Wild Card Weekend Picks



We've reached the first round of the NFL Playoffs, and I begin my quest to go 11-0 in post-season picks. First a look back at the regular season.

I finished the 2018 season with 158 picks in straight Pigskin Pick'Em and 132 in picks against the spread. The spread picks weren't my finest work this year. Lindsay finished with 140 in picking games. It was a weird year.

And now it's time to move on to the post-season.

Saturday Games:
No. 6 Indianapolis Colts (10-6) at No. 3 Houston Texans (11-5)
About: This battle of division rivals kick starts the playoffs. The Texans and Colts split their season series, each winning by three points in the other team's home stadium. So that means home field advantage doesn't mean a ton. In this case, I think the Texans have struggled with some injuries and inefficiencies on offense, and though they have a stout defense, I think the experience of Andrew Luck and the creativity and tenacity of rookie coach Frank Reich could be the difference here. It could be a big day for TY Hilton, too.
The Pick: Colts 27, Texans 24

No. 5 Seattle Seahawks (10-6) at No. 4 Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
About: These two teams played earlier this season, with the Seahawks winning 24-13 at home. That might tend toward giving them an edge in a close game, but this is a different Cowboys' team. They've since sprung to life on defense and traded for Amari Cooper, boosting their passing game. And, in fact, the past two months the Cowboys have looked a bit like the better team. Sure, the Seahawks won against the Vikings and Chiefs at home, but they lost to the 49ers in Week 16 and struggled against the Cardinals in Week 17. That gives me pause. And being on the road, I think that will make it tougher.
The Pick: Cowboys 24, Seahawks 20

Sunday Games:
No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (12-4) at Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
About: We saw these two teams meet in Week 16 in Los Angeles, when the Ravens defense took the Chargers apart. So what's changed? Well, the Chargers are on the road this time, a place where they were 7-1 this season and played better than when in Los Angeles. It's also the playoffs, where the stakes are higher and experience matters. The Chargers, especially at quarterback, have that experience. And I think they are hungry to make a run before it's too late for Philip Rivers.
The Pick: Chargers 20, Ravens 16

No. 6 Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) at No. 3 Chicago Bears (12-4)
About: The Eagles were the hottest team to end the regular season. They were 6-7 when Carson Wentz went out with a broken back, and Nick Foles came in, led them to three straight wins (including over the Rams) and miraculously got them into the playoffs. The Bears, meanwhile, have been one of the biggest surprises in the league, riding a stout defense and improving offense to a 12-4 mark. And they could challenge for the Super Bowl in the NFC. It's hard to pick against Foles and the Eagles, who had a magical run in 2017 and ended this season on a run, but it's also hard to go against these Bears, especially at home.
The Pick: Bears 20, Eagles 17

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