The 2021 NFL Playoffs kick off with Wild Card Weekend this week and this year there is a new wrinkle: A Monday Night Football Wild Card Game. That will be the last game of the weekend. There will be five very interesting matchups that will precede it. I think this year's playoffs are wide open. There is a very good chance that one or two teams playing this weekend will represent each conference in the Super Bowl. It all gets going this weekend.....
Last Week's Record: 4-11-1
Final 2021 Regular Season Overall Record: : 136-124-10
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
AFC Wild Card Game
(5) Las Vegas at (4) Cincinnati
A Case for the Raiders: The Raiders have had a remarkable season. They lost head coach Jon Gruden in October due to that email scandal. WR Henry Ruggs gets arrested for killing a person in a DUI car accident. Then, they get destroyed by Kansas City and fell to 6-7, and it looked like their season was over. But, they won that weird game in Cleveland and won their last three games to finish 10-7 and clinch a berth. They have been in a lot of close games and won a majority. You have to like what Derek Carr has done this year. Their entire playoff run was so improbable, why not continue it in the playoffs?
A Case for the Bengals: You have to love what you have seen out of Joe Burrow, Ja'mar Chase and that offense this year. They are explosive and can put up points on anyone. Zac Taylor has done a nice job with this group this year, and they are a legitimate playoff team. They aren't a fluke. The Bengals are also due for a playoff win. They haven't won a playoff game since 1990, and the franchise lost a lot of tough playoff games with Marvin Lewis as their head coach. They are due to break through at some point. Plus, how much do the Raiders have left in the tank after beating the Chargers in overtime on Sunday night in Vegas, and then having to fly to Cincy for a playoff game on Saturday?
Prediction: Las Vegas (+7) over CINCINNATI: The Bengals will win their first playoff game since 1990, but the Raiders will keep it close throughout.
Final Score: Bengals-26 Raiders-23
AFC Wild Card Game
(6) New England at (3) Buffalo
A Case for the Patriots: You have Bill Belichick on your sideline. That should give any Patriots team a chance. They also have a very playoff-experienced staff that will get them ready for this game. They will play up the fact that they are the underdog, and they can use what they learned from the loss to Buffalo a few weeks ago and make the proper adjustments. You have to like the Pats defense to come up with a big effort. They have nothing to lose here. They have exceeded expectations just by making the playoffs this year, so they are playing with house money.
A Case for the Bills: I always felt that the Bills were just trying to get through the regular season and just get back to the playoffs and make their run. They got to the AFC Championship Game last year, and now they have another legitimate shot to get there again. They have Josh Allen and he can win any game on his own. He can take this game over. I also think the Bills are just a better team than the Pats. They proved it in New England a few weeks ago. I would be really surprised to see New England to come into Buffalo and win again.
Prediction: BUFFALO (-4) over New England: This should be a really good game on Saturday night in frigid Buffalo. I think it will be a back and forth game, but ultimately the Bills will win and advance to the Divisional Round for the second straight year.
Final Score: Bills-27 Pats-20
NFC Wild Card Game
(7) Philadelphia at (2) Tampa Bay
A Case for the Eagles: They did play the Bucs pretty well early in the season. They have no pressure. They made the playoffs this year when no one (including me) thought they would be any good this year. They can play up the "No one believes in us" card, and they are playing with house money. They can play fast and loose. All the pressure is on the Bucs.
A Case for the Buccaneers: Tampa Bay is on a one-track mission to get back to the Super Bowl with Tom Brady. This team is built to win the Super Bowl, and they are dangerous-especially since they won the whole thing last year. I think they were just worried about getting into the playoffs this year, and the regular season was just the appetizer. The playoffs are the main course for the Bucs. I could see them really turning up their play this postseason-even with some injury concerns. It is hard to imagine Tom Brady getting upset at home to the Eagles in this playoff matchup.
Prediction: TAMPA BAY (-8) over Philadelphia: The Bucs won't mess around and they will take care of business in this game. They take down the Eagles, win their fifth straight playoff game with Tom Brady, and advance to the Divisional Round next week.
Final Score: Buccaneers-30 Eagles-20
NFC Wild Card Game
(6) San Francisco at (3) Dallas
A Case for the 49ers: At 10-7, they might be the most dangerous Wild Card team in the playoffs. They have been to a Super Bowl recently. Kyle Shanahan is a good coach, who can come up with a gameplan to beat anyone in any game. I totally favor Shanahan over Mike McCarthy in this matchup. I think they are battle-tested this season, and they won a lot of tough games down the stretch. I like the feeling of this team after coming back and beating the Rams in LA in Week 18 after they were down 17-0. I could see them going on a deep run here in these playoffs.
A Case for the Cowboys: The Cowboys have been a very solid team on both sides of the ball this year. I like the explosiveness of their offense. I could see Dak Prescott getting hot and playing really well. They have won a playoff game in the past with this group. You have to like how the defense played this year. The home crowd will be fired up, and that should help them. The Cowboys are in a group of teams that are legitimate contenders in the NFC.
Prediction: San Francisco (+3) over DALLAS: This is a great matchup. This was such a rivalry in the 80s and 90s. Historic players and coaches with historic franchises. This is the best game of the weekend. I think the 49ers will do just enough to pull off the slight upset in Big D on Sunday.
Final Score: 49ers-27 Cowboys-24
AFC Wild Card Game
(7) Pittsburgh at (2) Kansas City
A Case for the Steelers: They are this weekend's "No one believes in us" team. NO ONE is giving them a shot in this game. They got blown out by the Chiefs a few weeks ago in Arrowhead, and everyone is betting against them. They can use that as motivation. Also, they barely got into the playoffs and sometimes when that happens, teams can take advantage of the moment. They will play fast and loose. Mike Tomlin will have them ready, and I don't see them getting embarrassed like they did earlier in the year. Plus, throw in the Big Ben possible retirement tour, and you could have a feisty underdog in the Steelers.
A Case for the Chiefs: Their entire season has been about getting back to the Super Bowl. Even after they started 3-4, they still finished 12-5. The Arrowhead crowd will be rocking for this Sunday night playoff game. The Chiefs are the better team and they are on a mission. It is very tough to stop that offense in that stadium, and their defense has played really well down the stretch. The Chiefs are the favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and their run starts Sunday night.
Prediction: Pittsburgh (+13) over KANSAS CITY: I think the Chiefs will ultimately win the game and advance to the Divisional Round for the fourth straight year, but I think the Steelers will keep it close and make KC sweat a for bit.
Final Score: Chiefs-27 Steelers-17
NFC Wild Card Game
(5) Arizona at (4) Los Angeles Rams
A Case for the Cardinals: Arizona is dangerous team. Remember they were the 1 seed for awhile in the NFC. This could be a game that Kyler Murray takes over and has his first playoff moment. There have been times that the Arizona defense has been really good, and you wonder if they will be able to take advantage of some of the mistakes that the Rams and Matt Stafford might make. Stafford has not won a playoff game as a QB in his career. They already won in LA earlier in the year, and they are division rivals with the Rams so there is some familiarity with these two. The Cardinals are making their first playoff appearance since 2015, so there is no pressure on them. All of that pressure is on the Rams.
A Case for the Rams: This is what they built their team for. They are built to go win a Super Bowl. The Matt Stafford trade, the trade for Von Miller, and the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. were all designed to push this team over the top. They have the home game, and I don't think Cardinals fans will travel like the 49ers fans traveled last week. I think Sean McVay will have the focused and ready to go, and he gives them a coaching edge over Arizona' Kliff Kingsbury. I think they are a better overall team than the Cardinals.
Prediction: RAMS (-4) over Arizona: This will be a back and forth game, but the Rams will win and advance to the Divisional Round for the second straight year.
Final Score: Rams-28 Cardinals-23
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