The NFL Playoffs Are Here

The NFL season concluded on Sunday and the playoffs are now set. The Packers earned the #1 seed in the NFC while the defending champion Chiefs got one step closer to defending their crown by claiming the #1 seed in the AFC. Here is the bracket:

• The Packers clinched the #1 seed by throttling the Bears 35-16. The Bears were seemingly on the outside looking in but the Rams, needing to win to ensure they made the postseason, gifted the Bears the #7 seed by knocking off the Cardinals.
• The Browns outlasted the Steelers 24-22 to earn their 1st playoff berth since 2005. That win also set up a grudge match next week between PIT & CLE. That should be fun.
• The Dolphins had a chance to secure a playoff spot… but then they allowed the Bills to hang 56 points on them while the Colts easily dispatched the Jaguars 28-14 to earn the last spot in the AFC
• The Washington Football Team knocked off the Eagles 20-14 to win the NFC East with a 7-9 record. This game drew plenty of criticism from pundits & fans alike because of Eagles HC Doug Pederson’s decision to pull QB Jalen Hurts in favor of 3rd string QB Nate Sudfeld with the game still seemingly in the balance. Giants HC Joe Judge, Max Kellerman, Ryan Clark, Rex Ryan, Shannon Sharpe and others admonished the Eagles for “intentionally” throwing the game & sullying the integrity of the sport. I take a different approach. The Eagles don’t owe the Giants or any other team anything. It was not the job of the Eagles to get the Giants into the playoffs. It was the Giants’ job… and they failed. Giants fans should be mad at their team for finishing 6-10. They should be upset the Giants couldn’t beat the Eagles in Week 6 or the Cowboys in Week 4. They should be upset the Giants were 0-5 against teams with a +.500 record. Maybe, just maybe, if you want to get into the playoffs then you do the job yourself instead of pinning your hopes on another team to do the work you couldn’t do. Message to Giants fans: never send a boy to do a man’s job.
• Playoff Predictions: In the NFC, look for the Bucs, Saints and Seahawks to pick up wins for Wild Card Week. In the Divisional Round, the Packers will outlast the Bucs while New Orleans should dispatch the Seahawks at home. In the NFC Title game look for Aaron Rodgers to get back to the Super Bowl for the 1st time in 10 years. In the AFC, I see the Titans, Steelers and Bills to pick up wins for Wild Card Week. In the Divisional Round, the Chiefs will take out the Titans in a hard fought game while the Bills end the Steelers’ season. In the AFC Championship, Patrick Mahomes & the Chiefs will return to the Super Bowl. Super Bowl LV will give us a star matchup between Aaron Rodgers & the Packers versus Patrick Mahomes & the Chiefs. In the end, look for the Chiefs to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

NBA Musings

• This just in: I am already right about the Bulls. This team will be just interesting enough to win this 28-30 games during this shortened season. Zach Lavine will look awesome on some nights, the younger guys like Coby White, Patrick Williams and Wendell Carter will look like they’re ready to take the next step and wins against teams they shouldn’t will build false hope. And for all of the offensive opportunities the Bulls may have, they rank dead last in PPG given up, 29th in steals and 26th in turnovers. That is a recipe for disaster.
• I’m still amazed at just how many people continue to cape for James Harden. Entering his 13th season, Harden decided to hang out with rappers at strip clubs instead of getting ready for the season. When the season started Harden reported to the team wildly out of shape. That was unfair to his teammates & the organization and ultimately what it showed was Harden’s lack of love for the game. For all the offensive prowess and All-Star appearances Harden is not an elite player. He is not a leader and should not be listed as among the league’s best. He’s a one tool player who can’t dedicate himself to the game to get better in all aspects. He gets zero respect from me.

WWE Musings

• Last night’s episode of RAW featuring WWE legends was supposed to be a massive hit but instead featured tired, old tropes and stomach churning segments. All night the legends were either used as props or were belittled by the current superstars. Seeing Hulk Hogan on WWE TV was particularly cringe worthy. Hogan whined before his legends appearance on the reception he’s received as of late from some of the younger wrestlers. It’s not because the younger generation doesn’t know about Hogan; it’s totally because they know who he really is behind closed doors.
• The end of RAW saw WWE champion Drew McIntyre face off against Keith Lee for the title. It was a barn burner of a match with McIntyre getting the win & Lee looking every bit the star in defeat. After the show or respect between the two competitors who should come out to the ring but Goldberg:

Having Goldberg out to challenge Drew McIntyre at Royal Rumble for the WWE title does nothing for anyone. What it does is devalues the top belt in the company. It says WWE can’t put a good storyline together with its top champion(seems Roman Reigns was right in calling Drew McIntyre his favorite #2). It says WWE can’t put a good storyline together for part-time wrestlers like Goldberg & Brock Lesnar without involving a championship match. Good storylines, good promos and good wrestling matches are what draws fans in, not this.

• Finally, John Huber, better known to wrestling fans as Brodie Lee(also known to WWE fans as Luke Harper) passed away suddenly on December 26 at the age of 41. The AEW star was really coming into his own as a singles star and the leader of The Dark Order. He leaves behind a loving wife, 2 children and an adoring fan base who will dearly miss him. AEW did a fantastic tribute show to Brodie on the Dec. 30th episode of AEW Dynamite. WWE wrestlers honored Brodie on both RAW & SmackDown over the past week. WWE released two videos of wrestlers honoring Brodie Lee:

Rest In Peace, Brodie Lee. You will truly be missed.

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