It’s wild card weekend in the NFL as the playoffs get started today. With the way the media is covering the Dallas Cowboys coaching situation there may be people out their that don’t know the playoffs are starting.
Since I was dumb enough to start their let’s get it out of the way. Yesterday it was reported that the Cowboys will be moving on from head coach Jason Garrett, but it has yet to be confirmed by Jerry Jones. Apparently there was a source in the Cowboys front office that leaked this news, but until we see Jones in front of a microphone saying that Garrett is no longer the head coach who really knows what’s going on.
I don’t think that this was new or surprising news to anyone, but remember this isn’t official yet; so even though everyone expects their to be a change made Garrett is still the Cowboys had coach.
Enough of that garbage; let’s move on to things that actually matter. There are two playoff games today and two playoff games tomorrow. Let’s take a look at these match ups.
Things kickoff at 3:30 p.m. today as the Houston Texans host the Buffalo Bills. This is a match up of running quarterbacks. Josh Allen was 3rd while Deshaun Watson was 4th among the top quarterbacks in rushing yards. The Texans defense allows more yards per carry to a quarterback than the Bills defense does; so will see the defenses can stay true to that.
The Texans appear to be coming in a little short handed. The jury is still out on if Will Fuller is going to play today. Fuller has been dealing with a groin injury and is still listed as questionable for today’s game. Jordan Atkins also showed up on the Texans injury report with a soft tissue injury and it’s unclear if he’ll play today. On the plus side the Texans will get J.J. Watt back which is huge even if he’s only going to play a limited number of sacks.
Buffalo has to one of if not the healthiest heading into the playoffs. Cornerback Levi Wallace practiced this week and should return from an ankle injury. Shaq Lawson sat out the regular season finale, but should return today from a hamstring injury. If Lawson is back to 100% he could truly be helpful against a quarterback like Watson.
Schaumburg Stu picked the Texans to get the win in this game and while I don’t have a rooting interest one way or another in this game I would kind of like to see the Bills get a win here.
The second game today has a 7:15 p.m. kickoff time as the New England Patriots host the Tennessee Titans. It seems as though most people think that this will be the start of the Patriots demise and have them losing this game. Do you believe that?
Ryan Tannehill has been fantastic since taking over as Tennessee’s starting quarterback. Tannehill has the highest completion percentage in the NFL this season and today he’ll face the defense that allowed the lowest completion percentage this season. The biggest help for Tannehill and the Titans passing game is if Derrick Henry can continue his success running the football. Henry was the NFL’s leading rusher this season and you have to expect that the Titans will use him early and often in this game.
Wild card weekend is a pace the patriots aren’t use to playing, but they are 6-0 against in Gillette Stadium against Tannehill. It seems as though the Patriots are still waiting for someone to step up ad become that second receiver behind Julian Edelman. While Edelman is listed as questionable with a knee and shoulder injury I don’t believe anyone thinks he’ll miss today’s game. Edelman had 100 receptions this season while the next closest wide receiver Phillip Dorsett had just 29 receptions. Will Dorsett or rookie K’Neal Harry set up and be that guy? Or will James White be that second primary target for Brady today?
There are a lot of people that think the Titans are going to pull off the upset today, but Schaumburg Stu likes the Patriots today and I myself would have a hard time betting against them.
Moving into the Sunday games which have the start times we’re use to start off with the New Orleans Saints hosting the Minnesota Vikings.
The biggest advantage for the Saints may be the fact that they’re playing at home. The Saints went 7-1 at home this season and they seem to be heating up coming into the playoffs. Drew Brees did miss five games this season, but posted the highest passer rating of his career for the regular season at 116.3. Brees also has thrown 15 touchdowns in the month of December while not throwing any interceptions. Leading into this match up the Saints will bring the #1 defense against the run to face Dalvin Cook.
Speaking of Cook he has used the terms “full strength” and “feeling refreshed” to describe his condition; so it looks like he’ll be good to go come game time. If Cook can find success running the football it could change the tempo of the game. Statistically Kirk Cousins has had a quality season, but there always seems to be questions about him in big games. He could easily get that monkey off his back by leading the Vikings to a victory tomorrow.
The Saints are one of the trendy picks to go to the Super Bowl out of the NFC even though they’re playing in the wild card round. Schaumburg Stu has them wining this game and I have to agree with him.
Wild card weekend wraps up with a 3:30 kickoff as the Philadelphia eagles host the Seattle Seahawks.
These are easily the two most injured teams coming into the playoffs. Seattle will be without starting left tackle Duane Brown and starting center Justin Britt. Left guard Mike Iupati is also listed a questionable for this game. On the Eagles side they’re missing one of their starting tackles Lane Johnson and starting guard Brandon Brooks is also out. They are still missing wide receiver Nelson Agholor and tight end Zac Ertz remains questionable for this game. This may come down to the team who’s fill-ins play better moves on in the playoffs.
It looks like Quandre Diggs could return to the Seattle secondary and while Jadeveon Clowney has been removed from the injury report it’s unclear if he’ll actually play tomorrow. It looks like the Eagles will have Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard back in their running back rotation; so each teams have some positives to look at.
With all these injuries this is a tough game to pick, but Schaumburg Stu likes Seattle in this game.
Feel free to leave your picks for these games in the comments.
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