The NFL got real serious this past weekend with the start of the playoffs. It’s called Wild Card Weekend. I picked three of the four games correctly, but should have had three out of four wrong! Two teams lost that should have never lost. Here are my thoughts on the four games:
Kansas City at Houston
The Kansas City Chiefs had not won a playoff game in 22 years. Their last win was against the Houston Oilers in 1994. They were led by Joe Montana and Marcus Allen. Even though they had to travel to Houston, since they were the Wild Card entry, they were favored to win this game and they did not disappoint. It took 11 seconds for Knile Davis to go 106 yards with the opening kickoff and that turned out to be enough points to win the game. The Chiefs won 30-0. The hometown crowd was booing their own team by the second quarter and Houston’s ineptness never changed throughout the game. Texan QB Brian Hoyer was just awful throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble. The Chiefs have now won 11 games in a row and are the hottest team in the NFL.
Is there a bit more Philadelphia anguish attached to this win because the Chiefs are led by former Eagles’ coach Andy Reid? And the Chiefs could beat the New England Patriots – they are on a roll (the Patriots lost their last two games); they are 7-3 on the road; and they, obviously, are strong on defense.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
I must admit I had trouble watching this game – there were so many cheap shots, so much trash talking, and so little control by the coaches and the officials of their players and staff that all of my enjoyment was lost. And the final straw was the hit by the Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict on the Steelers’ Antonio Brown which, to me, was an obvious attempt to seriously maim the wide receiver. It was an ugly moment. And then the Bengals during the same sequence pick up another 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. So with 0:18 seconds on the clock, the Steelers were awarded 30 yards in penalties after gaining 44 yards on their own and left with a “chip shot” field goal to win the game 18-16. I picked Pittsburgh. They should have lost.
This game was an embarrassment to the NFL and each play should be reviewed to fairly assess all of the warranted fines and suspensions. And there must be a message sent here by the league. In particular, Vontaze Burflict must be punished severely
Seattle at Minnesota
It was -6 degrees when this game started and the weather kept both offenses in the deep freeze. The Vikings led all the way until a Viking fumble led to a go-ahead field goal with 1:42 to go in the game. Seattle was up 10-9. The Vikings were aided by a pass interference call and drove deep into Seattle territory. The game-winning field goal would be a 27-yarder, pretty much automatic by high school, college, and NFL standards. The kick by Blair Walsh was wide left and the Seahawks won. Someone noted Walsh’s new Vikings’ jersey:
Or do you agree more with this post about the Vikings:
I picked the Seahawks and should have, also, had this one wrong.
Green Bay at Washington
I should have known better. For some reason, I really felt like the Redskins would be able to beat the Packers. I could not believe I felt this way, but the Packers had been so inconsistent, particularly their running game and they had lost their last two games and looked bad doing it. And the Redskins were playing their first playoff game under head coach Jay Gruden and with a revived Kirk Cousins. When DeSean Jackson did not score when he should have and I was reminded of the problems he caused the Eagles, I should have been forewarned about the outcome. 11-0 should have been 15-0. All of a sudden, Aaron Rodgers played like Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the game was dominated by the Pack.
I picked the Redskins. I hope I learn from my mistakes.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- After watching football all day on Sunday, I watched the golf tournament from Hawaii. That was almost as hard to watch as the Pittsburgh – Cincinnati game. The setting was so beautiful, the golf course was magnificent, and Jordan Spieth ran away with the tournament. I was jealous. But it was nice to see athletes compete and be cordial to one another. No trash talking.
- I mentioned last week that the decision to play the NCAA national college football semifinals on New Year’s Eve was just awful. The ratings dropped around 38% for the two games. Well, guess what? The NCAA decided to do it again next year, January 1 the following year, and New Year’s Eve the following two years. Who is running the asylum, I mean, the Association?
- Just in case you are not keeping up with the other Philadelphia teams – the ‘76ers are now 4-36. They are four games ahead of the Lakers in the loss column. The Lakers are 8-31. Six teams have fewer wins than the Flyers; 24 have better records. When is spring training?
- So the Eagles are interviewing Tom Coughlin this week for the head coaching job. Rebuilding with a 70-year-old coach?? No way, but picking Coughlin’s brain in a subtle way about the Giants, the NFC East, and Coughlin’s assistants may be a good idea. Dumb or smart like a fox? Wait and see.
- No high school basketball team in the area is better than Parkland, but it sure is hard to figure out the rest of the competition. Emmaus, Allen, Whitehall, Central, Freedom, Beca, Liberty, Northampton, Pocono Mountain West, and Nazareth would really battle for the Conference title if not for Parkland.
NFL PICKS LAST WEEK – 10-6; OVERALL 160-96 (63%)
NFL PICKS (WILD CARD) – 3-1
KANSAS CITY
DENVER
CAROLINA
ARIZONA
