I finished the season much like it was the end of a night of drinking whiskey, soft. We went a soft 8-8 to close out Week 17. But much like the end of a night of drinking whiskey, my excuse is much of the same, it’s not my fault. Multiple teams didn’t play their starters, teams treated playing spoiler like it was their Super Bowl and some teams just didn’t show up. Let’s discuss.

Where I went wrong

Billsmafia finally has something worth drinking for

The Buffalo Bills haven’t been in the playoffs in something like 18 years. The fact that they’re in is monumental. So forgive me if I thought the Bills would do what the Bills do and blow it. This time they did not. This time they grabbed destiny by the kahonas and finally gave their fans a legitimate reason to drink. They walked into Miami and smacked up David Fales? Ok. So maybe Buffalo got a gift from the gods but as they say, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.

Seahawks do not soar

The Seahawks have had a disappointing season. They’ve had injuries. They’ve been unlucky. They’ve just sucked. They had a shot at making the playoffs, if they only could have beaten the lowly Arizona Cardinals led by back-up quarterback Drew Stanton. A Drew Stanton that has been reported as having a torn ACL. So they couldn’t even beat a bad team with a back-up quarterback with a torn-ACL. Pathetic.

Ravens drop the ball

The Baltimore Ravens had their own fate in their own hands and they dropped the ball. If the Ravens beat the Bengals, not only would the Ravens have gotten into the playoffs but the Bills would not. So not only did they have their own fate in their own hands, but they had the fate of the Billsmafia also and they gave Buffalo the greatest gift of all. Now Buffalo has a legitimate chance of beating Jacksonville and Baltimore is left with dreams of Super Bowls past.

Don’s Picks | Wild Card Playoff

Current Record: 157-98

Titans vs. Chiefs
Falcons vs. Rams
Bills vs. Jaguars
Panthers vs. Saints

Games to Watch

Titans vs. Chiefs

Technically this isn’t really a game to watch. But with only four games this weekend, they’re all games to watch. The Chiefs should win this game pretty handedly. The Titans barely made their way in and have been the epitome of inconsistency all season. The Chiefs had a rough spell midway through the season but have bounced back to their winning ways.

Falcons vs. Rams

This is either going to be the game of the week or very lopsided. It will ultimately depend on what Falcons team shows up. The Falcons have been inconsistent all season and I’m shocked they even found their way into the playoff race. The Rams have been a powerhouse all season and I don’t see them slowing down now. Look for the Rams to once again be the greatest show on turf.

Bills vs. Jaguars

The Billsmafia alone is why you should watch the game. Seriously, someone might die. The tailgate is going to be insane. And yes I know the game is in Jacksonville, but if you think that’s going to stop these mad people from tailgating after 18 years of waiting for this moment then you’re crazy. There are legitimate reasons to pick Buffalo, but I’m taking the Bills purely because I want to see how far this drunk dumpster fire can burn. It’s going to be glorious.

Panthers vs. Saints

This is a tough game to predict. Both teams have had their moments this season which makes you think they might be pretenders. But both teams have the potential to score a lot of points. These quarterbacks could not be more different. One is a surgeon on the field and the other is running on pure athleticism. In a game that will likely come down to the quarterback, I’ll take the surgeon all day. Drew Brees and the Saints get it done at home.

Think I’m full of shit

Prove it

Send me your picks, your thoughts, or whatever nonsense floats around inside that head of yours and tag me in it: @dschram34. Or go to the “Submit your shit” page of the website, and give us your thoughts on this weeks matchups. If it’s legitimate, I promise you Dean will post it.

See you in the comments section.