Right off the bat – sorry for lengthy delays in posting. I’ve been trying to figure out where to put down roots for the immediate future and finishing up a host of other projects that have forced the Review onto the backburner. That should change in the coming weeks!
Second, a shoutout to the fire crews tending to the fires in Los Angeles at the moment. They are doing incredible work for not nearly enough money and resources (some are barely compensated at all as prisoners, which is a rant for a different time). I wish them and all the people of Los Angeles the support and if anyone feels called to, can aid in several ways.
That being said, it’s time to predict who is winning Super Bowl LIX. Last season, San Francisco made the Super Bowl as I predicted; but they failed to win versus the Chiefs in actuality compared to my predicted defeat of the Baltimore Ravens.
Top Moments of the Season
- Bryce Young gets a measure of redemption and the Panthers show life
- Saquon Barkley makes a run for the history books in Philadelphia; he and Derrick Henry breath new life into the Running Back position
- The Chiefs’ absurd amount of lucky breaks gets them the #1 seed in the AFC
- Aaron Rodgers flames out in an eerily similar manner to Brett Favre in New York; the owner’s teenage son may be running the team
- NFL RedZone ceasing to be Seven Hours of Commercial-Free Football briefly unites a fractured nation
- Zac Taylor and Bengals upper management blow a year of Joe Burrow’s prime and suffer no consequences
- The Lions prove certain injuries can be overcome; the 49ers prove others cannot
- The Chicago Bears are once again facing questions about both a quarterback and their ability to develop one
- Quote of the season easily goes to Jameis Winston praying to higher power to be delivered from his frequent pick-sixes
- The man may have pulled a Pete Carroll by dipping out of a college program right as the hammer fell, but man Jim Harbaugh can coach. Clutch wins have shockingly replaced Charger-ing, as least for now.
(Super) Wild-Card Weekend
You add two more games to Wild Card weekend a couple of years back and suddenly it becomes Super? What gives, NFL? THE PEOPLE (still) NEED ANSWERS!
AFC
#2 Buffalo Bills over #7 Denver Broncos
Time: 1:00 PM EST Sunday, January 12, 2023
Denver has the squad to keep this game close, and are playing without any fear or expectation. Josh Allen and the underrated James Cook are simply playing at too high a level, however. This one goes to the home team.
#6 Pittsburgh Steelers over #3 Baltimore Ravens
Time: 8:00 PM EST Saturday, January 11, 2023
This is most likely a terrible pick with no logic whatsoever; I am making this call with my heart simply because I can’t stomach my beloved Bills having to play the Ravens in the Divisional Round. My very weak argument for this pick comes from the fact that a Mike Tomlin team dropping 5 in a row to end a season is unfathomable, and playoff Lamar is a different beast than regular season Lamar. Plus, AFC North games are always brutal, close games where form can go out the window.
I am willing a massive upset into existence here!
#5 Los Angeles Chargers over #4 Houston Texans
Time: 4:30 PM EST Saturday, January 11, 2023
Everyone and their mother it seems is picking Los Angeles to win on the road, and I can’t really find a reason to go the other direction. The Texans offense is simply in a world of hurt, down 2 of their top 3 receivers, a non-existent running game, and a struggling line. The Chargers have gotten better as the season goes on and are playing without the fear of mistakes that so often plagues them, so this one goes to the Bolts.
NFC
#2 Philadelphia Eagles over #7 Green Bay Packers
Time: 4:30 PM EST Sunday, January 12, 2023
The Pack are a trendy upset pick this week; they were also one of my proudest selections last year to upset Dallas. Something just feels off to me about them right now, though. Having lost one of their biggest playmakers, Christian Watson, this week, the deck feels stacked against Green Bay having to face down a one-man wrecking crew named Saquon Barkley. Even if the Eagles’ sketchy aerial attack is off the mark, Saquon could still be enough to win this game for Philly coming off a week of rest.
#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Over #6 Washington Commanders
Time: 8:00 PM EST Sunday, January 12, 2023
Jayden Daniels’ rookie season has been nothing short of incredible, and has lifted a long suffering franchise. They give off the vibes of a team just happy to be here; a year or two away from truly contending. Give me a red-hot Baker Mayfield and Mr. 1K, Mike Evans, for the Bucs all day.
#5 Minnesota Vikings over #4 Los Angeles Rams
Time: 8:15 PM EST Monday, January 13, 2023
Now this is a tough game to call. The Vikings’ stock went plummeting as Sam Darnold came up small in a defining game for the #1 seed last week. The Rams, meanwhile, have turned their season around since November, with both sides of the ball improving. As much as Darnold is giving me plenty of second thoughts, give me the Vikings playmakers and Brian Flores’ stifling defense in a squeaker.
Divisional Round
AFC
#1 Kansas City Chiefs over #6 Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers used whatever January magic Mike Tomlin conjured in their first game; this one goes comfortably to the 2x defending Super Bowl champs. The Chiefs defense is simply too good for the limited Steelers offense.
#2 Buffalo Bills over #5 Los Angeles Chargers
This is the much better of the two games; just like the Broncos, the Chargers are up for the task and keep this game close. I think a crucial 4th quarter turnover caused by the Bills defense tips the scales towards the home team and Josh Allen ices it on the ensuing drive.
NFC
#1 Detroit Lions over #5 Minnesota Vikings
This is not an easy game to call, even in light of last week’s lopsided result. Kevin O’ Connell will have his team well prepared for the rematch, and I think Sam Darnold will have learned some lessons. On the flip side, the Lions’ banged up defense will be heavily tested, but I think their offense controls the clock and the scoreboard, ultimately hanging on.
#2 Philadelphia Eagles over #3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Outdoor January games really shine a light on team’s ground games, especially the further North you get. If this game was in Tampa, I would go with the Bucs, but give me Saquon on a freezing, miserable January night in Philly.
Conference Championships
AFC
#2 Buffalo Bills over #1 Kansas City Chiefs
Having avoided the Ravens in the Divisional Round, the Bills are not emotionally worn out by the time they get to their playoff nemesis, Kansas City. Arrowhead makes for a brutal place to visit for any team, especially when the temperatures plummet and the decibels rise. This promises to be another legendary duel between 2 of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. One key stop by either defense will be the difference; the Bills offense is humming a little more, and, with my heart more than my head, feel it will be 4th time lucky against the Chiefs.
NFC
#1 Detroit Lions over #2 Philadelphia Eagles
Yeah, the Lions defense is running on fumes. But Dan Campbell will squeeze every last fiber of effort, guts, and sheer will to bring them over the line. In the dome, I back the Lions offense that can beat you either on the air or on the ground over the all-world running back covering for shaky QB play from Jalen Hurts and company.
Super Bowl LVIII
Buffalo Bills over Detroit Lions
It’s the Super Bowl all of America wants to see: the Battle of the Great Lakes; two of the unluckiest franchises clashing with one guaranteed to end generations of pain while inflicting a devastating blow on the other. Will this be the 5th Fall of Buffalo? Or will Detroit’s first shot at the Big One since the 1950’s end like so many other games have for the team wearing Honolulu Blue?
The two teams staged an epic shootout in one of the regular season’s best games, and expect more fireworks and astonishing offensive displays from these squads. It really is a coin flip; two offenses that can’t be stopped on their day and two very vulnerable, very beatable defenses. Call me a homer for picking my team, but one franchise cannot possibly fall to 0-5 in the biggest game, can they?
