Last week, the Super Wild Card Weekend eliminated six teams, and to be brutally honest, it wasn't a very exciting weekend for football. Most of the games were predictable, and there weren't many iconic moments, or excellent plays. I was 4-2 last week in my game predictions.
If you want to read my myTake from last week, click here.
First, let's give a recap of the season for the six teams that lost last week, and have been eliminated from the season.
Cleveland Browns: Lost 45-14 @Houston Texans.
Final Season Record: 11-7(11-6 in the regular season).
Number of Seasons Without Postseason Victory: Three(last won on 01/10/2021).
Recap: First of all, given the number of injuries the Browns have sustained throughout the season, especially with the fact they had five different Quarterbacks who started a game this season, it's incredible they even finished with a winning record, let alone with eleven wins. Unfortunately, their defense decided to have a bad game at the worst timing possible. I still think Kevin Stefanski should win the Associated Press Coach Of The Year(COTY) Award. My prediction for this game was wrong, but I knew this game could go either way.
Miami Dolphins: Lost 26-7 @kansas City Chiefs
Final Season Record: 11-7(11-6 in the regular season).
Number of Seasons Without Postseason Victory: 23(longest drought in the NFL-Last won on 12/30/2000).
Recap: This year, they're basically the AFC Version of the Philadelphia Eagles(and I'll get to them later). There was a point in the season(as recent as December) when they were Super Bowl contenders, and Tyreek Hill was going to break the single-season record for Receiving Yards. Well, times changed-and they changed quick. It didn't surprise me at all that they lost in a blowout, given the game temperature was about -10 degrees F with the windchill(the Dolphins struggle in cold weather). Also, playing against the Chiefs(who are arguably the NFL's next dynasty) didn't help much either. To add insult to misery, since the Lions won, the Dolphins now have the longest postseason victory drought in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys: Lost 48-32 vs.Green Bay Packers
Final Season Record: 12-6(12-5 in the regular season).
Number of Seasons Without Postseason Victory: One(last won on 01/16/2023).
Recap: This was the only game that surprised me. First of all, the Cowboys were the Number 2 Seed in the NFC, and the Packers were the Number 7 Seed in the NFC(this was the first time in NFL History a Number 2 Seed has lost to a Number 7 Seed in a postseason game). Second of all, the Cowboys were at home, and third of all, Dak Prescott was an MVP contender this past season. Yes, 'Dem Boys are used to choking in the playoffs, but Go Pack Go! is quite used to doing that as well. I guess "America's Team" will go another year without...even reaching a conference championship game, yikes!
Los Angeles Rams: Lost 24-23 @detroit Lions
Final Season Record: 10-8(10-7 in the regular season).
Number of Seasons Without Postseason Victory: Two(Last won a playoff game on 02/13/2022-Super Bowl LVI).
Recap: The game was essentially a Hollywood movie. Matthew Stafford was going back to where he started his NFL Career-Detroit, Michigan-for the first time since he was traded to the Rams, and Jared Goff was also playing the team that started his career. They were both the result of the trade. Everyone knew it would be a great game, and a nail-biter. Relax, Rams fans, you just won two years ago, and you all were lucky to snag a playoff spot in the first place.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Lost 31-17 @bills.
Final Season Record: 10-8(10-7 in the regular season).
Number of Seasons Without Postseason Victory: Seven(Last won a playoff game on 01/15/2017).
Recap: As I stated in my previous myTake, the Steelers are my most hated NFL Team, so excuse the bias, but was this really a surprise to anyone? Once again, Mike Tomlin worked his magic to finish with a non-losing season. Tomlin is one of the best Head Coaches in the NFL, but unfortunately, his roster is far from it, especially without his most valuable player(T.J. Watt). Everything that happened in this game was supposed to happen.
Philadelphia Eagles: Lost 32-9 @Buccaneers.
Final Season Record: 11-7(11-6 in the regular season).
Number of Seasons Without Postseason Victory: One(Last won a playoff game on 01/29/2023-the 2022-2023 NFC Championship Game).
Recap: This season's Eagles may go down as the biggest collapse for a team in the history of single-season collapses. After starting off the season with a 10-1 Record(granted, winning those games by close margins), they finished the season with an 11-7 record, and a negative 83 point differential in the last eight games of the season(including the playoffs). My, did the NFC Champions fall at the end of this season. I wasn't really surprised with the result of the game either.
Now, it's time to preview each game of the 2023-2024 Divisional Round Postseason Round.
Baltimore Ravens(vs.Texans on Saturday, 01/20/2024 at 4:30 P.M. E.T.).
Overall Season Record: 13-4(the best in the NFL).
The Good News: Where do I begin? They're well-rested, they're playing at home, they have one of the best Head Coaches in the NFL, they have an elite Quarterback, they have a good receiving corps, and one of the best defenses in the NFL.
The Bad News: Aside from Mark Andrews being on the IR, the Ravens have grossly underpeformed in the postseason the last five seasons, despite how good they may look in the regular season. This is literally their only concern: recent history.
What to Look For: If they perform similar to how they did in the regular season. Really, that's it.
Houston Texans(@Ravens on Saturday, 01/20/2024 at 4:30 P.M. E.T.).
Overall Season Record: 11-7
The Good News: The Texans have an explosive offense, mainly thanks to their Quarterback C.J. Stroud.
The Bad News: While their defense looked great last week, it still has way too many holes to take on a rested Ravens offense with Lamar Jackson.
What To Look For: If the Texans defense can remain consistently great throughout the entire game. Against an excellent Ravens offense led by Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, Maryland, this is going to be a very tough task.
My Prediction: The Texans have been the biggest surprise team this season, C.J. Stroud is a shoe-in to win Offensive Rookie Of The Year, and dare I say he has had the best rookie Quarterback performance in NFL History, and their run game isn't bad. However, the game is in Baltimore, Maryland, Lamar Jackson is elite, John Harbaugh has been here before, and the Ravens are arguably the best team in the NFL, as much as it hurts to admit that.
(Final Score: Ravens-27, Texans-20).
Green Bay Packers(@49ers on 01/20/2024 at 5:15 P.M. P.T.).
Overall Season Record: 10-8
The Good News: They have the youngest team in the NFL.
The Bad News: They have the youngest team in the NFL(and we haven't seen the last seed in a conference beat the best seed in a conference in the postseason in a long time).
What to Look For: If they can keep the game close.
San Francisco 49ers(vs.Packers on 01/20/2024 at 5:15 P.M. P.T.).
Overall Season Record: 12-5
The Good News: They're arguably the best team in the NFL, and absolutely the best team in the NFC. Period.
The Bad News: Their Quarterback Brock Purdy doesn't have a lot of postseason experience.
What to Look For: The margin of victory. If they barely beat the Packers, they're in trouble for the rest of the playoffs.
My prediction: There isn't much to say here. The fact the Packers are here to begin with is incredible, especially given their roster, but they're inferior to the 49ers in every possible way. The day before the regular season began, I predicted the 49ers to win Super Bowl LVIII, and I'm sticking with my prediction.
(Final Score: 49ers-31, Packers-17).
Detroit Lions(vs.Buccaneers on 01/21/2024 at 3:00 P.M. E.T.).
Overall Season Record: 13-5
The Good News: They're great at clutch moments, and solid on both sides of the ball.
The Bad News: Quarterback Jared Goff can still be "iffy" at moments.
What to Look For: How Jared Goff performs with the pressure of going to the NFC Championship on his mind.
Tampa Bay Buccaneeers(@Lions on 01/21/2024 at 3:00 P.M. E.T.).
Overall Season Record: 10-8
The Good News: They're riding on some late-season momentum, and their 10-8 record for the season is very misleading, thanks to their explosive offense between Baker Mayfield, and Mike Evans.
The Bad News: While their defense was excellent against an injured Eagles team last week, it absolutely has to play better than it has in recent games if they want to win.
What to Look For: If they can jump on the Lions early. They need to act fast.
My prediction: After the Buccaneers let that scrub Tom Brady retire, it appears their team has improved. However, on both sides of the ball(and especially since the game is in Detroit, Michigan), I can't see them pulling it off. Their miracle run ends this weekend.
(Final Score: Lions-27, Buccaneers-21).
Buffalo Bills(vs.Chiefs on 01/21/2024 at 6:30 P.M. E.T.).
Overall Season Record: 12-6
The Good News: Their offense is playing at a very high level, especially since they fired their offensive coordinator.
The Bad News: Their secondary has way too many holes, thanks to key injuries.
What to Look For: All eyes should be focused on the defense. They need to enforce the pass rush on their line, because their secondary can get torched very easily.
Kansas City Chiefs(@Bills on 01/21/2024 at 6:30 P.M. E.T.).
Overall Season Record: 12-6
The Good News: Their team looks back to their "2018-2022" form, and they have the most postseason experience out of every team in the NFL.
The Bad News: Their Red-Zone offense needs some work if they want to beat the Bills.
What to Look For: Their receiving corps. Can they go two games in a row without sabotaging Patrick Mahomes II?
My prediction: Remember when the pre-2019 New England Patriots would finish with am 11-5 record in the regular season, and pour it on in the playoffs? Unfortunately, I think that's where the Chiefs are at right now. Sure, they've never played a road postseason game in the playoffs, but I don't think that's going to stop this team. I think this game will be extremely close, but I'm giving the Chiefs the edge, especially since the Bills have a depleted secondary.
(Final Score: Chiefs-21, Bills-17).
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that is the most Cowboys fan, Cowboys fan picture and reaction, ever...
The ram won in 2022 but I guess we fell this time round
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