The NFL is closing in on who will represent the AFC and NFC in this season’s Super Bowl. After the wild card round concluded we saw nearly every team that was expected to win advance to the divisional round. There was one unexpected surprise and then another mild surprise in the six games played in the opening round of the 2024 season playoffs.
The biggest surprise of the first round was not the Steelers losing to Baltimore but how they lost. It resembled a mack truck running over a small vehicle. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry simply ran amuck over the Steelers defense. Pittsburgh never had a chance in losing 28-14 in which the score didn’t reflect the one sidedness of the game. Houston knocked off the Chargers as Justin Herbert had an absolutely awful game. To no one’s surprise, Buffalo blew out the Broncos and the Eagles got by the Packers by 12.
Very typical in the Philadelphia game was action by one of their fans. One Ryan Caldwell, a Philadelphia fan was harassing a female Packers fan and her fiancé. It got to the point that Caldwell was throwing nasty insults at the female fan, but someone caught the whole thing on a cell phone camera which then went viral. As a result, Caldwell was fired from his job and the Eagles informed him he is no longer permitted to attend any event at the stadium. Good for the Eagles. They did the right thing. It doesn’t pay to be a jerk.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels continues to impress as his Washington Commanders upset the Buccaneers and advanced to the next round. Then what many fans were expecting all season happened for a second game in a row when the Vikings’ Sam Darnold had a second straight awful game coming at the wrong time. Minnesota is out of the postseason after Darnold was sacked nine times and the Rams beat up on the Vikes 27-9.
For the record, I correctly picked four of the six games played. Now there are only four games to predict with Houston visiting Kansas City on Saturday and in the second game it will be Washington landing in Detroit to face the Lions. A day later the Los Angeles Rams will be in Philadelphia as the game of the weekend will pit the Baltimore Ravens against the Buffalo Bills on the road. After this round just four teams will remain and those four will be playing for a shot at the NFL title.
Houston at Kansas City: The Chiefs begin the trek to become the first team in Super Bowl history to win three straight titles. In my opinion they get a freebee in their first game. Just know that Patrick Mahomes is 6-0 in divisional games. He’s not about to lose this one. The Texans are just not in the same class as Kansas City. This won’t even be close. Chiefs 37 / Texans 13
Washington at Detroit: The Detroit Lions have never been to a Super Bowl. They are one of four teams that can make that claim. The other three are Jacksonville, Houston, and Cleveland. Obviously, the Jaguars are not in the dance this season, neither are the Browns. The Texans should get bumped from the party in Kansas City and the Lions are just too strong for the Commanders. Jayden Daniels should be commended for an amazing rookie season, but it will come to a screeching halt on this day. Lions 31 / Commanders 17
Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia: Just because of one idiot Eagles fan harassing a Packers fan in the wild card round, there will be many rooting against Philadelphia just for that reason. I’m in that group. But, the Eagles are very good although having Matthew Stafford as a quarterback and given he has already won a Super Bowl, I would not be surprised with a Rams upset. This one will be the lowest scoring game closest one in this round. Eagles 23 / Rams 21
Baltimore at Buffalo: This might be the Bills last chance to get to a Super Bowl. Standing in their way is an exceptionally good Ravens team with two players performing at a remarkably high level. How Baltimore beat up on Pittsburgh’s defense in the wild card round may be a bad indicator and the Bills may see it as the Ravens taking advantage of a terrible defense. The truth is, the Steelers played badly but Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson are that good. Josh Allen may not be able to save the Bills in this one. I think this one is headed for a shootout. Ravens 38 / Bills 35
Regular Season Picks
Week 1: 12/15
Week 2: 8/16
Week 3: 8/16
Week 4: 11/16
Week 5: 7/14
Week 6: 9/14
Week 7: 9/15
Week 8: 11/16
Week 9: 10/15
Week 10: 5/14
Week 11: 11/14
Week 12: 7/13
Week 13: 13/16
Week 14: 8/12
Week 15: 8/16
Week 16: 12/16
Week 17: 12/16
Week 18: 10/16
Postseason Picks
Wild Card Round: 4/6
Divisional Round: TBD
