EL BARRIO, EL FALLS – Happy New Year! Welcome to the first Monday of the new year. 
love to get these “write the piece now” texts from Short Matt early on a Sunday evening, saying, as my still-teething 1-year-old, vigorously disagrees them… so this was another late-night piece. With that, today’s menu is: NFL Playoffs, Ph*cking Philly and New NY Jets Coach
NFL Playoffs
AFC
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills
Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
With the dust settled on the final week, the playoff match-ups are set. It was a strange final weekend. Da Bills had nothing to play for while the Dolphins did but the Fish were the team that looked stuck in first gear. The Miami loss opened up a chance to qualify for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns ended the longest playoff drought in the NFL with their win against a Pittsburgh side with nothing to gain and resting several starters. As fate would have it, the sides will have a rematch in the first round… The Dolphins loss also meant that the Colts got into the playoffs while the Titans won the division… The Ravens are looking like a handful once again as they destroyed the Bengals to claim their spot. With the new 7-team format this year, only one team got a bye… Cam James’ Chiefs, of course. Maybe POTUS Trump will remember what state they play in when he’s out of office.
NFC
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team
Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints
There are some unique match-ups in the NFC too, with the Green Bay Packers getting the one bye… The #2 seed Saints won, so they go into the playoffs with momentum. Meanwhile, the Da Bears had to win to make it in but lost. However, thanks to the Arizona Cardinals losing, Chicago backs into the playoffs. On paper this looks like the Saints will easily declaw the Bears but with the Saints recent history of choking, who knows… The Rams face the Seahawks in an all-NFC West clash. Seattle was locked as the 3rd seed but still won yesterday, while the Rams won their must-win game to even have a chance… Tompa Brady clinched a spot a while back and travel to face the 7-9 Washington FT. Washington defeated Buddy Diaz’s Eagles team that for some reason decided in the 4th quarter to play their third string QB. It left Giants players and fans screaming “Ph*cking Philly,” as an Iggles win would have made them NFC East winners. But can a 6-win team really be upset about missing the playoffs and claiming conspiracy?
New J-E-T-S Coach
The J-E-T-S are looking for a head coach. You guys know that my choice is Eric Bieniemy from the Chiefs but what I didn’t know is for some reason, maybe that reference letter from Peyton Manning, had the Jets turn down Bieniemy for Adam Gase. Now Bieniemy is a hot commodity with Houston and Atlanta interested. The USA Today list had another 10 coaches that might be a good fit. It included 2 retreads and 3 college coaches; Jim Harbaugh can go in both categories. Outside of Bieniemy, Gang Green might want to look for a retread like Marvin Lewis or Jim Caldwell, as they kid of need experts in rebuilding disastrous franchises. These guys may not win a Super Bowl but just becoming a perennial playoff contender would be a massive step in the right direction.
Thanks for reading, comment below and come back tomorrow for Ben Whitney, often underrated but still celebrated… like Chloe Kardashian.
