NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Picks
As excited as I am about the playoffs, I have a feeling Wild Card weekend won't be as exciting as we all hope.
The higher seeded teams haven't all won on Wild Card Weekend since the 2011-12 NFL playoffs, but I think it'll happen again on Sunday. I just don't see the four road teams pulling upsets this weekend, especially in the AFC.
If there are exciting games this weekend, they'll be in the NFC. Watching the Rams and Saints offenses this season has been tremendous and those two teams alone are reasons to watch this weekend.
Here's why I see all four home teams winning this weekend.
The higher seeded teams haven't all won on Wild Card Weekend since the 2011-12 NFL playoffs, but I think it'll happen again on Sunday. I just don't see the four road teams pulling upsets this weekend, especially in the AFC.
If there are exciting games this weekend, they'll be in the NFC. Watching the Rams and Saints offenses this season has been tremendous and those two teams alone are reasons to watch this weekend.
Here's why I see all four home teams winning this weekend.
Wild Card Picks (Home team in CAPS)
KANSAS CITY over Tennessee
Saturday, 4:20 p.m. ET (ESPN)
If QB Marcus Mariota was playing better I would probably take the Titans here, but he and the entire Titans team have struggled the last quarter of the season going 1-3. If it weren't for four Jacksonville turnovers last week, Tennessee probably loses that game and doesn't even make the playoffs. If the Titans have any chance in this one they must have a great performance from their quarterback. Mariota threw more INT (15) than TD (13) this season and seemed to take a step back in his third NFL season. The Kansas City defense finished the year 28th in total defense, so if Mariota plays a great game the Titans have a chance. The Tennessee defense will have their hands full on the other side of the ball as the Chiefs have the league's leading rusher in Kareem Hunt (1,327-yards), two 1,000-yard receivers in Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, and the QB Alex Smith who had the highest QB rating in the league at 104.7. It'll be a tough test in front of loud Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday for the Titans.
If QB Marcus Mariota was playing better I would probably take the Titans here, but he and the entire Titans team have struggled the last quarter of the season going 1-3. If it weren't for four Jacksonville turnovers last week, Tennessee probably loses that game and doesn't even make the playoffs. If the Titans have any chance in this one they must have a great performance from their quarterback. Mariota threw more INT (15) than TD (13) this season and seemed to take a step back in his third NFL season. The Kansas City defense finished the year 28th in total defense, so if Mariota plays a great game the Titans have a chance. The Tennessee defense will have their hands full on the other side of the ball as the Chiefs have the league's leading rusher in Kareem Hunt (1,327-yards), two 1,000-yard receivers in Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, and the QB Alex Smith who had the highest QB rating in the league at 104.7. It'll be a tough test in front of loud Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday for the Titans.
L.A. RAMS over Atlanta
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| Your 2017 NFL Coach of the Year, Sean McVay. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) |
The turnaround rookie head coach Sean McVay has done in Los Angeles deserves a standing ovation. He took a team that went 4-12 last season and a rookie quarterback that struggled mighty and turned them into one of the most prolific offenses in the league with a chance to go to the Super Bowl. McVay will undoubtedly be the Coach of the Year in the NFL and I think the Rams will win the first playoff game in L.A. since 1985. The Falcons did what they had to do, winning three of their last four games to get into the playoffs, but the reigning NFC champions will have a short postseason this year.
JACKSONVILLE over Buffalo
Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
Thanks to Andy Dalton and the Bengals, the Buffalo Bills ended the longest playoff drought among all four professional sports leagues and will play in their first playoff game since the 1999 season. I'm happy for the fans in Buffalo, but they won't see their Bills in the playoffs for very long. With RB LeSean McCoy not 100% with an ankle injury, it's hard for me to pick the Bills in this one. Buffalo does have a chance though if Jaguars QB Blake Bortles plays poorly. Jacksonville has one of the best defenses in the league, but if Bortles isn't a "game manager" and turns the ball over, Buffalo can stay in the game and have a slim chance of winning.
NEW ORLEANS over Carolina
Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET (Fox)
The Saints defeated the Panthers 31-14 in Week 3 and again in Week 13, 31-21, so it's hard for me see Carolina pulling the upset in New Orleans. Not only have the Panthers lost to the Saints twice already, but QB Cam Newton has not been playing well. In his last six games, Newton has thrown for more than 200-yards only once, has thrown 5 INT and has an average completion percentage of just 54%. He completed just 41.2% of his passes in last week's loss to the Falcons and threw 3 INT. New Orleans had one of the better defenses the league this season and I look for Cam's struggles to continue.
The Saints defeated the Panthers 31-14 in Week 3 and again in Week 13, 31-21, so it's hard for me see Carolina pulling the upset in New Orleans. Not only have the Panthers lost to the Saints twice already, but QB Cam Newton has not been playing well. In his last six games, Newton has thrown for more than 200-yards only once, has thrown 5 INT and has an average completion percentage of just 54%. He completed just 41.2% of his passes in last week's loss to the Falcons and threw 3 INT. New Orleans had one of the better defenses the league this season and I look for Cam's struggles to continue.
Last Week: 10-6
Overall: 164-92 (.641) -- a one win increase from last season. Something to be proud of heading into the New Year.
As for next week, if these predictions are indeed correct we're setup for a rematch filled Divisional Round.
The Chiefs would return to New England where they beat the Patriots to kickoff the season. The Jaguars return to Pittsburgh where they embarrassed the Steelers, 30-9, in Week 5. The Rams would again travel to Minnesota where they were held to a season low seven points in Week 11. Finally, we would have the Saints going to Philadelphia to play the Eagles.
Not bad for a weekend of playoff football.
College Football National Championship
Georgia over Alabama (from Atlanta, GA)
Monday, 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Last week's Rose Bowl was one of the best football games I've ever seen and I truly mean that. It was as entertaining of a game as a football fan could ask for. One of the greatest stages in all of sports, the Rose Bowl, and two of the best teams in the country on New Year's Day, scoring just about every drive ultimately ending in double overtime. What's not to love?
Granted Oklahoma doesn't have a defense like the one Georgia will face on Monday in the Alabama Crimson Tide, but the Bulldogs can run the ball. They have a duo of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb running the rock and with the poise of true freshman QB Jake Fromm, I think they'll the Crimson Tide.
Their defense is pretty good too. LB Roquan Smith is going to be playing on Sunday's.
I think it'll be a low scoring game with Alabama having several future NFL players on that defense, but I like for Kirby Smart, a former Nick Saban assistant, to defeat the master and win the first national championship for Georgia since 1980. Georgia 20, Alabama 17.
As for next week, if these predictions are indeed correct we're setup for a rematch filled Divisional Round.
The Chiefs would return to New England where they beat the Patriots to kickoff the season. The Jaguars return to Pittsburgh where they embarrassed the Steelers, 30-9, in Week 5. The Rams would again travel to Minnesota where they were held to a season low seven points in Week 11. Finally, we would have the Saints going to Philadelphia to play the Eagles.
Not bad for a weekend of playoff football.
College Football National Championship
Georgia over Alabama (from Atlanta, GA)
Monday, 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Last week's Rose Bowl was one of the best football games I've ever seen and I truly mean that. It was as entertaining of a game as a football fan could ask for. One of the greatest stages in all of sports, the Rose Bowl, and two of the best teams in the country on New Year's Day, scoring just about every drive ultimately ending in double overtime. What's not to love?
Granted Oklahoma doesn't have a defense like the one Georgia will face on Monday in the Alabama Crimson Tide, but the Bulldogs can run the ball. They have a duo of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb running the rock and with the poise of true freshman QB Jake Fromm, I think they'll the Crimson Tide.
Their defense is pretty good too. LB Roquan Smith is going to be playing on Sunday's.
I think it'll be a low scoring game with Alabama having several future NFL players on that defense, but I like for Kirby Smart, a former Nick Saban assistant, to defeat the master and win the first national championship for Georgia since 1980. Georgia 20, Alabama 17.
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