{"id":77807,"date":"2016-01-11T21:28:47","date_gmt":"2016-01-11T21:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=77807"},"modified":"2023-04-18T16:45:53","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T16:45:53","slug":"behind-mic-wild-card-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/behind-mic-wild-card-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Mic: Wild Card Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NFL got real serious this past weekend with the start of the playoffs.\u00a0 It\u2019s called Wild Card Weekend.\u00a0 I picked three of the four games correctly, but should have had three out of four wrong!\u00a0 Two teams lost that should have never lost.\u00a0 Here are my thoughts on the four games:<\/p>\n

Kansas City<\/a> at Houston<\/a><\/strong>
\nThe Kansas City Chiefs had not won a playoff game in 22 years.\u00a0 Their last win was against the Houston Oilers in 1994.\u00a0 They were led by Joe Montana and Marcus Allen.\u00a0 Even though they had to travel to Houston, since they were the Wild Card entry, they were favored to win this game and they did not disappoint.\u00a0 It took 11 seconds for Knile Davis to go 106 yards with the opening kickoff and that turned out to be enough points to win the game.\u00a0 The Chiefs won 30-0.\u00a0 The hometown crowd was booing their own team by the second quarter and Houston\u2019s ineptness never changed throughout the game.\u00a0 Texan QB Brian Hoyer was just awful throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble.\u00a0 The Chiefs have now won 11 games in a row and are the hottest team in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Is there a bit more Philadelphia anguish attached to this win because the Chiefs are led by former Eagles\u2019 coach Andy Reid?\u00a0 And the Chiefs could beat the New England Patriots \u2013 they are on a roll (the Patriots lost their last two games); they are 7-3 on the road; and they, obviously, are strong on defense.<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh <\/a>at Cincinnati<\/a><\/strong>
\nI must admit I had trouble watching this game \u2013 there were so many cheap shots, so much trash talking, and so little control by the coaches and the officials of their players and staff that all of my enjoyment was lost.\u00a0 And the final straw was the hit by the Bengals\u2019 Vontaze Burfict on the Steelers\u2019 Antonio Brown which, to me, was an obvious attempt to seriously maim the wide receiver.\u00a0 It was an ugly moment.\u00a0 And then the Bengals during the same sequence pick up another 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.\u00a0 So with 0:18 seconds on the clock, the Steelers were awarded 30 yards in penalties after gaining 44 yards on their own and left with a \u201cchip shot\u201d field goal to win the game 18-16.\u00a0 I picked Pittsburgh.\u00a0 They should have lost.<\/p>\n

This game was an embarrassment to the NFL and each play should be reviewed to fairly assess all of the warranted fines and suspensions.\u00a0 And there must be a message sent here by the league.\u00a0 In particular, Vontaze Burflict must be punished severely\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seattle <\/a>at Minnesota<\/a><\/strong>
\nIt was -6 degrees when this game started and the weather kept both offenses in the deep freeze.\u00a0 The Vikings led all the way until a Viking fumble led to a go-ahead field goal with 1:42 to go in the game.\u00a0 Seattle was up 10-9.\u00a0 The Vikings were aided by a pass interference call and drove deep into Seattle territory.\u00a0 The game-winning field goal would be a 27-yarder, pretty much automatic by high school, college, and NFL standards.\u00a0 The kick by Blair Walsh was wide left and the Seahawks won.\u00a0 Someone noted Walsh\u2019s new Vikings\u2019 jersey:<\/p>\n

\"Walsh<\/a><\/p>\n

Or do you agree more with this post about the Vikings:<\/p>\n

\"Vikings\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I picked the Seahawks and should have, also, had this one wrong.<\/p>\n

Green Bay<\/a> at Washington<\/a><\/strong>
\nI should have known better.\u00a0 For some reason, I really felt like the Redskins would be able to beat the Packers.\u00a0 I could not believe I felt this way, but the Packers had been so inconsistent, particularly their running game and they had lost their last two games and looked bad doing it.\u00a0 And the Redskins were playing their first playoff game under head coach Jay Gruden and with a revived Kirk Cousins.\u00a0 When DeSean Jackson did not score when he should have and I was reminded of the problems he caused the Eagles, I should have been forewarned about the outcome.\u00a0 11-0 should have been 15-0.\u00a0 All of a sudden, Aaron Rodgers played like Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the game was dominated by the Pack.<\/p>\n

I picked the Redskins.\u00a0 I hope I learn from my mistakes.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. After watching football all day on Sunday, I watched the golf tournament from Hawaii. That was almost as hard to watch as the Pittsburgh \u2013 Cincinnati game.\u00a0 The setting was so beautiful, the golf course was magnificent, and Jordan Spieth ran away with the tournament.\u00a0 I was jealous.\u00a0 But it was nice to see athletes compete and be cordial to one another.\u00a0 No trash talking.<\/li>\n
  2. I mentioned last week that the decision to play the NCAA national college football semifinals on New Year\u2019s Eve was just awful. The ratings dropped around 38% for the two games.\u00a0 Well, guess what?\u00a0 The NCAA decided to do it again next year, January 1 the following year, and New Year\u2019s Eve the following two years.\u00a0 Who is running the asylum, I mean, the Association?<\/li>\n
  3. Just in case you are not keeping up with the other Philadelphia teams \u2013 the \u201876ers are now 4-36. They are four games ahead of the Lakers in the loss column.\u00a0 The Lakers are 8-31.\u00a0 Six teams have fewer wins than the Flyers; 24 have better records.\u00a0 When is spring training?<\/li>\n
  4. So the Eagles are interviewing Tom Coughlin this week for the head coaching job. Rebuilding with a 70-year-old coach??\u00a0 No way, but picking Coughlin\u2019s brain in a subtle way about the Giants, the NFC East, and Coughlin\u2019s assistants may be a good idea.\u00a0 Dumb or smart like a fox?\u00a0 Wait and see.<\/li>\n
  5. No high school basketball team in the area is better than Parkland, but it sure is hard to figure out the rest of the competition. Emmaus, Allen, Whitehall, Central, Freedom, Beca, Liberty, Northampton, Pocono Mountain West, and Nazareth would really battle for the Conference title if not for Parkland.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"Gary's<\/a><\/p>\n

    NFL PICKS LAST WEEK \u2013 10-6; OVERALL 160-96 (63%)<\/strong>
    \nNFL PICKS (WILD CARD) \u2013 3-1<\/strong><\/p>\n

    KANSAS CITY<\/strong><\/p>\n

    DENVER<\/strong><\/p>\n

    CAROLINA<\/strong><\/p>\n

    ARIZONA<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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