Wildcard Weekend Begins Today

The NFL is calling it: the Super Wildcard Weekend. If that’s really the case, I’d change “weekend” to “weakened.” More football? I guess so, but that’s all you can really argue. I don’t think the 9-and-7-and-1 Pittsburgh Steelers belong in the playoffs. Could they beat K.C. tomorrow? Sure, but it will not only be the upset of the playoffs in more than a decade, but it would also be a mockery of meaningful post season play. I guess the NFL is willing to risk having their premiere AFC team knocked out before the playoffs even get rolling.

ESPN ranks Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger as the 28 best (worst?) QB in the league. More proof that the Steelers should not be in the playoffs this year.

The Chiefs deserve to be getting a Bye Week this week — just like in previous years — and although they have the same record as the number one seed, Tennessee Titans, a loss to them 3 months — 11 weeks ago — that’s keeping a Bye from happening, based on the NFL’s newest rules. If the NFL still had two teams in each Conference getting the Bye week, we’d all be able to see the Chiefs team getting some needed rest… instead of watching and ex-Chiefs player and 2019, 6th round pick, RB Darwin Thompson — who hasn’t played a down for the team this year — attempting to make his NFL comeback, at the exact time when K.C. needs real RB help, not a cup-holder to a clipboard holder and a failed draft pick at that.

The first game we’ll witness today is between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals. While I was born to be a Raider-hater, I can see more advantage in them eliminating the Bengals and even think they have a chance to do that. So, I’ll be pulling for the Silver and Black today, simply because I think the Bengals are one of those teams no one will want to face in the playoffs… and because they beat the Chiefs just a couple of weeks ago. Do I think the Bengals would beat K.C. is they played again? No, but since they’ve done it, they’d come in with quite a bit of confidence. No need to poke that hive with a stick.

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Today, the Las Vegas Raiders will visit the Cincinnati Bengals at 3:30 CST on NBC. Cincinnati is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Bengals vs. Raiders odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 48.5, which means, if you think the total score of those two teams will be more than 48.5, you can bet on it. These days, you can make a bet on whether or not you think Betty White will live to be 101… oh wait. Really? Too soon? Okay, okay!

Just so you know… I think she’d have loved that joke.

Jerome Boger will be the referee for this game. For more information on Jerome Boger go –> here.

The Raiders have ranked 13th in team Passing defense this year allowing 222.9 yards per game. They even tightened that up in the last three games by only allowing 211.7 YPG.

The Bengals have ranked 26th this season in Passing yards allowed giving up 248.4 per game.

Rushing defense has been the Raiders weakness this year ranking 19th and giving up 114.4 YPG.

The Bengals have one of the better rushing defenses, ranking 5th overall, and allowing just 102.5 YPG. However, they’ve been significantly worse in the past three games giving up 133.3 YPG. and ranking 22nd in the NFL. I’d be surprised if the Raiders didn’t try to attack the Bengals on the ground a lot in this game because in the past three games Vegas has averaged 139.7 YPG and ranked 7th in the NFL during that time.

Much like their game against the Chargers last weekend, if it’s a close one I’m giving the advantage to the Raiders. I expect a close one with he Raiders coming out on top: 28-to-24.

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This is the late game today at 7:15 CST on CBS. I might dislike the Patriots nearly as much as I dislike the Raiders. There is much more history against the Raiders, but the recent history has me claiming the Chiefs main AFC rival has been New England, the newest stick on my craw. Consequently… dislike abounds.

This game probably comes down to, which team has the better quarterback, and if that’s the case, Josh Allen is an easy choice. Back when the Pats faced the Bills the first time this season, HC Bill Belichick chose to have his rookie QB only throw the ball three (3) times in the game (he was 2-of-3), and I thought… just how much does Belichick NOT trust Mac Jones? Jones was 14-of-32 the next time they played, but the Bills won 32-to-14. Jones also threw 30 times the next week against the Jags in a big 50-to-10 win, but then went 20-of 30 in the Pats last game of the season when they dropped that game to the Dolphins 33-to-24.

So, was that Bill Belichick trying to get Mac Jones some reps or does he really distrust his rookie QB? Either way, I think Belichick is about to hand the ball over to his young QB and see if he can go out and win it. What does that mean for his game plan approach? It mean he’s going to try and dunk and dink his way down the field while giving MJones high percentage passes and then mixing in a healthy dose of the running game which has worked well for New England. Those Pats are ranked 8th in rushing so you can expect a healthy supply of ground and pound.

In the meantime, the Bills are known for not having a running game, but the reality is they rank 6th in rushing with 129.9 YPG. as well as upping their ground game in the past three games, rushing for 172.3 YPG and ranking = tied for 2nd.

You can expect the Bills to mix the running game into their game plan too with Josh Allen getting his fair share of designed running plays. Allen has rushed for 763 yards this year and if you want to compare… RB Darrel Williams is the Chiefs leading rusher with 538 yards this season.

I’m taking the Bills in this game by a score of 36-to-24.

What’s your take?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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