Wild Card Weekend Picks!

Although the Broncos season is over and I'm looking forward to the 2019 offseason for them, I still get excited about the next three weeks of playoff football. I love Wild Card weekend, and this year we have four good games in two days. All four road teams have a solid chance to win, and each game could be very close. Let's dive into these games and make some predictions for the first round of the 2019 NFL Playoffs.....
Last Week's  (Week 17) Record: 10-6-0
Overall Final Regular Season Record: 126-113-14
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)


AFC Wild Card Game
(6) Indianapolis at (3) Houston

A Case for the Colts: They are the hot team coming into the playoffs. After a 1-5 start, the Colts finished 9-1 and ended the season 10-6 and clinch the 6th seed in the AFC. Indy also should have tied the Texans earlier in the season, but Frank Reich decided to go for it in his own end near the end of overtime, which led to an easy Texans field goal. Also, Indy buried the Texans a month ago in Houston, so you know the Colts can win there. Plus, you have to like the way Andrew Luck has been played this year, and he can be very dangerous as an underdog in this spot. You could see him just taking the game over like he did in the 2013 Wild Card Game comeback win over the Chiefs. The Colts could be that feisty team that no one wants to see in the playoffs, and they are a fun team to root for in this spot because no one thought they would be in the playoffs this year. This is very dangerous team.

A Case for the Texans: The Texans are a hot team as well. After starting 0-3, they ripped off 11 of 13 and finished 11-5 and AFC South Champions. You have to like the way DeShaun Watson has played this year, and knowing how good he was on the big stage in college, I don't think playing in his first playoff game will affect him. I think he will play well. The Texans are at home and they can let their defense tee off on Andrew Luck-if they can get to him. After losing at home to the Colts a month ago, Houston should be able to make adjustments and shore things up this time around. Can Indy actually go in there and beat them in Houston twice in a month? I'm not sure that will happen, and might be too tall of an order.

Prediction: Indy (+3) over HOUSTON: Andrew Luck goes into Houston and knocks off the Texans once again. In a great duel between Luck and DeShaun Watson, the Colts come out with a win and move onto Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
Final Score: Colts-27 Texans-24

NFC Wild Card Game
(5) Seattle at (4) Dallas

A Case for the Seahawks: Seattle has a very good chance to win because of Russell Wilson. He has been phenomenal this year. He can put this team on his back and win this game on his own. I love the running game of the Seahawks too, so they can control the game if they get a lead. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Seattle, but they have exceeded expectations. No one picked them to make the playoffs, and here they are. They are playing with house money, and look for them to play fast and loose. You also have to love the coaching edge with Pete Carroll over Jason Garrett in this spot.

A Case for the Cowboys: Dallas got here after being 3-5 at the midway point of the season and finished 7-1 the second half to go 10-6. Their defense is playing very well, and they can use that advantage at home on Saturday night. They are a very different team on defense and on offense from the team that lost to Seattle in Week 3 this year.The crowd will be fired up and able to help them against the Seattle offense. The Cowboys have won only one playoff game since 1997. They are due for another win and at home on Saturday night, they have as good of a chance as they have had in a while.

Prediction: Seattle (+3) over DALLAS: This is a great primetime game, and I think it will be back and forth. I think Russell Wilson has the ball with over two minutes to go and down four. I think he comes through in the clutch and sends Dallas home with another playoff heartbreaker.
Final Score: Seahawks-24 Cowboys-20

AFC Wild Card Game
(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Baltimore Ravens

A Case for the Chargers: They have been one of the best teams in the NFL all year long. They are 7-1 on the road, and can go into any building and win a game. Remember, they won on the road in Pittsburgh and Kansas City down the stretch. Philip Rivers is playing some of the best ball of his career, and he has never been to a Super Bowl. Maybe this is his year? This might be his last shot, so you never know if he will get to this spot again. Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger have all won Super Bowls, and Rivers has never even been to one. He could be due for a run here. The Chargers lost at home two weeks ago to the Ravens, but they can learn a lot from that game. It's hard to beat a team twice in three weeks, and I think the Chargers can use that to their advantage.

A Case for the Ravens: The Ravens have the best defense playing this weekend. They can shut the door on anyone and they did it to the Chargers offense two weeks ago in LA. They are at home, and they are playing at 1:00pm EST on Sunday-the early television window. The Chargers have to come all the way across the country and play early on Sunday. That should give the Ravens an advantage. We don't know how the Lamar Jackson situation will play out long term, but it has worked very well for the Ravens down the stretch. In a single elimination tournament, you could see Jackson doing his thing and giving the Chargers fits all afternoon. You also have to give the Ravens an edge in the coaching department. John Harbaugh has way more playoff experience than Anthony Lynn.

Prediction: LA Chargers (+3) over BALTIMORE: This is another tough game to pick, but I'll take the Chargers to figure out a way to force Lamar Jackson to be uncomfortable. I think Phillip Rivers makes one or two big throws to sway the outcome and give the Chargers their first playoff win since 2013.
Final Score: Chargers-26 Ravens-20

NFC Wild Card Game
(6) Philadelphia at (3) Chicago

A Case for the Eagles: The Eagles were dead in the water three weeks ago, and it looked like there was no chance that they would make the playoffs. Throw in the Carson Wentz back injury, and there was no way Nick Foles was going to step in and lead them to wins over the Rams, Texans, and Redskins and get the help needed to make the playoffs. All of that happened, and Foles has been amazing these last three games. It's uncanny how the Eagles have played around him once again. The whole Foles storyline is enough to give you faith if you are an Eagles fan. Plus, they can play off the whole underdog angle from last year because no one thought they were going to make the playoffs a few weeks ago. No one will be surprised if the Eagles pick off Mitch Trubisky a few times in the first half and Foles is hitting Alshon Jeffrey on deep bombs while they jump to a 21-3 lead. Also, the Eagles are playing with house money. They won a Super Bowl last year, gave their long suffering fans a championship, and now snuck their way into the playoffs this year. This makes for a very dangerous team on Sunday in Chicago.

A Case for the Bears: A solid team from start to finish this year. They have a very good defense and that will be a huge factor for them-especially being at home. You could see them getting Khalil Mack going off the edge and that defense forcing turnovers. Also, they are young. Matt Nagy is a first-year head coach, and Mitch Trubisky is in his second year as a starter. Maybe they don't know any better. Plus, the crowd in Chicago on Sunday will be wild. They are old-school, loyal fanbase, and they haven't had a home playoff game since the 2010 NFC Championship Game. They will be a factor in this game without a doubt. I love how the Bears shutdown the Rams a month ago at home, and I could see them doing the same here in this spot to the Eagles.

Prediction: Philly (+6) over CHICAGO: I think the Bears will win the game, but I think it will be close. I have a feeling the Eagles will play well, but look for the Bears to pull it out and get their first playoff victory since 2010.
Final Score: Bears-25 Eagles-22