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2018 NFL Wildcard Weekend Review


The 2018 NFL Playoffs are well underway, in a weekend where three games came down to the final minute, an eighteen point lead was squandered, and division champions were upset at home.

I layed out these games and made my picks in a preview, where I only went 2-2. Both of Saturday's results surprised me, especially the Tennessee Titans comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Atlanta Falcons win over the Los Angeles Rams was slightly more believable, considering Atlanta's playoff pedigree. But I was still shocked the Rams could only muster 13 points, although they weren't great at home all season.

Sunday's games felt a lot more predictable, but they were exciting nonetheless. Seeing the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars in the playoffs for the first time in years was a fun way to start the day. The game dragged at times, scoreless for awhile then tied 3-3, before intensity rose in the second half. Blake Bortles gained more yards with his feet (88) than with his arm (87). The Bills frantically tried to come back late in the 4th, but the offense never found the endzone.

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints immediately had a different feel, with the Saints taking a 14-3 lead middway through the second quarter. For a while it felt like the Saints might run away with the game, as Carolina could only muster four field goals before finally finding the endzone. Threatening late, Cam Newton went down hard with an apparent eye injury. He passed a sideline concussion test, but may have not completed all NFL concussion protocol. He had a couple good looks at the end zone down 31-26, but couldn't convert as an intentional grounding set him back before being swarmed by Saints on his final play of the season.

Taking all the home teams felt a little too safe, but the Chiefs felt like one of my safest picks. I definitely won't be picking all home teams/favorites in the divisional round.

2017's Wildcard Weekend was nowhere near as exciting, with no close games, the tightest being 13 points.
Texans 27 - Raiders 14
Seahawks 26 - Lions 6 Steelers 30 - Dolphins 12 Packers 38 - Giants 13
Looking ahead, Falcons at Eagles, Jaguars at Steelers, and Saints at Vikings have potential to be great games. Yes, that means I'm counting the Titans again, but they can't capture the same magic against the New England Patriots.. can they?

For more picks, NFL playoff coverage, and more, be sure to follow @SakSports on Twitter and Facebook. 
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