Its too soon to say but the 7th seed going against the 2nd seed in the NFL doesn't look to be fair, but as the saying goes, once you get to the playoffs anything can happen. Based on my initial predictions at the start of the season, teams that let me down where most from the AFC especially Cleveland and Miami, they were in the hunt in the final weeks but ultimately couldn't hang on, Denver looked good at the beginning but went head first once Teddy Bridgewater started getting injured, the Chargers got "backstabbed" by the Raiders but that's what happens when you go against a team that went through so much turmoil this season and clawed themselves into the 5th seed which is incredible, the one I just cant believe is Pittsburgh just hanging in there for dear life just to probably get obliterated by the Chiefs this weekend, I wasn't all in with the Patriots to get in but I knew you just couldn't count out Bill Belichick and his dark magic. With the NFC I got luckier although the Carolina pick was a disaster, Washington battled but just couldn't hold on with their injuries to the defense and loosing the Beard for the whole season, wasn't surprised that Dallas made it with Dak Prescott healthy and Micah Parson being a complete animal, the Eagles look like a seventh seed alright but can they pull a Houdini like last time and win it all? probably not but dammit its the playoffs. On to the predictions.
Season Overall: 43-135 (24%)
Las Vegas (+5.5) at Cincinnati O49
The Raiders are a scrappy bunch of fighters, the Bengals certainly have a powerful offense especially by air but the Oline is still average at best when trying to protect Joe Burrow, the Raiders Dline have feasted against these type of Olines so there is a chance of an upset because of this, Burrow will have to run for his life or get rid of the ball fast which he is good at and can rely on Joe Mixon to help out by land or air. Still I believe it will be a close one.
New England at Buffalo (-4) U44
Two out of three? this will be a battle of wits vs brawns, Belichick will try to outsmart the Bills once more by using the elements in his favor, can Josh Allen and Sean McDermott learn from past mistakes? This must be a statement game for Allen and the Bills by getting rid of their past demons that are the Patriots and claim the top spot for they are the better team, and the fact that the Patriots are really banged up might help the cause.
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay (-9) U47
The Eagles will have to leave it all in the field on this one, Jalen Hurts must limit the mistakes to give his defense momentum against Tom Brady, the Buccaneers are a Rob Gronkowski injury away to be just another offense, but until then this team is still legit.
San Francisco (+3) at Dallas U51
The 49ers are getting healthier and that is scary, both teams are good squads with plenty of talent but struggle to make it work on occasions, this might come to who turns the ball less, I'm smelling an upset.
Pittsburgh at Kansas City (-12.5) O46.5
The Steelers proved enough just by reaching the playoffs, its time to send Ben Roethlisberger home to rest, he has earned it. In all seriousness the Steelers defense can make some noise if Patrick Mahomes regreses to early season play and Najee Harris could run all over the Chiefs defense but the odds are really low.
Arizona (+4) at LA Rams O49.5
The Rams scare me for the wrong reasons, the Lions sent damaged goods to the Rams, Mathew Stafford looks like he is duck taped together and is one good hit from being completely dismantled, the Rams are capable of scoring at will but haven't looked like it recently, the are looking like the inverse Chiefs, they started hot and are running on fumes, the Cardinals are more than capable of taking advantage of this with their young players although I believe Kliff Kingsbury is know to collapse at these stages of the season, so who will prevail? leadership or personnel? Will Sean McVay keep his team and Stafford together with superglue in hand or will Kyle Murray and Co. manage to break his coaches slump?
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