The Super Wild Card weekend the NFL had planned for us was more “Fantastic Four 2015 reboot” than Avengers: End Game. The first round of the league’s 14-team playoff format was the backdrop for sloppy football, blowouts and whatever the hell the end of 49ers-Cowboys was.
Deliverance is on the way.
The Divisional Round will drop the two regular season conference champions into the mix in a four-game slate loaded with proper matchups and vital rematches. The Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans will battle to prove which team is truly a contender and who merely snuck into the AFC’s final four. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will stage a rematch of last year’s conference title game, only this time it’s Josh Allen commanding an unstoppable offense.
Matthew Stafford’s prove-it season will follow his first career playoff win against a Tampa Bay Buccaneer team unlikely to vomit down its own shirt the way Kliff Kingsbury’s Arizona Cardinals team did so thoroughly on Monday night. Aaron Rodgers’ chance to earn a second trip to the Super Bowl in what may be his final season in Green Bay runs through the same team that ended his title hopes after the 2019 season.
This should all line up for a much more compelling weekend of football. MVP candidates will step into the spotlight with a spot in the conference championship on the line. Let’s make some predictions, including the famous Rhody Scumbag Lock of the Week (now 7-17 in the regular season and playoffs!). Want the full lineup? Those can be found here.
Here are my breakout picks. All odds via Tipico.