There’s nothing cooler than saying “win or go residence” on the subject of the NFL playoffs. Everyone knows and have recognized without end that that is the case, however really saying it out loud rocks.
Throughout the subsequent few days we are going to watch six playoff video games that carry this distinction. Twelve groups will enter, six will go away and legacies might be altered without end. Drama. Chaos. Magnificence.
With regards to issues like these the chalk end result is hardly the commonest one. In some unspecified time in the future we’re sure to see an upset or two with the favored staff getting bounced.
Listed here are two prospects of that all through Wild Card Weekend.
Houston Texans over Los Angeles Chargers
For the needs of our dialogue we might be defining upsets alongside the traces of how our mates at FanDuel Sportsbook have these video games listed. That’s the most goal method in my thoughts and you’re caught right here so right here we go.
The Houston Texans are the largest residence underdogs of the Wild Card Spherical as, on the time of this writing, they’re simply narrowly edging out the Los Angeles Rams. Houston is +3 whereas the Rams are +2.5, though clearly the Rams sport is just not working below regular circumstances so defining their “residence area benefit” this week is unimaginable.
It goes with out saying that this Texans staff has limped to the end line and achieved in order AFC South Champions. It’s possible you’ll recall that they dropped a literal deuce on the scoreboard on Christmas Day of all issues. Put merely, it has been dangerous.
However will we actually belief the Chargers that a lot? I admit that a few of my tentativeness right here is needing to see it to consider it. Possibly that’s the place I’m coming from deep within the recesses of my thoughts.
I’d simply say although that I feel we’ve taken who the Texans have been currently, which has been very dangerous and actually issues, and forgotten that they had been at one cut-off date a staff we believed drastically in. And whereas I acknowledge that the Chargers of Jim Harbaugh will not be the Chargers of previous… they continue to be the Chargers. If anybody can discover a approach to breathe life right into a down Houston staff… it’s them.
Inexperienced Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
I’d prefer to assume that I’m a really unbiased particular person round right here, however you must know that I’m SB Nation’s resident Dallas Cowboys particular person as I oversee our Cowboys web site Running a blog The Boys. Moreover, this time final 12 months the Cowboys had been getting ready because the No. 2 seed within the NFC and winners of the NFC East to host the No. 7 seed Inexperienced Bay Packers. Dallas misplaced that sport, in embarrassing trend, and have become the primary No. 2 seed to ever lose within the Wild Card spherical in NFL historical past (this has solely been attainable since 2021 to be clear).
Can the Eagles fall sufferer to Jordan Love and Co. in the identical method that the Cowboys did? I feel that Philadelphia runs a significantly better soccer group than Dallas does so I’m not attempting to equate them in that sense, however past the Cowboys meme-ness of final 12 months’s lesson it did serve for example that this will certainly be achieved.
I’d enterprise to say that we’ll assume the Packers are some form of paper tigers what with how they haven’t overwhelmed any good groups. Isn’t that probably the most predictable narrative, although? Oh! The staff who couldn’t beat anyone confirmed up within the playoffs! That’s such an in fact factor to occur.
Let me be very clear in saying that I feel the Eagles are the staff to beat within the NFC. In reality, let me be much more clear and say that I feel that is their most tough sport standing between them and a visit to New Orleans. The Eagles could be an underdog in all probability to the Detroit Lions which might put them in a harmful area. It’s a very totally different factor to be the staff with nothing to lose, the best way Dallas was final season, and that’s not precisely a job through which I feel all of us belief Nick Sirianni to tread evenly.
If pushed I’d say that I really feel twice as assured in my Texans choose because the Packers one. However each stay attainable in my thoughts. Let’s dance.
