Old dude, the Vikings are going down to New Orleans, and there is a strong argument that the one inch in Seattle last weekend already is going to come into play.
It sure did.
We can talk more about what that means when we get to Seattle and Philadelphia.
We can. Russ needs to make a long road trip. And the road doesn't get any easier if they win. But I suspect you have the narrative set.
I do. I'm all about the narrative. I'm feeling the HYYYYYYPPPEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.
Buffalo Bills (+2.5) vs. Houston Texans It seems like the Texans always play the early game on Saturday whenever they are the division champions, and this game is between two teams that seem to be flying under the radar. The Bills are a strong defensive unit, but their offense seems to be flawed. Houston has talent, but they are going to have to beat a good Bills team, the Ravens, and the Chiefs in order to get where they want to go. I give massive props to Bill O'Brien for his job down in Houston, though I was sold with how he led Penn State through their sanctions. I like the Bills to win, because their fans deserve it, and defense generally wins the day in the playoffs. Nobody Circles the Wagons Like the Buffalo Bills 17, Maybe We Can Play on Sunday 9.
Buffalo is a good outfit and defense usually shows up. The Texans? Who knows? They are, like all their pals in the AFC South, tough to read. Just to disagree, I'll go with homestanding Texans. Texans 24, Bills 20.
Tennessee Titans (+4.5) vs. New England Cheatriots Thank you to the Miami Dolphins for beating the Patriots, forcing them to play without a bye. Maybe it's punishment for thinking that you needed to film the sideline of the Bungles. The Titans are up against it, no questions about it. The Patriots are not dead, and I think people are counting them out way too quickly. New England will win, and then they can go on the road to Kansas City to face Mahomes once again. Patriots 31, Titans 10.
I think the Patriots will win as well, but the Titans are the sort of team that gives New England problems. Derrick Henry is a monster and if he gets rolling, people will be getting nervous in Foxborough. Patriots 28, Titans 20.
Minnesota Vikings (+7.5) vs. New Orleans Saints The Vikings rested their starters last week, and they lost to the Bears. Kirk Cousins is playing the most important game in his two years as a Viking. The one knock on him has been the lack of winning in the big moments, and he has to play on the road in a very difficult venue. The odd thing is that the Vikings have not won a road playoff game since beating the Packers during the Culpepper era. That's right, Mike Tice is the last Vikings coach to win a road playoff game. The Saints did not earn a first round bye, and they will look to feast on a Vikings secondary that is going to be severely compromised due to injury. The Vikings can win this game, but if they don't there is going to be a lot of talk about what changes could be happening. Saints 31, Vikings 17.
Have you wondered why the Cowboys haven't officially canned Jason Garrett? It may be because they are waiting to see what happens. Jerry Jones is known to have great respect for Mike Zimmer and he might try to engineer an escape for Zim. As Benster mentioned, the Vikings are down at least two defensive backs and that's not what you want when you're facing the Saints. Cousins better bring his "A" game, because the Vikings defenders would be getting through the "A" gap against the Saints offensive line. Saints 34, Vikings 24.
Seattle Seabags (-1.5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles The Seahawks were jobbed on a terrible no call last week, and have to go on the road in the Eastern Time Zone. Of course, the Eagles get a home game by virtue of winning the NFC East. That division was filled with straight up trash, and the only reason the Eagles won the division is because they were less dysfunctional than the other teams in the most overhyped and overexposed division in American sports. If the Packers are somehow not deemed worthy of being in the playoffs, then why are the Eagles here? Yes, I know the Packers lost in Lambeau, but the Packers actually earned their place. I'm going to duck now, as the Eagles fan base is going to throw snowballs at me and boo me. Also, never forget that Rocky lost the title fight. Seabags 9, Cry Eagles Cry 0.
Russ will have work to do this week, but I think the Seahawks have enough gas left in the tank to get past the Eagles to set up a rematch against the 49ers. Bet the under. Seahawks 17, Eagles 14.
Enjoy your weekend, and hopefully you have as much job security as Jason Garrett. Ben out.
1 comment:
A refreshing changing of the QB Guard is underway in the play-offs. Brady and Brees are out, and Rodgers and Wilson ("old" at 31) are the most senior. Watson has serious mojo, and Tannehill has been a revelation (players and coaches really need to avoid having anything to do with Cleveland and Miami if they can help it). Eager to see Jackson and the Baltimore D jump in this week, and of course there's the Marvelous Mr. Mahomes.
Btw, I thought the reason McCarthy was fired in GB was because his offense and his ideas had grown stale - and isn't that the same reason Garrett was fired?
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