FRIDAY AFTERNOON QUARTERBACK: NFL WILD CARD WEEK

We have finally reached the postseason in what might have been the oddest NFL campaign in the last decade. Every team, no matter how good they are, seems to have a fatal flaw. Wacky special teams plays have swung divisions, playoff seeding, entire seasons and ended coaching tenures. This might be the most wide-open playoff field that I can remember and we have multiple cool scenarios on the board. 

How about the San Francisco 49ers getting the chance to be the second NFL team to win a Super Bowl inside its own stadium? Or what if Josh Allen finally gets the Buffalo Bills their first Vince Lombardi and cements his status as the best player in the league? Could Matthew Stafford secure a first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket with both an MVP and his second Super Bowl title, and do it against the other team from Los Angeles in the Chargers? 

I could go on. There are so many fun and interesting outcomes, which is why the worst one is likely what we’ll get: Philadelphia Eagles vs New England Patriots III. I’m already bummed.

But, hey, we’ve got to get there so let’s weave our way through Wild Card week on the quest for Super Bowl LX.

SATURDAY

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (+10.5, O/U: 46.5)

A little over a month and a half ago the Rams got embarrassed in Charlotte like they paid for it on Craigslist. As such, there’s no excuse to overlook the heavy underdog Panthers. Carolina didn’t just back into the playoffs; they smashed an orange traffic cone and busted out their rear-facing camera in the process. The Los Angeles A-Team is the best overall squad in the bracket, but their late-season face plant against the Atlanta Falcons and overtime against the Seattle Seahawks means they’ll have the hardest possible road to the Super Bowl. They need to take care of this one and get back on track. Rams 37, Panthers 16

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS (+1, O/U: 45.5)

Looking at the Packers’ injury report and for this Bears team, there’s just no excuse to lose this game at home. None. And yet they are underdogs in their own house after beating Green Bay just a month ago. At the risk of chaffing and frostbite, I feel like we’re likely to see Ben Johnson’s nipples again at the end of this one. Bears 24, Packers 20 

SUNDAY

BUFFALO BILLS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+1, O/U: 52.5)

Make no mistake about this game, Sean McDermott’s job is on the line. If Buffalo loses here, John Harbaugh is on that sideline next season and McDermott is getting an elbow to the ribs sitting at the desk next to Nick Wright on FS1, hearing about how great Patrick Mahomes smells. There’s just no more excuses for the Bills this season. You’ve got to win this one. Bills 27, Jaguars 23

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-4.5, O/U: 44.5)

I guess there was a time that the 49ers felt like this was a real rivalry, but it doesn’t quite have that aura this season. Neither of these teams looks particularly dangerous heading into the playoffs, which means this might turn out to be a phenomenal game where both squads come to life, or it’s uglier than my Instagram DM inbox. Philadelphia has been dying to implode all season, but I simply don’t see how the Niners’ defense is going to stop them. Eagles 31, 49ers 27

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-3.5, O/U: 46)

There are only three quarterbacks in the Wild Card round who have never won a playoff game. Two of them, Bryce Young and Drake Maye, have never been before. The third, Justin Herbert, is making his third trip. In his past two, he has been defeated by Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars and CJ Stroud. Herbert is 0-2, facing one of the weakest two-seeds in recent memory. A Pats squad with one quality win over a playoff squad all season and deficiencies all throughout the roster. I see the same talent in Herbert everyone else sees, but until it shows up in the postseason, it’s a waste of time to talk about it. If not this year, then when? Chargers 24, Patriots 20

MONDAY

HOUSTON TEXANS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (+3, O/U: 39.5)

Since 2000, the Steelers are 15-1 on Monday Night Football and have won five straight, including a 28-15 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 15. Still, I can’t imagine a worse Wild Card draw than the Texans and what is probably the best defense in the NFL. Here’s a fun fact after going all in on Justin Herbert above: CJ Stroud has led his team to the playoffs every season he’s been a professional and has won his opening game both previous times. This will be three in a row. Texans 28, Steelers 23

Last Week

Straight up: 9-7

Against the spread: 8-8

Season

Straight up: 173-96-1

Against the spread: 131-139