AFC WILD CARD: #4
KANSAS CITY v #5 TENNESSEE
SATURDAY JANUARY 6TH
– 4:20 PM - ESPN
The Kansas City Chiefs entered
the season red hot. The Chiefs started (5-0), averaged (33.8 ppg) and gave an
old fashion beatdown to the defending champs; the New England Patriots opening
night (42-27). A star was introduced in rookie phenom RB Kareem Hunt who rushed
for over (500 yards) in his first (5) career games is an NFL record. Alex Smith
had not committed a turnover since the divisional round a season ago going (11
TDs – 0 INTS) to start the 2017 campaign. Since then Kansas City went (1-6)
over their following 7 games including a lost at the dismal NY Giants. They
went away from the run, switched up play callers and whispers of wanting
Patrick Mahomes started to be heard throughout KC. Mahomes selected 10th
overall by the Chiefs is the future at QB for Kansas City however as of now, it’s
still Alex Smith’s team. The Chiefs stayed the course, reeling off (4) straight
wins in route to back to back AFC West titles, and a 3rd straight
playoff appearance. Kansas City has mixed up a balance of pass/run this season.
They rank 6th in overall offense, and in the top 10 in both rushing
and passing. Alex Smith has (26) touchdowns to just (5) picks as he has found
it easy going deep with Tyreke Hill (1,183 rec yards / 7 TDs), while Travis
Kelce is an escape outlet cracking just over 1,000 yards (1,038 rec yards / 8
TDs).
The Tennessee Titans have not
tasted the postseason since 2008. QB Marcus Mariota now in his 3rd
season has led his Titans to the playoffs. For a city and team who has seen
some horrific seasons of late; football in January is just what the doctor
ordered. Not any easy task for the Titans heading into Arrowhead. However,
Tennessee can control the ball with their offensive and defensive fronts. Their
running backs in Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry have combined for over (1,400
rush yards and 11 TDs). It has been hard for both backs to stay healthy all
season. Mariota is coming off a broken leg injury suffered in December of 2016.
The Titans have fought their way into the playoffs as they have been inconsistent
to say the least during the regular season. Tennessee was fighting for a
divisional title but that inconsistency plagued them late in games. That
alongside a group of youth and veterans who have never tasted the playoffs
could spill bad news for the Titans. One thing I did mention that will keep
them around is their fronts. Defensively Brian Orakpo (7.0), Derrick Morgan
(7.5) and Wesley Woodyard (5.0) bring heat in the trenches and will need to
bring that intensity all game. 2nd year Free Safety Kevin Byard
leads the NFL in interceptions with (8). He had 2 last week to help get them
into the playoffs. A smart and savvy Alex Smith will be too much in the end.
Smith has a (12/2) – TD/INT ratio for his career in the playoffs, to go with a
bruising Kareem Hunt down the stretch, I’ll take KC…
KANSAS CITY 31
TENNESSEE 23
NFC WILD CARD: #3 LOS
ANGELES RAMS v #6 ATLANTA
SATURDAY JANUARY 6TH
– 8:25 PM – NBC
The Los Angeles Rams have won
their first divisional title since 2003. The Rams have gone from worst in
scoring offense to 1st in the league averaging (29.9 ppg). A lot of this
new success has been due in part to rookie head coach Sean McVay. McVay is 31
years old and currently the youngest head coach in the National Football
League. After working as an offensive coordinator and helping Kurt Cousins and
that Redskins offense excel he took his talents west and has transformed 2nd
year QB Jared Goff. Goff completion % (54% - 2016, 62% - 2017), TD/INT ratio
(28/7), and QBR (63.6 – 2016, 100.5 – 2017). Another reason for Goff success is
the MVP play of RB Todd Gurley. Gurley (1,305 rush yards / 13 TDs). Gurley was
2nd in the league in rushing and performed on the receiving end as
well with 64 catches, 788 rec yards, and 6 scores. The trade for Sammy Watkins
has allowed Goff to go vertical and Robert Woods with rookie wideout Cooper
Kupp, the trio have over (500 receiving yards).
Their opponent is no stranger to the
playoffs. The Atlanta Falcons are the reigning NFC Champs and have spoiler in
mind. The team that represented the NFC in the Super Bowl a season ago had to fight
their way into this wild card matchup. Matt Ryan numbers dropped drastically.
Ryan posted (38) touchdowns to (7) interceptions in 2016, while this season (20
TDs / 12 INTs). Devonta Freeman was just shy of 1,000 yards this season as he
has battled concussion and knee issues. Tevin Coleman continues to compliment
Freeman in the backfield. Julio Jones racked up another 1,000 yard season, his
5th straight (1,144 rec yards). One thing that has Julio an Atlanta
fans worried is his failures to get into the end zone. Even with Atlanta
bringing just about everyone back, the offensive coordinator is no longer Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan and Ryan built some chemistry after a couple of seasons which
propelled Ryan into a MVP campaign like last year. New OC Steve Sarkisian play
calling has been suspect at best and the Falcons have been up and down playing
to the level of their competition. However, the defense has been a constant and
that an Atlanta Falcons football have not been in the same sentence in past
years. Deion Jones and Keanu Neal have been turnover machines and if the
Falcons can get away from just situational players on defense and leave rookie Tak
McKinnley in a bit more alongside Grady Jarrett, it could be a long game for
Goff. Counter the Rams with All-Pros Aaron Donald (11.0) and Robert Quinn (8.5)
sacks, could be in Matty Ice face all game long. The Rams have all the momentum
to win this game but I do not see it. Atlanta comes in with experience and a
chip on their shoulder which could be dangerous if they come out of LA with a victory.
No Greg Zuerlein could backfire for the Rams. A Matt Bryant late FG…
ATLANTA 34 LOS ANGELES
RAMS 31
AFC WILD CARD: #3
JACKSONVILLE v #6 BUFFALO
SUNDAY JANUARY 7TH
– 1:00 PM – CBS
Welcome back to the postseason
Buffalo Bills. Your 18-year drought is over and you may enter, proceed with caution.
The Bills are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Thanks in large
part to their win at Miami last Sunday but also to Andy Dalton late game
heroics to beat the Baltimore Ravens and give the Bills the #6 seed in the AFC.
Buffalo fans was so ecstatic they donated over $170,000 to Andy Dalton’s charitable
foundation. A playoff drought as such will make you be filled with joy, watching
Shady McCoy get carted off the field won’t. The Bills watching anxiously as
their star RB LeSean McCoy (1,138 rush yards / 6 TDs) was carted off the field
with an ankle injury. McCoy is a game time decision. Buffalo is hoping McCoy
can go as they rank 6th in rushing (126.1 rpg). Other than McCoy not
many options for Tyrod Taylor and company. Taylor was benched in favor of
rookie QB Nathan Peterman in week 10. Peterman threw 5 interceptions in the
first half and first year head coach Sean McDermott seemed to be over his head.
Taylor now in his 7th season has been at the top of the helm for the
Bills for the past 3 seasons, but inconsistent play and being turnover prone
has hurt his stock. Taylor also does not have many weapons to help him out
downfield. The Bills are 2nd to last in passing yards. Buffalo defense
has been about middle of the road this season after years of being in the top
10.
Buffalo traded away defensive end Marcell Dareus
to the Jags early in the season for a little for nothing and has been another
addition to an already loaded defense. Sacksonville I mean Jacksonville ranks 2nd
in total defense, 2nd in opponent’s total yards and 1st
versus the pass. AJ Bouye (6 INTs), acquired from Houston, veteran Barry Church
(4 INTs), and 2nd year player Jalen Ramsey has turned out to be a
stud with (4 INTs). Why are the Jags called Sacksonville? Calais Campbell
(14.5), from Arizona, Malik Jackson (8.0), 2nd year player Yannick
Ngakoue (12.0), and with Dante Fowler and Marcell Dareus lurking, “Welcome to
Sacksonville”. Blake Bortles has not always been a fan favorite, and with losing
WR Allen Robinson before the season and WR Allen Hurns and WR Marquise Lee for
the majority, Bortles had to step his game up. Bortles threw for (3,687 yards)
to a bunch of no names at wide receiver. No names that made names such as rookie Kenan Cole who
has played great during a 4- game stretch of late. Jacksonville drafted Leonard
Fournette 4th overall in this years past draft. Fournette steamed
off (1,040 rush yards / 9 TDs) in just 14 games. This running attack to go with
Bortles decent play will at least keep the Jags ahead. That defense on the
other side of the ball, will steer the Jags into a blowout…
JACKSONVILLE 40 BUFFALO
13
NFC WILD CARD: #4 NEW
ORLEANS v #5 CAROLINA
SUNDAY JANUARY 7TH
– 4:40 PM – FOX
Not too many chances a team gets
to play each other three times in a season. The New Orleans Saints come swept
the Carolina Panthers this season on their way to capturing a NFC South crown.
The Saints have not done it in their usual traditional way of Brees airing it out
30-40 times a game. New Orleans has found a dynamic duo at RB with their
established back Mark Ingram and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara. The 2 backs became
the first running back duo to average 1,500 yards from scrimmage in a season.
Both players combined for over (3,000 combined yards / 25 TDs). Those number to
go with Drew Brees (4,334 pass yards / 23 TDs – 8 INTs) has had the Saints
rolling this season. Carolina has been a team to figure out. The Panthers have
loss (@ Chicago), won (@ New England), loss (@ NY Jets), won (vs Minnesota).
Cam Newton has been good Cam vs bad Cam all season. An ongoing and lingering
shoulder injury has seemed to plague the former league MVP all season even if
he doesn’t admit it. Newton has still been able to dominate on the field though.
Cam has (3,302 pass yards / 28 combined TDs / 754 rush yards). He led the team
in rushing, however, rookie back Christian McCaffrey led to the team in receptions
in his first season. Being said I do not know if that is a good thing or bad thing
for the Panthers and company.
Cam has not played well against
the Saints this year. It does not help that rookie CB Marshon Lattimore who did
not play in the first 2 matchups will be available Sunday. Lattimore has (5)
interceptions in just (13) games. He will be having the task of following Devin
Funchess. Funchess became Cam’s primary deep threat once the Panthers traded
away Kelvin Benjamin. Funchess finished the season with (840 rec yards / 8
TDs). Greg Olsen is back and healthy and will be looked at a lot to help Cam
get some type of balance offensively vs New Orleans. New Orleans has sacked Cam
6 times and forced 4 turnovers in their two games. New Orleans started off (0-2)
and put together a win at Carolina in week 3 before winning (7) straight and
salvaged their season on their way to the playoffs for the first time in 4
seasons. Carolina is 3rd versus the run however, the Saints have
posted (150.0 rush yard per) against Carolina and with Kamara and Ingram
running the way they have, under those lights in that dome; hello kitty, goodbye
kitty…
NEW ORLEANS 34 CAROLINA
20
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