Category: NFL

NFL podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Joe’s picks for the AFC & NFC Championships this weekend

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On the NFL podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon Joe takes a look at the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos and NFC Championship game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers. Joe talks about his picks in those games and why. Also Joe says it’s been one year since Deflate game which took place in the AFC Championship and Tom Brady and the New England Patriots hope not the have another controversy.

Listen to Joe on the NFL podcast below at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

photo credit: Bing Images–New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady

Categories NFL

NFL podcast with Tony Renteria: Tony’s NFC and AFC Championship picks; and what to expect at Super Bowl City

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photo credit: sfgate.com San Francisco downtown skyline home of Super Bowl 50 Super City

On the NFL podcast Tony goes over his picks for this weekends Championship games. In the AFC Championship New England at Denver and in the NFC Championship Arizona at Carolina. There’s more the NFL Super Bowl celebration begins Monday February 1st in Santa Clara, San Jose and San Francisco pick a venue the Bay Area expects a million people to attend the fanfest event before the Super Bowl 50 and Tony Renteria gives you his commentary on it.

Chip Kelly Formally Introduced as 49ers Head Coach

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By: Joe Lami

photo credit: sportsradioservice.com Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—It took six days for the 49ers to formally introduce Chip Kelly as the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. The reason was an apparent wardrobe situation that Kelly had. They finally did so on Wednesday morning at Levi’s Stadium, where CEO Jed York, General Manager Trent Balke and Kelly all spoke with the media. Kelly joked about the long length of time it took, “I’ve been known to run a really slow offense, and I wanted to set the tone of how things are going to be here in San Francisco.”

Kelly will become the 19th head coach in San Francisco history after being hired last week by Balke in his home.  Both claim to be “football guys” and have a very similar vision of what needs to go forward for the red and gold in the future. “It was very evident early on with Chip that he shared a similar vision to us with respect to the direction of this football team,” Balke added. “He was the right fit at this time or anytime to lead this team into the future.”

Kelly opened up his time of the presser exclaiming how impressed he was of the history of the 49ers, “we can see farther today because of the shoulders that we stand on of the people that came before us,” he added.

Of course, after a dreadful season in which San Francisco went just 5-11, questions were going to be brought up about the quarterback position and, in particular, Colin Kaepernick and his future in the red and gold. Kelly hasn’t made any promises yet, but it does seem that he may be open to the possibility of Kaep returning as the 49ers’ QB. “It’s an on going process and evaluation. We have a lot of time,” Kelly added. San Francisco has a big money decision to make in whether or not he will return and have to make it by April 1st. This, of course, is before the 49ers can start talking about football with their players on April 4. 

While players were brought up on multiple occasions, Kelly and Balke ensured that the next important step was to finalize the coaching staff and then look towards evaluations, free agency, and the draft.

After a report came out yesterday that ten assistant have been relieved of their duties in Santa Clara, Kelly confirmed that running back coach, Tom Rathman will remain with the 49ers “He’s the best runningback’s coach in the league”.

The search has been ongoing for both an offensive a defensive coordinator. Reports are that the 49ers have been talking to Alabama offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin. “We’re hopeful to get it done shortly.” Chip confirmed that he will be making the calls from the sideline on the offensive side of the ball, but that he’s looking for some diversity in his offensive coordinator. “I’m looking for some diversity. Someone that comes from a different system so that we continue to add and make what we do better”. In terms of a defensive coordinator, “I’m looking for a defensive coordinator that can shut people out”.

Kelly gave the identity he wants for this team, “I want this team to be fearless, not afraid of any situation you’re put in. There are going to be times when it’s going to be difficult, it’s going to be adverse, but you have confidence based on your preparation you’re going to see it through”.

NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview: Patriots, Cards, Panthers, and Broncos move on

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

After a 4-0 record last weekend in the wild card round, I can pat myself on the back for accurately picking that Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle and Green Bay would win, but the divisional round is a whole different animal.

Oh yeah, it was the first time in NFL history that all four road teams won in the wild card round.

With three of the four games rematches from the regular season, there is a chance that all four games are going to come down to the wire. The teams that can execute in crunch time, limit the bone-head mistakes, and penalties will have the greatest chances of playing in next week’s conference championship games.

In the divisional round this weekend, it will be the home teams that will protect their turf with impressive victories and move one step closer to Santa Clara and Super Bowl 50.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5); 5th seed at New England (12-4); 2nd seed –  Saturday 4:35 p.m. ET/1:35 p.m. PT – CBS

The divisional round is kicked off with Kansas City again, but this time the Chiefs are flying to Foxborough to take on a Patriots team fresh off a bye week.

Kansas City has been the hottest team in football, winners of 11 straight after destroying the Texans 30-0 in Houston last Saturday’s AFC wild card game. It was Kansas City’s first playoff victory in 22 years.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was a difficult cover for the Texans, finishing the game with eight catches for 128 and provided quarterback Alex Smith with a reliable receiver.

Smith’s top playmaker, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and is a game time decision. Should Maclin play, he will draw the attention of Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, who was voted to his first Pro Bowl team this season.

Kansas City does have a solid running game with Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware, who racked up 67 rushing yards. Those two will be heavily involved in the game plan as the weather in Foxborough calls for rain, which makes Kansas City’s running game that much vital if they have a chance to knockoff New England. Ware is dealing with an ankle injury as well, but should be ready to go.

The last time Kansas City played New England, the Chiefs thumped the Patriots 41-14 at Arrowhead last season, prompting talks that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was old and it was time for him to retire.

Brady, who finished the regular season with 36 touchdowns and a 102.2 passer rating (his best numbers in four seasons), should have his full compliment of targets in tight end Rob Gronkowski, and wide receivers Danny Amendola, and Julian Edelman at his disposal.

All three players missed time during the regular season, but New England continued to find ways to win games, but are entering the playoffs with a 2-4 record, the worst six-game record under head coach Bill Belichick to end the season.

Brady was sacked 38 times in the regular season, third-worst in his career. Kansas City has one of the best pass rushes in the league, finishing with 47 sacks, which was two behind New England’s defensive unit.

Kansas will have to provide pressure on Brady and force him to be uncomfortable in the pocket. If you allow Brady to have time to survey the field, he will find the open man and will hurt you.

“Any time you can get to the quarterback and put pressure on him, or make him uncomfortable in the pocket, you can create turnovers,” said Kansas City linebacker Justin Houston this week. “Every week that’s our plan, that’s our goal: Dominate every snap.”

Kansas City forced 29 turnovers this season after just mustering 13 last season. Rookie cornerback Marcus Peters finished tied in the NFL with Bengals safety Reggie Nelson with eight interceptions.

The player to watch for New England is defensive end Chandler Jones, who was hospitalized last Sunday for a “medical emergency.” Jones did apologize to his teammates and coaches Thursday for what he termed as a “stupid mistake” on his part.

Jones recorded 12.5 sacks this season, which was fifth in the league.

The Chiefs look to snap a five-game losing streak in New England, but it’s really tough to pick against Belichick and the Patriots when they’ve had two weeks to prepare.

Chiefs 21 – Patriots 30

Green Bay (10-6); 5th seed at Arizona Cardinals (13-3); 2nd seed –  Saturday 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT – NBC

In Week 16, Arizona hammered Green Bay 38-8, in which the Cardinals registered nine sacks. The game got out of hand very quickly as the Cardinals held the Packers to just 178 yards of total offense, which was their second-worst offensive output this season.

In addition to the nine sacks, Arizona’s defense scored two touchdowns as Green Bay’s offensive line had no chance at protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Green Bay found themselves down 11-0 in a NFC wild card game last week to Washington, before waking up and pulling away from the Redskins 35-18.

One player who really wanted to get another shot at the Cardinals is Rodgers, who was sacked eight times on Dec. 27.

“We kind of felt like this was a possibility to be able to go back after that loss,” said Rodgers per the Packers’ official website. “We’re coming off, obviously, a big win, and in (the Cardinals’) last game they got beat by a lot. So it’s going to be a more competitive game, I bet.”

Arizona got ran out of its own building by NFC West rival Seattle 36-6 in Week 17 to close out the regular season.

Carson Palmer, Arizona’s 36-year-old signal-caller, will attempt to win his first career playoff game for the third time. Palmer set franchise records for a quarterback in passing yards (4,671) and touchdown passes (35). The 13-year veteran leads a Cardinals’ offense that finished first in the league in total yards per game (408.3) and second in points per game (30.6).

In the Dec. 27 meeting, Palmer finished 18 of 27 for 265 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and was sacked twice.

Green Bay’s defense harassed Washington’s quarterback Kirk Cousins, sacking him six times.

Cousins is definitely not Palmer, but Green Bay’s defensive coordinator Dom Capers will need to neutralize Palmer and prevent him from getting the ball to wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald (109 catches, 1,215 yards, 9 TDs), John Brown (65 catches, 1,003 yards, 7 TDs), and Michael Floyd (52 catches, 849 yards, 6 TDs).

Rookie running back David Johnson, who has stepped in nicely for injured starting running back Chris Johnson (no relation), combined for 127 yards receiving and rushing and a touchdown against the Packers this season. Johnson finished the season with 13 total touchdowns and could prove to be the difference maker for Arizona.

The game will be closer than it was in Week 16, but the Cardinals are tough at the University of Phoenix Stadium this season (7-1) in what could be a Saturday night spectacular.

In their previous playoff meeting in 2009, Rodgers threw for 423 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, but it was the forced fumble and recovery by then-Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby for the game winning score that prove to be the difference in Arizona’s 51-45 overtime victory.

That was Rodgers’ first playoff start.

Packers 27 – Cardinals 33

Seattle (10-6); 6th seed at Carolina Panthers (15-1); 1st seed –  Sunday 1:05 p.m. ET/10:05 a.m. PT – FOX

This is the marquee game of the weekend in my eyes. Two teams that are so evenly matched with two outstanding quarterbacks and defenses that will hit you in the mouth.

In all honesty, Seattle has no business even playing this weekend.

The Seahawks’ season were brought back from the dead after Minnesota’s kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal that would’ve won the game, but held on to a 10-9 victory on the road in Minnesota in last Sunday’s NFC wild card game. Seattle is looking to advance to the NFC Championship game for the third straight year, but will need to put up a herculean effort if they are going to get passed Carolina.

Let’s not forget it was Carolina who went to Seattle last year in the divisional round and lost to the Seahawks 31-17, en route to Seattle’s second straight Super Bowl appearance.

This season, Carolina enacted a bit of revenge when they traveled to Seattle again in Week 6 and beat the Seahawks in a gritty, 27-23, come-from-behind victory. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton threw two first-half interceptions before leading Carolina back from a 13-point deficit in the second half, and hitting his favorite target in tight end Greg Olsen for a 26-yard touchdown catch down the middle of the field with 32 seconds remaining in the game.

Newton, who is one of the favorites to win the league’s MVP award, especially with being the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for 30 touchdowns and rushing for 10 touchdowns, completed 20 of 36 passes for 269 yards. Newton also racked up 30 yards rushing and a touchdown.

After the game, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said that game was “one of the bigger victories we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Panthers safety Roman Harper recently said that Carolina is “the better team.” “We need to go out and show confidence in who we are and the things we have done all year – and don’t shy away from the pressure.”

“After we played them, (in Week 6), we said “We’ll see you again in the playoffs,” Josh Norman, the Panthers’ Pro Bowl cornerback told Carolina’s official website.

Boy, I can’t wait for this game!

Carolina would make a huge statement in knocking off Seattle. Carolina hasn’t been to the NFC Championship game since 2005, where they lost at Seattle 34-14.  Many believe Seattle are peaking at the right time.

Dealing in the frigid conditions of Minnesota where the temperature was below-zero, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson completed 13 of 26 passes for 142, one touchdown and one interception.

Wide receiver Doug Baldwin caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. Baldwin had a breakout season, finishing with 78 catches for 1,069 yards and 14 touchdowns. Seattle’s top receiver should see a lot of Norman, who can get under a wide receiver’s skin with his trash talking and suffocating-like cover skills.

Running back Marshawn Lynch is expected to play this week after not making the trip to Minnesota last week. Lynch should provide Seattle with a much needed running game to take a little of the pressure off of Wilson.

Seattle’s top-ranked run defense (81.5 yards per game)was on full display last week, holding NFL rushing champion Adrian Peterson to 45 yards on 23 carries.

One thing is for certain, there will be a streak that will come to an end Sunday, either Carolina’s 11 game home winning streak, or Seattle’s franchise record six game road playoff win streak – which includes last week’s victory in Minnesota.

Its a toss up, but Carolina looks like the time is now for them to take the next step.

Seahawks 17 – Panthers 20

Pittsburgh (10-6); 6th seed at Denver (12-4); 1st seed –  Sunday 4:40 p.m. ET/1:40 p.m. PT – CBS

With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hampered by a shoulder injury and will be limited Sunday and wide receiver Antonio Brown out with a concussion, there is no way that Pittsburgh is going to travel to Denver and take out the Broncos Sunday to close out the divisional round.

Denver’s secondary is much healthier now than it was on Dec. 20 where Roethlisberger completed 40 of 55 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns, and Brown caught 16 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns, all season-highs for any opponent against Denver’s tough defense.

Denver did record two interceptions and three sacks off of Roethlisberger in the Week 15 encounter.

Roethlisberger is the only quarterback to throw over 300 yards against Denver this season.

“We got lucky the first time,” said Roethlisberger via the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. “We made plays, they had guys injured, we were at home. It’s not going to be that easy (again).”

Pittsburgh slipped by AFC North rival Cincinnati 18-16 last Saturday in an AFC wild card match up. The Steelers were aided by back-to-back Cincinnati penalties in the fourth quarter that setup kicker Chris Boswell’s 35-yard game winning field goal in the closing seconds of the game.

Denver will start quarterback Peyton Manning in Sunday’s contest. Backup quarterback Brock Osweiler completed 21 of 44 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, but this will be Manning’s show.

Wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders combined for 15 catches, 242 yards and three touchdowns on Dec. 20, gives Manning the necessary targets to exploit a Steelers’ defense that ranks 30th in the NFL in passing defense yielding 271.9 yards per game this season.

Denver has won eight of their last 11 meetings against Pittsburgh at Mile High, including a 29-23 overtime thriller in a AFC wild card game on Jan 8, 2012 behind a Tim Tebow 80-yard touchdown pass to Thomas.

Steelers 21 – Broncos 35

Stats provided by Elias Sports Bureau, NFL.com,  and STATS LLC.

 

NFL Playoff Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: J Hawkes pix Kansas City, Arizona, Seattle and Pittsburgh read em and weep

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by Joe Hawkes Beamon

photo credit: Seattle Post Intellingencer- Carolina quarterback Cam Newton should get MVP according to Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson

AFC Playoff Sat 16th Kansas City (11-5) @ New England (12-4): I’m leaning towards Kansas City because they have a great defense they can get after the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. They forced a lot of turnovers last week against Houston in a 30-0 shutout.

The Chiefs safety Eric Berry was so impressive last week who could play one on one this coming weekend with the Patriots Rob Gronkowski. The Chiefs aren’t afraid of going man to man it’s a matter of if New England’s offensive line can protect Brady.

NFC Playoff Sat 16th Green Bay (10-6) @ Arizona (13-3): You got remember two weeks ago Green Bay was annihilated by the Arizona Cardinals 38-8. The Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers got sacked and the Cardinals had nine sacks in total on Green Bay quarterbacks when it was all said and done.

This game Saturday may not be the route that game was back on December 27th but Arizona is primed. Also Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer hasn’t won a playoff game his whole career. Green Bay has a good chance and I would lean towards Green Bay but there’s something about their defense and they could fold and I’m leaning towards Arizona.

NFC playoff Sun 17th Seattle (10-6) @ Carolina (15-1): You definitely have to tip your hat off to Carolina who had an unbelievable season going 15-1. The Panthers were just fantastic they were off the boards even without their wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

Benjamin must have had the first whistle in training camp but there’s something about Seattle that is hard to pick against them they’ve been in this position before. They have all the pressure on them and all of the pressure is on Carolina to win this game because they’ve had such a great season. I’m looking at this one being a low scoring game with a final score of 20-17 Seattle.

AFC Playoff Sun 17th Pittsburgh (10-6) @ Denver (12-4): The fate of the Denver Broncos really depends on the fate of Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. I’m going with Denver in this one. The Steelers are a little banged up right now Antonio Brown is still in the NFL concussion protocol.

The Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger’s shoulder has a sprain and has some ligament damage in there. Denver is primed for this match up and with Big Ben ailing this could be favorable for the Broncos. Overall these playoff games are a rematch from the regular season.

Joe Hawkes Beamon has the NFL Playoff podcast for this week’s game this weekend below right here on http://www.sportsadioservice.com

 

 

Categories NFL

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Niners in the Chips, hire Kelly with questions about his player relationships

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by David Zizmor

media.philly.com photos: SF 49ers new head coach Chip Kelly who will try and not pull his hair out like he did in Philadelphia

SANTA CLARA–Does new San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly have relationship problems with his ex-players whom he coached at the Philadelphia Eagles? The 49ers will keep an eye on those issues but whenever you get fired from a football team the previous team doesn’t usually say positive things about you or your relationships.

You always have to take these kind of statements with a grain of salt. Before last season started in Philadelphia Kelly took over some personnel responsibilities, he let some players go. He found some new players and a lot of those moves a lot of those players did not work out.

Eagles owner Jeff Lurie was upset that and that might be part of the reason for his dismissal. Kelly isn’t going to get anything regarding personnel responsibilities like he had with the Eagles. He’ll have some input any general manager- coach has that relationship.

David has an in depth look at Chip Kelly and how he’ll mesh in with the 49ers for 2016 listen to the podcast below at www,sportsradioservice.com

Kelly Named 49ers Head Coach

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By: Joe Lami

photo credit: tigerdroppings.com SF 49ers new head coach Chip Kelly will face microphones of the Bay Area media next week

After a dreadful year behind first-year head coach Jim Tomsula, the San Francisco 49ers have found their new man in leading the team for the future in Chip Kelly. Kelly was relieved of his duties earlier this year as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, where he finished with a 26-26 record.

49ers’ CEO Jed York announced the excitement of the offensive coach, “We are thrilled to announce Chip Kelly as the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Chip has a proven track record at both the college and NFL levels that speaks for itself. We believe strongly that he is the right man to get this team back to competing for championships.”

Before Kelly took over for the Eagles, he boasted a 46-7 record at the University of Oregon in four seasons in Eugene. He brought the Ducks to be thought of as a national powerhouse with the up-tempo offense that led to a Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl victory.

 General Manager, Trent Baalke chipped in “Chip possesses all the qualities we were looking for in our next head coach. He has demonstrated the ability to be innovative everywhere he has coached and has had great success throughout his career.”

While this past season in Philly was a disappointment, Kelly led the Eagles to back-to-back 10-6 seasons in his first two years. He broke the Eagles record in 2014 for most points scored in a season with 474.

“As one of the most historic franchises in the National Football League, I realize the high standards and expectations that this position demands and I embrace the challenges ahead. My immediate focus is to build the best coaching staff possible, one that will maximize the abilities of each of our players and put us in the best position to win football games,” Kelly added.

The addition of Kelly immediately makes one speculate about the future of the 49ers roster and the future of the quarterback position. Colin Kaepernick, who many thought to be on his way out the door could return with the potential of throwing up some insane numbers with Kelly at the helm.

Kelly will be introduced as the 20th head coach of the 49ers next week in Santa Clara.

NFL podcast with Tony Renteria: Davis: $100 Million NFL infusion not enough for new Oakland Stadium then where to go Raiders?

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by Tony Renteria

photo credit: insidesocial.com LA Rams owner Stan Kroenke the most powerful man in sports

OAKLAND–The NFL really wanted the St. Louis Rams as their first choice to come back to Los Angeles and considering the Rams history in being in LA. Even though the San Diego Chargers have a history of being in LA. Also LA really wants the Raiders as well.

That’s a lot of AFL history right there between the Chargers and Raiders. The Raiders and Chargers have to come up with that $550 million location fee. Charger owner Dean Spanos can pull it off and Raider owner Mark Davis may not be able to.  Since Davis and the Raiders are the odd team out of LA Davis will consider his options if he would considering moving the Raiders to now unoccupied St.Louis, San Antonio or working with Oakland again and see if they can build a new stadium at the Coliseum footprint.

The Rams will not wait around in St.Louis they’re actually moving now. The Rams will open their 2016 season in the LA Coliseum and they want their new stadium to be at Hollywood Park and it should be ready by 2019. For Rams owner Stan Kroenke who said that the move to LA is bittersweet but none the less the Rams will be kicking off in LA for their pre season game in August.

Tony Renteria does the NFL podcast each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Raiders will stay in Oakland NFL expected to come up with funds towards new Oakland stadium

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

photo credit: Los Angeles Times artist rendition of new Los Angeles Stadium

OAKLAND–According to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell the likelihood of the Oakland Raiders staying in Oakland is all but assured. The Raiders who were considering moving to Los Angeles due to poor conditions and no funds to build a new stadium will get financial help from the NFL according to Goodell.

The San Francisco 49ers who are hosting the NFL Super Bowl on February 7th received $200 million contribution for their new stadium Levis Stadium in Santa Clara. The Raiders quite possibly might use the 49ers Stadium during construction of their new Stadium if they cross that bridge (literally too).

The Raiders hopes to move to LA might have been squashed due to a proposal for an new Ingelwood Stadium (the former city of the Los Angeles Lakers) that would be built to house the San Diego Chargers and the St.Louis Rams. The price tag to build the shared facility comes to $1.86 billion. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made the proposal and the vote on Tuesday need two quarters of the majority to approve any Raiders move. With Goodell coming out to announce the league would financially support the Raiders new stadium in Oakland it’s very unlikely now that the Raiders would move to Los Angeles.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does New and Commentary each week listen his podcast right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview: Road teams get it done

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

emblem from: sports-logos-screensavers.com NFL logo

If you’re like me, you have to love the single-elimination that is the NFL playoffs. One game to decide who moves on and who is packing up for a long offseason after a grueling 17 weeks (16-game) NFL season.

No disrespect to the NBA, MLB, and NHL for their playoff series’s where if you lose a game, its not the end of the world, but when you talk about the playoffs in any sport, in all honesty, the NFL playoffs is where its at.

The march to Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara starts Saturday with Wild Card Weekend and with some intriguing match ups, I hope you’re like me (a football die-hard), ready for the games to begin.

Since the NFL instituted the Wild Card round in 1978, only 10 teams have made it to the Super Bowl.

Out of those 10 teams, six have gone on to win the Lombardi Trophy (the 1980 Oakland Raiders, the 1997 Denver Broncos, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2007 New York Giants, and 2010 Green Bay Packers.)

With all that said, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the road teams get it done this weekend.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5); 5th seed at Houston Texans (9-7); 4th seed –  Saturday 4:35 p.m. ET/1:35 p.m. PT – ESPN

Sure its been 22 years since Kansas City has won a playoff game (currently tied with the Detroit Lions for the most consecutive playoff losses with eight), but the Chiefs are arguably the hottest team in the NFL closing out the season with 10 straight wins.

Remember, people counted out the Chiefs when they were 1-5 and lost star running back Jamaal Charles for the season with a torn ACL.

Quarterback Alex Smith has played some of his best football for a Chiefs team that defeated the Texans 27-20 in Week 1 down in Houston. Smith threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns, two to tight end Travis Kelce in that game.

Kansas City’s seventh-ranked defense harassed Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer, sacking him four times and intercepting the signal caller once.

Houston does have a dynamic player on offense in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who caught nine passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City in Week 1.

Hopkins had a career year with 111 catches for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns (all Texans records), while becoming the only wide receiver in NFL history to have 100-yard receiving games with four different quarterbacks this season (Hoyer, Ryan Mallet, T.J. Yates, and Brandon Weeden.)

No wonder why Hopkins, along with teammate defensive end J.J. Watt (NFL-best 17.5 sacks), were selected as All-Pros at their respective positions.

This could be a close game, but the Chiefs look prime to snap its playoff drought.

Chiefs 24 – Texans 19

Pittsburgh (10-6); 6th seed at Cincinnati Bengals (12-4); 3rd seed –  Saturday 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT – CBS

These two AFC North rivals are meeting up for the third time this season after splitting two games during the regular season, each winning on the others’ home field.

Cincinnati won the AFC North, but are heading into the game with backup quarterback A.J. McCarron under center. McCarron will make his fourth start for the Bengals after coming in for starter Andy Dalton, who broke his thumb in Cincinnati’s 33-20 home loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 13.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis (0-6) is still seeking his first career postseason victory. If Cincinnati doesn’t win Saturday, will Lewis be patrolling the sidelines for the Bengals in 2016?

Just like Chiefs, the Bengals are on a seven-game losing streak in the playoffs (25 years to be exact.) In fact, Cincinnati is the only team in NFL history to have lost four consecutive opening-round games.

Sure with Dalton being out, Lewis does have a built in excuse, but the way coaches are being fired left and right in the NFL, Lewis’ chair is no longer hot, its got to be near nuclear.

Pittsburgh is led by two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who may have to win the game with his arm since the Steelers’ ground game has been decimated by injuries.

Starting running back Le’Veon Bell was loss for the season with a knee injury in Week 8, while backup DeAngelo will not suit up Saturday night after suffering an ankle injury in Pittsburgh’s 28-12 victory in Cleveland. Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman will share carries in the backfield.

It was Pittsburgh’s fourth win in five games to close out the regular season.

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is a match up nightmare for any team. Brown finished tied with Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones with 136 catches, and second behind Jones with 1,834 yards, and 10 touchdowns.

Pittsburgh’s defense, which hasn’t been as dominate this year as its been in years past, are an opportunistic bunch. The Steelers’ 48 sacks trailed only Denver and New England and their 17 interceptions were tied for sixth in the season.

In their last 16 trips to Paul Brown Stadium, Pittsburgh is 13-3.

As much as I want to pick Cincinnati, there is something that is telling me that Pittsburgh will continue its dominance in the Queen City.

Steelers 27 – Bengals 23

Seattle Seahawks (10-6); 6th seed at Minnesota  Vikings (11-5); 3rd seed –  Sunday 1:05 p.m. ET/10:05 a.m. PT – NBC

If there is one team that is the most dangerous in the playoffs, its got to be the sixth-seeded Seattle Seahawks.

We’ve become accustomed of seeing the two-time NFC champion hammer teams behind the deafening sound of the 12th Man at the CLink during their last two Super Bowl runs, but if there is a team that isn’t afraid of going anywhere and playing anybody with the stakes are at their highest, its Seattle.

Whenever you have a quarterback like Russell Wilson, who became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 4,000 yards, 30 touchdowns, and rush for over 500 yards, and a take no prisoners defense headlined by cornerback Richard Sherman and free safety Earl Thomas, you definitely have a chance to win.

Running back Marshawn Lynch was ruled out for Sunday’s game after being listed as questionable throughout the week. Lynch missed Seattle’s final seven games of the season with a sports hernia.

“Beast Mode” is a big-time playoff performer, rushing for over 100 yards in six of his 10 career playoff games.

Seattle steamrolled Minnesota 38-7 on Dec. 6 thanks in large part to the NFL’s second-ranked defense limiting Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to a season-low 18 yards rushing on eight carries.

If Minnesota has any chance to win on Sunday, they will need more from the NFL rushing champion. With the temperature expected to be below zero at kickoff, Peterson is expected to get a lot of carries.

I’m not sold on Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Bridgewater tends to lock on his receivers and rarely takes chances down field and in the playoffs, you need a quarterback who isn’t afraid of throwing the ball and  Bridgewater looks like a deer in headlights.

Yes, Minnesota does have a good defense, but Seattle and Wilson with their championship pedigree will find a way to make a few more plays than the Vikings, who are hosting their first playoff game in six years Sunday.

Seahawks 27 – Vikings 9

Green Bay Packers (10-6); 5th seed at Washington Redskins (9-7); 4th seed –  Sunday 4:40 p.m. ET/1:40 p.m. PT – FOX

Wild Card Weekend concludes with what has to be the trickiest game to decipher when the Packers travel to Landover, MD to face the Redskins.

Which Packers team will show up on Sunday? The one that looked virtually unbeatable with a 6-0 start, or the team that went 4-6 down the stretch that saw Green Bay lose the NFC North crown to Minnesota at Lambeau Field in Week 17?

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished the season with his lowest completion percentage (60.7) since 2006, and his lowest passer rating (92.7).

Since Rodgers led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 2010, Green Bay has lost thee of its last four playoff games. During that march to the Super Bowl, the Packers became just the fourth team to win back-to-back-to-back road playoff games.

Washington is playing with some serious house money with starting quarterback Kirk Cousins having his best season of his career.

Since Week 7, the fourth-year pro leads the league in completion percentage (72.4) and passer rating (119.1) to go along with 23 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. Cousins is one of four quarterbacks to throw at least one touchdown in all 16 games this season, helping Washington win the NFC East.

I like the weapons that Cousins has at his disposal, in particular smooth tight end in Jordan Reed emerging as Cousins’ top target. In his last four games, Reed has been on a tare hauling 29 catches for 378 yards and five touchdowns.

This game could be a shootout as both teams’ defenses are nothing special to write home about. Green Bay is ranked 15th in the league in total defense, while Washington is ranked 28th.

Green Bay has to do a better job of protecting its franchise quarterback, who has been sacked 13 times over the past two games.

In the team’s most recent victory over the Redskins, a 38-20 victory at Lambeau Field for Green Bay, Rodgers shredded Washington throwing a career-high 480 yards and four touchdowns.

Green Bay has won five of their last six meetings against Washington.

Green Bay 30 – Washington 24

Stats provided by Elias Sports Bureau, NFL.com,  and STATS LLC.