There’s nothing cooler than saying “win or go residence” on the subject of the NFL playoffs. Everyone knows and have identified endlessly that that is the case, however truly saying it out loud rocks.
Throughout the subsequent few days we’ll watch six playoff video games that carry this distinction. Twelve groups will enter, six will depart and legacies will likely be altered endlessly. Drama. Chaos. Magnificence.
With regards to issues like these the chalk consequence is hardly the commonest one. Sooner or later we’re sure to see an upset or two with the favored group getting bounced.
Listed below are two potentialities of that all through Wild Card Weekend.
Houston Texans over Los Angeles Chargers
For the needs of our dialogue we will likely be defining upsets alongside the strains of how our mates at FanDuel Sportsbook have these video games listed. That’s the most goal means in my thoughts and you might be caught right here so right here we go.
The Houston Texans are the most important residence underdogs of the Wild Card Spherical as, on the time of this writing, they’re simply narrowly edging out the Los Angeles Rams. Houston is +3 whereas the Rams are +2.5, though clearly the Rams recreation isn’t working below regular circumstances so defining their “residence discipline benefit” this week is unimaginable.
It goes with out saying that this Texans group has limped to the end line and executed in order AFC South Champions. It’s possible you’ll recall that they dropped a literal deuce on the scoreboard on Christmas Day of all issues. Put merely, it has been dangerous.
However can we actually belief the Chargers that a lot? I admit that a few of my tentativeness right here is needing to see it to consider it. Possibly that’s the place I’m coming from deep within the recesses of my thoughts.
I’d simply say although that I believe we have now taken who the Texans have been recently, which has been very dangerous and actually issues, and forgotten that they have been at one time limit a group we believed tremendously in. And whereas I acknowledge that the Chargers of Jim Harbaugh usually are not the Chargers of previous… they continue to be the Chargers. If anybody can discover a approach to breathe life right into a down Houston group… it’s them.
Inexperienced Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
I’d wish to suppose that I’m a really unbiased particular person round right here, however you need to know that I’m SB Nation’s resident Dallas Cowboys particular person as I oversee our Cowboys web site Running a blog The Boys. Moreover, this time final 12 months the Cowboys have been getting ready because the No. 2 seed within the NFC and winners of the NFC East to host the No. 7 seed Inexperienced Bay Packers. Dallas misplaced that recreation, in embarrassing vogue, and have become the primary No. 2 seed to ever lose within the Wild Card spherical in NFL historical past (this has solely been potential since 2021 to be clear).
Can the Eagles fall sufferer to Jordan Love and Co. in the identical means that the Cowboys did? I believe that Philadelphia runs a a lot better soccer group than Dallas does so I’m not attempting to equate them in that sense, however past the Cowboys meme-ness of final 12 months’s lesson it did serve for instance that this could certainly be executed.
I’d enterprise to say that we’ll suppose the Packers are some type of paper tigers what with how they haven’t overwhelmed any good groups. Isn’t that essentially the most predictable narrative, although? Oh! The group who couldn’t beat anyone confirmed up within the playoffs! That’s such an in fact factor to occur.
Let me be very clear in saying that I believe the Eagles are the group to beat within the NFC. The truth is, let me be much more clear and say that I believe that is their most tough recreation standing between them and a visit to New Orleans. The Eagles could be an underdog in all probability to the Detroit Lions which might put them in a harmful area. It’s a very totally different factor to be the group with nothing to lose, the best way Dallas was final season, and that’s not precisely a task wherein I believe all of us belief Nick Sirianni to tread calmly.
If pushed I’d say that I really feel twice as assured in my Texans choose because the Packers one. However each stay potential in my thoughts. Let’s dance.