Well, that was an exciting end to the season.
We’re talking, of course, about our NFL picks, as one of NESN.com’s “experts” erased a two-game deficit in Week 17 to tie things up at the top of the standings.
Fortunately for us, the NFL playoffs offer a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock. Wild Card weekend features four intriguing matchups, from a clash of AFC North foes to a third AFC North squad hoping to win a playoff game for the first time in over three decades.
Let’s break it down.
LAST WEEK
Ben Watanabe: 8-8 (154-84-1). Went for gold in Week 17 but came up empty. Now he doesn’t get to pick this round. Poor Ben.
Darren Hartwell: 12-4 (163-75-1). Last-gasp effort earned him a first-place tie with Mike. Mike isn’t happy.
Mike Cole: 10-6 (163-75-1). Will look to the postseason to reclaim the NFL picks throne.
AFC WILD CARD
Baltimore Ravens (10-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5), Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Darren: Ravens. It all comes down to Le’Veon Bell. Playoff games between division rivals playing each other for the third time usually are decided by who can run the ball better, and with their elite running back out of the lineup, the Steelers look headed for an early exit.
Mike: Ravens. The weather is going to suck, which should make the running game even more important and make the loss of Bell hurt even more for the Steelers.
Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1) at Indianapolis Colts (11-5), Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET
Darren: Colts. Cincy wants nothing more than to break out of its playoff slump, and the Colts looked awful against the Cowboys two weeks ago. But I can’t take Andy Dalton on the road in a playoff game when Andrew Luck is on the other sideline. Indy wins a close one.
Mike: Colts. I’m expecting a shootout (so is Vegas; this game has the highest over/under of the weekend), and in that case, I’m taking the quarterback I trust most late. That has to be Luck given the fact Andy Dalton has a career touchdown/interception ratio of 8-to-10 in the fourth quarter of close games (plus- or minus-7 points).
Arizona Cardinals (11-5) at Carolina Panthers (7-8-1), Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET
Darren: Panthers. Could we really see a sub-.500 team in the NFC Divisional Playoffs? We just might. The Cardinals are limping into the playoffs after dropping four of their last six games, and Cam Newton finally got his offense on track last weekend. If Carolina can put enough points on the board, it can survive for the win.
Mike: Panthers. Look, Bruce Arians is a miracle worker, but Carolina is starting to play better, and I just don’t have the guts to pick Ryan Lindley to win a playoff game. Sorry, Ryan Lindley.
Detroit Lions (11-5)Â at Dallas Cowboys (12-4), Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET
Darren: Cowboys. If Dallas can get by Detroit in this one, look out. The ‘Boys haven’t lost on the road this season and are legitimate contenders to knock off Green Bay or Seattle. The matchup against the Lions’ stout run D isn’t great, but I don’t trust Matthew Stafford in any sort of meaningful game.
Mike: Cowboys. This has blowout written all over it. Stafford has yet to prove he can do anything against anyone worth a darn (career 0-16 on road vs. winning teams), and the Packers showed last week you can run against the Lions — and this Cowboys team runs with the best of ’em.
Thumbnail photo via Jason Bridge/USA TODAY Sports Images
