MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ – Nothing like a little #Omicron to kick off this weekend of football bacchanal . I had to miss a family wedding due to this virus, so I may not be my usual facile self. FFREE NFL Picks and Wild Card Weekend Notes to avoid if you want to win coming up!
The party started off without much surprise as Joe Burrow fed Bengals Fans with their first playoff win in over 30 years defeating Derek Carr and his Las Vegas Raiders. As usual, Carr plays just good enough to make it exciting, but cannot find the end zone when it counted most. The Raiders forgot that they had Josh Jacobs at crunch time and that in my opinion was the difference.
The Buffalo Bills gave Dr.Evil and the Patriots an epic beat down, scoring at will. Final score 47-17
Now on to the remaining four games.
Jalen Hurts has the ability to create the same havoc as Josh Allen bestowed on Dr. Evil and the New England Patriots last evening. This would be on the ground . There is nothing more problematic to a defense than a QB who can make a first down when none of his receivers are open. 
The BIG difference is that the Philadelphia Eagles are playing the defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the G.O.A.T. Thomas Brady. With the weather forecast of wind and rain, the run game, which favors the Iggles could make this a very close game. Mike Evans and Gronk are the only two real weapons that Brady will have, but who can pick any game against Brady? The Eagles have yet to beat a playoff contending team this year. Tampa 28 Philadelphia 24
It’s time for Americans to come together and unite! What a better way than sitting around the Television watching America’s Team Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49’s in an NFC playoff game. Well, this ain’t Troy vs Steve. This version gives us Dak Prescott and Jimmy Garoppolo . Both highly compensated for their skill set. On paper this should be a close one, but the feeling here is that Tubby McCarthy (not you Matt) will be out coached by the straight brim wearing Kyle Shanahan and the Boys will leave another mediocre effort on the field at Jerry World. 49’s 35 Cowboys 24
While it is nice to see Ben Roethlisberger get one more curtain call for a NFL Hall of Fame career, this matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs reminds me of Irish Jerry Quarry against Muhammad Ali . There is just two much fire power staring at a good but not good enough Steelers Defense. Take a bow Ben for a great career. Chiefs 38 Steelers 21
Save the best matchup for Monday Night Football . The Los Angeles Rams have bet the ranch on this season. They traded away their former top pick Jared Goff, who managed them to a Super Bowl for top rated gun slinger Matt Stafford. The Rams will be facing division rival Arizona Cardinals and their pesky little signal caller Kyler Murray. The problem for the Cardinals is that they must cover the best wide receiver in the NFL, Cooper Kupp. This will be a Rams win if Stafford can avoid playoff jitters and mistakes. Murray will miss his best receiver DeAndre Hopkins so his only chance will be to win this with his legs. With only two, that will not be enough. Rams 28 Cardinals 24
Well, that’s a wrap. Chime in with your thoughts and come back tomorrow for the weekend recap by Junoir Blaber.
