{"id":1399,"date":"2016-01-09T16:45:52","date_gmt":"2016-01-09T20:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/?p=1399"},"modified":"2019-06-26T16:51:32","modified_gmt":"2019-06-26T20:51:32","slug":"you-like-that-nfl-wild-card-round-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/?p=1399","title":{"rendered":"You Like That: NFL Wild Card Round Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1401\" src=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/APTOPIX-Seahawks-Vikings-Football-300x216.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"669\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/APTOPIX-Seahawks-Vikings-Football-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/APTOPIX-Seahawks-Vikings-Football.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Well, I hope you like it, anyway. \u00a0The NFL Playoffs are finally upon us, and that means two of the best weekends on the sports calendar are upon us as well. \u00a0Wild Card Weekend and Divisional Playoff Weekend are coming, and with those come eight NFL playoff games. \u00a0Those eight start with four this weekend, each providing unique intrigue and scintillating storylines.<\/p>\n<p>This post will only examine the Wild Card games. \u00a0Other playoff game previews will be potentially saved for other entries. \u00a0So let&#8217;s get right to it. \u00a0Here are previews for each Wild Card Game.<\/p>\n<h3>Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1403\" src=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/travis-kelce-nfl-kansas-city-chiefs-houston-texans-850x560-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/travis-kelce-nfl-kansas-city-chiefs-houston-texans-850x560-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/travis-kelce-nfl-kansas-city-chiefs-houston-texans-850x560-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/travis-kelce-nfl-kansas-city-chiefs-houston-texans-850x560.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Kansas City Chiefs enter January as the NFL&#8217;s hottest team, having won their last nine games after a disappointing 1-5 start. Against what team did the only win in their first six games come? \u00a0The Houston Texans, the same team they have to play on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Both teams, however, are far different than they were in that September 13 meeting, one that resulted in a 27-20 Chiefs victory. Different in the sense that they both lost their star running backs to season-ending injuries and both started their seasons in sub-par fashion before figuring things out toward a run to the second season.<\/p>\n<p>While the Chiefs started 1-5 and looked done with ten games to play, the Texans started 2-6 and looked buried after a 44-26 loss to the Dolphins (Houston was down 41-0 at halftime). \u00a0Now, they&#8217;re unbelievably matching up in a playoff game.<\/p>\n<p>The matchup to watch this time around would definitely have to be the Chiefs&#8217; altered running game against the defensive line of the Texans. \u00a0Can some combination of Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware make strides against a Texan defense that ranked top 10 in the league in rushing yards allowed? \u00a0More importantly, can the Chiefs&#8217; offensive line find a way to handle J.J. Watt and his disruptive ability to get to the quarterback? \u00a0And can Watt and the Houston defense make vastly underrated Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith look like a Red Ryder BB Gun?<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/vine.co\/v\/iBLjjmv9OuY\/embed\/simple\" width=\"669\" height=\"669\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>While the Chiefs are on a ten-game winning streak and the Law of Averages says that this must end eventually, they&#8217;re still as hot as any team in the NFL. \u00a0The Texans used four quarterbacks over the course of the season, but they have theirs healthy.\u00a0 However,\u00a0Brian Hoyer doesn&#8217;t make the same impact on the game as Smith. \u00a0The Texans need a lot of different things to happen to win this game, too many to put faith in them to win it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Pick: Chiefs 24, Texans 14<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1405\" src=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/201511015pdSteelersSports04-300x213.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"669\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/201511015pdSteelersSports04-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/201511015pdSteelersSports04-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/201511015pdSteelersSports04-1024x727.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Speaking of quarterback problems, the Bengals have their own quasi-quarterback issue brought about by injury. \u00a0Andy Dalton went down with a broken thumb in the team&#8217;s December 13 game against- you guessed it- the Steelers. \u00a0In his place stepped\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2605554-aj-mccarrons-cockiness-could-be-just-what-the-bengals-need-to-break-through\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">notoriously arrogant<\/a>\u00a0but wildly efficient backup A.J. McCarron, and the team has won two games under his leadership, and a third in Denver went to overtime. McCarron still has yet to throw an interception in any of his starts, and his ability to protect the ball will be huge, especially considering the offensive firepower the Steelers possess.<\/p>\n<p>Pittsburgh, however, comes into January decimated. \u00a0Arguably the team&#8217;s best player, running back Le&#8217;Veon Bell tore his MCL against the Bengals on November 1 (parallels, again). \u00a0Backup running back DeAngelo Williams has been effective in his stead but he suffered an ankle injury in last week&#8217;s game against the Browns. \u00a0He was ruled out for this game, and the Steelers will lean on the combination of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/espn.go.com\/nfl\/playoffs\/2014\/story\/_\/id\/14530049\/deangelo-williams-pittsburgh-steelers-ruled-vs-cincinnati-bengals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman<\/a>\u00a0on Saturday night. \u00a0We all know about the greatness of Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger, but the task of stopping the Pittsburgh offense will undoubtedly be easier without Bell or Williams.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, the Bengals are using a backup quarterback. \u00a0But the Steelers secondary is&#8230; not that good. \u00a0Ranking 30th in the league in pass defense, the Cincinnati offense can move the ball against it if they don&#8217;t commit turnovers\u00a0and have a balanced attack. \u00a0The Pittsburgh rush defense is much better (5th in the league) but the story here will be the passing game. If McCarron can move the ball (and I think he will), it could spell death for the Steelers.<\/p>\n<p>So while Pittsburgh boasts an amazing, albeit decimated, offense and a solid defense in areas, this will be the upset of Wild Card Weekend.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Pick: Bengals 26, Steelers 21<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1407\" src=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/635876663227639063-USATSI-8980683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"573\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This game might be the most interesting one of the\u00a0weekend. \u00a0The Seattle Seahawks are coming off of their usual second-half run to end the regular season, while the Minnesota Vikings just won their first NFC North championship since 2009. \u00a0Oh, and its going to be really cold. \u00a0Like,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.weather.com\/weather\/hourbyhour\/l\/USMN0503:1:US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">zero degree cold<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In any event, task number one, two, three, four, and five for the Minnesota Viking defense will be stopping Russell Wilson. \u00a0The Seahawks&#8217; quarterback is coming off the best season of his young career and was\u00a0playing about as well as any quarterback in the league (even Cam Newton) to end the season. \u00a0The Vikings are going to have to contain his running and passing, a tall task for a defense that is middle of the road in both categories.<\/p>\n<p>As for the Vikings&#8217; offense, it&#8217;s going to have to run through Adrian Peterson. \u00a0Also, a good, mistake-free game from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater wouldn&#8217;t hurt, either. \u00a0But, they&#8217;ll be going against a Seahawks defense that ranked second in passing and first in rushing this year. \u00a0Good luck.<\/p>\n<p>Even though there will be\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/espn.go.com\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/14533294\/marshawn-lynch-play-seattle-seahawks-minnesota-vikings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">no Beast Mode<\/a>\u00a0for the Seahawks on Sunday, I still like them to win.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Pick: Seahawks 20, Vikings 12<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1408\" src=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ap_rams_redskins_football_76125000-300x180.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"670\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ap_rams_redskins_football_76125000-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ap_rams_redskins_football_76125000-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ap_rams_redskins_football_76125000.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Green Bay Packers are broken. \u00a0After a 6-0 start, the team finished 4-6 and lost out on a division crown last week in a frustrating loss to the Vikings. \u00a0Aaron Rodgers hasn&#8217;t had a 300-yard game since mid-November. \u00a0Since then, the team has had losses at home to the Bears, last week&#8217;s game and a road thrashing at the hands of the Cardinals in week 16. \u00a0They&#8217;re actually pretty good on the road, with an even record at home as on the road.<\/p>\n<p>But they&#8217;re going to need to have a great game on Sunday to beat the Washington Redskins, and that team is going in the opposite direction. \u00a0Since an excruciating week 13 loss to the Cowboys, Washington has won four games in a row and come into the playoffs at 9-7 and hot. \u00a0Kirk Cousins has played exceptionally well since week 7. \u00a0That game against Tampa Bay is now known for this:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/vine.co\/v\/eYBbTpLquPd\/embed\/simple\" width=\"669\" height=\"669\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Since &#8220;You like that&#8221;, Cousins has thrown for 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. \u00a0He&#8217;s also made us forget about Robert Griffin III.<\/p>\n<p>If the Packers are going to beat the Redskins on Sunday, they need more from Rodgers against a defense that can be had. \u00a0The Skins&#8217; defense ranks 28th in yards this season, while the Packers are 15th. \u00a0If the Packers can move the ball consistently through the air, they can and probably will win this one. \u00a0If not, take the Redskins. \u00a0That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m doing, and I like that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Pick: Redskins 28, Packers 17<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As always, enjoy the games and have a great Wild Card Weekend!<\/p>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/platform.vine.co\/static\/scripts\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/platform.vine.co\/static\/scripts\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><script>\/\/ <![CDATA[\n  (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){\n  (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),\n  m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)\n  })(window,document,'script','\/\/www.google-analytics.com\/analytics.js','ga');\n\n  ga('create', 'UA-62461709-1', 'auto');\n  ga('send', 'pageview');\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Well, I hope you like it, anyway. \u00a0The NFL Playoffs are finally upon us, and that means two of the best weekends on the sports calendar are upon us as well. \u00a0Wild Card Weekend and Divisional Playoff Weekend are coming, and with those come eight NFL playoff games. \u00a0Those eight start with four this weekend, &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/?p=1399\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;You Like That: NFL Wild Card Round Preview&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[679,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-posts","category-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1399"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4011,"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1399\/revisions\/4011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}