The 2022 NFL Playoffs begin this weekend with the Wild Card round. This is a great weekend of football for the NFL fan. A doubleheader on Saturday, a tripleheader on Sunday, and a Monday night game. This year, the matchups are not the greatest, but it should be a fun three days of playoff action as the chase for the Lombardi Trophy begins....
Last Week's Record: 8-8-0
Final 2022 Regular Season Overall Record: 137-119-16
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
NFC Wild Card Game
(7) Seattle at (2) San Francisco
A Case for the Seahawks: The Seahawks are playing with house money. No one thought they would be a playoff team this year, and they went 9-8 and somehow made it. Anything beyond that would be gravy. They are a big underdog heading into San Francisco, and they got swept by the Niners in the regular season. All the pressure is on the Niners. The Seahawks can come into this game and play fast and loose. Plus, are we due for the classic stink game by Brock Purdy? If that happens, then maybe Seattle pulls off the big upset.
A Case for the 49ers: They are one of the four best teams in the entire NFL. They are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They dominated the Seahawks in the regular season and won both games convincingly. They have the best defense in the league and riding a 10-game win streak. Brock Purdy is playing really well, and that whole storyline might be the biggest story that no one is paying attention to in the playoffs. He doesn't have to do much except get the ball to Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel. As long as Purdy doesn't make mistakes, they will be fine.
Prediction: Seattle (+10) over SAN FRANCISCO: The Seahawks will keep it closer than the last time they met over a month ago, but the 49ers will be in control most of the game and cruise to a solid victory and advance to the Divisional Round.
Final Score: 49ers-23 Seahawks-14
AFC Wild Card Game
(5) LA Chargers at (4) Jacksonville
A Case for the Chargers: They are the better team, and they are more talented in a lot of spots across the board. This is Justin Herbert's first appearance in the playoffs, and this could be the beginning of his moment. I don't think that Jacksonville is a tough place to play, so going on the road shouldn't be too much of an issue. Justin Herbert was banged up in that Week 3 loss to the Jags, so you could throw that game out of the window from a Chargers perspective. They have that "dark horse" factor and you could see this team making a run here in these playoffs.
A Case for the Jaguars: They are a surprise team and no one expected them to win their division this year. They have Doug Pederson and his playoff experience to lean on. You have to give the coaching edge to Pederson in this game over Brandon Staley. Trevor Lawrence has been playing really well, and this could be the start of his run with his first playoff appearance. They did beat the Chargers in Week 3, so they have the confidence that they can beat this team. They are also playing with house money because everyone is picking the Chargers to beat them this weekend.
Prediction: LA Chargers (-2) over JACKSONVILLE: The Chargers are making their first playoff appearance since 2018, and they will advance to the Divisional Round with a solid victory on the road in Jacksonville on Saturday night.
Final Score: Chargers-27 Jaguars-17
AFC Wild Card Game
(7) Miami at (2) Buffalo
A Case for the Dolphins: No one truly believes the Dolphins are going to go into Buffalo and knock off the Bills, so they certainly have the underdog angle convered. Tua is out and it looks like Skyler Thompson is going to start for them, so they are definitely playing with house money. Maybe they can keep it close long enough to give the Bills a scare and then pull off the upset.
A Case for the Bills: From the moment this season started, it has been about if the Bills can finally win that elusive Super Bowl. Their whole season has built up to this moment. They also have the emotional angle of winning for Damar Hamlin, who is thankfully recovering from his scary cardiac arrest two weeks ago. They can ride that emotion in front of their home crowd and overwhelm the Dolphins, who are down to their third-string QB. This could be the year for the Bills.
Prediction: BUFFALO (-12) over Miami: The Bills have no trouble disposing of the Dolphins and advancing to the Divisional Round for the third year in a row.
Final Score: Bills-30 Dolphins-14
NFC Wild Card Game
(6) NY Giants at (3) Minnesota
A Case for the Giants: The Giants played the Vikings really close in Week 16 on Christmas Eve in Minnesota. They lost on a last second field goal, so you know they can hang with the Vikings. Also, Brian Daboll has done such a great job with this team this year. Turning this team around in one year and getting them to the playoffs is such a huge accomplishment. You know the Giants will be prepared and ready to go in this game. Also, how confident can anyone be with the Vikings? They might be the shakiest 13 win team in recent memory.
A Case for the Vikings: They are at home and that crowd and those fans will be a big factor. They will be ready to go for the Vikings. You have to think that they will use the motivation of a lot of people picking the Giants to upset them as a way to get them fired up and not take the Giants lightly at all. They have won so many close games this year, so I could see them winning another close one here late in dramatic fashion.
Prediction: MINNESOTA (-3) over NY Giants: As tempting as it is to take the Giants, I think the Vikings win a close game at home and get their first playoff win since 2019.
Final Score: Vikings-27 Giants-20
AFC Wild Card Game
(6) Baltimore at (3) Cincinnati
A Case for the Ravens: The Ravens are always tough in the playoffs. They are a tough out for any team that is playing. They will be prepared and come to play-no matter who is at QB. If Lamar Jackson is out, which seems likely, then no one is going to give them a chance, and that will give them extra motivation. They beat Cincy earlier in the season, and they probably didn't show a lot in their Week 18 loss knowing that they were without Jackson and Tyler Huntley at QB, and they would be probably be playing the Bengals in the Wild Card round again. I like the way the Ravens defense has played the second half of the year. That defense can keep this game close. Tyler Huntley can also keep the game close enough for their defense. All the pressure will be on the the Bengals-which could be a factor.
A Case for the Bengals: They got to the Super Bowl last year, so they have playoff experience with this group. At one point, they were 4-4, and they finished 12-4 (including the the postponed Bills game from Week 17), so they have won eight straight and won the AFC North. With Lamar Jackson most likely being out, then this game becomes a lot easier for the Bengals. They will be at home and in primetime on Sunday Night Football. Also, everyone is talking about how the Bills and Chiefs are on a collision course for the AFC Title, but people are forgetting about the Bengals. This team is good enough to make another run.
Prediction: Baltimore (+9) over CINCINNATI: Without Lamar Jackson, then Tyler Huntley can at least keep this game close to the 4th quarter. Jackson probably won't play, so you can see a scenario in which the Ravens defense and Huntley can keep this game close.The Bengals will win the game and advance to the Divisional Round for the second straight year and set the stage for a trip to Buffalo, but it won't be as easy as everyone predicts.
Final Score: Bengals-26 Ravens-18
NFC Wild Card Game
(5) Dallas at (4) Tampa Bay
A Case for the Cowboys: They are one of the best teams in the NFC, and a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They are the better team than the Bucs, and I think that they can actually do some damage in these playoffs. Also, Dallas is due for a long run. They haven't been to a NFC Championship Game since 1996. They were upset last year at home in the Wild Card round, and I think they are long past due to exceed expectations. They can win this game and be the team that no one wants to play in the NFC the next two rounds. I like their defense in this matchup with the Bucs, and I can see their offense just doing enough to win the game. Plus, the Cowboys fans will travel and be well-represented in Tampa.
A Case for the Buccaneers: They have Tom Brady as their QB, and no matter what has happened in the regular season, they still have Brady, Throw in the fact that they are a home underdog with TOM BRADY as their QB. The Bucs got into playoffs by winning the NFC South at 8-9. They have been a disappointment on offense all year long, but you can just see Brady getting hot in this game and picking apart the Cowboys. Dak Prescott has been shaky the last month of the season, and you can envision a scenario in which he collapses in this game. Also, everyone is picking Dallas, which makes you think that Brady and the Bucs will hear that all week leading up to the game, and then pull off the upset.
Prediction: Dallas (-3) over TAMPA BAY: No one wants to see this Bucs team advance and it is more fun to see Dallas move on to the next round. I think Dallas is the better team, so I'll take the Cowboys to advance to the Divisional Round.
Final Score: Cowboys-24 Buccaneers-20
No comments:
Post a Comment