Benster and D Pick Your Games------Packers Are Healthier Edition

We were on assignment last week, so that explains why there were no picks last week. 

Well, I was in St. Louis and apparently there's no football there.

It is arguably the best weekend of football all year. The two best teams in the NFL come out to defend their home fields. 

I am assuming one of them is about 240 miles to the east?

You need to ask? I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.

Cincinnati Bungles (+3.5) vs. Tennessee Titans What a world we live in where the Bengals actually won a playoff game. Fun fact, this is the first time that the Reds or Bengals advanced in a postseason since the Reds won in the 1995 NLDS. The Titans are coming off their bye, and they will end up getting Derrick Henry back for the playoffs. As much as what the Bengals are doing is very impressive, it's hard to look past the Titans. If Henry can shake off the rust, then the Titans should win in a comfortable manner. Titans 38, Bengals 24.

I think the Titans can be had, but they are an exceptionally tough-minded team. They seem to win the games they are supposed to win. This is one of them. Joe Burrow wounds them but does not kill them. Titans 31, Bengals 26.

San Francisco 49ers (+5.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers This is a rematch of the Packers beating the Niners in the Bay Area during Week 3 thanks to Mason Crosby kicking a game winning field goal. The Niners have gotten better since their swoon in November, as they have discovered a winning formula in using Deebo Samuel and getting back to the physicality that led them to a Super Bowl berth two years ago. The Packers have had the bye work to their advantage as a lot of the injuries have healed, meaning that even without MVS being available, this is the healthiest this team has been in months. Even better, the weather forecast is going to be cold, which won't be much fun for Jimmy G and his injured shoulder. I think the two keys are going to be how the Packers contain Deebo Samuel, and how the Packers respond to a Trey Lance package that is similar to what the Niners threw at them in Week 3. I also want to thank the Niners for allowing America to laugh at the Cowboys melting down and causing the bandwagon Cowboys fans to jump off the bandwagon faster than those same fans did with the Golden State Warriors. This won't be easy, but the Packers should win a fairly tight game. Packers 27, Niners 17.

Does this game make me nervous? Sure, but I don't think the 49ers offensive line is nearly as dominant as it was in 2019. Meanwhile, the Packers are substantially stronger than they were in 2019. It's worth remembering that the Packers have won their last two matchups with this opponent and have been able to move the ball effectively. The 49ers will try to play bully ball, but it's not going to be that easy. I think the Packers score early and often and withstand the inevitable comeback. Packers 33, 49ers 24.

Los Angeles Rams (+3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers This is a rematch of a game played earlier in the year in which the Rams comfortably beat the Bucs in LA. In an interest of full disclosure, I didn't watch the Bucs beat the Eagles due to being on assignment, but it looks like I didn't miss much. The Rams had a comfortable win over a Cardinals team that is clearly all sizzle and no steak. Kliff Kingsbury is that guy at your workplace that you wonder what does he actually do to warrant all the praise he gets from the bosses. The Rams can match up well against the Bucs. Look, as much as I think that the Bucs will win, I would love to see Tom Brady not get back to the Super Bowl. And no, it's not because of a certain playoff game last year. Rams 21, Bucs 20.

Tampa Tom is lacking a few weapons this time around. They don't have their pounding running back (Leonard Fournette) and their possession weapon (Chris Godwin). If Jalen Ramsey can handle Mike Evans, the Rams can win this game. While picking Matt Stafford over Tom Brady doesn't seem advisable, I believe the Rams will pull this off. Rams 28, Bucs 24.

Buffalo Bills (+1.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs This is a rematch of last year's AFC title game, in which the Chiefs beat the Bills handily. But the Bills are a better team than they were last year. They took the Patriots to the woodshed last week, and it was more impressive than the Chiefs beating a Steelers team that snookered a playoff spot away from more deserving teams. Even the most delusional of the Yinzers would agree. While it is true that Patrick Mahomes has looked better in recent weeks, the Chiefs have gotten away with some narrow escapes at Arrowhead in the past few postseason games in Kansas City. That changes this weekend. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills 42, It's The Rodgers Rate, Not the Patrick Price 0.

Uh, no. This should be a great game, but there's no way the Buffalo defense shuts out Patrick Mahomes in his building. Up and down the field, all day long. Last team with the ball likely wins. Chiefs 41, Bills 37.

Enjoy your football this week. Ben out.