Here
is an expanded explanation for my wild card picks as explained from a previous post.
Times
are MT
RAIDERS AT TEXANS, SATURDAY
2:20PM ABC/ESPN
The Texans
enter the playoffs with the #1-ranked defense but the question in Houston is
this: can money pit Brock Oswiller lead this team in a deep playoff run.
http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/f/f3/JOKER_burning_money_3_0600.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080829031739
Savage
came in to replace Oswiller in Week 15 and followed it up by earning his first NFL
win as a starter in the Texans’ Week 16 12-10 over the Bengals that clinched
the team’s fourth AFC South Title.
As
noted by ESPN, Savage is the Texans’ 9th starting quarterback since 2013 which
ties them with the Browns. Both Brandon Weeden and Brian Hoyer have started for
both teams.
Tom Savage: Texans’ 9th starting QB since 2013, tied with Browns for most in that time. Brandon Weeden, Brian Hoyer have started for both.— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 19, 2016
Broncos
general manager John Elway might be laughing that the Texans hauled a mint to
lure Oswiller to Houston, but the Texans are the ones laughing last because
they’re in the playoffs and the Broncos aren’t.
Houston
appears to be following a blueprint that took Denver to a championship last
season except that the Broncos 1) could run the football, and 2) despite being
at the end of his career, had Peyton Manning who despite being retired for
nearly a year would be a much better option than what the Texans have right now
under center.
Meanwhile
Oakland appeared to be on the verge of one of the best worst-to-first stories
in recent years. Since their last playoff appearance in 2002, the Raiders never
finished better than third in the AFC West and never finished with a higher
than .500 record. Oakland was poised to make a trip to Houston in February
until Derrick Carr broke his fibula in the team’s Week 16 win over the Colts.
The Raiders followed it up with a loss to the Broncos in Denver and with the
Chiefs victory over the Chargers, the team dropped down to the 5-seed and is
now making an earlier than expected visit to Houston.
Both
teams quarterback situations are not good nor ideal for a deep playoff run. If
they were playing other teams both would be one-and-done this weekend.
Unfortunately, one of these teams have to advance (and will likely get slaughtered
by either the Patriots or should Miami win their game, the Chiefs). I have to
give a (slight) advantage to the Texans because of their run game, defense, and
their proven ability to win with whoever is under center.
TEXANS 17, RAIDERS 13
LIONS AT SEAHAWKS, SATURDAY 6PM
NBC
The
second game of Wild Card Saturday is the Seahawks hosting the Lions.
Detroit
should send a portion of their playoff bonus to Washington. In Week 17,
Washington essentially needed to win their final game to get in unless the
Packers-Lions game ended in a tie. Well, Washington failed to beat a Giants
team that had nothing to play for and at kickoff both the Lions and Packers
clinched playoff spots. The only issue left was who was going to win the NFC
North and host a playoff game and who was going to have to slog it out on the
road as the NFC 6-seed.
The
Packers achieved that goal 6 years ago, as former cornerback Charles
Woodson declared they were going to see Obama.
The
Lions are not going to do that.
Well…
first, Obama is term limited and will leave office at noon eastern on 20
January 2017… so whoever is the Super Bowl champion will likely visit this guy…
A
guy who owned a professional football team and was one of the factors that caused
the league to fold.
The
second is that the Lions are going to continue their playoff win drought for
another season.
Detroit
appeared to be on the path to getting a much-needed bye week but the Lions lost
their final three games – all against playoff games.
If
the game is close late, don’t count the Lions out. They lead the league in 4th
quarter comebacks.
Sadly,
for the Lions, this game is in Seattle. The Seahawks have only lost once since
their stadium opened in 2002 and the weather forecast is not to the Lions’
favor.
SEAHAWKS 31, LIONS 10
DOLPHINS AT STEELERS, SUNDAY
11AM CBS
Last
week the Steelers rested their three Bs: Ben, Bell, and Brown.
And
they still beat the Browns.
As I
observed, the Steelers are a Super Bowl dark horse pick given they have their
offensive skill players healthy. I think they could go into Kansas City and win
followed by giving the Patriots are run for their money in Foxboro.
It
was looking like Miami was on the verge of another disappointing season with
their 1-4 start but a win over Cleveland followed by a 30-15
win in Miami over the Steelers in October started them winning 9 of their
11 games and making their first playoff appearance in eight years.
Running
back Jay Ajayi had 204 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground in the Dolphins’
victory over the Steelers and led the league in rushing from Week 6 onward. He
is facing a Steelers defense that averaged 100 rushing yards against and
allowed 15 rushing touchdowns.
The Dolphins
are making their first playoff appearance since 2008 as the AFC East Champion.
Their time in the playoffs were short lived as they were bounced by 6-seed
Baltimore.
History
might be repeating in Pittsburgh this weekend. I cannot see the Dolphins
advancing and if this game turns into track meet, the advantage goes to
Pittsburgh given their offense.
STEELERS 39, DOLPHINS 20
GIANTS AT PACKERS, FOX
2:30PM SUNDAY
This
is probably the best game of the weekend.
Packers
quarterback Aaron Rodgers certainly made his case for another NFL MVP award
with his 4-touchdown performance in Detroit last weekend and another season of resurrecting
the Packers from a slow start. After a 4-6 record, Rodgers reassured the
Packers faithful by telling fans that the team could run the table. And they
did by winning their final 6 games and clinching the NFC North.
I
really want to pick the Packers in this game given their momentum and it’s a home
game for them.
However,
this is the third playoff matchup between the Packers and Giants in 9 years.
And in the two previous instances the Giants have come away victorious.
And
each time the Giants ended up winning the Super Bowl over the Patriots.
In
part, it has to do with the Giants defense (which is pretty good), the play of
their quarterback in the post-season (Eli
Manning is 8-3
along with 2 Super Bowl wins), and a talented wide receiver. In 2007, it
Plaxico Burress. The 2011 run was aided by Victor Cruz. The 2016 playoff edition
of the Giants has Odell Beckham Jr.
This
is the fourth time since 1990 Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks have played in
the Wild Card round. I expect this one to be the better of the previous matchups.
GIANTS 23, PACKERS 20
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