The playoffs are here, which means the way the scoring works changes, and there are more opportunities for separation in the rankings. With so many people bunched up, things are about to get really interesting… so pick well!
Every week in the playoffs you have the opportunity to earn up to 20 points. You can pick as many upsets as you like and get credit for all of them. Here’s how scoring works:
WILD CARD AND DIVISIONAL: 3 pts for correct pick, 5 points for correct upset
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: 5 pts for correct pick, 10 points for correct upset
SUPER BOWL: 10 pts for correct pick, 20 points for correct upset
If you would like to revise the way this works, please feel free to let me know. This is the exact same scoring we have used for at least six or seven years, but I’m always open to suggestions.
Here are this week’s picks:
GAME OF THE WEEK – SATURDAY at 8:15 ET - Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (12-4), PIT by 2.5 – It’s really gotta steam the Bengals that they’re home underdogs in the playoffs to the Steelers. But with the uncertainty of Andy Dalton’s playing status and the fact that the Steelers have gone on a nice little run to end the season (aside from a hiccup in week 16), that’ll do it. The Bengals still haven’t won a playoff game since the early 90s despite making the tournament for five years running now, something that was once unthinkable for their franchise. But I’m going to say this is the year they get over the hump, on the same day the Chiefs get their first playoff win since the early 90s as well. UPSET! – Bengals 24, Steelers 20
SATURDAY at 4:35 ET – Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) at Houston Texans (9-7), KC by 3 – The Chiefs are the NFL’s hottest team, and keep looking better every single week. The Texans can play some good defense, but it just feels like the Chiefs are a buzzsaw that no team should want to run into right now. The Chiefs’ season temporarily went off the rails after a disappointing showing against Denver… it seems like destiny that the two should meet again in the Divisional round. Chiefs 27, Texans 20
SUNDAY at 1:05 ET – Seattle Seahawks (10-6) at Minnesota Vikings (11-5), SEA by 5.5 – There’s not a team in the NFC that wants a piece of the Seahawks right now, and they’ll show us why on Sunday in Minnesota. Seahawks 34, Vikings 13
SUNDAY at 4:40 ET – Green Bay Packers (10-6) at Washington Redskins (9-7), WAS by 1 – Washington is the only home team favored this weekend, and it’s because the Packers have easily the worst offense in the playoff field right now (who would have ever thought you’d say that about this team?). If the Packers continue to play the way they’ve played the last two weeks, there is absolutely no chance they come out of this game the winner. Redskins 37, Packers 13
