NFL Playoffs-Wildcard Weekend

[stevew]

This is the 6th straight week the Steelers have faced a backup QB.

[EagleFan]

Go Hawks!!!

[Bisbo]

HTTR!

[Thomkal]

However it works, please football gods don't have the Seahawks face my beloved Cards next week

[EagleFan]

Can't. They play Carolina if they win.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

However it works, please football gods don't have the Seahawks face my beloved Cards next week

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Can't. They play Carolina if they win.

"Well, that was easy."

--God

[Thomkal]

thanks god Here I thought I didn't believe in you

[Travis]

I am very curious to see the Seahawks/Vikings game this weekend. Weather will probably balance out the passing attacks and likely cause a turnover or two. A little bounce luck could play a big role in who will come out on top as could a big special teams play and both teams have return guys capable of flipping the field in a big hurry.

Lynch coming back is a big wildcard, could be a big boost or he may not have his timing down with an offensive line that has changed quite a bit since he played last. Peterson will be looking to put up some big numbers so long as his back cooperate and while I like the Seahawks front 7, all it takes is one wrong read for Peterson to take it the distance in a hell of a hurry.

I think the Seahawks win this one by 4-7 points, but I don't think I'm going to be comfortable watching it.

[Radii]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

thanks god Here I thought I didn't believe in you

Its your reward for giving up home field to Carolina, making the Panthers take care of them for you if Minnesota can't

[Logan]

Throw some football out in negative 20 degree wind chill and you will surely have my full attention.

[albionmoonlight]

With the huge number of domes, getting to see below zero football is a real treat.

[QuikSand]

So, most years there's one really oddball result, that seems to cheapen the regular season. Some heavy favorite shows up flat and goes one and out, or some upstart gets lucky and pulls off the big win.

This week, I feel like Houston is the pick for that. Pretty much every indicator, especially if weighted toward recent results, says KC flattens them easily, right? And KC is exactly the sort of team who should hold serve, even on the road.

Looks like there's a moneyline play of +160 out there, which doesn't seem all that tantalizing... but I'll be looking at it closely.

[digamma]

Have all four road teams ever been favored in the playoffs before? I know WAS is hanging on as a slight favorite, but the Packers seem like a public enough team, even with their recent slump, to close as a favorite.

And to Quik's point, at least one of the home teams has to win, right?

[Solecismic]

I did a blog post about the cold and Sunday's game. I think Seattle will win comfortably, mainly because the cold favors heavy running and Seattle had the best run defense in the NFL this season. Otherwise, since there won't be much wind, the cold shouldn't radically change the game.

[albionmoonlight]

I have no feel for this weekend. My predictions.

Seattle to win and cover. The only game I feel I have a handle on. The cold might turn this into a bit of a rock fight. And Minnesota has an under-rated defense. But Seattle is the better team.

Green Bay to win. I think that this will be the weirdo game. Aaron Rogers will outplay Kirk Cousins, and we will all say "oh, yeah. That."

Cincinnati over Pittsburgh. I think that Cincinnati is the better team on both sides of the ball. And I think that they will come into this home game as underdogs with a real chip on their shoulder. And that Pittsburgh has that amazing offense and the better QB, but might be a bit too overhyped.

KC over Houston in a close game. KC hasn't lost in, like, a long time. They might be good.

[HomerSimpson98]

Minnesota has a power runner too

[Arles]

I will give my yearly reminder that neither the Chiefs or Bengals have won a playoff game since Bush was president. And no, not W, the HW version (the two teams are a combined 0-13 since the 1994 season). So tread lightly if picking (or betting on) either team.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Radii

Its your reward for giving up home field to Carolina, making the Panthers take care of them for you if Minnesota can't

You are welcome Carolina I hope Minnesota does take care of them but their game this season suggests it won't happen

[Arles]

Originally Posted by HomerSimpson98

Minnesota has a power runner too

Here's a little anti-Seattle gambling note for those hoping for the Vikes: Seahawks are 0-4 straight up and ATS on the road in sub-freezing conditions - 31 or below - since 2007-08, getting outscored 149-74 in those games

[Solecismic]

I'm hesitant to connect teams to past teams in the same uniform. But also hesitant to back A.J. McCarron in a playoff game (although one could say the same about Tebow and the Steelers, but then, there I go with the same uniform thing and who, exactly, thought it would be a good idea to play cover-0 against a team with a speedy receiver outside of the red zone even though the quarterback has severe accuracy issues).

Anyway, I'll take all four wild card teams. Which should be a guarantee that all four home teams win.

[Thomkal]

I think experience will rule the day in most of these games. Seattle so much more playoff experience over Minnesota, and already crushed them this season. I would not be surprised to see this game over by halftime, especially if Peterson gets hurt with a rock hard field. Likewise Green Bay with Rodgers playoff experience over Washington which basically has none. Pittsburgh too, after being damn lucky to be in the playoffs at all, rallies around Big Ben. And hey Cincy always loses in the playoffs. And so does Kansas City. But they seem to have the best chance of moving on over a QB that got benched this season and can't seem to stay healthy.

Of course I'm pulling for most of the teams I said would just lose to win

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Arles

Here's a little anti-Seattle gambling note for those hoping for the Vikes: Seahawks are 0-4 straight up and ATS on the road in sub-freezing conditions - 31 or below - since 2007-08, getting outscored 149-74 in those games

nice find.

[jbergey22]

Vikings make the needed adjustments behind a superb coach and extremely cold weather and win a dogfight 7-6.

Green Bay flattens the Redskins 34-17

Steelers behind an explosive offense get an early lead and smother AJ McCarron late and win 27-17.

It the first playoff game tomorrow. The Chiefs win a tight game you might as well sleep during as the big plays will be limited 17-13 Chiefs.

In reality I really dont have a great feel over any of the games. It will probably end up with 2 home and 2 road teams winning but IMO the 4 road teams are all the better overall teams. Hard to guess on which ones will lay an egg.

[Kodos]

If I had to pick one team to win with money on the line, I'd have to go with the Seahawks.

[Arles]

Pretty creative tweet by the Vikes:

This Sunday, #WinterIsComing. #ForgeAhead pic.twitter.com/YteiisVGmr

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 8, 2016

[whomario]

Chose the wrong moment out of that scene ...

[jbergey22]

No Lynch this weekend.

[Travis]

Now to see if Michael has really figured out his fumbling issues. Going to be a very interesting game.

[Thomkal]

That should help the Vikings. Pittsburgh is also going to be without its starting RB. Could see a lot of throws in that game

[jbergey22]

Yeah, I am sure the Vikings are extremely happy to not have to face him in them cold conditions. Saved them a lot of extra bruises and hand tingling hits. He would be about the last person Id want to face on a 0 degree day.

[Abe Sargent]

Let's go CHIEFS!!!

[JPhillips]

Per @saltersl, Jadeveon Clowney stormed out of Texans locker room and left stadium when deactivated. Thought was healthy enough to play.

From ESPN

[whomario]

Well, thats one way to start a game ...

[Abe Sargent]

Hello fast score!

[whomario]

Texans dodged a bullet there ...

Aaaand now they don´t- Of course its a terrible throw, but not exactly qb-friendly playcalling early as well.

[Arles]

I don't understand why Houston calls any passing play inside the 5 that isn't a fade to Hopkins. Every point counts and Hoyer is a turnover machine. Run and take FG atleast.

[Thomkal]

Hard to believe Hoyer is a starting QB for a playoff team given his turnovers this game.

[EagleFan]

Turn out the lights on the Texans.

[NobodyHere]

We've secretly replaced the Houston Texans with the Cleveland Browns

Let's see if anyone notices...

[Edward64]

They should have kept Mallett

[Julio Riddols]

You have to pull a guy that turns it over 4 times in a half when you go in and you're only down 13. Hoyer was throwing terribly in the first half, actually got a little worse in the second, and clearly wasn't going to take that team anywhere. Gotta pull a guy struggling like that if you want any chance of righting the ship.

[bronconick]

Finebaum- "Just flipped on NFL wildcard and it looks like I got a replay of Michigan State-Alabama playoff by accident."

[MizzouRah]

Alex Smith has had one hell of a game.

[Thomkal]

Let's hops this game is a little more exciting

[Abe Sargent]

Good luck Bengals!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

You have to pull a guy that turns it over 4 times in a half when you go in and you're only down 13. Hoyer was throwing terribly in the first half, actually got a little worse in the second, and clearly wasn't going to take that team anywhere. Gotta pull a guy struggling like that if you want any chance of righting the ship.

Who is the backup for them at this point, Weeden?

edit to add: If so, yeah, I might have rolled the dice on that I guess. He had one good game for them, right?
And the alternative was, what, Yates? Dunno if I would have bothered to try that either tbh.

[stevew]

God, Shmarko Thomas is so f'n stupid

[stevew]

Mike Munchak forgot he doesn't play anymore.

[PilotMan]

That was a very weak penalty. Very weak.

[JPhillips]

Bengals playoff run D showing up strong.