going to win this, they need Darnold to have a good game. The Rams are too unpredictable down the stretch with that offensive output each contest was lower than a limbo stick. The Rams have a weakness at the corner back position. I think the Vikings can exploit that. The best record of a wild card team before this was the Tennessee Titans at 13-3 and they went to the Superbowl in 1999. Unfortunately they played the St. Louis Rams in that one and lost. I like the Vikings defense to turn things around. This game is on a neutral field in Arizona which should benefit the Vikings. Viking are my road warrior of the weekend.
The final NFL week of regular season we may as well flip a coin for some of these week 18 match ups.
LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (12-4)
WEDNESDAY ACTION: (1-1)
THURSDAY SEASON RECORD: (11-8)
FRIDAY’S RECORD: (1-1)
SATURDAY WHAT A DAY RECORD: (5-0)
MONDAY NIGHT RECORD: (15-5)
SEASON RECORD: (172-84)
NFL WEEK 18 STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THE SATURDAY GAMES
CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-13) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-5)
Only Myles Garrett for the Browns will show up in this first match up of week 18. Garrett and Trey Hendrickson are tied for the league in sacks with 14. I can see Garrett being amped up for that title, the sack master. The Ravens wrap up the AFC North with a win here. The Browns have checked out as a team several weeks ago. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will run the Ravens their 4th AFC North title in the last 7 seasons.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-8) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-6)
The second game on the docket for Saturday has two teams that have something to play for. The Bengals have won 4 straight and need this win over the Steelers. They hope the Dolphins lose and the Broncos to get into the playoffs. If the Ravens win, the Steelers will know they can’t win the division as they have a playoff berth clinched coming in. The Steelers want to win and perhaps face a banged up Texans team over a rematch against a very talented Ravens team. The first time Bengals and Steelers met, Pittsburgh won 44-38. The Steelers were 10-3 sitting pretty until they lost 3 straight games. Joe Burrow and the Bengals could be a dangerous team if they find their way into the post-season. The Bengals offense has been clicking and their bad defense has found ways to create turnovers. This is a divisional game & these teams dislike each other. I like Mike Tomlin and that Steeler defense to find a way and make a statement while stopping the bleeding and win this one. Bengals will make several changes in the off-season hoping not to dig themselves an early grave in the beginning of the season.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
NEW YORK GIANTS (3-13) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-3)
This game could have had some interest as the former Giant running back now Eagle was going for Eric Dickerson’s single season record for rushing yards. Saquon Barkley just needed 101 yards to break the former Rams record. Barkley sees the grand scheme of things as Philadelphia wants to make a playoff run to the Superbowl representing the NFC. This game really means nothing to either team. I’m not buying what the Giants did last week versus the Colts. The Eagles will rest several players, but Philadelphia will still prevail over this New York team that is no good.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-11) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-7)
Could the New Orleans Saints win one for their city here? After the tragic event that took place on Bourbon Street in the wee hours of the morning on New Year’s Day could this Saints team rally and find a way to beat the Buccaneers? The Buccaneers need this win to clinch the NFC South and they have been playing some solid football over the last several weeks. The Saints team in the past came out clicking on all cylinders after Hurricane Katrina. That was a different Saints team. This Saints team in present day is decimated by injuries. Baker Mayfield has looked unstoppable for weeks as their offense exploded last weekend with a beat down of the Panthers. Saints play well in this one to start with emotions at a high level. The Buccaneers prevail in the second half as they are the better team and the division is on the line.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
HOUSTON TEXANS (9-7) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (3-13)
The Texans already have the number 4 seed in the AFC locked up, winning the South division. The Titans have lost 5 straight as they will go with dueling QB’s in this one. Will Levis will get another look along with Mason Rudolf. The Texans have lost two straight, this team has struggled, and everyone will play even though this game means nothing. The Texans looking to go into post-season with a high note with a win. The last time these two teams met was only a few weeks ago as the Titans upset the Texans. For the Titans, if they lose this one and Patriots win, they have the number one pick. Maybe use that pick for a Quarterback. I like the Texans cleaning up their act here and taking this final game because of the challenge by their head coach.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-12) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (8-8)
The Falcons are not in control of their own destination as they once were. The Falcons need to win against these Panthers. They need the Buccaneers to lose to the Saints to win the NFC South. This game they should win as Panthers QB Bryce Young is 0-12 in his young career on the road. Michael Penix has so far played pretty good in his first two career starts in the NFL. He should be licking his chops because the Panthers defense gave up over 500 yards of offense last week to the Buccaneers including 5 touchdowns through the air. The Panthers will have several defenders out in this one. The Falcons will certainly use the running game to set up the pass and come away with a winning record this season but will be home for the playoffs. The signing of Kirk Cousins meant the team was clicking there for awhile until the wheels fell off the veteran QB. Penix has provided a spark. Too little too late for the Falcons as the Buccaneers have been one of the hotter teams right now in the NFC.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (11-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (7-9)
The Cowboys stunned the Commanders in their first meeting of the season. At the time the Cowboys were looking awful, the Commanders had a winning streak. The Cowboys were blown out of the water by the Eagles last week. The Cowboys may start Trey Lance in this contest. The Commanders are in the post-season and have won 4 straight games. The Commanders could get a better seed as a wild card with a win and a Packers loss by the Bears. I don’t see the Cowboys sneaking up on the Commanders this go-around. Look for Jayden Daniels to finish the regular season strong and earn those Rookie of the Year honors.
OUR PICK: COMMANDERS
CHICAGO BEARS (4-12) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5)
The oldest rivalry in the NFL, the Packers and Bears, seems to have been one sided for decades in Green Bay’s favor. The Head Coach of the Packers, Matt LaFleur, has never lost to the Bears and is 11-0 all-time versus Chicago since he arrived. The Bears Interim Head Coach, Thomas Brown, finally got something from his defense last week holding the Seahawks to 6 points. The Bears offense only scored three. The Bears have not won a game in a very long time. They have lost ten straight. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is trying to avoid being sacked the most in NFL history as a rookie quarterback that was set by David Carr who was brought down to the turf 76 times his first season. Williams has 67. The Packers want to stay ahead of the Commanders in seeding as they have a playoff berth clinched but don’t want to fall to the bottom of the totem pole in the NFC brackets. Packers are at home and I like their defense, and Jordan Love will do well. The Bears are one of the bottom feeders in the NFL and the Packers have done well dispatching those kinds of teams.
OUR PICK: PACKERS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-12) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-9)
How did the Colts lose to the Giants last week? Joe Flacco and that Colts team blew that game and were ousted out of the playoff picture. The Jaguars have given some teams some battles, but they did nothing special in a Raiders loss last week. I think Joe Flacco is better than Mac Jones. Jonathan Taylor has been running through and around opposing teams’ defenses with big games the last few weeks. The Jaguars should just take a knee and go with a better draft pick. The Colts blew a playoff chance last season in their last game of the season. They check that box already. Watch them have a big day against the worst pass defense in the league to close out their season.
OUR PICK: COLTS
BUFFALO BILLS (13-3) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-13)
It seems like yesterday when the Patriots with Tom Brady were not playing for anything in the last game of the season versus the Bills. The script has been flipped indeed. The Bills have the number seed locked down in the AFC. Josh Allen will start the game to keep a consecutive streak of 104 games intact. Look for the Bills to go with Mitch Trubisky very quickly. The Patriots should just kneel down in this one to get the number one pick overall in next season’s draft. I think the Patriots have found their QB in Drake Maye so the Pats could cash in on the number one pick by trading teams in need of a QB. They’d get extra draft capital out of it. The Bills will rest guys. I think the Bills young players will blossom in this game due to the performance the Patriots had versus the Chargers last Saturday. Look for Ray Davis to have a big game running the ball. Trubisky has won some games in the NFL, so he will try to defeat the Patriots in relief of Allen and have success doing it. Give me the Bills to get that 14th win and feel good going into the playoffs with certain guys rested for the post-season
OUR PICK: BILLS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-9)
Rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. needs only 14 yards receiving to beat his father’s 1st season of 836. Junior coming into the last game of the season has 822 yards and may want to have a big day and perhaps find that 1,000 yard club in receiving. The 49ers will be without their starting QB Brock Purdy who was injured on Monday night. The 49ers will go with Josh Dobbs, a former Cardinal. The Cardinals played well against a good Rams team last week with nothing to play for holding them to only 13 points. The Cardinals know what to expect from Dobbs. Kyler Murray will end the season with a bang to keep this organization thinking he’s a number one guy behind center for years to come.
OUR PICK: CARDINALS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-1) AT DENVER BRONCOS (9-7)
The Chiefs have nothing to play for here locking up the number one seed and first round bye. Or do they? If the Chiefs lose, that ends the Bengals season for sure if they win Saturday night. The Broncos need a win & they would be in the post-season. No Patrick Mahomes in this one. The Chiefs will rest starters and veteran Carson Wentz will get the nod as the starting QB in this one. The thing is: Is it more important for the Chiefs to knock out a division rival over another team? The thoughts of Joe Burrow are probably playing in many AFC heads this final week of the season. For the Broncos they should have won at Kansas City. It was a blocked field goal with only seconds remaining that could have been a walk off for Denver. The Chiefs have been lucky with many wins this season. That game was with Mahomes at QB. This Denver defense is talented. Bo Nix is a rookie but has played well. The Chiefs will have other guys resting in this one, not just Mahomes. I like Denver’s chances.
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7) AT LA RAMS (10-6)
The Rams have the division wrapped up and really don’t need anything in this game. LA is starting Jimmy G. Some may have thought Jimmy Garoppolo hung up the spikes from a bad season in Vegas. The former 49er found a job as Matthew Stafford’s back-up, a guy who has a record of 43-20 as a starter in the NFL. The Seahawks crumbled like a house of cards at the end of this season. Seattle was lucky to escape Chicago only putting up 6 points and winning. Geno Smith has something to play for 6 million smackers in contract incentives. I think Seattle should be done with the Smith experiment and find a better QB for the future. The Rams will rest guys. Look for Seattle to finish strong for their rookie Head Coach, Mike Macdonald, who will look good in year one with a 10-7 record rather than 9-8.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
LA CHARGERS (10-6) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-12)
The Raiders tight end, Brock Bowers, needs 9 receptions in his last game of the season to break Zach Ertz’s record of 116 catches by a tight end in NFL history. Ertz set that tight end record in 2018. The Raiders have won two straight games with Aiden O’Connell behind center. For the Chargers if the Steelers lose their game on Saturday night, the Chargers could get the higher seed in the AFC playoffs than Pittsburgh with a win. Even if the Chargers are playing for nothing, I see a Jim Harbaugh-coached team finding a way with whoever he has out there on the field to notch a victory.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-8) AT NEW YORK JETS (4-12)
Could this be Aaron Rodgers’ last season in a Jets uniform? It may be Rodgers’ last season in the NFL. If I was a team, I would not want Rodgers and I don’t care if I was desperate at the QB position. He is a team cancer, period. He may go out a winner in this match-up with the Dolphins. Miami will be playing without their starting QB Tua Tagovailoa. That means Tyler Huntley, the former Ravens QB, will get the nod behind center. The Dolphins need a win and some help to get a wild card spot in the post-season. The Dolphins had played horribly without Tua as the starter. I hate Rodgers. He goes out in the blazing glory as the Jets kick the Dolphins to the curb in this one.
OUR PICK: JETS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-2) AT DETROIT LIONS (14-2)
The Vikings versus the Lions for all the marbles in the final game of regular season. It looked like the Lions were the runaway train for the NFC North and number one seed in the conference. The winner of this game will be the NFC North Champs. They will be the number one seed in the NFC. They will get the first round bye. The Vikings have won 9 straight games. This will be the second time the Lions and Vikings played each other as Detroit won the first meeting in a close game. I expect another close affair in this winner take all. Both teams are in the post-season, but a loss sends one of these teams to the number 5 seed in the NFC. The number 5 seed would have a road game in the first round while the winner will rest up in the first round. Sometimes being the hunter is easier than holding down the fort. The Lions will have the home field. Both teams can score. The Vikings have the better defense which may be the factor in this one. The Lions have a lot of injuries. The Vikings seem like have mastered winning the close games. The Lions have blown many teams out of the water. Sam Darnold has played well in the last several weeks as we know Jared Goff has been amazing the entire season. This is must-see game. I like the Vikings having the last laugh in this one. I like their defense able to get the better pass rush and create mistakes that will benefit Minnesota here.
The Wild shamrock 