It’s Wild Card Weekend! Typically the divisional weekend is my favorite weekend because it is the 8 best teams and the games are usually great. But I am extra excited for Wild Card week this time because I have no idea who the best 8 teams are. It should be a great weekend of games of unpredictable results. However, it does make it tougher to actually predict the games. But I’ll give it a try anyway.

Revenge of the Rams: Rams @ Panthers

The Rams were rolling until they went to the Panthers and things sort of got off track. Stafford uncharacteristically turned the ball over a bunch and a couple of players got injured. With all that, the Panthers still barely won. But the Rams really haven’t been the same since. They are just 3-2 since the loss and have had some bumpy games along the way. Davante Adams I believe got banged up in that game and then injured worse a couple of games later which I think. On the other side of things, the Panthers broke their streak of winning every other week by losing back to back games and finishing 8-9 but still managing to win the awful NFC South due to tie breakers. The Panthers have their moments but overall they are not a great football team. Bryce Young is wildly inconsistent game to game and sometimes play to play. He is probably their biggest weakness. The Rams on the other hand don’t have a lot of weaknesses on paper but just haven’t looked great. I think this is a good game for them to bounce back and get their swagger back as well. Stafford plays at an MVP level, Davante is back and catches a touchdown and the defense returns to form. The Rams get up early, don’t turn the ball over and never look back.

Rams 31 Panthers 17

All you need is Love: Packers @ Bears

These two teams have already played two classic games this year. The first ended with a Caleb interception. The second ended with an onside kick, a back up QB fumbling and then a Caleb TD. Jordan Love left the second game early but he will be back for this one. Will he make the difference and lead Green Bay to victory? Only one 7 seed has ever beat the 2 seed and guess who it was? The Packers when they defeated the Cowboys a couple of years ago. The Packers seem fired to avenge their loss after Love got knocked out last time. But they have also lost 4 in a row, although they sat their starters in the last game. The Bears have lost 2 in a row as well. While the Bears defense may not be great, they may get some help with some high winds that could slow down the deep ball from the Packers. However, Josh Jacobs is finally healthy and so that should help their run game. Ben Johnson and the Bears are talking about playing football for the next 5 weeks which goes against the more standard take one game at a time philosophy. I’m nervous about the Packers ability to stop the run, but as I have made clear over the season, I still don’t believe in the Bears. Give me the Packers as the only 7 seed to win a playoff game…twice.

Packers 27 Bears 20

The Hero vs the Hair: Bills @ Jags

Everybody…and I mean, everybody…loves Josh Allen. When they win and he plays okay he is just doing what the team needs him to do. When the win and he plays well, he is superman and the greatest player on the earth. When they lose, it’s because Josh Allen needs more help. Because apparently having the leading rusher, the number 1 pass defense and a great offensive line isn’t helpful. I like Josh but he gets a pass more than any Quarterback that hasn’t won anything ever. Speaking of not winning things, Josh has never won a road game. As the playoffs were approaching, people started to say with Pat and Lamar and Burrow out of the playoffs, there are no excuses for Josh. But then this week hit, and now it is “well the Jags have the better team”. Anyway, I’m sort of over the Josh Allen can do no wrong narrative if you hadn’t noticed. The Bills basically have the same team they had last year. Meanwhile the Jags have done a complete 180 and have been awesome the second half of the season. They have won 8 in a row. They beat 5 playoff teams and also beat the Chiefs and the Colts before their downfalls. They can run the ball. They can defend the run. And Trevor is playing at an elite level. Their weakness is pass defense so in theory Josh should be able to ball out against them. If he doesn’t I’m sure it is just because he needs receiving help. Putting my snarky comments aside, I do think the Jags are the better team. And they are at home and they feel disrespected being underdogs at home. Give me the hair and the Jags for the win.

Jags 31 Bills 27

The Injured vs the Dysfunctional: 49ers @ Eagles

The 49ers have really overachieved this year. They have battled a lot of injuries throughout the year. On the defensive side they lost their two best players for the season. They are young and exploitable on defense and would be even more so if they weren’t so well coached. On the offensive side they are healthish but Trent Williams is banged up and Ricky Pearsall either won’t play on Sunday or will get hurt again in the 1st quarter. On the other side, the Eagles have underachieved. Despite having a stacked team, the offense has been disappointing and sometimes disappears for halves of football. However, unlike the Chiefs the Eagles made some key trades at the deadline that really helped their defense which is now very stout. Nick Siriani is an idiot but that works in Philly were their fan base is mostly idiots as well. The 49ers have the better coaches. The Eagles have the better players. Hurts usually plays his best ball in the playoffs. I think the 49ers are just over matched and I have this bad feeling that the Eagles are going to pull their crap together and make a run. They have a chance to repeat and literally no one is even talking about it because they have been such a mess all year. But that mess still won enough games to be the 3 seed and host at least one playoff game. Unfortunately, give me the Eagles in this one.

Eagles 30 49ers 20

The team that never wins anything vs everyone’s least favorite dynasty: Chargers @ Patriots

The Chargers limp into the playoffs with back ups to the back ups playing offensive tackle. Not ideal for a playoff team. The Chargers don’t win important games anyway much less when they are dealing with injuries. But they do have some good things going for them. Their defense is playing very well. They are able to run the ball effectively and despite having an injured hand, Herbert is playing well. On the other side, the Patriots are back to their winning ways after a few losing seasons. I never minded the Patriots dynasty because I appreciate greatness. But this fan base is a little out of control. They act like it is impossible for them to lose and they are already the greatest team in the league again. They played the easiest schedule in the league. They beat exactly one team with a winning record. They are 2-2 against playoff teams. I think they are a really good team but it’s not like they are unbeatable or unstoppable. One of their weaknesses is pass rush which is good news for the Chargers. They also aren’t great at running the ball. They are fine but not great. I think this game will be close. But in the end I just don’t trust Herbert and the Chargers to actually win a meaningful game. Especially on the road. The Pats win a close one and their fan base assumes they will never lose again for the end of time.

Pats 24 Chargers 20

Houston, we don’t have a problem: Texans @ Steelers

The Texans have won 9 straight games. They have arguably the best defense in the league. The Steelers needed a missed field goal to even get into the playoffs. Rodgers has played well but doesn’t do well when pressured. And guess what, the Texans pressure a lot. The Steel curtain defense has been more of a paper curtain this year. The Texans offense is far from elite but they do enough to win games. It will be cold but that shouldn’t effect the Texans much. They aren’t your typical warm weather team. They run the ball, they play D and their QB went to Ohio State so he can handle the weather. Rodgers does have the playoff experience but he hasn’t been awesome in the playoffs for a long time. Tomlin has a winning record every year but hasn’t won a playoff game in a long time either. Yes, the Steelers are at home. Yes, they have a hall of fame QB and a hall of fame coach. But I am not overthinking this one. The Texans bother Rodgers all night and get the win.

Texans 26 Steelers 17