Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers (Saturday 4:30PM)
The road team, on paper, might be the better team in this matchup. Sure Carolina gets home field here because of winning the division. But they played in a bad division this year, which is evident by their under .500 record. I'm not saying that there isn't any talent on this Carolina team, because there is. The difference is, the talent level is much higher on the Rams. They are a more balanced and deadly team, at least on paper. We all know that might not always translate to the field. It also isn't helping that the Panthers limped into their division title and playoff spot.
Pick: Rams 35, Panthers 21
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears (Saturday 8:30PM)
This is going to be a more intriguing matchup coming in. IT's the first time in five years the Bears have even made the post season, and they haven't won a playoff game since 2010. So there's added pressure enough in this one. It's even tougher that they hosting divisional rival in Green Bay. Both teams are stumbling into the playoffs, with each team coming in on small losing streaks. It just has that feeling coming into this one like playoff experience wins out here. Chicago doesn't have that, where Green Bay does. There's no doubt it going to be a tight game, but experience wins out here.
Pick: Packers 27, Bears 24
Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday 1PM)
Jacksonville is coming into this as one of the hottest teams in football. And Buffalo had finally started to find their game at the end of the season. Sure, they aren't as hot as Jacksonville, but they started to get rolling at the right time. After hitting a bit of a bump in the road in the middle of the year, Buffalo won five of its final six to close the year out. This may end up being a battle of the ground game by the time all is said and done come Sunday afternoon. That being said, as good as the Jags are, experience get an edge here.
Pick: Buffalo 30, Jacksonville 20
San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday 4:30PM)
Philadelphia has to come into this one as a more of a favorite, just given their past playoff record. After all, they are the defending world champions and have been in the big game twice in the last three seasons. But this year feels a little different going into it. The last couple of times the Eagles made the playoffs with under twelve wins, they got beaten in the opening round. It maybe a different result this year, but given the trend I'm not so sure. And the team they playing in the 49ers finished 12-5. IN most divisions that'd be a great finish. But given how tight the NFC West was this year, it only got them 3rd place. Doesn't really matter this time of the year. Given the things that have happen to the Niners this year, they just feel like a more resilient team going in.
Pick: 49ers 24, Eagles 17
Los Angeles Chargers vs New England Patriots (Sunday 8PM)
For the first time since 2019, the New England Patriots rule atop the AFC East. New England finished with 14 wins and a three game winning streak to close out the year. Nothing against the Chargers, who had a fine season, but this one feels like it going to be a romp. And probably the only romp of the weekend.
Pick: Patriots 27, Chargers 10
Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday 8:15PM)
This is going to be the tightest, most evenly contested game of the entire weekend. Yes a post season experience edge has to go to the Steelers. There's no doubt in anybody's mind that the Houston Texans come into the weekend as the hottest team in all of football. This comes down to who can get the ball last, and who makes the fewest mistakes.
Pick: Texans 17, Steelers 14
No comments:
Post a Comment