Indianapolis Colts/Buffalo Bills: it's great to see the Bills competing at a super high level again. It's been so so very long since they've had such an outstanding season. They've never met Indianapolis in the playoffs so there are no super old school grudges to consider, and they've split their last 4 so things are pretty even in the not so far off past. The Colts picked up impressive wins versus the Packers and Titans this season, but fell short to Cleveland, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee, meaning they only defeated 2021 postseason appointees twice. Buffalo defeated the Rams, Seahawks, Dolphins (twice), Broncos, Steelers, and Patriots (twice), and swept their division for the first time in forever, only losing to Arizona on the last play of the game, if I remember correctly, Kansas City, and Tennessee. They are playing in Buffalo which could give the Bills a significant edge in January, although it's hard for any team to play under such conditions, nevertheless, Buffalo's likely more used to it. I'd hate to see Philip Rivers lose another playoff game, and there's no question that he'll be ready. But I think the Bills will prove too striking, stalwart, sure, and steady. Picking the Bills by 10. Go Buffalo Go!
Los Angeles Rams/Seattle Seahawks: if the playoffs had been in September there's no doubt I would have picked Seattle. They were scoring more than 30 points every week, and looked totally unstoppable, before their offence slowed down a bit, while still picking up a bunch more wins. Divisional matchups are tough to pick because the teams play each other so often, thus even though Seattle played exceptionally well this year, they still lost to the Rams and Cardinals. The Rams played rather well too (as did Arizona) but I didn't think either of them could take the Seahawks, but you introduce the divisional factor, and there's no telling who's going to win. The Rams played better against the NFC East, picking up 4 wins, two by large margins, and it's surprising Seattle didn't clobber the Giants (who beat them), or Washington, or even the Eagles. They've only met once in the playoffs back in 2004, a game which the Rams won 27 to 20, in the Wild Card Round. They've split their last 4 regular season games, L.A winning 4 of the last 6, the Seahawks scoring 87 more points during the season, the Rams letting in 75 fewer. Seattle's more seasoned, more accustomed to the postseason, but the Rams recently made the Super Bowl; assuming Jared Goff plays, the Rams are no stranger to football in January. Nonetheless, I'm taking the Seahawks and hope Russell Wilson picks up another big win. Hoping the score is high. And victory always remains uncertain.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Washington Football Club: and I was transported back to a different time when I made my living shovelling snow during the night in downtown Montréal. It was cold and tough and silent as I aided a resolute team member, tranquil peace and calm abounding, in the wee oft slumberous hours. He was fun to work with and worked hard while having fun, and when the Broncos made it to Super Bowl 50, he had positive things to say about Denver's prospects. I'm used to generally hearing misgivings about Denver's chances of winning any Super Bowl, from anyone I happened to be talking with, so when my friend mentioned he was rooting for the Broncos, around 4:30 in the morning while we were shovelling, I was relieved to not have to argue, or introduce impassioned criticisms. He's a Bucs fan if I remember correctly and I feel I should return the favour. Not that Tampa should have any trouble defeating Washington, but still, hey, why not? Criticisms of Brady aside, I still like that he went to Tampa. He left New England to play for the Bucs and lead them to an 11 and 5 record. New England isn't in the playoffs. Brady won round 2020 big time. I would never have wanted him to win again with the Patriots. But winning in Tampa Bay? That's a great story. Don't misinterpret, Washington winning's an awesome story too, but the odds against that happening must be astronomically high. Even if Seattle did beat the Saints with a 7 and 9 record so many years ago. Hoping it's close. Picking Tampa Bay.
Baltimore Ravens/Tennessee Titans: there are just too many teams that I want to see win this year, too many teams I don't want to see lose. I want to see Lamar Jackson make up for his loss in last year's postseason for instance, but not against the Tennessee Titans, who defeated him. Titans's running back Derrick Henry ran for over 2,000 yards this year, and who doesn't want to see a team with such an outstanding rusher and offensive line progress throughout January? Too difficult to make these choices. What a rematch though, which could be similar to Denver's rematch against Jacksonville in the 1997 season. In the 1996 season Denver was heavily favoured to beat the Jags who arrived at Mile High and won. But Denver returned the favour the following year, on Wild Card weekend no less, winning 42 to 17. Jacksonville didn't have a 2,000 yard rusher, if memory serves correctly, however, and the Broncos had improved in the meantime (with a rather impressive running back of their own). Baltimore didn't win as many games this season as they did in 2019, but they've still won 5 in a row, although the only team they defeated during that span with a plus 500 record was the Browns. Baltimore and the Titans played earlier in the year and Tennessee won in overtime so there's really no telling who'll win this game (unless there's a significant COVID factor). I'm still upset that Air McNair lost on Super Bowl XXXIV's last play. Picking the Titans. Could there be a Music-City-Miracle rematch?
Chicago Bears/New Orleans Saints: the Bears played relatively well this year even if they only won 8 games, 10 of their matchups decided by a touchdown or less, picking up a win versus Tampa along the way. But they didn't win often against playoff bound opponents, if that means anything, falling short against Indianapolis, New Orleans, Tennessee, Green Bay (twice), and the Rams. They took the Saints to overtime but couldn't pull out the win, New Orleans kicking ye olde field goal to emerge indeed victorious. The Saints had another great year winning 12 even with Drew Brees injured for a while, scoring at least 30 points 8 times, 52 against the Vikings in Week 16. They couldn't outmanoeuvre Kansas City or Green Bay but picked up two wins versus the Bucs, also overcoming the Broncos (Lock was out due to COVID protocols), and San Francisco for good measure. It would seem like New Orleans would win this game with ease if they hadn't experienced so much playoff misfortune, strange plays near the ends of their games often stifling grand ambitions. But the Bears don't have much to brag about in January for the last 25 years, in fact they've only won three playoff games during that time span, which includes a trip to the Super Bowl. I want to see New Orleans win, I want to see them have more success in the postseason, I've never seen such an amazing team blow it so often, but 2020 is a brand new postseason. It would be cool if Brees eventually played Brady in the 2020 playoffs as well, it's looking unlikely that they'll play, but I can't abandon hope. It would be cool if the Bears won, no question, and made a run like the Titans did last year. I'd love to see it happen. I imagine they'll be tough to beat. But, in keeping with tradition, I'll be picking the Saints one more time. Anticipating something incredibly strange in the fourth quarter. That may ensure a Chicago victory.
Cleveland Browns/Pittsburgh Steelers: felt old the other day when I heard that the last time Cleveland made the playoffs was 2002. I remembered they made it once since forging a new team, but I didn't think it was that long ago. I like the Browns, I'd love to see them win, they've had so much trouble pulling it together. But at times this year they looked great, notably in a thrilling win versus the Titans. Pittsburgh looked like a Super Bowl contender for a while before losing three of their last 5, to Cincinnati and Washington no less, although the Bengals are a division rival. Pittsburgh beat the Browns with Roethlisberger 38 to 7, and lost to them without him, 24 to 22. They're in the postseason so often it seems like they're always going to win, and they've won some big time games, not to mention a league leading 6 Super Bowls (tied with the Patriots). The Browns on the other hand have struggled forever and were lucky to make the postseason this year. But they're playing like a true feisty Wild Card and perhaps will generate related spirits. It's been a wild year full of crazy high scores that I'd never have been able to predict. Hopefully this game follows suit. Picking Cleveland by 3.
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