Divisional Weekend NFL Picks
Wildcard Weekend was at times amazing, and other times underwhelming.
Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Buffalo and the Rams handed out beatings but Cincinnati and Vegas played out a quality clash with the Bengals bursting a 31-year bubble whilst San Francisco and Dallas fought to the end with the end resulting in mass hysteria and mass confusion - but ultimately, a Cowboys loss.
This week sees No. 1 seeds Green Bay and Tennessee join the fray.
The Bengals get to kick off Divisional Weekend just as they did Wildcard Weekend with a trip to No. 1 Tennessee beckoning.
We then jump from Nashville in the south to freezing Lambeau Field where the Packers will host a rampaging Niners outfit.
Monday sees the LA Rams return to a venue where they won early this season, Raymond James Stadium for a second date with Tampa Tommy and the Buccaneers.
Divisional Weekend winds up with perhaps the biggest clash of all, Kansas City v Buffalo @ Arrowhead.
Here is how I see this quartet of games playing out - keeping in mind we did go 6/6 on picks last week!
CINCINNATI @ TENNESSEE - Sunday 8:25am, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
These Bengals broke a hoodoo last week.
Is there a comedown scenario awaiting them or is the monkey off the back, allowing these upstart Bengal Tigers to continue on towards a most unlikely AFC Championship appearance.
The Titans have been undervalued and underrated all season long. When Henry went down, many just presumed Mike Vrabel's crew would fold up.
Fold they did not, fight and win is what they did.
Now, Henry returns, Julio Jones and AJ Brown are a factor and this Titans squad looks like the one I expected to make an AFC Championship game.
I'm picking with my heart, but my head is 50/50 so... give me a #WhoDey
PICK - BENGALS 28, TITANS 24
SAN FRANCISCO @ GREEN BAY - Sunday 12:15pm, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
The Niners rolled into Big D and ended Dallas' season.
They'll be confident of doing the same in Green Bay but this is a different animal to what they faced last week.
Rodgers, DaVante Adams, Dillon and Jones at tailback - what a squad this is.
The Niners were always going to be a tough out for whoever was charged with copping them in the playoffs. Deebo Samuel is the most unique and potent weapon in the game. The run game is powerful behind Trent Williams and Elijah Mitchell and George Kittle is the wildcard, capable of taking a game away from an opposition or acting as another dominant O lineman, assisting in the run game.
In the end, the California kid will oust the Californians and advance to another NFC title game.
PICK - PACKERS 30, NINERS 23
LOS ANGELES RAMS @ TAMPA BAY - Monday 7am, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Upset alert!
On face value, these Rams have got miles on the unhealthy and depleted Buccaneers squad. On both sides of the ball, Tampa is reeling at important positions.
We know about AB and Godwin, but there are queries now on the offensive line plus the defensive backs have been banged up all year long.
Odell is balling in LA, the Cam Akers/Sony Michel tandem is working nicely and we know what Von Miller, Aaron Donald and the Rams defensive front are capable of doing.
Getting to Brady has never been easy. Nor will it be likely here but does he have the weapons required to slice holes in this potent Rams defence?
On form, it's hard to pick Tampa. In life, it's hard to pick against Thomas Brady - but I am.
Time will tell whether he makes me look foolish again.
PICK - RAMS 30, BUCCANEERS 27
BUFFALO @ KANSAS CITY - Monday 10:30am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
They've left us the best until last.
High-flying Buffalo enters Missouri for a shot at the back-to-back Super Bowl participants.
We've seen this movie before, when KC advanced past these Bills at this same venue in a high-scoring 38-24 Chiefs dub.
Mahomes was 325 and 3 in that one whilst Allen had 287 and 2 with another 88 yards rushing.
Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce were the chief destroyers - as per the norm - amassing gigantic games. Hill went for 9 catches and 172 yards whilst the big tight end finished with 13 receptions for 118 yards and a pair of tuddies.
In what I anticipate will be another high-octane clash, I'm sticking with KC. The hotter or two white-hot teams.
PICK - KC 30, BILLS 28
LAST WEEK: 6/6 (Lessgooooooo)
THESE PLAYOFFS: 6/6
THIS SEASON: 170/278