There’s nothing cooler than saying “win or go dwelling” with regards to the NFL playoffs. Everyone knows and have identified endlessly that that is the case, however really saying it out loud rocks.
Throughout the subsequent few days we’ll watch six playoff video games that carry this distinction. Twelve groups will enter, six will depart and legacies shall be altered endlessly. Drama. Chaos. Magnificence.
In the case of issues like these the chalk consequence is hardly the most typical one. Sooner or later we’re certain to see an upset or two with the favored workforce 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 shall be defining upsets alongside the strains of how our buddies at FanDuel Sportsbook have these video games listed. That’s the most goal manner in my thoughts and you’re caught right here so right here we go.
The Houston Texans are the most important dwelling 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 recreation isn’t working beneath regular circumstances so defining their “dwelling subject benefit” this week is not possible.
It goes with out saying that this Texans workforce has limped to the end line and performed in order AFC South Champions. Chances are 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 can 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 these days, which has been very dangerous and actually issues, and forgotten that they had been at one cut-off date a workforce we believed tremendously in. And whereas I acknowledge that the Chargers of Jim Harbaugh are usually not the Chargers of outdated… they continue to be the Chargers. If anybody can discover a solution to breathe life right into a down Houston workforce… it’s them.
Inexperienced Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
I’d prefer to suppose that I’m a really unbiased particular person round right here, however it’s best to 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 making 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 recreation, 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 manner that the Cowboys did? I feel that Philadelphia runs a significantly better soccer group than Dallas does so I’m not making an attempt to equate them in that sense, however past the Cowboys meme-ness of final 12 months’s lesson it did serve for instance that this may certainly be performed.
I’d enterprise to say that we’ll suppose the Packers are some kind of paper tigers what with how they haven’t overwhelmed any good groups. Isn’t that essentially the most predictable narrative, although? Oh! The workforce 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 workforce to beat within the NFC. In actual fact, let me be much more clear and say that I feel that is their most troublesome recreation standing between them and a visit to New Orleans. The Eagles can be an underdog in all probability to the Detroit Lions which might put them in a harmful house. It’s a very completely different factor to be the workforce with nothing to lose, the way in which Dallas was final season, and that isn’t precisely a task during which I feel all of us belief Nick Sirianni to tread frivolously.
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.
