Hello everyone, and welcome to the NFL Postseason. Six games to kick things off this weekend, one of which is affected by the weather. Unfortunately, it isn't due to Winter Storm Cornball or whatever the Weather Channel is calling it this year (I understand the next storm happening in a few days will be called Dipshit, now this word from Designer Catheters). It's because of the firestorm that has plagued the Los Angeles area this week, which has forced the NFL to move it to Glendale, AZ. But that's on Monday.
Tomorrow, we have two games. One on CBS and the other on Amazon (and 159-year-old Al Michaels). The CBS game will be the Los Angeles Chargers traveling (and evacuating) to Houston to take on the Texans, on what will be the eighth straight wild card game in Houston to take place on a Saturday at 3:30 pm CST. In the words of Houston native Jim Nantz (who won't be calling the game; Ian Eagle has that assignment), it is a tradition unlike any other. The Chargers have been surging at the right time, while the Texans struggled to make it past the finish line (and were the beneficiaries of a division that was complete ass. The thoughts of America are with Los Angeles, as well as my pick. Give me the Chargers 27-17.
The Amazon game pits the Pittsburgh Steelers going down to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Three weeks ago, the Steelers had the inside track on the AFC North crown, then Russell Wilson turned into a pumpkin, and they collapsed, losing four in a row down to finish the regular season. Lamar Jackson will try once again to put playoff disappointments of the past behind him, and in this one I think he will (besides, they were my pick to win it all). Ravens 31-13.
Sunday has three games, the first being Denver at Buffalo on CBS. The last time these teams met was on MNF last season, with Denver prevailing after a second chance at a game-winning field goal. I don't think it will come down to a last second score this time around. Denver and Bo Nix will be game, but Buffalo will prevail 24-17.
The second game is a the first of two Week One rematches, as the Eagles and Packers, who met in Sao Paulo, Brazil to open the season, meet in Philadelphia this weekend. This is the fourth time they have met in the playoffs, including that classic 2004 4th and 26 game. The only win for GB came in 2010 interestingly enough, when the Packers and Mr. Discount Double Check began their run to the Super Bowl. Philadelphia will have Jaylen Hurts back, while the Packers won't have WR Christian Watson due to a torn ACL suffered last week vs. Chicago. I like Philly's defense better, and at home. Fly Eagles Fly, 24-20.
The nightcap of the Sunday tripleheader will be the one I'll look forward to the most for obvious reasons, as Washington travels to Tampa Bay for the second of our Week 1 rematches. The Bucs have ridden quite a surge since they were 4-6, winning six of their last seven to capture the NFC South. However...the Bucs are winless in prime time this year: at home to Baltimore, at Atlanta, at Kansas City, and at Dallas. Not only that, but the Bucs have also lost their last two home games on NBC; vs. Dallas in the '22 Wild Card and vs. the Rams in the '21 Divisional. And guess where the last Washington playoff victory came? The 2005 Wild Card round at Tampa. Hate to say it, but give me the Commanders in an upset, 24-23.
The finale of Wild Card weekend is as I mentioned before, in Arizona as the evacuating Los Angeles Rams face off against the Minnesota Vikings. Before the fires broke out in SoCal this week, I thought the Rams' home field advantage would be somewhat neutralized by the well-traveled Vikings fans. However, 35,000 Rams season ticketholders will make the trip to Phoenix to attend the game. Plus, I wonder if the neutrals (Arizona fans) will support their division rival? My thought is, are we going to see the good Sam Darnold or the bad one? I'm banking on the good one. Give me the Vikings, 27-21.
And as an added bonus, I'll throw in my pick for the CFP championship, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will upset the Ohio State Gigachads (so named because their head coach looks like a gigachad).
Enjoy the football this weekend!
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