NFL Playoffs, Divisional Round Picks

Jacksonville Jaguars/Kansas City Chiefs: sometimes in life, the world opens up with its generous bounty and delivers an incomparable treat, something so objectively bewildering that it reckons beyond science and industry, how then could it indubitably be that Trevor Lawrence will face Patrick Mahomes this Saturday?, appearances at least critiquing military discipline, is this indeed a postmodern first? I was cheering for the Chargers, this is an ironclad fact, but how can I deny a quarterback who threw 4 interceptions, followed by 4 touchdowns, how is it possible to make such a turnaround at half-time, what did he tell himself, what did his coaches say? That stat has to be pretty unique, to throw four interceptions followed by four touchdowns and still win the game, the playoff game, has anyone done that before?, it must be a pretty select group. And role modellesque, never give up, keep givin' 'er no matter what. As Patrick Mahomes frequently does in the regular and postseason, the most unique quarterback I've ever seen, as I mention year after year. KC picked up another 14 wins this season. Including two more versus Denver 😡! How have they beat the Broncos 11 straight? It's a tailspin. My thoughts and prayers. My first instinct is to pick the Chiefs hands down with no regrets, but when I think about what Jacksonville did last weekend, I can't just suddenly dismiss them. Imagine what the score would have been if Lawrence hadn't thrown the interceptions. The Chargers are a good team, 10 wins this season, toe to toe with Kansas City twice. It was one of those games where you keep thinking, they only need a couple more field goals to ice it, and then they don't get them, and the opposing team slowly chips away and finally wins in the dying seconds. Jacksonville's defence played exceptionally well and KC collapsed in the second half versus the Bengals last year. But I'm hoping for a Bills/Chiefs rematch. And am therefore picking KC! Note: the Chiefs beat the Jags 27 to 17 in Week 10. 

New York Giants/Philadelphia Eagles: nice to see the resurgent Eagles winning big games again. Somewhat quiet since their first Super Bowl win. No doubt eager to reassert themselves. On their way to picking up the bye, with a coveted 14 and 3 record, they beat the Lions, Jaguars, Steelers, and Packers, picking up two huge wins versus the Giants, plus one versus Dallas, and another against the Commanders. What a division, it's classic NFC East, with three of four teams still alive in the playoffs, I wonder if this postseason has in fact seen the highest frequency of divisional games ever, with potentially more still to come, rematch after rematch after rematch? Last week was strange, New York certainly played well, and were in command for much of that game, perhaps a sign of what's to come this weekend, perhaps a fluke, I really can't say. I do know that I doubted the Giants both times they beat Brady and this year's similar, they're not favoured to win. The Giants have traditionally had more success than Philadelphia. But that's only historically factored in. The Eagles go way back as well, to 1933 in fact, that's a huge number these days. They've played the Giants in the postseason 4 times since then, the first in 1981, they've won the two most recent meetings, who's to say if they can pull out another. They did score a bunch more points than New York and let around 30 fewer in. Their wins versus the Giants this season were also huge. Boring to see both bye teams win. But I once again doubt New York is Super Bowl bound. Picking the resurgent Eagles.  Note: the Giants beat the 49ers 15 to 13 in the 1990 postseason. 

Buffalo Bills/Cincinnati Bengals: the simultaneously awe-inspiring and confounding conceivably inevitable playoff matchup, between two of your favourite teams, if only they could both win! At least one makes it through but how do you reasonably choose between them? Teams which you've always picked before! How do you suddenly let one down? Playing in Buffalo may seem like an advantage, at least it's more hospitable to play at home, but so many players thrive on bellicose challenge that road teams aren't so often at a disadvantage. I doubt the cold bothers the Bengals much either way, Cincinnati's more or less close by, I wouldn't want to play there in January either, incredible conditions to play in. That's actually the reason I started to like football more than other sports in my youth, I loved how they still played in the rain or snow, it made it seem extraordinarily tough. Both the Bengals and the Bills are extraordinarily tough indeed, and both have exceptional records this here postseason. They've met twice before in the playoffs with Cincinnati picking up huge wins, one in 1981 in fact, that year figuring prominently in the 2022 playoffs. Buffalo's won three of their last 5 meetings including a 27 to 24 overtime victory, leading the head to head series 17 to 15, these teams are super well-matched. I want to see them both win the Super Bowl in my lifetime, it's such a shame they have to play each other, they've competed so well this season, a playoff matchup did seem inevitable. The Bills survived a scare last weekend when the Dolphins capitalized on turnovers, and I was close to embracing despair before a fumble was returned for a touchdown by Cincinnati. Don't get me wrong, they played super well, they're amazing teams, luck's on their side, even if can't favour both. Nevertheless, Buffalo's kind of like the home team when I visit my parents. The deciding factor: I'm picking the Bills!

Dallas Cowboys/San Francisco 49ers: Dallas looks pretty impressive after having picked up a huge win versus Tampa, just a couple regular season wins shy of Philly, just one of the imposing 49ers. The rivalry may not seem as intense to newer generations of loyal fans, but these teams have both won 5 Super Bowls, setting the bar in the tenacious NFC (only trailing the AFC's Pittsburgh and New England).  They've met 8, count 'em 8 times in the playoffs, have any other two teams met so often?, San Fran pulling off the upset in 2021, the Cowboys looking to do the same this postseason. They've only met once in the Divisional Round with Dallas picking up the win, can you believe they've met 6 times in the Conference Championships, that impressive stat way beyond wild conspiracy (the Cowboys winning 4). As mentioned last week, Dallas had quite the daunting schedule, not only contending within an incredibly competitive division, but also playing Cincinnati (W), Detroit (W), Green Bay (L), Minnesota (W), and Jacksonville (L) (11 of their 17 games were against teams who made or almost made the playoffs).  The 49ers had an easier time of it but they still defeated Seattle three times, while also facing the Chargers (W), Kansas City (L), Miami (W), Tampa (W), and Washington (W), only 7 huge games as opposed to 11 (Kansas City was the only big time threat they faced in 2022 and the Chiefs won 44 to 23). Thus, I'd say it's crucial that Dallas score early and develop a huge lead. San Francisco's so used to winning by a bunch that they might not be able to make the comeback. Honestly, I don't know why I write anything when these two teams play each other, why not just flip a coin? But that'd be so much less fun. Picking the Cowboys, for their second road win.