thependulumswings

Sweet and savory and served below, one at a time, are ten NFL nuggets for your digestion.  It was the wild card weekend and it provided some wild moments.

1. Poof!  And just like that both of the third seeds and one fourth seed are done.  Dallas, a four seed, is the highest rated survivor from the wild Wild Card weekend.  They were also the only home team and division champion to hold serve.
2. Three lower seeded and visiting teams won on the road.  Two of them dominated.  The Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Lost in Angeles Chargers won convincingly.
3. The four losing quarterbacks were Lamar Jackson, DeShaun  Watson, Mitch Trubisky, and Russell Wilson.  They are 22,23,24, and 30 years old respectively.  Their experience in order is rookie, 2nd year, 2nd year, and 7th year.   With age comes experience.  Does experience entering the post season matter?
4. The four winning quarterbacks were Phillip Rivers, Andrew Luck, Nick Foles, and Dak Prescott.  They are 37,29,29, and 25 years old respectively.  Their experience in order is 17th year, 7th year, 7th year, and 3rd year.  With age comes experience.  Does experience entering the post season matter?
5.  The Houston Texans won the AFC South Division Championship with an 11-5 record.  But, they did that in name only.  Indy was the better team coming down the stretch.  They started 1-5 yet finished 10-6, coming down the stretch with eight impressive wins and one loss.   After two possessions for each team Saturday it was 14-0 Colts after two “in your face” drives.  School was out and so were the Texans.
6.  Seattle gave it their all, but Dallas had just a bit more in winning a close one.  If these two teams played ten times they might post five wins each.  The problem for Seattle is that the playoff format is one and done.  Each team’s defense is top five in the league in points allowed and turnovers created.  Dallas has a wee bit more talent on offense.  Seattle has a kicker who does not know how to attempt an onside kick apparently.
7.  The LA Chargers lost at home to Baltimore three days before Christmas surrendering 22 points to a Raven offense that had a shiny new toy under the tree named Lamar.  It ran like it had fresh batteries.  But like most new toys at Christmas soon the newness wears off.  The Chargers found the off switch.  And suddenly not a creature was stirring, not even a Raven.
8. Philadelphia looks like a team playing with house money.  They won on the last regular season weekend and coupled with a Vikings loss found themselves in the playoffs.  Then they went to Chicago and found a way to beat the Bears in an entertaining game that had a doink, doink field goal, no good, finish.  The Bears need a new placekicker for the placekicker’s own safety if nothing else.  He is perhaps the most hated Chicago sports figure since Steve Bartman got in the way of a foul fly ball.
9. This coming weekend has the top two seeds from each conference hosting this past weekend’s winners.  The hosts are rested after having the week off.  Historically three of the top seeds win at home.  But, that’s history.  Philly, Indy, Dallas, and the LA Chargers make for formidable dogs.
10. Speaking of dogs, the lines are NE(-4) v. LAC, KC(-5) v Indy, LAR(-7) v. Dallas, and NO(-8) v Philly.  Having the week off and having your opponent give it their all the week prior  is a big advantate.  It’s furthered by them having to then travel to face you.  It’s earned during the regular season and very appreciated right about now.  If history holds which of these four home teams lose?  BBR actually thinks two will.  Patriot and Chief fans beware.  Poof!