Brock PurdyDaniel JonesFBIJosh AllenSam HubbardTrevor Lawrence

Can the NFL Playoffs Be More Mind Boggling Than Last Week?

It’s not that any of the eight teams remaining in the NFL Playoffs boggles the mind.

The Giants were a chic pick to upset the fragile Vikings and they did. The Jaguars were riding a win streak and a hot young QB. The Cowboys, despite their Super Bowl drought, were playing an 8-9 Tampa Bay that had no business being in the postseason. The Bengals were hosting the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens.

But how we got here is, well, mind boggling.

The Vikings porous defense allowed Daniel Jones to turn in a performance for the ages. Kudos to Danny Dimes.

Trevor Lawrence throws four interceptions in the first half and the Jaguars rally from a 27-point deficit with a roster that hasn’t seen the playoff this decade.

The Bengals needed a 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown by DE Sam “I Was so Scared of Being Caught” Hubbard.

Bills MVP candidate Josh Allen (26.1) had almost the identical QBR as Dolphins rookie backup Skylar Thompson (22.6) as Buffalo barely avoided an epic upset.

There are eight teams left and we would be surprised if there weren’t more surprises, although if Hubbard finds himself rambling for another touchdown that might cause for an FBI investigation.

CHIEFS -8.5 over Jaguars – The arrival of Lawrence is complete. How many second year QBs can bounce back after throwing four first-half picks and burying his team in a 27-0 hole? The Jaguars have gotten their taste of the playoffs. The Chiefs are master chefs of the postseason.

EAGLES -7.5 over Giants – Unlike the defensively-challenged Vikings, the Eagles pass defense (179.8 yards per game) was the best in the league. Big Blue’s best chance is to establish RB Saquon Barkley who was held to 28 yards on nine carries in the one regular season game he played against Philly. The Eagles did allow 147.6 yards on the ground – probably because no one could throw on them.

Bengals +5.5 over BILLS – The Cincy O-Line is more banged up then a beater at a demolition derby. But for all his greatness, Allen has not cherished the ball as a QB should and the Bills (40 sacks) were 15th in the league. They signed Von Miller for playoff games like this and he’s on IR. Buffalo might prevail but not by more than a field goal.

Cowboys +4 over 49ERS – San Francisco is the better team and as good as Dak Prescott was last week, he did throw 11 of his 15 picks in the last seven games. So why the Boys? If they can rattle Tom Brady, what can they do to rookie Brock Purdy? Yes, Mr. Irrelevant has been Mr. Impeccable but how does he respond if the Niners are down five with 90 seconds left and no time outs against Dan Quinn’s attack first, apologize later defense?

Last week: 4-2; Best Bets: 1-0.

 Playoffs: 4-2; Best Bets: 1-0

author
Lenn Robbins
Sports Journalist
Hi, I'm Lenn Robbins, a long-time sportswriter who still holds the detention record at Bildersee Junior High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., where I was born and raised. I came out of the womb a Mets fan, was baptized a Knicks fans and through the power of TV, became a Cowboys fan, which explains why I'm in group therapy. The name of my fantasy football league team is Sexual Chocolate. Anyone who can explain the origin of said team name, please h
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