2025-26 NFL (Division Round)

Rams 34-31 Panthers

The Rams should have destroyed the Panthers, they didn't. Credit the Panthers for getting it up for the playoffs, but the Rams should've handled this quicker. I want to fall in love with the veteran savvy of the Rams, I'm a huge Stafford fan, but they just don't inspire confidence. 

Packers 27-31 Bears

This game was over. The Packers had a commanding lead and the Bears were struggling. Then....I dunno....the Bears pile up points and stole the game. This is one of those classic WTF-just-happened games. Don't mess with the Bears, man, they are so hard to put away.  

Bills 27-24 Jaguars

If the Jags had stuck to their commitment to the run (particluarly outside the tackles), I think they would've won this game rather easily. But they didn't do that, they kept trying to pass, and the Bills vanilla zone was able to absorb the attack. Meanwhile, Josh Allen suffered through 10 different injuries, kept chugging along and stole the victory. The game was on Jacksonville's racket and they failed to serve it out, a bit disappointing really. But Allen is a monster. 

Niners 23-19 Eagles

The Eagles sat around yelling at each other instead of just winning the game, which was a readily winnable game. The highs and lows of this Eagle team over the last 5 years or so will be studied for years to come: unbeatable when they feel like it, boring as hell when they don't show up. As for the Niners, QB Purdy is a steady force, he just never quits, you think he won't get it done but there he is getting it done. They lost TE Kittle but considering they never really got RB McCaffrey going, this was a pretty impressive performance. 

Chargers 3-16 Patriots

The Chargers just never could get any offense going at all. QB Herbert has the Josh Allen problem: I think he's trying to hit home runs every time instead of taking the singles and doubles that are available, which means they put themselves in the position of having to get big plays instead of just putting together a proper balanced offense. (I blame the Chargers coaching staff for this) The Pats didn't exactly blow anyone away, but they steadily accumulated and held the Chargers in check and did what needed to be done. 

Texans 30-6 Steelers

The score was 7-6 well into the 4th quarter, don't been fooled by the scoreline. The Texans had a nice drive, then a scoop-and-score and finished the game with a pick-6 as QB Rodgers completely fell apart at the end. The Steelers have not been good for a decade at least, but they somehow just keeping living in the playoffs and I just don't get it. Now that Coach Tomlin has moved on and they definitely have no QB (are they really gonna go for 1 more year of Rdogers?), now is the time to finally re-tool the franchise. As for the Texans, well, if they could find an offensive identity to go with the smothering defense, they just might have something. Can they find that in Foxboro in January? 

AFC

Bills @ Broncos (-1.5, 45.5)

The Bills are susceptible to 2 things: a vicious pass rush on offense and a strong running game on defense. If the Broncos stick hard to a strong running game (which the Jags last week failed to adhere to) and if they can attack from the edge into the Bills backfield, this could be a rather easy win for the Broncos. But the Bills have QB Josh Allen and a good running game of their own. If the Bills can maintain possession and get after the Broncos's young QB, they can keep it close. Yeah, I'm a Bills fan and I want to believe the no Mahomes/Burrow/Lamar mojo and though I'm skeptical, I gotta go with the Bills. I know: I just laid out the case for a Broncos victory--a decisive and rather easy victory, no less--but Allen is a monster and the wild card in this game. If the Bills can stay within striking distance in the 4th quarter, I believe that Allen will do the striking. I'll take Bills 24-20 (Bills and the under)

Texans @ Patriots (-3, 40.5)

The Texans have a killer pass rush and aren't as inexperienced as has been portrayed, this their third straight trip to the playoffs and they came close to knocking off the Chiefs last year in KC. Can they hang with the Pats? Well, I don't think Pats' D is really any better than what the Texans faced last week in Pittsburgh, but then again QB Stroud didn't exactly light up the flailing Steelers (that scoreline is very deceiving, it was way closer than 30-6 would suggest). The Pats have a smart coach and a great young QB, but they haven't been here in a while and they haven't played a team as good as the Texans (outside of Buffalo) all season long. I hate to keep harping on the Pats' piss poor schedule, but competition matters and they haven't had any in a while. I think the Pats are good and ready to win but the Texans are gonna make them work and if Stroud can make some plays, the Texans can steal this. I think they will. I got Texans 21-20 (Texans and the over)

NFC

Niners @ Seahawks (-7, 44.5)

The Niners have been a puzzling team all year long: crippling injuries and a general mediocrity but they just kept winning games. TE Kittle is out and they just got smoked by the Seahawks a few weeks ago, how can the Niners win? Well, the Seahawks and their suffocating defense are led on the other side by QB Sam Darnold (who was injured in practice this week) and a monster season from WR Smith-Njigba. Do we believe in Darnold? Do we believe in Seattle's staggeringly 1-dimensional offense? Well, that defense is pretty fuckin' great and the path to a Championship is right in front of them. I like the Seahawks to dispose of the Niners but I don't think the Niners will make it easy for them. The spread is too large, I gotta take the Niners to keep it close and make the Seahawks scramble. Seahawks 27-24 (Niners and the over)

Rams @ Bears (+4.5, 48.5)

The Rams had a stretch of killer offense this season, but that hasn't been quite as impressive lately. And the Rams defense just doesn't inspire confidence. The Bears are young, they are new to this, and their calling card is struggling for three quarters then coming on big late. Can they do that again? I think they can. The Rams are a warm weather dome team going East to play in the snow, QB Stafford is a wily veteran but the conditions are not going to be in his favor and the Bears are hungry. I kinda love the Bears here, definitely to cover and I like them to win. Bears (late) 31-27 (Bears and the over)