NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round Picks
I'm glad that Bills/Jaguars game is over.
As great as it was for Bills fans to finally see their team in the playoffs and the charitable efforts of donating wings and hundreds of thousands of dollars to Andy Dalton's Foundation for the Bengals getting them into the playoffs, I'm happy, as a football fan, that their game with Jacksonville is over.
We all like a defensive struggle from time-to-time, but when the quarterback play is this bad, it's not a defensive struggle, its inept play from the offense.
I'll get to how bad Jaguars QB Blake Bortles was in a second, but first the Bills, who need to look for a quarterback this offseason.
QB Tyrod Taylor was 17 of 37 for 134-yards, an INT, and had 7 carries for 27-yards. Taylor took a hard hit late in the fourth quarter and had to be taken out of the game due to concussion protocol, so rookie Nathan Peterman entered the game to try and extend the Bills season. He did what he does best and that's end the game by throwing an interception. Peterman threw 52 passes this season, including the playoffs, and six of those pass attempts resulted in interceptions. That's 11.5% of the time. Without doing any research, that has to be one of the worst performances of any rookie quarterback who threw at least 50 passes in NFL history.
Buffalo needs to make a change at quarterback this offseason. Taylor most likely won't be back and although Peterman is just a rookie, he'll be a project if Buffalo thinks he's the future -- I don't think he's NFL quarterback material, just my advice.
Now for the Jaguars.
QB Blake Bortles was awful Sunday against the Bills, just absolutely dreadful. He completed 12 of 23 passes for 87-yards and a TD. He ran for 88-yards on 10 carries. When your quarterback has more rushing yards than passing yards, and both of those numbers are under 100, that's not good.
The Jaguars are a young team with a ton of talent. That defense is legit and one of the best in the league. Jacksonville picked up the option on Bortles' contract for next season and he's due to make $19 million in 2018. That's a lot of money for a guy who will never take you to a Super Bowl. Jacksonville's window is wide open and after watching Bortles this season, especially Sunday against an okay Bills team, you have to make a move and bring someone else in if you're Tom Coughlin. Eli Manning, Kirk Cousins, and Alex Smith could all be available this offseason and all three are much better options than Bortles.
As bad as the quarterback play was in Jacksonville, we'll get to see some great quarterback play this weekend. Matt Ryan, who was MVP last year, let's not forget, against Nick Foles. He's no Carson Wentz, but Foles has had his moments. Tom Brady, future Hall of Famer, against Marcus Mariota, who will have the best trivia question of all-time with who was the recipient of his first career playoff touchdown pass? The answer, himself. Ben Roethlisberger, future Hall of Famer, against, sigh, Blake Bortles. And Drew Brees, future Hall of Famer, against MVP candidate Case Keenum.
So, we have three future first ballot Hall of Famers, the reigning league MVP, a strong candidate for MVP this season, Nick Foles -- who was the first QB to post a perfect QB rating (158.3) while throwing 7 TD passes in a single-game -- and Blake Bortles.
I'll take it. Picks are next.
Divisional Round Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Atlanta over PHILADELPHIA
Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET (NBC)
It's hard to fathom that a six seed, who primarily plays in a dome, is favored to beat the number one seed on the road, outside in cold weather. With QB Carson Wentz out, not many people are giving Nick Foles and the Eagles a chance on Saturday afternoon and neither am I. The Eagles had the number four ranked defense and the third best rushing attack during the regular season and those are two things that can win you games in the playoffs. However, after watching the Falcons hold the number one scoring team in the league, the Los Angeles Rams, to just 13 points, I think they'll load the box to stop the run and make Nick Foles beat them, which I don't see happening. Falcons pull the "upset."
NEW ENGLAND over Tennessee
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS)
I give the Titans a lot of credit for coming back from 18-down to defeat the Chiefs at Arrowhead. That's no easy task and that win probably saves head coach Mike Mularkey his job for another season. QB Marcus Mariota played well and RB Derrick Henry rushed for 156-yards. Henry and the running game will be key as keeping Tom Brady on the sidelines is always important for any opposing team. If the Titans can run the ball in Foxborough on Saturday night, they'll have a chance against the Patriots. With a week off and plenty of time to prepare though, I have to go Patriots in this one and I have a feeling it won't even be close.
PITTSBURGH over Jacksonville
Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
No one is going to give the Jaguars a chance in Pittsburgh on Sunday, even though they beat the Steelers 30-9 earlier this season, and for good reason. It's hard to imagine Blake Bortles going into Pittsburgh, in the playoffs no less, and beating the Steelers. I ranted enough about Bortles earlier and if I'm Pittsburgh I put nine or 10 guys in the box on every play to stop Leonard Fournette and the running game. Put a spy on Bortles to prevent him from running and make Bortles throw the ball to beat you. As good as the Jaguars defense is, I don't see them holding the Steelers to nine points again and picking off Ben Roethlisberger five times, while taking two of those picks to the house. Unless Bortles plays the best game of his career, or the Jaguars score two touchdowns on defense again, their season will end on Sunday.
MINNESOTA over New Orleans
Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET (Fox)
Don't think the Vikings will win this game just because the defeated the Saints 29-19 in Week 1. Both of these teams are entirely different than they were four months ago and this should be the best game of the weekend. Back in September the Saints were just breaking in their sensational rookie draft class, -- no one knew RB Alvin Kamara would be this good -- and Adrian Peterson was one of the featured backs. Minnesota was also quite different as Sam Bradford started the game at quarterback and threw for 346-yards, while rookie RB Dalvin Cook rushed for 127-yards in his first NFL game. The Vikings won't have Bradford or Cook on Sunday and yet they're a much better team and they were in September. Hard to believe a team that loses its starting quarterback and running back still finds a way to go 13-3, win the division, and secure a first-round bye. I can't wait for this game. Future Hall of Famer Drew Brees and that terrific Saints offense going up against arguably the best defense in football, and a team who has a backup quarterback that is playing like an MVP. What's not to get excited about? I can see both teams winning this game, but with the Vikings having a real chance of being the first team to host the Super Bowl, I think they'll a little extra motivation -- not that playing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs needs extra motivation. Vikings get the win in one of the most entertaining games in playoff history.
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 166-94 (.638)
As great as it was for Bills fans to finally see their team in the playoffs and the charitable efforts of donating wings and hundreds of thousands of dollars to Andy Dalton's Foundation for the Bengals getting them into the playoffs, I'm happy, as a football fan, that their game with Jacksonville is over.
We all like a defensive struggle from time-to-time, but when the quarterback play is this bad, it's not a defensive struggle, its inept play from the offense.
I'll get to how bad Jaguars QB Blake Bortles was in a second, but first the Bills, who need to look for a quarterback this offseason.
QB Tyrod Taylor was 17 of 37 for 134-yards, an INT, and had 7 carries for 27-yards. Taylor took a hard hit late in the fourth quarter and had to be taken out of the game due to concussion protocol, so rookie Nathan Peterman entered the game to try and extend the Bills season. He did what he does best and that's end the game by throwing an interception. Peterman threw 52 passes this season, including the playoffs, and six of those pass attempts resulted in interceptions. That's 11.5% of the time. Without doing any research, that has to be one of the worst performances of any rookie quarterback who threw at least 50 passes in NFL history.
Buffalo needs to make a change at quarterback this offseason. Taylor most likely won't be back and although Peterman is just a rookie, he'll be a project if Buffalo thinks he's the future -- I don't think he's NFL quarterback material, just my advice.
Now for the Jaguars.
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| The only thing Blake Bortles did well on Sunday was run away from Bills defenders. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) |
The Jaguars are a young team with a ton of talent. That defense is legit and one of the best in the league. Jacksonville picked up the option on Bortles' contract for next season and he's due to make $19 million in 2018. That's a lot of money for a guy who will never take you to a Super Bowl. Jacksonville's window is wide open and after watching Bortles this season, especially Sunday against an okay Bills team, you have to make a move and bring someone else in if you're Tom Coughlin. Eli Manning, Kirk Cousins, and Alex Smith could all be available this offseason and all three are much better options than Bortles.
As bad as the quarterback play was in Jacksonville, we'll get to see some great quarterback play this weekend. Matt Ryan, who was MVP last year, let's not forget, against Nick Foles. He's no Carson Wentz, but Foles has had his moments. Tom Brady, future Hall of Famer, against Marcus Mariota, who will have the best trivia question of all-time with who was the recipient of his first career playoff touchdown pass? The answer, himself. Ben Roethlisberger, future Hall of Famer, against, sigh, Blake Bortles. And Drew Brees, future Hall of Famer, against MVP candidate Case Keenum.
So, we have three future first ballot Hall of Famers, the reigning league MVP, a strong candidate for MVP this season, Nick Foles -- who was the first QB to post a perfect QB rating (158.3) while throwing 7 TD passes in a single-game -- and Blake Bortles.
I'll take it. Picks are next.
Divisional Round Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Atlanta over PHILADELPHIA
Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET (NBC)
It's hard to fathom that a six seed, who primarily plays in a dome, is favored to beat the number one seed on the road, outside in cold weather. With QB Carson Wentz out, not many people are giving Nick Foles and the Eagles a chance on Saturday afternoon and neither am I. The Eagles had the number four ranked defense and the third best rushing attack during the regular season and those are two things that can win you games in the playoffs. However, after watching the Falcons hold the number one scoring team in the league, the Los Angeles Rams, to just 13 points, I think they'll load the box to stop the run and make Nick Foles beat them, which I don't see happening. Falcons pull the "upset."
NEW ENGLAND over Tennessee
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS)
I give the Titans a lot of credit for coming back from 18-down to defeat the Chiefs at Arrowhead. That's no easy task and that win probably saves head coach Mike Mularkey his job for another season. QB Marcus Mariota played well and RB Derrick Henry rushed for 156-yards. Henry and the running game will be key as keeping Tom Brady on the sidelines is always important for any opposing team. If the Titans can run the ball in Foxborough on Saturday night, they'll have a chance against the Patriots. With a week off and plenty of time to prepare though, I have to go Patriots in this one and I have a feeling it won't even be close.
PITTSBURGH over Jacksonville
Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
No one is going to give the Jaguars a chance in Pittsburgh on Sunday, even though they beat the Steelers 30-9 earlier this season, and for good reason. It's hard to imagine Blake Bortles going into Pittsburgh, in the playoffs no less, and beating the Steelers. I ranted enough about Bortles earlier and if I'm Pittsburgh I put nine or 10 guys in the box on every play to stop Leonard Fournette and the running game. Put a spy on Bortles to prevent him from running and make Bortles throw the ball to beat you. As good as the Jaguars defense is, I don't see them holding the Steelers to nine points again and picking off Ben Roethlisberger five times, while taking two of those picks to the house. Unless Bortles plays the best game of his career, or the Jaguars score two touchdowns on defense again, their season will end on Sunday.
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| Drew Brees and the Saints have faced the Vikings stingy defense once already this season and were held to just 19 points. (David Grunfeld/NOLA.com | The Time-Picayune) |
Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET (Fox)
Don't think the Vikings will win this game just because the defeated the Saints 29-19 in Week 1. Both of these teams are entirely different than they were four months ago and this should be the best game of the weekend. Back in September the Saints were just breaking in their sensational rookie draft class, -- no one knew RB Alvin Kamara would be this good -- and Adrian Peterson was one of the featured backs. Minnesota was also quite different as Sam Bradford started the game at quarterback and threw for 346-yards, while rookie RB Dalvin Cook rushed for 127-yards in his first NFL game. The Vikings won't have Bradford or Cook on Sunday and yet they're a much better team and they were in September. Hard to believe a team that loses its starting quarterback and running back still finds a way to go 13-3, win the division, and secure a first-round bye. I can't wait for this game. Future Hall of Famer Drew Brees and that terrific Saints offense going up against arguably the best defense in football, and a team who has a backup quarterback that is playing like an MVP. What's not to get excited about? I can see both teams winning this game, but with the Vikings having a real chance of being the first team to host the Super Bowl, I think they'll a little extra motivation -- not that playing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs needs extra motivation. Vikings get the win in one of the most entertaining games in playoff history.
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 166-94 (.638)
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