Regular Season Record: 119-129-8
Playoff Record: 0-0
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals (PIT -2) -> Cincinnati Bengals
Seattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings (SEA -4.5) -> Seattle Seahawks
Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins (WAS -1) -> Washington Redskins
A couple notes...
- The Chiefs and Texans game should be a close one. I think the Texans can somewhat shut down the Chiefs offense, but it comes down to what the Texans can do with their offense. If they can spark something small, even just a couple touchdowns throughout the entire game, then I think they can steal this one. I'm picking the Chiefs though because I think their defense is too good for an injured, weak Texans offense.
- Of course Cincinnati's shot at finally getting a playoff win comes with AJ McCarron at the helm. I think it's going to happen too. AJ McCarron has shown me enough to believe he can get his talented weapons the ball, and that is all that matters. Tyler Eifert will be a HUGE matchup problem for the Steelers, and I expect him to have a monster game. Between Eifert, Green, Jones, Sanu, Bernard and Hill, they should be able to put up some points on a weak Steelers defense. Now I don't feel safe betting on McCarron over Roethlisberger, but Big Ben hasn't been as sharp as his usual self over these past few weeks, and with no running game now that DeAngelo Williams is out, the Bengals can cue on Antonio Brown and the Steelers air attack, which is why I think they'll pull this one out.
- Seattle matches up terrifically against Minnesota. Really there is nothing else to it. The Vikings have had a really hard time keeping Bridgwater upright all season, and between Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, Seattle will dial up the pressure without even having to blitz. This game will come down to Teddy Bridgewater being able to make plays against one of the best defenses in the league (and the best run defense too), and I don't know if I like those odds. Granted, this game becomes a lot closer when you look at the other side of the ball, because Marshawn Lynch is out for the game, and Russell Wilson will have to make plays against a very, very good Minnesota defense. I still take Seattle, but this should be a very entertaining, very defensive game.
- The Green Bay-Washington game really intrigues me, but just based off of how both of these teams have been playing in recent weeks, I can't pick the Packers. Kirk Cousins has been terrific in the second half of the season, and I don't know if the Packers have enough of an answer for Jordan Reed even given their versatile secondary. Washington should be able to score enough points that the Packers will need a good day on offense to win, and I just don't think they can get that from an offense that can't create separation in the passing game and also has a very inconsistent run game. I never would have imagined in the preseason I would be taking Washington over Green Bay in the playoffs, but here we are.
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