Sorry I’m late, there’s a blizzard, did you hear?
Porter Versus The World – 143-111 (13-4 last week, 6 correct margins)
A big week! As usual, my Bears upset pick backfired, whereas the 49ers reserves, Eagles, and Jacksonville rounded out my losers – and two of those teams are flatlining. We can analyse sacked coaches et al at some point in the future, but lets talk the Wildcard round!
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans
This is a tough one to call, because are we getting Playoff Joe Flacco? If we do, the odds look good against the Texans, especially as the Browns have one of the best defenses in the playoffs. Houston’s inexperience in these situations also counts against them, and who knows how CJ Stroud handles the pressure of a playoff game? I’ve gone back and forth on this, but my hunch is that the Browns edge the Texans out in a relatively low scoring game.
Browns, one score.
Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs
This seems tough to call too, but not because either team is doing especially well – both teams have lost their way of late, and complicating matters is the freezing cold conditions, that have already seen sideline reporters become Joey Tribbiani.
I’ll take the playoff experience, but I’m not sure it makes me happy to do so. I hope the weather doesn’t ruin what would’ve been an intriguing game, but rather adds to the intrigue. Mahomes may just find himself again against Miami.
Ps, Miami fans, you’re welcome, although the reverse jinx didn’t work last week.
Kansas City, one score.
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
I think this is the easier call. I like Green Bay, Jordan Love might indeed be good (and stats wise, is up there in the upper echelon of QBs), and the receiving core has potential, but it’s a year too early for them against this Cowboys team. I don’t love the Cowboys when it really gets down to it, and you can’t rule out ‘Playoff Cowboys post 1995’ showing up, but I have to back the better and more experienced team at this stage of the season.
Dallas, two scores plus.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
This game is now slated for Monday due to the frankly ridiculous conditions in America’s Toronto, but in all honesty, nothing short of fire from Hades changes the outcome here. Pittsburgh swept the Ravens to get into the playoffs, but they’ve looked average-to-bad against almost every other good team, and while the conditions may suit them, Buffalo is red hot right now, and unlike years past, has a run game to get them through. Bills win an ugly one.
Buffalo, one score.
Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
My personal favourite game of the weekend, and the hardest one to call in my opinion. The Rams were dead, buried, and read the last rites about a month and a half ago, but the resurgence of McVay as a playcaller, Stafford as a QB, and the emergence of Kyren Williams has suddenly made LA even sunnier than usual. I see a shootout here, as either the Lions need to keep up with the Rams or vice versa (and that Lions secondary is…bumpy, lets say), and a potential playoff classic. I believe in my heart that the Lions are the better team, but I have to make picks with my head, and something tells me a combination of LA’s experience, McVay’s savvy, and the obvious narrative of Stafford against the Lions works against Detroit. A ding-dong battle with a sad ending for the most put-apon of NFL franchises. As a 49ers fan, I really, really, really want to be wrong.
Rams, one score.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Well, shit. This should’ve been easy to call even as late as a month ago, but the Eagles implosion, Bucs improvement, and AJ Brown being out all point to a huge playoff upset. It’s a quirk of the NFL playoff rules that a team beating the worst team in the league 9-0 and barely winning its division can get a home playoff game, but if Tampa’s offense can get to 28 points, I think it’s defense can win them this one. And in all honesty, facing Matt Patricia’s defense, it would be an upset if they didn’t. I’m taking them, in what would, on the face of it, be a huge, huge upset, but in reality, probably won’t feel like one. Is Nick Sirianni in trouble…?
Tampa, one score.
Enjoy the best football of the year so far! (In theory). As always, if you read and enjoy, or you read and hate it, please let me know via comment, tweet or email.