New England Patriots/Buffalo Bills: looks like I'll have to cancel this Saturday's Elementary marathon (it's the best! [especially if you're quitting something]), nothing could tear me away from a playoff matchup between these two teams. Perhaps I'll stay up all night. I love it when this happens in the NFL. The classic divisional playoff meeting between two rivals in a situation where one has dominated the other for quite some time, to the other's chagrin. Last year the Browns defeated the Steelers in epic fashion, it's disappointing that Cleveland isn't back this year, and obviously, as everyone remembers, the Broncos won the AFC Championship game versus the Raiders 20 to 17, way back in 1977, after struggling versus Oakland for many a woeful year. According to those two games, it seems that the Bills are destined to win on Saturday, since they've had their hands full with the Patriots for decades, and would love to earn some playoff comeuppance. But if there's a coach who will be ready for this Saturday's matchup, despite the fact that they're playing in Buffalo in January, despite haunting historical patterns (like the AFC West's return to an old school alignment this year), it's gotta be Bill Belichick, whose name still shows up in spellcheck. It's odd, you would think that he's definitely the one coach with absolutely nothing to prove, having won the Super Bowl so many times, while winning so many regular season games, but after Brady's Super Bowl win in Tampa last year, the pressure is back on Belichick. I love the Bills myself and if Denver's not in the playoffs, I'll happily root for Buffalo, Cincinnati, and Green Bay. Sean McDermott knows what to do. Picking the Bills at home.
Philadelphia Eagles/Tampa Bay Buccaneers: typically I would have my trusty pack of cigarettes by my side while writing this in case inspiration called for tobaccolyte aid, but I must stoically persevere without it in the uncertain newfound forthcoming. For the second straight year the Bucs will face a team from the NFC East with a lacklustre record in the Wild Card round, and even though Philadelphia has impressed at times, Tom Brady often rules the postseason. After New Orleans won the Super Bowl they blew it the next year versus the Seahawks however, who had a 7 and 9 record if I remember correctly, yet still won their division and hosted the game. Would have lit a cigarette here if I was still smoking. The Bucs didn't make the playoffs the year after they won their first Super Bowl, so they're faring better in 2021, and they certainly played rather well this year, compiling a 13 and 4 record. They had some hiccups though which in this crazy season were to be expected, losing twice to the unpredictable Saints (shutout in one of the games), along with their Washington rematch, and a close call versus the struggling New York Jets. But still, they defeated the Patriots, Eagles (only by 6), Colts, and Bills, come to think of it, they didn't have a tough schedule, but it's still Tom Brady in the playoffs, and soft schedule or not, they still scored 30 or more points 9 times this year (plus 28 twice). They had the second best defence in the NFC too although the Eagles played solid D as well, Philly did pick up 9 strong wins this year, but still lost every time they played a playoff bound team. I'm sticking to my snow shovelling days and my old friend who cheered on the Broncos, that was such a great moment in the middle of the freezing night, when suddenly it became clear I knew someone else who was rooting for Denver. But if the Eagles pull it out that'd be cool, it's not looking good however. But anything can happen in any given game. Picking the Bucs. Hoping the Eagles come out chargin'.
San Francisco 49ers/Dallas Cowboys: Dallas vs. San Fran takes me back to when I first started paying close attention to the NFL playoffs, way back before the Broncos had won their first Super Bowl, when the AFC was losing year after year. I never wanted either of these teams to win the Super Bowl and I wanted every team that played them to win, especially Green Bay with Favre, but for years, when they weren't playing each other, they were the best in football, indeed, colossal, unstoppable. They met in the NFC Championship Game three years in a row (1992-1994) with Dallas winning twice, it was huge when the 49ers beat them; they haven't met in the playoffs since. Looking at Dallas's postseason history since their last Super Bowl win in 1995, is somewhat perplexing, they've only won 4 games, while picking up a staggering 10 losses. Cigarette. Here I would be having a cigarette. San Francisco's made it back to the Super Bowl twice but has yet to pick up another Super Bowl win, they also lost in the NFC Championship Game twice, those are solid postseason credentials. Both teams won so often in my youth (against teams that I was cheering for) that for a long time I never wanted to see them win again, but so much time has passed at this point, that there's a new generation of Cowboys and 49ers fans seeking Super Bowl victory. And I can't be all Grinchy about it. I thought San Francisco was done early on this season but then they won 7 of their last 9, defeating Cincinnati and the Rams (twice) along the way, while winning in dramatic fashion to make the playoffs last weekend. Arizona and the Rams have better records but all 3 teams had something to play for last weekend, and the 49ers were the only one that won, although the Rams did come pretty close. Still, the Cowboys impressed this season as well and picked up some huge wins along the way (while losing to Denver). And it's been quite some time since they've seen the Conference Championship. Picking the resurgent Cowboys.
Pittsburgh Steelers/Kansas City Chiefs: so many teams hovering between 10 and 7 or 7 and 10 this season, who knew what to expect every weekend?, what a stunning unpredictable year. The Steelers were one such team having compiled a 9-7-1 record, and even if they almost lost to the Lions, some luck in week 18 sees them back in the playoffs. The Chiefs had some troubles early on in 2021, actually losing, actually losing some games, but it seemed like they were just slow coming out of the gate, and they remarkably improved as the season wore on (winning 9 of their last 10). There's a lot of variability amongst quarterbacks but I've never seen anyone play like Mahomes. It's like he applies gymnastics to the position. Startling every week uncanny. The Chiefs lost to Tennessee, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and the Chargers (almost twice), but defeated Denver (twice 😡), Green Bay, the Chargers, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas (twice), and Dallas, so it looks like if they're playing an evenly matched team, they may win, and then again, they may not, who's to say, but they aren't prone to error. I like that Big Ben is still playing and that he's back in the playoffs again. He's made the playoffs so many times (check out how many times Pittsburgh has made the playoffs and won games since 1972: it's staggering) and won so many big games. I'd love to see him win another. Although this week, it's looking impossible. But Mike Tomlin's an incredible coach with a lauded highly respected record. I'm sure he'll have the Steelers ready. And Kansas City does struggle in the playoffs at home. Still picking the Chiefs though. Chiefs by 14. 😞*I didn't think about smoking while writing that. And it's only day 2. That's a good sign.
Arizona Cardinals/Los Angeles Rams: like I was saying, both the Cardinals and Rams had something to play for last weekend and both produced subpar results, so perhaps it's better that they play each other this Sunday, if you happen to be interested in one of them winning. Through victory, the winner should be able to shed the misfortune of last week's disappointing outcome, and reemerge formidable for the Divisional Round, having overcome a lack of stamina. Arizona won their first 7 and only lost their 8th game to Green Bay by 3 points, and seemed like a serious contender during the first half of the season, or at least much more imposing than they usually do. But then they lost 5 of their last 9, four of their last 5 in fact, with losses to the Lions and Seahawks (that was a divisional loss [odd that Seattle didn't make the playoffs]), they have not fared well as of late, and if I remember correctly, they generally didn't play well during prime time matchups (which can prove disastrous in the postseason spotlight). The Rams won 5 of their last six with victories over the Cardinals and Seahawks (both divisional), while picking up wins versus the Colts and Buccaneers along the way, and falling to Green Bay, Tennessee, Arizona (early on), and San Francisco (twice). I was happy to see Matthew Stafford pick up 12 wins after struggling in Detroit for so many years. And there's no doubt Von Miller has made an impact, very promising to have him on your team in the playoffs. I'm picking the Rams by 10 and hoping the Cardinals keep it close. It would be cool to see Arizona finally win the Super Bowl. But they have a super steep hill to climb.
*I wrote the first two picks on Monday when I was still smoking.
**How am I not going to have a cigarette whenever a team I'm cheering for scores a touchdown? Or at the end of every quarter? Or at every two minute warning!
***I think it'd be cooler to have a single Wild Card playoff game on Friday night as opposed to Monday.
****Can't wait for the playoffs to begin!
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