With a nod to Mike Vaccaro’s annual Christmas carols, right here’s a bit of music parody to get the NFL playoffs began, R.E.M. model.
It’s the tip of the Jets as we all know it
It’s the tip of the Jints as we all know it
It’s the tip of the Fins as we all know it
And I … feeeeel … superb
Effectively, I did say “little.” Certainly Vac places a bit of extra thought into his, however the sentiment holds: Let’s get on with the nice soccer!
SATURDAY
Rams (-10.5) over PANTHERS | Below 46.5
We begin the postseason with an 8-9 staff enjoying at dwelling in opposition to a 12-5 staff.
The NFL is making an attempt to keep up the sanctity and significance of successful the division, however that is one thing it might have to alter ultimately. The Rams outscored opponents by 172 factors this season, whereas the Panthers had been 69 factors to the dangerous.
Although the situation is a little bit of an obstacle for the Rams, it additionally might function a wake-up name. They had been arguably the most effective staff within the NFL at 9-2, with Matthew Stafford enjoying at an MVP degree.
A 31-28 loss at Carolina and an harm to Davante Adams fueled a 3-3 end that helped give the NFC West and the convention’s No. 1 seed to Seattle.
Adams must be again to staff up with Puka Nacua, and that earlier loss at this venue absolutely gave Sean McVay some intel he can use right here to provide a a lot totally different end result.
He and Stafford have received a Tremendous Bowl collectively, and the Rams have an enormous edge in expertise over the Panthers, to associate with some current revenge.
This matchup produced 59 factors within the first assembly, however I’ll attempt the Below as Bryce Younger finds his first playoff begin to be a very totally different animal.
Ultimate rating: Rams 27, Panthers 10
BEARS (+1) over Packers | Below 45
The Soldier Subject forecast for sport time Saturday evening calls for twenty-four levels with a RealFeel of three, a bit of snow and 20 mph winds gusting to 33. Good circumstances for the NFL’s oldest rivalry.
We’ll begin with the Below, with the climate combining with the Bears’ turnover-happy protection, the propensity of each coaches to go for it on fourth down and fail, and difficulties within the kicking sport.
The facet is loads more durable to decide on.
Every staff received its dwelling sport when the groups met twice in three weeks in December. The Packers misplaced their closing 4 video games, with Jordan Love getting damage and leaving with a 22-16 OT loss at Chicago in Week 16.
Love and Josh Jacobs are off the harm checklist, and Zach Tom must be again on the offensive line, making this the healthiest the Packers have been in fairly some time.
The distinction right here may very well be turnovers. The Bears lead the NFL at plus-22 (33 takeaways, 11 giveaways). The Packers are plus-1 (14, 13). Considered one of these may very well be all it takes.
Ultimate rating: Bears 23, Packers 20
SUNDAY
Payments (-1) over JAGUARS | Over 51.5
This choice boils right down to your emotions about Josh Allen. The Payments had their share of issues this season, and that allowed the Patriots to seize the AFC East and despatched Buffalo on the street.
The Jaguars actually aren’t a simple impediment. However if you happen to imagine Allen is ultimately going to take the Payments to a Tremendous Bowl, this 2025 bracket seems to be to be a reasonably good alternative.
The Payments have performed in chilly climate their previous six video games. Allen handed for below 200 yards in three of his 5 begins in that span. The Jacksonville forecast of 66 and largely sunny ought to give Allen an opportunity to do no matter he must do to take over the sport.
Considering we see a shootout that Allen figures out learn how to win on the finish.
Ultimate rating: Payments 35, Jaguars 31
Betting on the NFL?
EAGLES (-5) over 49ers | Below 44.5
Nick Sirianni’s choice to relaxation his starters in Week 17 backfired when the Lions beat the Bears. That meant the Eagles’ no-show loss to the Commanders price them the NFC’s No. 2 seed. That will have meant a possible second dwelling sport and, in principle, a better path to the Tremendous Bowl.
The upside, nevertheless, is that the Eagles come into their wild-card sport rested and more healthy than they’ve been. There’s one thing to be stated for that, too. Lane Johnson is anticipated again at proper deal with, all the time an enormous improvement for the Eagles and their means to regulate the clock with the working sport.
Saquon Barkley additionally has perked up, averaging 100 yards per sport at a clip of 4.87 per carry. The 49ers are lacking so lots of their stars on protection that it figures to be arduous for them to get the ball again for Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.
Ultimate rating: Eagles 24, 49ers 17
PATRIOTS (-3.5) over Chargers | Below 46
As with the Bears-Packers sport, the circumstances will come into play Sunday evening in Foxborough. However in contrast to that conflict of two cold-weather groups, there’s an “indoor” California squad right here that might want to courageous the 26-degree forecast (RealFeel of 11) and winds at 13 mph gusting to 21.
If the Chargers nonetheless had prime offensive linemen Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, I’d really feel higher about them going blow-for-blow with the Patriots on this setting.
Drake Maye has been wonderful this season in difficult Stafford for MVP, but it surely’s his first playoff begin, and we don’t actually know what to anticipate. Although I don’t blame anybody for taking 3.5 with the Chargers, that staff has been up and down, and the Patriots have been wildly constant. They received 13 of their closing 14 video games, and the loss to Buffalo got here in a sport they had been main 24-7 on the half, they usually succumbed to Josh Allen’s magic. The Patriots present up. All the time.
Ultimate rating: Pats 24, Chargers 20
MONDAY
Texans (-3) over STEELERS | Over 38.5
How a lot religion do you need to put in Tremendous Bowl winner and NFL legend Aaron Rodgers to have the ability to carry the Steelers previous a fierce Texans protection within the final of the six wild-card video games?
As a result of if you happen to’re backing the Steelers, you must imagine it’s Rodgers who will “discover a manner.” Sure, Rodgers gave the Steelers the lead they wanted to beat the Ravens final week, when Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard subject objective try from proper between the hash marks. I’m not diminishing that. He’s able to something.
But, a have a look at the Steelers’ season exhibits they’re 1-5 straight up in opposition to groups which might be within the postseason. The losses have been by 14, 10, 15, 19, and three (a median of 12.2 ppg).
The Texans had been 4-4 in opposition to playoff groups however received 4 of the final 5 of these (beating the 49ers, Jaguars, Payments, and Chargers). They’ll be sending Danielle Hunter (15 sacks) and Will Anderson Jr. (12) at Rodgers from reverse sides of the line of defense. This must be a few of Rodgers’ biggest work but to beat.
Ultimate rating: Texans 27, Steelers 23
LOCK OF THE WEEK: Payments (Locks 6-12 in 2025).
LAST WEEK: 8-8 total; 1-2 Greatest Bets
Why Belief New York Submit Betting
Dave Blezow’s one of many longest tenured NFL handicappers on the Submit with picks relationship again to 1994. He received the Submit’s NFL betting standings in 2021 and the Playoffs most lately in 2023.
