The NFL Playoffs kick off today with a pair of NFC Wild Card Games. Let’s make some picks.
5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at 4. Carolina Panthers (8-9); 4:30 pm Eastern; FOX
I think when they are at full strength the Rams might be the best team in the NFC. Because of a few bounces of the ball, they ended up with the 5 seed and likely will need to win three road games to get to the Super Bowl.
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Conventional wisdom says they should handle the 8-9 Panthers rather easily.
It feels like every year there’s at least one division where every team is weak, and we get a suspect champion. The NFC South was clearly that division this year.
I feel less comfortable than I probably should with this pick both because the Panthers are at home and because they beat the Rams during the regular season. Still, I think the conventional wisdom prevails.
My pick: Los Angeles Rams
7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) at 2. Chicago Bears (11-6); 8:00 pm Eastern; Amazon
I can’t say I trust either of these teams. The Packers enter on a four game losing streak. The Bears lost their last two regular season games. In fact, neither team has won a game since they met on a Saturday night in Soldier Field three weeks ago.
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Green Bay’s struggles have had a lot to do with injuries leaving them shorthanded. Jordan Love at least is returning to the lineup after suffering a concussion in that Saturday night game in Chicago.
I don’t think the Bears are as good as their record. They aren’t really elite in any area other than running the ball. The combined winning percentage of the teams they beat was .406, the worst of any of the NFC Playoff teams, and even then their point differential was only +26. That’s more typical of a 9-8 team than a 11-6 team. It was actually slightly worse than Green Bay’s.
Still I’m going with the Bears. I’m taking the home field. I also think the Packers defense takes a big step back without Micah Parsons, and I worry about rust with Love returning off such a long layoff in such a high stakes game.
My pick: Chicago Bears
