NFL Wild Card Round: Subverting Expectations, And Also Not

 

Bills-Colts

My Prediction: The Bills will steamroll Indianapolis and it won't be close.

Reality: Not...as such. This was a really close game, and really entertaining to watch. Yes, there was the angle of 'THIS COULD BE PHILIP RIVERS' LAST GAME' and such, but even still Rivers was hanging in there, and making solid throws even well into the death throes of his team's efforts. But...it was impossible to stop the Bills from still outscoring them, as Diggs and Beasley still had great showings. The last quarter was tense as hell, but the final hail mary was a wash, and the Bills had a crucial playoff win at home, their first in 25 years. I couldn't be any more here for it, and I hope their good luck continues.

Seahawks-Rams:

My Prediction: It'll be hard fought, but there's no way the Rams will beat the Seahawks at home with a no-name starting at QB.

Reality: I was...kinda right? The Rams didn't win with Wohlford at QB, they won with Jared Goff there. Even if Goff isn't quite what he was supposed to be when they drafted them [why do I sense another QB trade with Philly coming on?], Goff still led the Rams to a win despite his lack of throwing prowess. Simply because Russell Wilson couldn't get stuff done, and because Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey kept blocking him at every turn. Therefore, the Rams, who could get past the Seattle defense in its depleted state, came away with the victory. Of course. 

It's looking like the Rams will have to go to Green Bay next week, as they're currently the lowest seeded team still in the race, so I wish McVay and the gang the best of luck. They've won at Lambeau before, but not with a scattered team like this. 

Bucs-Washington

Prediction: Yes, the Buccaneers are going to win, but it'd be nice if Washington put up a biiiit of fight.

Reality: That's kinda what happened. The Washington Nonames were forced to start Taylor Heinicke at QB, as Alex Young was hurt, as he tends to be. So...Taylor Heinicke against the greatest QB of our times...what do YOU think happened? Honestly...Heinicke had some prime time moments, scored some TDs, showed some promise for whatever squad signs him as a backup in 2021, but...this game belonged to Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette, and the entire crew of veterans in Tampa. It wasn't gonna be close, and props to Washington for making it close, but...this was inevitable. 

Ravens-Titans

Prediction: Derrick Henry game v2. Titans are the better team, Ravens had more struggles during the season, Titans will win out.

Reality: The Lamar Jackson that should have showed up in last year's Titans-Ravens game showed up today, with some amazing running plays and touchdowns, plus some great work from the defense keeping Henry at bay. The Ravens looked more confident than they've looked in the playoffs in years, and deserved that win. 

Bears-Saints

Prediction: Saints won't even make it close.

Reality: I mean, that first half was kinda close. It was a game of defenses and stalemates, and it was a really dull game to broadcast on Nickelodeon. But, the Saints came alive in the second half and put Trubisky and the Bears away, as predicted. They'll play the Bucs next week, and that'll be interesting- Brady v. Brees for a crack at Rodgers [or...Goff?]

Browns-Steelers

Prediction: Okay the Steelers will probably win but man it'd be nice if the Browns found a way to get ahead somehow.

Reality: WHOA. THIS IS MORE LIKE IT. It's not a complete drubbing because the Steelers still scored 37 points and it's not a good sign for how the Browns will handle the Chiefs next week, but MAN THAT WAS SATISFYING. The Browns got their first playoff win in years, Landry and Chubb had big games, Baker Mayfield proved he can deliver in the playoffs, and a team that was undefeated til mid-November was sent home early. This is why I started watching football again, to see fun stuff like this again. It may not last long, but it's good to see the Browns victorious in the postseason for the first time in my lifetime. 

Next week, the plot thickens, and hopefully a good final picture forms. 

Wild Card Saturday: Predictions

Wow. I'm sorry I wasn't there to report on it, but what a wild and wacky finish that was last week. That was positively insane, too. Eagles and Packers made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, but I'm happy for them.

Now, onto the playoffs. Four teams going in today. Two heavy favorites, two ready to upset. Let's begin with the 4:25 matchup.

AFC Wild Card, Part One-
COLTS:

vs. CHIEFS

Who should win: Chiefs. They've had a hell of a season, only being looped into the Wild Card position because they share a division with the Broncos, and they're....the Broncos. Andy Reid has done wonderful things in revamping the defense and revitalizing Alex Smith into a great QB again. They're the favorite to win it today, and a lot of people are saying they will.
Who shouldn't be counted out: Colts. Around the week when they lost to the Broncos is when we found out the Chiefs' weaknesses, and they were displayed in bigger form over the last few weeks. Looking the opposite way, we found out everything the Colts excelled at when they took down the Broncos. Even if their season has been inconsistent, they're still a tough team, even if they're a bit whittled down from last year.
Who will win...

CHIEFS
Even if they definitely have some weaknesses, and even if they might not be a Super Bowl team, they still have the tools to outmatch Indianapolis. I'm not saying I'm counting the Colts out, but the Chiefs are the better team.
Odds of the Chiefs winning: 3 to 1
Odds of the Colts winning: 9 to 1
Odds of the winner of this matchup making the Super Bowl: 7 to 1 if Chiefs, 100 to 1 if Colts.

NFC Wild Card, Part One
SAINTS:

vs EAGLES.

Who Should win: Saints. Right now they have the better record, they had the better start to the season, and they have the better defense. Drew Brees is having yet another brilliant season, which makes three billion for him. Sportswriters are saying they're the team to beat.
Who shouldn't be counted out: Eagles. I forget who, but someone called the Eagles 'the team that no one wants to play'. This team might have more potential championship pieces than the team that almost won it in 2005. They have some of the best offensive pieces in the NFL, some All Pro caliber defensive pieces, and a rising young quarterback who has impressed. I also should point out the obvious, that the great but inconsistent Saints are used to warm, below-sea-level weather, and they're heading right into Philly. We just had a major snow storm here yesterday, and it's gonna be absolutely freezing tonight.
Who Will Win:

EAGLES!
The pieces are there, even if they're not as consistent. They are playing in their natural environment, with all of their players ready to go. The Saints will be without Pierre Thomas tonight, and they will be positively frightened.
Odds of the Eagles winning: 5 to 1
Odds of the Saints winning: 7 to 1
Odds of the winner of this matchup making the Super Bowl: 6 to 1 if Eagles, 15 to 1 if Saints.

So, those are my predictions for today. Let's see how it all goes down.

Football Custom of the Night: Luck Edition

Ugh. I hate being wrong.

I mean, you knew that. You hear me blab on and on about being wrong so many times that Jim Davis is calling in and telling me the gag's overused. But, above all that, I hate being so terribly wrong that it's funny. Take my Melky Cabrera post, which basically said he would fail in 2012, when in reality he won MVP of the All Star Game.

On Sunday, I saw in the schedule that the 8 PM game was Broncos-Colts, a game that was being hyped as a 'tough matchup', which I didn't understand, because this was the Colts going up against an undefeated team, Manning or no Manning.

So, in five seconds, I typed up a brief prediction, to the extent of 'everyone's saying this game's gonna be unpredictable, well BRONCOS WIN IN A BLOWOUT, EAT IT BRADSHAW!'

The next morning. "COLTS UPSET BRONCOS; MINT CONDITION BLOGGER WRONG YET AGAIN"

Okay, the headline didn't really say that. But it was close. And you could hear my head slamming against my desk from several countries over. Somewhere in Saskatchewan, the people could hear my frustration*. Whether they wanted to or not.

However, looking back on it now, what happened to the Broncos this weekend was not pure luck.

(NOTICE: No pun intended)

(NOTICE #2: The last statement was totally a lie)

I think that the Colts are definitely on the rise, and that Andrew Luck is becoming what everybody said he was going to be at the draft. Last season, admittedly, was something of a letdown for Colts fans, yet I think he could lead them back to the playoffs this year. I don't know if it will happen, but it would be wonderful if it did.

It appears that a lot of people are rooting for the success of Andrew Luck and the Colts.

However, the word is still out on the people of Saskatchewan.

(*- I really need to use this sentence for something someday. I haven't figured out what yet. )

Coming Tomorrow- Probably a well-known offensive player for Carolina that isn't Cam Newton.