Brandon Jackson

It is Wild Card weekend in the NFL, and for the first time, we are getting three games on both Saturday and Sunday. I’d be more excited, but for one reason or another, I feel like the matchups aren’t particularly exciting. I had planned to try and discuss every game in-depth and make my picks, but when I sat down to start, it didn’t feel like fun. So if it wasn’t going to be fun to write, it definitely wouldn’t be fun to read. So I changed the idea.

I’m going to go team by team and give one prediction that I think will come true this postseason. Much more fun to try and predict singular events than game outcomes. They will be in no order, I just wrote them as they came to me. And then after that, I will pick winners for all of the wild card games, just so when I’m right, I can gloat to my friends on Twitter. So here we go.

• Lamar Jackson will finally perform in the playoffs. As a rookie he was bad (he was a rookie.) And last season, he was bad also. He is too great of a player for that to keep happening. He’s caught fire at the right time.
• The Buffalo Bills will win by blowout in their first two playoff games. They are real, they are here, and they have a case to be considered the best team in football right now, full stop.
• Aaron Rodgers will be the best player in these playoffs. He’s the MVP. Enough said.
• The Chiefs’ defense will bail Pat Mahomes and the offense out multiple times in these playoffs. They might not lose, but Mahomes has made some mistakes these past few weeks that opponents haven’t been able to capitalize on. If the Bills end up beating the Chiefs, that will be why.
• Philip Rivers will self-destruct on Saturday. They will have to score to keep up with the Bills, and I don’t believe he can handle it. I expect 3 interceptions.
• JuJu Smith-Schuster will get his redemption in the playoffs. He’s faced all kinds of slander and criticism on all social media platforms (including mine.) I hate to say it, but it would not surprise me if he scores multiple touchdowns on Sunday night and the whole Pittsburgh receiving core breaks out a TikTok dance in celebration.
• Baker will perform well in a shootout loss to the Steelers. He’s been great. I know the Browns haven’t practiced much, but he will deliver as much as he can. The defense will give up too many points. I don’t know what the over/under for this game is, but take the over.
• The Tennessee Titans will lose, and it will be because of Ryan Tannehill.
• Saints will win this week, but lose next week in an unspectacular fashion. They’ll just lose like a normal team and not get their hearts broken again. Also bye Drew.
• Allen Robinson will have his coming out party. Many people know how great he is already, but he will put on a show against New Orleans.
• Business is Boomin’. Once again.
• Washington is the little brother than your mom made you take with you when you went somewhere fun. The NFL dictates that all division winners have to make the playoffs, and we all know about the NFC (L)East. Washington has an unbelievable pass rush, but it’s not enough to make up for a one-legged quarterback that turns the ball over.
• The Rams’ defense is good enough to get a win against the Seahawks no matter who the quarterback is. I am fully aware of how dumb this could look on Monday.

Bills vs. Colts

Winner: Bills

Rams vs. Seahawks

Winner: Rams

Buccaneers vs. Football Team

Winner: Bucs

Saints vs. Bears

Winner: Saints

Ravens vs. Titans

Winner: Ravens

Browns vs. Steelers

Winner: Steelers