Packers: Predictions for the NFC side of the playoffs
Super Wild Card round
(3) Seahawks vs. (6) Rams – Saturday – 3:40 p.m. CT
The third game between these two teams will be the rubber match for the season. They have each won a game against each other head-to-head this season. Each team won their home game and this game is back in Seattle on Saturday afternoon.
Russell Wilson has cooled off since his hot start to the season. Luckily for the Seahawks, their defense has stepped up recently, helping lead them to an NFC West championship. Safety Jamal Adams injured his shoulder last week, so that’s definitely something to keep an eye on.
Jared Goff missed Week 17 with a thumb injury, and his status for this playoff game is still unknown. The Rams are also missing Cooper Kupp and Michael Brockers (reserve/COVID-19), so they could be pretty short-handed going into Seattle this weekend.
Winner: Seahawks
(4) Washington Football Team vs. (5) Buccaneers – Saturday – 7:15 p.m. CT
I think a lot of people think this game will be a freebie for the Bucs. I also find it annoying that Tom Brady and the Bucs didn’t win their division, but they still get a favorable matchup playing whichever team from the NFC East sucked the least.
However, the Washington Football Team has actually been playing pretty well lately, and I don’t trust the Buccaneers. Yes, they beat the Packers earlier this year. But they also lost to the Bears and barely beat some other teams that they should have blown out, like the New York Giants in Week 8. I think Chase Young and this Football Team pass rush can and will get to Brady early and often, which is never a good thing for TB12.
I think the Bucs are an extremely talented team, but something tells me this is a trap game and an upset waiting to happen, similar to the 7-9 Seahawks beating the 11-5 defending-champion Saints in the 2010 playoffs with Marshawn Lynch’s Beastquake run, which helped the Packers get to and win the Super Bowl.
I’m calling my shot now, the Bucs will exit in the first round.
Winner: Washington Football Team
(2) Saints vs. (7) Bears – Sunday – 3:40 p.m. CT
The Bears have been playing well lately, but going down to New Orleans is no easy task. This will be a rematch from Week 8 in Chicago when the Saints defeated the Bears with a field goal in overtime.
Things are a little different now for Chicago. Mitch Trubisky is back under center. Whether that is truly an upgrade is a mystery, but since the Bears have gone back to him from Foles, they are 3-3 and snuck into the playoffs.
New Orleans should be able to get Alvin Kamara back in time for this game. He was added to the reserve/COVID-19 list that forced him to miss Week 17 and likely wouldn’t have made this game if it were on a Saturday. Since it’s on Sunday, the Saints could have Kamara at their disposal, a big hit for the Bears’ chances.
At the end of the day, I think the Saints are a more talented team, and being at home is still a big advantage. Saints roll onto the divisional round.
Winner: Saints
So after the Super Wild Card round, technically I am going chalk, but I don’t think it is truly chalk, because I’m sure the Bucs are widely expected to win that game, despite being the lower seed. The top four seeds stay alive in their pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy.