NFL Wild Card Picks 2016

NFL Wild Card Picks 2016

Ahhh the Wild Card round.  Originally made to weed out the bad teams that made the playoffs because of bad divisions.  Or maybe it was so the NFL could make a few more million dollars.  I forget which.  This year (as almost always) there are some pretty easy to pick games in my opinion.  Mainly because, more often than not, the team with the better quarterback wins.  Look it up and tell me who the last "average" quarterback to play in the Super Bowl was.  However, anything can happen in the playoffs.  Here's my picks:

Houston Texans VS Kansas City Chiefs

This is one of those rare games where the better quarterback won't really be the deciding factor in my eyes.  Mainly because both of these quarterbacks are more "game managers" than anything else.  Which by the way, is not a bad thing.  A lot of teams would love it if their QB just took care of the football instead of throwing picks and trying to make plays out of nothing.  The Texans have played well in the last half of the season, but we can't overlook the fact that the only reason they're in the playoffs is because their division is probably the worst in the NFL.  So they're the best of the worst.  That's something I guess.  On the other side, the Chiefs have been the 2nd most impressive team in the NFL in the second half of the season (next to the Seahawks... I'll get to them), and are riding a 10-game winning streak into the playoffs.  What's most impressive to me is how they're winning.  A solid running game (with backup RB's by the way), competent quarterback play, and fundamentally sound defense that doesn't miss tackles.  All things that are not greatly affected by bad weather by the way.  Teams are not going to want to play this squad in January.

Kansas City Chiefs win 27 - 17

Cincinnati Bengals VS Pittsburgh Steelers

Some teams just can't catch a break.  Doesn't it seem like every year the Bengals end up having to face a team that's way too good for their seed?  AJ Mccarron has played pretty well in Dalton's absence, but they now face a team that you're not going to beat scoring less than 24 points.  The Steelers are the team in the AFC that no one wants to play.  Even without Bell they have arguably the most explosive offense in the NFL.  I think the Steelers take care of business in Cincinnati and Marvin Lewis's squad has to face yet another 1st round playoff exit.  Whether it's Fair or not, you'd think at some point his time in Ohio would come to a close.

Pittsburgh Steelers win 31 - 24

Minnesota Vikings VS Seattle Seahawks

In my opinion, the Vikings made a bad decision winning last Sunday against the Packers.  Sure they won the NFC North and got a home playoff game, but now they have to face the NFL's hottest team in the Seattle Seahawks who just got finished annihilating the #2 seed Cardinals.  Had they lost, they would have played the Packers again in Green Bay which I believe is a much more favorable matchup for the Vikings.  I picked Seattle to win the Super Bowl this season and right now, that pick is still looking pretty good.  The Seahawks are the NFC's version of the Steelers.  A Wild Card team that nobody wants to play.

Seattle Seahawks win 28 - 17

Washington Redskins VS Green Bay Packers

Credit where credits due: the Redskins have played some great football as of late.  The Packers on the other hand, have not.  I was surprised how the loss of Jordy Nelson has had such a massive effect on the Packers offense.  I understand that he's a fantastic player, but I thought that Aaron Rodgers would be able to carry the offense more than he has been able to.  The eye test for this game says to pick the Redskins.  The recent stats say to pick the Redskins.  All logic points to picking the Redskins to win this game.  I just can't.  I can't see Aaron Rodgers letting the Packers get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.  He thinks too much of himself to let that happen.

Green Bay Packers win 31 - 28