[Sylvanfan]

So it took until the final week to settle the teams and matchups, but they're now set.

On first glance the Wild Card match ups look like they should be good games to me.

Saturday 2:35 Mountain
#6 Indianapolis Colts (10-6) at #3 Houston Texans (11-5)

Two teams that are both relatively hot. Texans are 11-2 in their last 13 games after a 0-3 start, and the the Colts are the third team in the Superbowl era to start 1-5 and make the playoffs. Division rivals who spit the season series in a couple of 3 point games including Frank Reich's famous go for it on 4th down in OT which put the Texans in position to win the game with a Field goal as time expired. Both teams have talented QB's who were coming off injuries from last year and once their guys got healthy these teams starting winning a lot.

The Texans feature house hold names on defense in Watt, Clowney, Mathieu, but the Colts defense which is a lot less known was a very solid unit in the second half of the season lead by DROY candidate Darius Leonard. Colts also had hugely improved offensive line play this year...something Houston didn't. Texans hope to have Lamar Miller back to bolster their run game, but will be in tough for secondary receiving options with Fuller and Thomas both out.

It's a tough one to pick, but I have a tough time going against Andrew Luck. Colts win 27-24.

Saturday 6:15 Mountain
#5 Seattle Seahawks (10-6) at #4 Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

Another game that matches teams who have already played this season. Seattle beat Dallas early in the season at home, but a lot has changed with both teams since. After the last Legion of Boom member in Earl Thomas went down and with a record of 4-5, the Seahawks won 6 of their final 7 games to claim the top wild card spot. They have re-established themselves as a power run team that plays good solid defence with Bobby Wagner, Frank Clark, and a generally unheralded group that's replaced the big names from the last Seahawks teams that made the playoffs. Russel Wilson still makes plays when he has to.

Dallas started 1-4, made a controversial trade in which they parted with a first round pick for Amari Cooper, than since rallied to win 9 of their last 11 to finish 10-6 claiming the NFC East. Similar to Seattle the Cowboys have a good solid defence and use a power run game to control the clock on offence. Since the addition of Cooper the passing game has been much improved as has the play of Dak Prescott, which in turn has made the run game more effective.

I have to go with the proven Russel Wilson here, and take Seattle to win 20-17.

Sunday 11:05 AM Mountain
#5 Los Angeles Chargers at #4 Baltimore Ravens

Third rematch of the weekend, as these teams met only 2 weeks ago in Los Angeles. In that game the Ravens pretty much had to win to keep their season alive and were able to do so against a fat and sassy Chargers team who had just claimed a playoff birth, and still had a shot at the top seed. Baltimore played a tough game on defense and used their run game to win that match up. Again two teams coming in hot as the Chargers won 11 of their final 13 games and Baltimore has won 6 of 7 since installing Lamar Jackson as the starter. Baltimore's top ranked defence combined with a ball control offence is a trendy pick to represent the AFC in the Superbowl.

The Chargers shouldn't be overlooked though as they should have more healthy bodies on both sides of the ball than they've had all year with both running backs in the lineup to go with Joey Bosa on defence. Rivers took a lot of hits in the Thursday night win in KC, and again against the Ravens the following week, and was not very sharp yesterday throwing 2 picks and having his team turn the ball over 4 times. Is he finally starting to show the age of a guy of a 35 plus QB who isn't exactly mobile and has an odd throwing motion....or was this a case of trying to finish out the season?

This is the first time we see a team get a rematch against Lamar Jackson, and I think that's a key factor. It's hard to prepare for an outlier like him one time during the regular season. But give a NFL coaching staff 2 looks in 3 weeks, and they generally can devise a much better scheme.

I think the Chargers defence is ready this time and the offence is able to move the ball enough to pull off a 20-10 win on the road.

Sunday 2:40 PM Mountain
#6 Philadelphia Eagles at #3 Chicago Bears

First game that pits two teams that didn't play yet this year. Defending Superbowl Champion Eagles have come back from the dead winning their last 3 games with Nick Foles starting to get into the playoffs. Partly thanks to the Bears who killed off the Vikings yesterday. Doug Pederson used to be the Chiefs Offensive Coordinator and took the head job in Philly and won a Superbowl. Matt Nagy took over from Pederson, is now coaching the up and coming Bears and looking to do the same.

Philly is pretty beat up on defence, but they beat the Rams in LA, a hot Texans team, and than went on the road and shut out the Red Skins. This all after a tough loss against Dallas. Things looked bleak after the Saints blew them out of the Superdome, but the Eagles didn't win the Superbowl by fluke, and have rallied back. Chicago is a team that has a ferocious defence lead by Kalil Mack, and an offence that can move the ball effectively at times.

The Eagles have last years experience to draw on, but I think they are running on fumes about now. Champions generally don't go down easily, and I think Bears might have some jitters...but Bears defence gets it done in a 13-10 game.

Today I think we get a New Orleans and New England Superbowl. Baltimore has been a trendy pick and if they can skirt by the Chargers, they could do some damage as they play New England as well as anyone in the AFC. The Rams and Saints both showed flaws down the stretch, but with home field I don't see those teams not making the NFC Championship game.