A Disparaging Wild-Card Weekend

In the world of sports, 2016 will be one of the more profound and tumultuous years in recent memory. Let's begin with the good: Villanova’s buzzer beater, the LeBron block and Cleveland’s championship, the Rio Olympics overcoming the Zika virus, an uninhabitable Olympic Village and numerous other safety and sanitary issues to bring us Simone Biles, Katie Ladecky, and Michael Phelps swansong, and of course the Cubs World Series title. The bad started with the passing of Muhammed Ali and continued with Gordie Howe, Pat Summit, Jose Fernandez, Arnold Palmer, Craig Sager and the Chapecoense plane crash. Then there’s always the bizarre and indifferent, which a majority of sports stories tend to fall under. This could include the retirement of Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant and David Ortiz, the Rams move to L.A., Adam LaRoche’s sudden retirement, Laremy Tunsil’s draft day, Dustin Johnson’s controversial first major, Kevin Durant signing with Golden State, Ryan Lochte, and Vin Scully’s rendition of “Wind Beneath My Wings” and eventual send off.

The NFL, as always, had its own share of issues. The television ratings took a dip due to a combination of poor matchups, bad coaching, questionable officiating, a polarizing presidential election, a distasteful commissioner, the crackdown on daily fantasy, too many commercial breaks, oversaturation, and the fact there are too many outlets and options to watch quality television these days. Colin Kaepernick didn’t help matters by staging his ill-informed national anthem protest, but the league bounced back by shoving the Dallas Cowboys down our throats with four straight primetime games after they ruled Thanksgiving afternoon. There was also Deflategate 2, which after a 544 day, $22-million-dollar witch-hunt against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots that was all about protecting the integrity of the game because of the original Deflategate, received the following response from the commissioner’s office:

There were some good things that did happen on the field that will carry over into the post-season. The rookie combination of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot have Cowboys fans reminiscing of Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith after Dallas won the NFC East and Elliot taking the rushing title. After a several year hiatus, the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins are back in the playoffs, and gone are the recent mainstays Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals. This will actually be the first time since 2003 that the two teams that made the Super Bowl the previous year failed to make the post-season, so a new champion will be crowned in a few short weeks. Will quarterbacks Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson add another championship to their mantle, or can Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford or even Prescott experience their first taste of glory? We’ll know a little more after a pu pu platter of mediocrity that is this year’s Wild-Card weekend.

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

HOUSTON TEXANS (-4) over Oakland Raiders

What a big, steaming mess this matchup turned out to be. A couple of weeks ago Oakland would have been a touchdown favorite going to this game and I would have picked them without even batting an eye. Derek Carr’s broken leg changed all of that really quick. The third year quarterback was having an MVP caliber season leading the high-octane Raider offense. Carr’s backups Matt McGloin and Connor Cook could only manage six points against the Denver Broncos in Week 17, causing Oakland to lose its first-round bye and shaking up the entire AFC. Now McGloin’s status is doubtful with a shoulder injury and fourth-round rookie Cook will make his FIRST EVER START in a playoff game. Can Latavius Murray carry the ball 40 times and lead Oakland to a win? Not likely. Houston's quarterback situation is also in disarray, and it looks like the $72-million-dollar thief Brock Osweiler is going to start after being benched for Tom Savage in Week 15 against Jacksonville. With Savage still in the concussion protocol, Houston will turn to Branden Weeden to back up Osweiler. Good grief. The good thing for Houston is that their defense is a little more competent than Oakland’s, and that could make the difference with this cringe worthy quarterback matchup. If Cook can’t get receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper involved, Oakland’s bounce back season will be all for nothing.

Houston 21, Oakland 14

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-8) over Detroit Lions

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is having a terrific season, setting an NFL record with eight fourth-quarter comebacks. Those comebacks were against Indianapolis, Philly, L.A., Washington, Minnesota, Jacksonville, Minnesota again, and Chicago. Only Washington has a winning record (8-7-1), and all of them will be watching the playoffs from home. Their ninth win came against New Orleans, another sub-.500 team. Not exactly the most stellar competition. Detroit is also riding a three game losing streak, which usually doesn’t bode well heading into the post-season. Seattle hasn’t looked like the dominant team of the past, but their defense is still their strong suit, ranking third in the league allowing 18.3 points per game. Their offensive line hasn’t been able to block all season, but quarterback Russell Wilson is one of the best at making plays while on the run. Neither team has an effective running game, so the offenses will rest squarely on the shoulders of both viable quarterbacks. Seattle however is quietly 7-1 at home, with an average margin of victory of roughly 11 points per game. Detroit has won only three games away from Ford Field, and with the crowd noise and Stafford’s finger injury seeming to affect his play, it’s going to be a tough road challenge for the Lions. As good as Stafford has been this season, he will still be seeking his first playoff win when this game is over.

Seattle 28, Detroit 17

Miami Dolphins (+10.5) over PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Does anyone else think this line is a taaaad bit high? Miami is not great by any means and is planning to start backup quarterback Matt Moore, which is a much better option than a hobbling Ryan Tannehill. Their running attack will be key with Jay Ajayi, who smoked the Steelers defense for 204 yards when these teams met in Week 6. The also have quality skill players in receivers Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills. If Moore doesn’t make mistakes and manages the offense the Dolphins should be able to move the ball and put points on the board. The same should go for Pittsburgh. The good news for the Steelers is that the offense is healthy, and when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has all of his weapons they’re tough to stop, especially at home. There also isn’t a team playing this weekend that’s hotter than Pittsburgh, winners of their last seven. The Steelers will take care of business, but Miami will be able to hang in a game where defense will not be on display.

Pittsburgh 35, Miami 28

New York Giants (+5) over GREEN BAY PACKERS

Have we seen this Giants team before (say in the 2008 and 2012 playoffs) that’s built on a solid defense and an offense that pulls one miraculous play out of thin air and finds a way to win? Quarterback Eli Manning is a model of inconsistency during the regular season that it’s hard to believe he has two Super Bowl titles. However his 8-3 playoff record is nothing to shake a stick at, and he has won two playoff games at Lambeau Field in his career. The Eli that shows up on Sunday could determine the Giants fate. The Packers looked all but done after Week 11, where they were riding a four game losing streak that included a blowout loss in Tennessee and a home loss to Indianapolis. Since then they ran the table to win the NFC North. During their six game win streak Aaron Rodgers has been flawless, throwing 15 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Giants defense has the capability to pressure Rodgers, but the Packers quarterback is tough to beat when he’s playing this well. Green Bay will continue to their hot streak, but the Giants defense keeps it close at a frozen Lambeau in the weekend’s most intriguing matchup.

Green Bay 20, NY Giants 17

Along with the first weekend of playoff football we are also lucky enough that award season is finally upon us. The Golden Globes are Sunday evening, and it wouldn’t be a predictions column without some ‘La La Land’ Hollyweed picks.

Movies:

Best Motion Picture, Drama – Manchester by the Sea

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – La La Land

Best Actress, Drama – Natalie Portman, Jackie

Best Actor, Drama – Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical – Emma Stone, La La Land

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical – Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Best Supporting Actress – Viola Davis, Fences

Best Supporting Actor – Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Best Director – Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Television:

Best Series, Drama – Game of Thrones

Best Series, Comedy or Musical – Atlanta

Best Actress, Drama – Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld

Best Actor, Drama – Rami Malek, Mr. Robot

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical – Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Best Supporting Actress – Thandie Newton, Westworld

Best Supporting Actor – John Lithgow, The Crown   

A Wide Open Wild-Card Weekend

Now that the 2015 NFL season is in the books, let me pose this question: has there been a more wonky season in recent memory? Due to injury, fourteen teams required the services of a backup quarterback for a minimal to significant amount of time. Fans were lucky enough to see the skills of Matt Cassel, Kellen Moore, Brandon Weeden, Mark Sanchez, Blaine Gabbert, Case Keenum, Jimmy Clausen, EJ Manuel, Brock Osweiler, Matt Schaub, AJ McCarron, Johnny Manziel, Austin Davis, Landry Jones, Michael Vick, T.J. Yates, Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst, Josh Freeman, Ryan Lindley and Zach Mettenberger (Yikes!). Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson won the rushing title with 1485 yards, the lowest total to win the award since LaDainian Tomlinson's 1474 yards in 2007. As always, some teams surprised, but most disappointed (Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, the NFC East).

The ripple effect of the injury bug was felt everywhere. Did you win your fantasy league with Blake Bortles as your quarterback? It wouldn't be a total shock. As an example, in one league I began the season with Marshawn Lynch and Carlos Hyde as my starting running backs, and ended up riding a volatile and unpredictable T.J. Yeldon/Spencer Ware/Alfred Morris/Matt Jones/Danny Woodhead/Cameron Artis-Payne cocktail mix during the playoffs. In another league I drafted the same Carlos Hyde along with Le'Veon Bell and Matt Forte as running backs. You can only imagine how well I did in that league. The bottom line is if you wasted a top pick on Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray or Andrew Luck, I can sympathize with your pain.

The playoffs however are a model of consistency, with eight of the twelve qualifying teams making a repeat appearance from last year, but not without some new brewing questions going into the postseason. Can the Patriots stick it to the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell and win back to back Super Bowls? Will there be a quarterback controversy in Denver? Can Marvin Lewis and Cincinnati finally win a playoff game? With three home teams going in as underdogs this weekend, almost anything can happen. All will be revealed over the course of the next month as we make our way towards the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, but for now it’s time to break down a wide open Wild-Card weekend.

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Kansas City Chiefs (-3) over HOUSTON TEXANS

Are there two playoff teams that have a more similar story? The Texans started out 2-5, including a 27-20 loss to Kansas City in Week 1, and looked like the worst team in the atrocity that is the AFC South. Their defense finally came to life to lift them to the division title. The Chiefs began the season 1-5 before rattling off ten straight wins to come within a Peyton Manning overblown resurrection of winning the AFC West. KC's defense has also stepped up, holding opponents to an average of just under 13 points a game during their winning streak. Both teams can get after the quarterback, ranking fourth (KC) and fifth (Houston) in sacks, so this game has the potential to be a defensive oriented battle of field position. However if my playoff life depended on it, I'm taking Alex Smith over Brian Hoyer at quarterback any day of the week. Remember that Smith did win a playoff game for the 49ers in 2011. Plus I don't trust a Houston team that has seven out of their nine wins against Tampa Bay (6-10), Jacksonville twice (5-11), Tennessee twice (3-13), New Orleans (7-9), and Indianapolis (8-8). Smith could spend much of the game running for his life, being sacked 45 times during the regular season (tied for third). He did manage to rush for 498 yards, so he has the capability to keep plays alive. As long as KC can secure the ball and head coach Andy Reid doesn't have a complete Andy Reid meltdown, the Chiefs will move on.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) over CINCINNATI BENGALS

Division rivalries are always intriguing in the postseason. These teams split their regular season meetings, with each team winning on the road. Pittsburgh's 33-20 win in Week 13 was the last time we saw Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton on the field, who was knocked out of the game with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Dalton has been ruled out for this game, so look for AJ McCarron to make his first playoff start. Cincinnati is better on the defensive side of the ball, and they have some effective offensive weapons in receiver A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert. Then again, so does Pittsburgh. Their passing game is one of the tops in the league with receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger knows how to win a playoff game (10-5 postseason record). The same can’t be said for Dalton and head coach Marvin Lewis, who are 0-4 together in the postseason (Lewis is 0-6 overall). The Bengals recent history and inexperience at quarterback doesn't bode well for Cincy. Look for Pittsburgh to win a date against Denver.

Seattle Seahawks (-5) over MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Never mind that the temperature during the game is forecasted to hover around zero degrees with a wind chill of -15. These teams bolster two of the top defenses in the league, but you would not have guessed that by their meeting in Week 13, where Seattle cruised to a 38-7 victory. It was the most points Minnesota had given up in a single game all season, thanks in large part to Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson’s three touchdowns (plus one rushing touchdown.). Since their loss to Arizona in Week 10, Wilson has thrown 24 touchdowns and only one interception, and the Seahawks are 6-1 over that span. It’s been defense and the running game that has kept Minnesota in ballgames, but their passing attack is one of the worst in the league. Teddy Bridgewater has been a serviceable quarterback in his second full NFL season, but he’s going to be overmatched in his first playoff game against an experienced Seattle team. If the Seahawks stack the box to contain Adrian Peterson and make Bridgewater try to beat them, prepare for a repeat performance of Week 13 from Seattle.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (-1) over Green Bay Packers

Has there been a more inconsistent team this season than the Green Bay Packers? There are weeks they look great, then they completely fool you and muster only 13 points and lose at home against the Bears. This is definitely not the Green Bay team that started the season 6-0, finishing 4-6 down the stretch. Picking against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers makes me think I should have my head examined, but he’s had one of the worst seasons of his career. He barely reached 3,800 yards passing and his quarterback rating for the season was 92.7, both the lowest figures since he became Green Bay’s full time starter in 2008. Running back Eddie Lacy looks like he actually put on weight during the course of the season, and the receiving core has underperformed. The Redskins however seem to be moving in the opposite direction. They were the beneficiaries of a putrid NFC East, going 7-3 down the stretch and finishing the season strong with a four game winning streak. Kirk Cousins has developed into an efficient quarterback that doesn’t make many mistakes, finishing fifth in the league with a quarterback rating of 101.6. A big reason is the emergence of tight end Jordan Reed, who finished the season with 87 receptions and 11 touchdowns. Plus all of the road teams can't win this weekend. Can they? The only home favorite wins its first playoff game since 2005.

So when football is all said and done and if you’re into rich and famous people bowing down and groveling over other rich and famous people, make sure to check out the Golden Globe awards Sunday night. As an extra bonus, we’ll end with some quick Hollywood predictions.

Movies:

Best Motion Picture, Drama – Spotlight

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – The Martian

Best Actress, Drama – Cate Blanchett, Carol

Best Actor, Drama – Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical – Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical – Matt Damon, The Martian

Best Supporting Actress – Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Best Supporting Actor – Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Director – Alejandro Iñárritu, The Revenant

Television:

Best Series, Drama – Game of Thrones

Best Series, Comedy or Musical – Veep

Best Actress, Drama – Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder

Best Actor, Drama – Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical – Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Best Supporting Actress – Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black

Best Supporting Actor – Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline