2022 Wild Card Weekend Takeaways
Let’s start in the AFC, since both Saturday games were in the AFC. The Bengals and Joe Burrow took down the Raiders 26-19. It was a competitive game that had a questionable whistle late in the first half while Burrow threw a TD on the play. The Raiders nearly came back, but were underdogs for a reason, after watching the game, I can safely say the Bengals were better than the Titans.
The other Saturday game was Patriots at Bills, the Bills took out 20 years of frustration in one night, as they walloped the Pats, 47-17. Josh Allen looked as good as he has ever looked, he was slicing up Bill Belichick and the Pats defense. He had more passing TDs (5) than incompletions (4). Truly amazing game from Allen and the Bills, can’t wait to see their upcoming matchup with the Chiefs.
Speaking of the Chiefs, it was business as usual for them as they crushed the hapless Steelers, 42-21. The Steeler were at one point leading, 7-0 and then in a flurry of about 35 minutes the Chiefs and Mahomes had scored 5 TDs and taken the lead 35-7. The Chiefs are clicking, the playoffs didn’t really need a 7th seed or the Steelers in the playoffs.
Hopefully, I can improve on my picks from last week (1-5 ATS!) These are the matchups left in the AFC:
4) Bengals @ 1) Titans
3) Bills @ 2) Chiefs
In the NFC I have to start with recapping the Cowboys-Niners game. What an embarrassing performance by the Cowboys offense. Their OL got dominated by the Niners, Dak played poorly, the team as a whole just was unprepared. As evident by their 14 penalties, and continued disappointment, they were not ever in the lead in this game and they had little chance to win. Some changes need to happen with that coaching staff Jerry!
Niners deserved to win and their matchup against Green Bay should be good one. Deebo Samuel is insanely good, he continues to produce every week by scoring TDs and just being a dangerous offensive weapon that does whatever is needed to win.
The Bucs were able to handle the Eagles with ease, 31-16, much like the Steelers didn’t really belong in the playoffs. Tom Brady and the Bucs easily raced out to an early lead and just played keep away for most of the game.
The Rams-Cardinals game was also a blowout, but it was a complete surprise. Kyler Murray looked as worse as I’ve ever seen him. They couldn’t move the ball as a team, he couldn’t run the ball, he couldn’t complete a pass. I don’t know why Kliff Kingsbury is only able to run a competent offense early in the season but that was surprisingly bad. The Rams nonetheless dominated the Cardinals and won the game 34-11, Matt Stafford was finally able to get a playoff win and get the team back on track. Their matchup against the Bucs next weekend could be my favorite matchup of the weekend.
These are the NFC Matchups:
6) 49ers @ 1) Packers
4) Rams @ 2) Bucs
2022 NFL Super Wild Card Weekend Picks (Spread)
Saturday, Jan. 15:
Raiders @ Bengals — NBC, 4:30 p.m. ET - Raiders +6 - ❌ - lost $10
Patriots @ Bills — CBS, 8:15 p.m. ET - Pats +4.5 - ❌ - lost $10
Sunday, Jan. 16:
Eagles @ Bucs — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Bucs -8.5 - ✅ - +$19.09
Niners @ Cowboys — CBS, 4:30 p.m. ET - Cowboys -3 - ❌ - lost $10
Steelers @ Chiefs — NBC, 1 p.m. ET - Steelers +12.5 - ❌ - lost $10
Monday, Jan. 17:
Cardinals @ Rams — ESPN, 1 p.m. ET - Cardinals +4 - ❌ - lost $10
$10 on each game - $60 invested and $19.09 returned
2022 NFL Super Wild Card Weekend Picks (Straight Up)
Saturday, Jan. 15:
Raiders @ Bengals — NBC, 4:30 p.m. ET - Raiders - ❌ - lost $10
Patriots @ Bills — CBS, 8:15 p.m. ET - Bills - ✅ - +$15
Sunday, Jan. 16:
Eagles @ Bucs — FOX, 1 p.m. ET - Bucs - ✅ - +$12.50
Niners @ Cowboys — CBS, 4:30 p.m. ET - Cowboys - ❌ - lost $10
Steelers @ Chiefs — NBC, 1 p.m. ET - Chiefs - ✅ - +$11.31
Monday, Jan. 17:
Cardinals @ Rams — ESPN, 1 p.m. ET - Cardinals - ❌ - lost $10
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
$10 on each game - $60 invested - returned $38.31
