playoff outlook - wild card weekend
It looks like we finally have a playoff picture. We have a great weekend of football with the obviously dud being the Carolina 4 seed. To touch on the previous blog, something needs to be done about this terrible NFC South division because we have a sub-500 team in the 4 position hosting a home game against the LA Rams. I hate to say this but the Panthers did beat this same LA team about a month ago but they will be likely just about double digit underdogs. I would be a fraud if I didn’t mention that I thought post-draft that Bryce Young was going to be a generational talent. I will continue to die on this Bryce Young hill but cannot deny the fact that this team is BAD and this division is WORST.
Nonetheless, here is my brief breakdown of the games as well as the schedule:
Saturday: LA Rams vs. Carolina Panthers - Score Prediction 28-3 (Panthers Win)
I already touched on this above but I believe this game is going to universally agreed upon that the Panthers are going to lose and lose big. While the Panthers did beat this Rams team about a month ago I think it is easy to be an injured/tired team coming down the stretch of later part of the year as opposed to an experienced playoff team looking to get back from what happen last year against the Eagles. Panthers will obviously be a dog in this game but I wouldn’t be surprised if this line keeps moving more and more in favor of the Rams. The Rams have a defensive line that cannot be blocked two receivers that I do not believe the Panthers can cover. I do believe the Panthers T-Mac is going to be a match up problem but I don’t think Young will have time to get the ball to him on a regular basis.
Saturday: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears - Score Prediction 21-17 (Bears Win)
This game is going to interesting and I am glad that it is going to be in the primetime slot. These teams have split their match ups this year with the Packers really dominating both games but the Bears stealing one. Last year in Caleb Williams rookie year, I was under the impression they are going to a decent playoff team and to take a page out of Big Cat’s book I was a year early is all. I think with the Packers injuries coming down the stretch that this game does become in favor of the Bear who have seemly been able to stay healthy. If the Bears are able to keep their running/play-action game balanced they will without a doubt win this rock fight. I understand this seems like a pretty obviously point but if the running game is stopped this will shut down the play-action and the safeties of the Packers will stay 15 yards back making it hard for the Bears to pass. As for the Packers, on offense if they are able to beat with the Bears will long shot-plays they will win. I believe the Packers will have to steal possessions in order to get out of Chicago with a win. This is truly the Bears game to lose at this point.
Sunday: Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars - Score Prediction 31-24 (Bills Win)
This is a sneaky great game! I hate that it is the early slate on Sunday but I think that’s probably based on the Jacksonville small market. As a Josh Allen-believer this is a must win for Buffalo. Every year Josh has started for the Bills we has reached the roadblock that is Burrow, Mahomes, or Jackson and this year he doesn’t have to deal with any of them. A large discrepancy for the Bills is going to be their passing game. Superman or Josh Allen has had to everything in his power to pull this team into the playoff with a mundane pass game. If the Bills can impose their will in the run game this will not only open up the run game causing the safeties to move up and corners to move up but also make this a shootout. IF James Cook can rush for a minimum of 100-yard this going to be a Bills win. The Jags on the other hand are going to take the fight to their opponent. It looks like Trevor Lawrence is finally becoming the QB that we thought we could be at Clemson. In addition to Lawrence coming around he also will be given the diamond grill boost for this week. At the end of the day give me a playoff experienced Bills team to win.
Sunday: San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles - Score Prediction 24-14 (Eagles Win)
Although, I hate to choose the Eagles I think it is hard to pick against the champs at this point. The Niners might be the sneakiest or quietest 13 win team in the history of the NFL. Coming down to the last few weeks of the season the Niners had the opportunity to control their own destiny and get the #1 seed and home field advantage through the Super Bowl. I don’t think the Niners have enough weapons or defense to play with this Eagles team. We watched JSN bully the Niners so I see their CBs having trouble covering both AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. I think the Niners only keep this game close if CMC can account for half of their all-purpose yards. I think at the end of the day the Eagles are just too deep and too talented but the Niners have the ability to potentially keep it close which I think they do.
Sunday: LA Chargers vs. New England Patriots - Score Prediction 28-10 (Patriots Win)
While the least talented of the two potential opponents, I think this is going to be a rock fight for the Patriots. Similar to the Bears, this is the Patriots game to lose. Drake Maye is having an MVP year and now this is his stage to prove to the rest of the nation that this Patriots team is real. The Chargers have a defense that an disrupt an offense but if the Patriots can keep a balanced attack and Maye doesn’t have to throw for 300-yards this will be am easy win. Diggs will still be available at least for the next couple week and I think he is motivated coming off a 1,000-yard season. Herbert has been sacked the most this season and is operating behind the worst offensive line in the league. It s very impressive the damage that the Chargers have done this season but it does come to an end Sunday night.
Monday: Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - Score Prediction 21-6 (Texans Win)
I honestly think this matchup can go either way but it is simply. Defense wins championships. I’m not going to lie I don’t completely agree with this sentiment with this specific team but I think it will ring true for this first round. Unfortunately, I think this is going to Rodgers last game and it is going to be a sad day being chased around by those monsters on the Texans defensive line. I love Jersey Jerry and Nicky Clicky but this Steelers are going to be just too overmatched.
We are in for one hell of a football weekend! Enjoy the games and maybe mount someone.
