Pete Prisco’s NFL Wild Card Round Selection: Lamar Jackson Wins First Playoff, Steelers Sends Browns Home

Thanks to Doug Pederson’s decision to go to bed in the fourth quarter on Sunday night, I did not quite finish the season on 0.500 NFL games against the Distribution.

Yes, I had the Eagles. I know the number was about seven when the game started, but when we made our choice last week, it was 1.5. So I got stuck with a loss.

That meant I did not finish the regular season more than 0.500, but ended up 123-124-1. That’s OK, because I was a little busy walking 9-5-1 last week.

As for the best bets on the Pick-Six Podcast, I end up as the champion of the regular season. I went up 4-2 last week to increase my record to 59-41-1. This is something to brag about, especially when we see that our whole group had a great season.

Now it’s play – time, a time of year I usually do my best.

The Colts defense has declined in the second half of the season, which should worry Josh Allen and the high-flying Buffalo offense. Indianapolis was once the best defender in the league, but they have fallen to a great extent in the last six games. Allen, meanwhile, is going to light up defense and he will do the same here. The ideal plan for the Colts is to beat Jonathan Taylor and keep Allen off the field, but what happens when the Colts come down? Buffalo is on the roll, but they will be challenged here early. In the end, Allen will get it going with his arm and move on to the next round.

Choose: Bills 30, Colts 20

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These two split their games in the regular season, and each won at home. Seattle beat the Rams two weeks ago in a game where Jared Goff hurt his thumb. The Rams had chances in that game, even with Goff biting the blow. Rams’ defense always seems to give Russell Wilson trouble – that’s the case here. But the Seattle defense took up his game in a big way. This will pose major problems for the Rams offense, no matter who starts at the quarterback. Seattle will win a game with a low score.

Choose: Seahawks 20, Frame 18

Tampa Bay have been impressive on offense over the past three games, but this defense will present a major challenge. Tom Brady’s issues have come under pressure over the years. This group can do it. I think they will slow Brady down some. Washington has problems with the offense. Alex Smith was just OK last week, and there is talk of using him and Taylor Heinicke this week. That would be weird. The Tampa Bay defense should deal with this offense. I think it’s a lower point game with Washington hanging behind the top four.

Choose: Tampa Bay 21, Washington 17

These two make no secret of what they want to offend, namely hitting football. Baltimore was the leading team in the league, while the Titans faced off against Derrick Henry, the leading rusher of the NFL. Tennessee beat Baltimore earlier this year and also beat in the playoffs in a big uproar last year. This time I think the Ravens are taking revenge. Their defense is much better than the bad unit the Titans put on the field. Lamar Jackson has a great day to promote the Ravens.

Choose: Ravens 33, Titans 23

It looks like the Bears came alive in December, but it was against bad teams. They did not do much against Green Bay last week, but here they are in the playoffs. The Saints have a tough defense that will pose a big challenge for Mitchell Trubisky. The New Orleans offense hasn’t been that explosive yet this year, so I think the Bears will hang around here. It’s not like we’ve never seen a playoff game in the past. This time they hold on to win it. But it’s close.

Choose: Saints 26, Bere 21

The Browns beat the Steelers last week to get into the playoffs, but it was a Steelers team that reassured many players, including Ben Roethlisberger. It will be much more of a challenge, especially without Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who is not with COVID-19. The Browns’ plan is still to beat football against the Steelers to control the clock and get Baker Mayfield to play along the way. But the Steelers defense will respond to that and play well here. Roethlisberger came alive in the second half of his last game against the Colts, and I think it will be transferred against the Browns. The Steelers own the Browns in Pittsburgh and it will continue.

Choose: Steelers 27, Bruines 17