NFL 2018 Divisional Picks + Wild Card Recap

Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has passed us by but another week is soon approaching us. The NFL is in its 2nd week of playoff competition with the winners of the Wild Card round moving on to the Divisional round of the playoffs. In the column, I'll talk about the Wild Card games and will give my picks to who wins the Divisonal round of games this weekend. Let's get to work!

Wild Card Recap:

Indianapolis 21, Houston 7: TW: Colts; CV: Texans
It was another chapter to the already great comeback story for Andrew Luck. At this time last year, Luck was nursing an injury. Luck would finish the game with 222 passing yards for two touchdowns while throwing an interception. Marlon Mack provided a great spark with 148 yards rushing for a touchdown as well. DeShaun Watson got the start for the Texans. Watson threw for 235 yards passing with a touchdown while throwing an interception. The Texans running game was once again dependent on Watson's legs as the quarterback ran for 76 yards, the 2nd closest was Lamar Miller's 18 rushing yards. The score shouldn't have been closer than the result shows. Indianapolis moves on to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

TW: 1-0; CV: 0-1

Seattle 22, Dallas 24: TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys
The game was a close one, not compared to the previous meeting earlier in the season. You have to give a lot of credit to the Cowboys rush defense in stuffing the Seahawks running game. Russell Wilson had a good game with 233 yards passing for a touchdown. Wilson would also get a rushing touchdown as well. Rashad Penny could only muster 29 rushing yards. The Cowboys got a lot of production out of their running attack with Ezekiel Elliot's 137 rushing yards while scoring a touchdown. Dak Prescott got 226 passing yards with a touchdown and interception in the game. Prescott would also rush in for a touchdown too. Dallas will move on to Los Angeles to take on the Rams in the divisional round.

TW: 2-0; CV: 1-1

LA Chargers 23, Baltimore 17: TW: Ravens, CV: Chargers
In the first matchup, the Chargers couldn't contain Lamar Jackson. In the 2nd, they grounded him for most of the game. By the time the Ravens passing game got off the ground, the Ravens were staring at a depleting clock and a point deficit. Philip Rivers had an alright game tossing the ball for 160 yards for zero touchdowns. The only offensive touchdown came from Melvin Gordon, who had 40 rushing yards for the game. Michael Bagley of the Chargers did the rest. Lamar Jackson would end the game with 194 passing yards with two touchdowns and an interception. The Chargers did a better job with containing Jackson's legs as he would only get 54 rushing yards for the game. LA moves on to New England to take on the Patriots.

TW: 2-1; CV: 2-1

Philadelphia 16, Chicago 15: TW: Bears; CV: Bears
It is somewhat ironic for the Eagles to even be here. The Bears were the reason why they were there. By game time, the pleasantries ended. The Bears depended a lot on Cody Parkey's legs and his leg really depended on the outcome of the game. Nick Foles got a good game with 266 passing yards with two touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. The Eagles running game didn't get a lot going but Darren Sproles got 21 rushing yards on 13 carries. Mitchell Trubisky would finish the game with 303 passing yards with a touchdown. I feel the biggest factor for the Bears loss was their ineffective running attack as Jordan Howard got only 35 rushing yards. Philadelphia moves on to New Orleans.

TW: 2-2; CV: 2-2

Divisional Round Picks: 
The 2nd week of NFL playoff competition is called the Divisional round. It is personally my favorite out of the whole entire playoffs. A sort of David vs Goliath. A team with a lot of wins having a bye week last week, while the other team scratched, clawed, and teethed their way into the postseason. NBC will get the weekend started with the Colts and Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. FOX will show the Cowboys vs Rams game in Los Angeles. On Sunday, CBS will show the Chargers vs Patriots game and FOX will show the Eagles vs Saints playoff game in the afternoon slot. Let's get to the picks!

Indianapolis (11-6) @ Kansas City (12-4) (NBC): TW: Colts; CV: Colts
The Colts beat the Texans in the Wild Card game and the Chiefs were a bye last week. The game will greatly depend on how well the Colts play on offense. If they stick to the formula that won them the Wild Card game, they should win. Taking risks, sustaining drives, wearing out the opposing defense will be the keys for the Colts to win. The Chiefs need to get a great game from their running game as I feel that is their one weakness since they released Kareem Hunt earlier this season. It's not like the Chiefs have won a playoff game at home since 1993. I don't like their chances.

Dallas (11-6) @ LA Rams (13-3) (FOX): TW: Rams; CV: Rams
The Cowboys defeated the Seahawks in the Wild Card game and the Rams were on a bye week. The key matchup will be Dak Prescott vs the Rams pass defense. A lot of the game will depend on how well Dak Prescott throws the ball, runs the ball, and how he coordinates the offense. For the Rams, if Todd Gurley plays in the game he will be a big help in what they do offensively. I feel the Rams have the better offense and a better defense than the Cowboys but how well the Rams play on defense will be key.

LA Chargers (13-4) @ New England (11-5) (CBS): TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots
The Chargers beat the Ravens in the Wild Card game and the Patriots had the bye last week. The game will more likely be of a shootout between Philip Rivers and Tom Brady. Both quarterbacks love to throw the ball, certainly, age will be a factor for Tom Brady but I don't know how much of a factor it will. The Patriots defense has played well in the last few weeks prior to this game, I feel they should stay on the same level. If the Chargers can get any chance to win the game, it will greatly depend on better offensive production from their passing and running games. It's a tall task but I like the Patriots at home.

Philadelphia (10-7) @ New Orleans (13-3) (FOX): TW: Saints; CV: Saints
The Eagles beat the Bears in the Wild Card game and the Saints were on a bye last week. The game pretty much looks like a dominant game on paper for the Saints. I don't think that it will be a blowout when it came to the last time these two teams played each other. It will come down to the Eagles getting a rhythm on the passing game and getting good runs from their running game. Keeping Drew Brees and the Saints off the field will be key to victory for the Eagles. The Saints will score points in the game, that is for certain as the Eagles defense is depleted with key injuries to their regular players. I hate to say it but I don't see the Eagles moving past this weekend. The Saints look way too good to give up on an opportunity to get Drew Brees ring #2.

Much like this week, I'll be doing a Divisional recap and a pick 'em for the Conference Championship games next week. Look out for that sometime on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Until then, enjoy the games, have a good weekend.

-Tom