NFL Divisional Weekend Playoff Predix

By Jacob Sanders

Another Wildcard weekend has come and gone. For the first time in over a decade, the AFC will finally be represented by someone not named Brady, Manning, Roethlisberger, or Flacco. It’s statements like this that remind us a new chapter is unfolding with a new generation of players in the NFL. The glory days of the pocket passer are starting to fade and the rise of “new look” offenses are making their stamp in the NFL. What a time to be watching NFL football.

Sanders went 1-3 last week putting him to 1-3 in the post-season and 164-98-1 overall on the season.

MIN Vikings vs SF 49ers

A case for the Vikings:

There’s a lot to be said about going into San Francisco as the clear underdog. The Vikings are coming after breaking the hearts of Saints fans (again) and will want to do the same for 49ers fans. The national media has written the Vikings off already just like they did last week. This is quite the advantage for Mike Zimmer and Co. It means you practically have nothing to play for. You have no expectations held against you and you can leave everything on the field without people judging you, win or lose. The Vikings have a defense that has shown they can step up by holding the Saints offense to 20 points. They have a quarterback in Kirk Cousins who finally showed the moment is not too big for him. Most of all though, the Vikings have one of the most talented teams in the NFL. They have all season and have sometimes come up big and sometimes come up short. This time around though, they’ll need another performance like last week to stop the No. 1 seed in the NFC. In other words, show up big or, quite literally, go home.

Speaking of home….

A case for the 49ers:

The team with the home-field advantage may be the favored team, but they are also surprisingly the ones with the most pressure on them. Typically, for a No. 1 seed, you don’t have a ton of national pressure on you in the divisional weekend and are expected to beat your opponent (see the Baltimore Ravens). The 49ers though, not only are expected to beat their opponent, but also have a lot of pressure on them. Jimmy G has never started a playoff game before. Kyle Shanahan has never been the head coach of a team during a playoff game. Yet, here they are forced to play in a situation neither have been in before. The one thing going in their favor, is they have the talent to match the Vikings and far more playmakers. Richard Sherman has been an elite corner (watch the film and numbers to believe me), George Kittle is an all-star at tight end, Nick Bosa has been a wrecking crew, and the 49ers has so many pieces to play any type of chess game they want on both sides of the ball. They’re the No. 1 seed, because Shanahan has created masterful gameplans and this team has been able to win shoot-outs, shut-outs, and everything in between. It’s their game to lose. Which is why the pressure is all on them. So far this season, they’ve been one of the best at handling that pressure.

Final Prediction:

This is without a doubt the toughest game for me to pick this week. I’ve gone back and forth between picking the 49ers and Vikings. Thus, no matter the pick I write here, I’m not overly-confident in it. However, I have to finalize and say that I’m going with the 49ers. The thing is, I’m not happy picking either team because both are good enough to move on. However, this isn’t a knock on Zimmer, but I believe Shanahan is the key here. He’s a guy who’s been here before. He helped lead the high flying Falcons to Super Bowl 51 and that it’s important to me. Yes, he wasn’t the head coach then, but I think that experience matters here. Zimmer has been in this spot too, but his team has come up short each time. I truly believe the Vikings can come out of this game with a victory, but with Shanahan being there to match Zimmer’s wit and the 49ers having a couple more difference makers than the Vikings, I can’t get myself to pick against the 49ers. It’s not that I’m necessarily picking the 49ers because I believe they are better than the Vikings, it’s just that I can’t pick against them.

Vikings 27 49ers 28

TEN Titans vs BAL Ravens

A case for the Titans:

Derrick Henry is playing out of his mind in recent weeks. Derrick Henry, is the best running back in football right now. And it’s the perfect strategy to beat Baltimore. If the Titans offense can score early, you can keep feeding Henry the rock to stay ahead and run out the clock. The big IF in all this is slowing down the Ravens offense. At this point, it’s near impossible to imagine the Ravens offense being stopped from scoring points. But slowing them down has been shown to be possibley by both the Bills and the 49ers this season. If the Titans defense win the battle on the trenches along with Kenny Vaccaro and Co. keeping the top secured from Brown and Andrews, they’ve got quite the shot of pulling off two upsets in a row and eliminating one of the best teams in the NFL.

Speaking of one of the best teams in the NFL…

A case for the Ravens:

Everything plays into Baltimore’s favor this week. The home-field. The crowd. The matchups. The roster talent. Almost everything is superior to what the Titans are going to have going into Saturday Night’s game. However, if the Ravens want to win this game, they can’t start slow. The Ravens have been the fastest starting team in the NFL but one has to wonder if they will start slow because they haven’t seen game action in three weeks. If the Ravens let the Titans draw first blood, things could potentially get messy for these Ravens. Their key to winning, is to stop the run and pound the ball with Ingram, Edwards, Hill and Jackson. They’ve been doing it all season. Why stop doing something no one else has figured out yet?

Final Prediction:

There is no bias when I say that this game will probably be the worst game in terms of entertainment value. The Ravens, overall, are just on another level in comparison to the Titans. The Titans have a fighting shot, but when the Ravens have everything in their favor and have shown to be a team that won’t give up much easily, it’s hard to see the Titans winning in almost any scenario. This also feels like another one of those blowout games the Ravens have become famous for this season. However, I don’t think this game will be a blowout. It just won’t provide much in terms of intensity and drama.

Titans 17 Ravens 31

HOU Texans vs KC Chiefs

A case for the Texans:

Deshaun Watson is money and J.J. Watt coming back helped energize the Texans defense and pull off a comeback win at home. The moment is not too big for Watson and the Texans have an ability to win in most scenarios. The Texans, are the AFC’s version of a bully. They may not always win the fights they pick, and sometimes they’ll tap out, but most of the time, they come to play and play mean. That comes from HC Bill O’Brien and his ability to gameplan for his offense. He also has the ability to change his gameplan in the middle of a game if it’s not working and not every coach has that ability. The one question the Texans need to have answers for, is this: Can you keep up with the Chiefs WR group? This is the fastest group of players in the NFL and the Texans secondary has been prone to giving up a big play. If the Texans secondary can limit the big plays they allow, they’ll be in it for Watson and Co. to win it. If not, this game could turn into a blowout.

Speaking of blowouts...

A case for the Chiefs:

Ever since Mahomes stepped onto the football field, the Chiefs have become masters at winning high scoring games or blowouts. Their offense is quite literally a track meet filled with intelligent players who know how to maneuver the field and give Mahomes the time he needs to make the big play. What’s been quite the surprise in the second half of the season, has been the rise of the Chief’s defense. They’ve done a terrific job in keeping their opponents in check while doing just enough on offense to win the game. No, Mahomes hasn’t been electric like last year, but he hasn’t needed to be because this Chief’s team has become balanced over the course of the season. In fact, it’s a lot better that Andy Reid’s group can rely on more than just the offense to win the game.

Final Prediction:

I sense a shootout brewing here. Yeah I tried talking up the Texans defense a bit and the Chiefs defense. But frankly, this just reeks of a game that turns into a shootout because one play decided that the game will be a shootout. Whether that play comes from the Chiefs or the Texans, I’m not sure. Keeping in mind that I believe this game will be a shootout, it’s important to recognize the Chiefs are the team better suited to win a shootout. I like this Texans team, but I like this Chiefs team more, especially if we are getting a shootout. Overall, I trust the Chiefs to take care of business at home.

Texans 31 Chiefs 35

SEA Seahawks vs GB Packers

A case for the Seahawks:

Russel Wilson magic. That’s what the Seahawks have lived and died by this season. When you look at their wins and their losses, there is a great correlation between Wilson playing great and Wilson playing just okay this season. I don’t mean to discredit any other part of this Seahawk’s team, but they are riddled with injuries and the players that have come in have shown that they can’t perform at the level that their starters have. Thus, I believe it’s up to Wilson to lift this team up. If he could get some help from DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett, that would probably be great too. Otherwise, I’m not quite sure QB magic will be enough to win on the road this week.

Speaking of QB magic…

A case for the Packers:

Well howdy there Aaron Rodgers and welcome back to the post-season. While Rodgers comeback into the playoffs is more than welcome for Packers and NFL fans alike, it’s not Rodgers that I want to talk about but rather Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams that I want to talk about. The answer to winning this game, is for someone other than Davante Adams to step up in the passing game. Enter Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams who have become fine pass-catching running backs. While Aaron Jones has become a premier RB in this League, Jamaal Williams, when healthy, has quietly been a wonderful complement to Jones and an asset in the passing game. If Jones and Williams have huge games, then Rodgers may not have to do as much as you’d think.

Final Prediction:

As lame as this sounds, I just don’t think this is the Seahawk’s year. I love Pete Carroll and I love Russel Wilson. But, for me, the teams that tend to win in the playoffs are the teams with more difference makers. Outside of Russel Wilson, the Seahawks just don’t have that consistent presence of a difference maker. The Packeres do in Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. And, well, you know, Aaron Rodgers could match Wilson’s QB magic if he had to. Take into consideration the Seahawks have a bottom-10 defense, and I just don’t think it’s in the cards for them. Packers win it at Lambeau Field.

Seahawks 17 Packers 23

WildCard Playoff Predix

By Jacob Sanders

We are here. One of the most exciting times of the year. The NFL playoffs have started and unlike some Wildcard Weekends we have seen in the past, we have some great matchups to go over. We even have some all-time QBs playing today in Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Just that is enough to tune in to what should be a wild weekend. So, let’s get right to it.

Sanders went 11-5 last week putting him to a grand total of 163-95-1 on the regular season. Playoffs start this weekend and everyone starts 0-0. Here we go!

BUF  Bills vs HOU Texans

A case for the Bills:

The Bills are arguably the toughest team in the AFC to play. Yes, the better teams like the Ravens and Chiefs play in the AFC as well, but no other team wants to punch you in the mouth like the Bills do. Their rough-and-tough style of play wears opponents down and let’s the Bills defense close out the game nice and well. Their task this week, however, is to stop Will Fuller. The Texans becomes one-dimensional when Will Fuller is either out injured or not having a good performance. If you stop Deshaun Watson, and his two best receivers, Hopkins and Fuller, then you shut down this entire Texans team. One other thing the Bills need to do that they have going for them: Utilizing Josh Allen’s big arm. It’s not like the Texans secondary is very strong. If you can get John Brown to take the top off and Cole Beasley to work the middle, the Bills have a recipe for winning.

However…

A case for the Texans:

J.J. Watt is returning to the defensive lineup which gives the Texans all sorts of hope that they can hit Josh Allen and throw him off his game. Josh Allen has played his worst this season when the pass rush is breathing down his neck. Josh Allen will get better at this over time, but with him only being a 2^nd year player, it can be easy for the Texans to ruin his day. In addition to this, we all know the Texans have a great WR core in Hopkins, Fuller, and Stills. Can the running game get going? Can Carlos Hyde get this engine rolling? We don’t know for sure but the Bills have a strong run defense. Take care of that and you open up the passing game for one of the most elite WR duos in football when healthy.

Final Prediction:

Man, the Bills are tough. As a Ravens fan, I don’t want to play them again. I don’t think anybody wants the Bills coming to town. The Bills have a great defense and a phenomenal head coach who knows how to put his team into positions to win. However, both Josh Allen and Sean McDermott are entering their playoff debut as a HC-QB combo. Bill O’Brien and Deshaun Watson have been here before. No, they didn’t win in their first playoff appearance, but experience matters here. When two teams are good and they both seem even talent-wise, you gotta go with the coach and quarterback who have more experience and know what they have to do in a playoff atmosphere. Texans grab a tough win at home.

Bills 20 Texans 27

TEN Titans vs NE Patriots

A case for the Titans:

The Titans have become a high flying offense with the rise of Ryan Tannehill and the continuous pounding of Derrick Henry. Other players like A.J. Brown and Delanie Walker all contribute as well to the points the Titans have been putting up. The best part is, the Titans haven’t had a dud performance offensively either. They are consistently scoring points which is key when facing a top-flight defense that the NE Patriots have. What the Titans need for them to happen though, is they need the defense that can hold off Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees (for the first half) to show up. If the defense that caved into Houston in their first matchup, or gave up a 14-0 lead to the Saints in the second half of the game, then the Titans are in trouble. I recognize they aren’t facing a top-flight 

defense, but do you really want to take any gambles against Tom Brady?

Speaking of Tom Brady…

A case for the Patriots:

Does anyone reading this realize this will be Tom Brady’s 41^st playoff start? Crazy. Insanity. Wild. Unheard of. I could go on with adjectives to describe just how impossible 41 playoff starts is. We’ll never see that again and people won’t appreciate it till long after he has retired and his bust has been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. I am getting ahead of myself though, let’s get back to this game. The Patriots have a lock-down defense that can certainly score points for the team when the offense can’t. They are one of the best in takeaways and constantly give Brady and Co. great positioning to score. Despite the great field position the defense gives, the Patriots offense is just not working. It’s beyond flawed, and if Tom Brady weren’t the engineer behind this offense, I don’t think this team even achieves 11 wins. The Patriots need their rookie WR to step up. James White needs to be an asset in the passing game. Sony Michel and Julian Edelman must continue what they’ve done to help Brady, if they hope to keep up with the Titans offense. If not, the Patriots could soon find themselves in a hole they can’t recover from.

Final Prediction:

I am not a prisoner of the moment in believing the Titans are peaking and because of that, they will win. I am also not a prisoner of the Brady-Bellichick aura. Yes, the Titans are peaking and yes Brady-Bellichick always figure it out when things are going wrong. That being said, neither of these things should be considered when you pick this game. Instead, think about the fact this game is being played in the cold, at night, in one of the hardest stadiums to win in for opposing teams. Think about the fact that Brady has more playoff experience than any other player (and even Titans coaches) on the field. Game conditions matter. Playoff experience matters. Mike Vrabel, as a coach, and Ryan Tannehill as the quarterback all lack experience in the playoffs. Everything I mentioned above favors New England. Yes, I think the hotter team is the Titans. But the better coached and better overall team, is still New England. And the better defense lies with the home team in cold conditions. It’s an upset if the Titans win. And what a fantastic upset it would be.

Titans 14 Patriots 17

MIN Vikings vs NO Saints

A case for the Vikings:

Dalvin Cook’s return is massive. The Vikings offense is just better and far more functional when Cook is the game. This is no disrespect to Cousins, Diggs, or Thielen who are fantastic playmakers in their own right as well. But given the state of the Vikings offense, Cook’s return is just that important. That being said, his return isn’t the most important thing that needs to happen for the Vikings to win. The Vikings defense NEEDS a vintage 2017-2018 performance. Matter of the fact is, you aren’t going to stop the Saints offense. It just doesn’t happen. But you CAN slow them down enough to score more points than them and beat them. This is a must. Mike Zimmer is a fantastic head coach (despite what some others say) and can create a gameplan that allows this Vikings defense to take 

over the game.

But when it comes to creating gameplans…

A case for the Saints:

No one does it better offensively than Sean Payton. The man is a mastermind who can gameplan for anything that comes his way and can adapt his offense mid-game like no other. His work with Teddy B this last season was incredible and his ability to get Drew Brees back without missing a beat is exactly the type of coaching that can lead your team to a Super Bowl. But Sean Payton isn’t the only person that needs to make a difference. To me, if the Saints want to frustrate the Vikings, it won’t be through the offense but through the play of Marshon Lattimore. To me, it doesn’t matter if he covers Diggs or Thielen. Either way, you must shut that receiver down. If Lattimore does his job, the Vikings offense will be handicapped. From there, you let Drew Brees and Co. do their thing.

Final Prediction:

It’s very rare that I ever confidently pick a Vikings game. History says I’m wrong everytime I pick a tough Vikings game. Luckily for me, I don’t think this game is all that tough to pick. The first thing I look at when picking a team is the overall roster and performance of the team. While the Vikings have a great roster, they have not performed to their ceiling and the Saints have this year thus the disparity in seeding and record. The Saints, I’ll say it, also have the better head coach. The Saints, as a team, are willing to pull out all the stops and open the entire playbook to win the game if they have to. We just haven’t seen this type of effort from the Vikings this season. And at some point, you gotta accept a team for what they are. The Vikings are a 10-6 team who simply haven’t reached their ceiling this year, and it doesn’t look like they ever will this year.

Vikings 23 Saints 31

SEA Seahawks vs PHI Eagles

A case for the Seahawks:

I’m keeping this one simple because the way the Seahawks win is relatively simple. Wilson and Pete Carrol have been here done that. Enough said on that. What needs to happen though, is everything else. This team is somehow 11-5 with a bottom 10 defense and relatively little to work with on offense. This just speaks to how good Carrol’s coaching is and Wilson’s MVP campaign. However, as of late, the Seahawks haven’t looked like a team ready to win in playoff conditions with losses to both AZ and SF in the last two weeks. The Seahawks NEED a Russel Wilson MVP performance and they need either the defense to final figure it out or Marshawn Lynch to have a throwback performance. If neither of these things happen, the Seahawks may be too hurt to rely on a regular performance to win.

On the note of injuries…

A case for the Eagles:

The Eagles are, quite literally, rolling out wide receivers from the streets. Props to Carson Wentz for carrying this team to 3-0 the last three weeks to pull of the NFC East title. It earned them a home playoff game which is massive. What’s even bigger, is that the Eagles are NOT favored in this game. This lets the crowd throw it back to the “underdog” mentality they had in the Super Bowl. Once again, the Eagles are set to play with everything against them. Doug Pederson has been here done that. This is Wentz’s first rodeo. With the Eagles getting healthy on defense, it’s go time for the Eagles and they gotta get it together to beat an MVP candidate in Wilson.

Final Prediction:

Give me the underdogs in this game. The Eagles are the inferior team and the Seahawks are the better team. However, in this case, I am taking the hotter team. The Eagles are surging into the playoffs with a home crowd ready to support their franchise QB in his first playoff start. The Seahawks, on the other hand, both metaphorically and physically are limping into the playoffs. Factor in the fact this crowd isn’t going to be nice to them at all, and I just don’t see them pulling it off. It’s hard to doubt a Pete Carrol led team, yet here I am.

Seahawks 17 Eagles 27