After 18 weeks, we’re finally here. Let’s take a look at the matchups this weekend in our NFL WildCard Playoff Preview.

Well my final run left me two games under .500 in Best Picks and one game over .500 overall.  All that work just to more or less break even.  Oh well, next season I am sure I will be back to my winning ways.

We already told you how to beat every NFL playoff team.  And the Conference Final and Super Bowl occasionally give us a gem. But the Wildcard and Divisional Rounds almost always produce the best and most exciting games.

No special instructions here, just examine the matchups closely and use your common sense.

 

Last Week’s Picks:    10-7-1        Best:  3-2

Season Totals:        137-136-9    Best:  34-36-2

 

Kansas City (+3.5) @Houston over/under 40.5 (Wynn Las Vegas)

These are two very good defenses and two very low-powered offenses.

Kansas City comes in hot, and I’m a big believer in taking the hot team over the better team.  That’s not an issue in this game, as the Chiefs are also (slightly) better than the Texans.  Expect a low scoring game with more field goals than touchdowns. Given a close finish, I like that extra half a point with Houston.  And in case you hadn’t figured it out, I LOVE the under here.

Kansas City Chiefs 20 Houston Texans 17

 

Pittsburgh (-3.5) @Cincinnati over/under 46.5 (Wynn Las Vegas)

Everyone expects the Bengals are in trouble here because they’ll have A.J. McCarron at quarterback.  Well, maybe.

The Bengals haven’t been a good playoff team and the Steelers have, but I’ve seen some real trouble for Pittsburgh down the stretch, and I really like Cincinnati’s defense this season.  I think they can get to Roethlisberger, I think they can shut down DeAngelo Williams.  No, they can’t cover Antonio Brown because no one can, but Pittsburgh’s lousy secondary can’t cover A.J. Green either, and you can bet the Bengals will open their offense up a little more with so much on the line.  I like the Bengals to win outright and despite the potential for the high powered Steelers to play to a shootout, the under is the better play as well.

Cincinnati Bengals 24 Pittsburgh Steelers 21

 

Seattle (-5) @Minnesota over/under 40 (MGM Mirage)

This is another game where I expect a defensive struggle. In fact, I think the Seahawks pitch a gem here on defense.

While I feel like the Vikings will do a good job limiting Seattle’s scoring attack, I don’t think Minnesota can put enough points on the board to cover the 5 points.  I’m giving that, and, once again, taking the under.

Seattle Seahawks 20 Minnesota Vikings 10

 

Green Bay (pick ‘em) @Washington over/under 45 (CG Technology)

To me, this is the toughest game of the week.

Is Washington as good as they have looked at home or is that the product of a garbage schedule?  Are the Packers going to snap out of their two month long funk for the playoffs?

I often say take the hot team over the good team, but I just can’t bring myself to pick an NFC East team to win here.  This flies in the face of the “bad division winner” often winning the wildcard game, thus f**king up later rounds of playoffs.  But I can’t do it.  I just can’t do it.  Kirk Cousins over Aaron Rodgers.  No F**KING way.  Rodgers wins a big shootout.  Pick the Pack and take the over.

Green Bay Packers 31 Washington RacialSlurs 24

 

Featured image via SportsCenter