Bp Wild Card Picks... Ok, But The Real Fun Is The NFL YouTube Dumpster Dive! - by Brian Phillips

The NFL playoffs are upon us, and I thought I'd pair my Wild Card round picks with one of my favorite time wasters: Dumpster diving into You Tube looking for some sweet vintage NFL content. Let's see what we can find!

Saturday 1/5/19

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans.

The Colts were once in Baltimore, kids. The Texans were an expansion team awarded to Houston after their beloved Oilers moved in 1997. Fun fact: For two years they were the Tennessee Oilers. Our own Eddie George was actually part of the final team to play in Houston and the first in Tennessee. Here's proof!

Anyway let's see what else we can find.... 

Look what we have here! Monday Night Football November 1, 1976. Houston Oilers at Baltimore Colts!

The Oilers had some dudes! Billy "White Shoes" Johnson and stalwart Ken Burrough at wide receiver.  Curley Culp and Elvin Bethea on the d-line. How did this team go 5-9?! Bum Phillips was the damned head coach! I don't get it.

Perhaps my memory was clouded by all those awesome White Shoes TD dances. We used to pretend we were him on the playground.

On the other hand this was a damned good Colts club. 11-3 on the year. Sadly they were creamed in the divisional round against the Steelers that year. 

At any rate Bert Jones was on point with a 60% completion rate paired with 24 touchdowns and only 9 picks. Lydell Mitchell was a baller with his 1,200 yards on the nose paired with 60 catches for 555 yards. A truly underappreciated player of his era. 

Final score on 11/1/76: Colts 38 Oilers 14

My 2019 pick: Indianapolis Colts 27 Houston Texans 24

Saturday 1/5/19

Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys

Sorry, there's only one highlight. January 2007... playoffs... Ah shit!

As a life long Seahawk fan this is one of my favorite memories. Hardy har har har. As you can see Jason Garrett was not actually the coach. It was Bill Parcells. Weird right! It seems like Garrett took over in like 1996. 

This year? I can't go against Russell Wilson in this spot. He’s been dropping dimes all season!

My 2019 pick: Seattle Seahawks 30 Dallas Cowboys 27

Sunday January 6, 2019

Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens

Well it shouldn't be difficult to find the San Diego Chargers facing the Baltimore Colts. 

Damn! We're back in 1981 and dumpy Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Look! The baseball infield is still there! That was a real NFL field kids.

In 1981 we were at the height of Don Coryel's famed high flying Chargers offense with the great Dan Fouts at the helm. They weren't all pass though. Chuck Muncie rushed for over 1,100 yards and James Brooks over 500. 

The story of this team though would be told in the playoffs. The divisional round will always be remembered for Kellen Winslow and the "Epic In Miami." Playing hurt Winslow caught 13 for 166 and a touchdown in San Diego's 41-38 overtime win. Truly one of the NFL's all time great games.

Of course the following week San Diego would have to contest the AFC Championship game in Cincinnati... The infamous “Freezer Bowl” game. The Chargers went from 76 degrees in Miami to -9 and a stunning -59 windchill a week later in the Queen City. They didn't stand a chance. Has any club ever had a weirder two game run in the playoffs? I don't think so. Hey it was sunny that day!

Imagine how hard that carpet at Riverfront Stadium was! How tough were all these motherfuckers. Did anyone die? Possibly. It was a long time ago. 

Final score that day: Bengals 27 Chargers 7

My 2019 pick: Baltimore Ravens 21 Los Angeles Chargers 13

Sunday January 6, 2019

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

When you talk about these two in the playoffs you can only reference one game, and it was 30 years ago this past New Year's Eve. THE FOG BOWL!

It was a strange day indeed. Warm and cold air colliding in a 15 block area around Soldier Field created a thick fog beginning in the second quarter. Players complained they couldn't see the sidelines. It was so bad CBS had to rely on sideline cameras so we could see anything! I'm looking at the one hour thirty six minute mark right now. I have no idea what’s going on.

Buckeye Mike Tomczak was at the helm for the Bears. He had a really terrible day, but so did Randall Cunningham for the Eagles. The Bears would do enough in a 20-12 win. 

This Sunday's forecast? Clouds and 39. 

My 2019 pick: Chicago Bears 20 Philadelphia Eagles 9

Brian Phillips with the Greatest Old School NFL Films Collection Ever. Watch! (This Constitutes Pencilstorm's Complete Super Bowl Pre-Game Coverage.)

Originally published January 2016. You should watch it every year. It's great. 

My God, aren't you sick to death of Super Bowl hype? This year has been miserable, and hell, my Seattle Seahawks are in the the damned game! Between the deflated balls and people crying real tears because Marshawn Lynch won't talk to them, I just can't take it anymore. I'll turn on the TV Sunday at 6:30 pm. just as the opening kick sails through the dry Arizona air, but that'll be about it. What I provide below is a fun distraction from all this garbage if you are in need. I know I am.

The National Football League is a many-tentacled behemoth, but for some reason they've chosen a hands-off approach to the myriad of blurry old games from the 70's and 80's on You Tube. There's some real treasures there, saved for decades and lovingly uploaded. How long will these time capsules be allowed to exist? It's anyone's guess, so I suggest you have at it while there's still time.

Our rules are simple: 1) NO NFL Films productions. Those are top-flight to be sure, but to really get a feel for what a game was like, we need the over-the-air broadcast. Bonus points if the source left the commercials in. Those are their own kind of fun. 2) We won't be looking at any video 1990 and later. More bonus points, of course, for anything from the 70's. Since the long-obsolete Betamax was introduced to the market in 1975, and the VCR in 1976 (also long-obsolete when you think about it, except for at Ricki C.'s house ) HUGE bonus points for pre-'75 material. I don't know how, but it's out there, as you'll see. 

These are in no particular order of importance. Please share fun ones you find, especially games you remember seeing. The mind is a funny thing, and you'll be amazed by what you've forgotten, and by the same token you'll shake your head at things you thought happened that didn't.

January 4, 1981 Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns. AFC Divisional Playoff.

This game had everything! A  minus-37 degree wind chill, legends like John Matusak, Lester Hayes, and Lyle Alzado, the great Don Criqui on play by play and quite possibly the worst kicking performance in NFL history. Kids, the Browns' Don Cockroft was one of a dying breed: the straight- on kicker. You'll laugh out loud as he misses an extra point and two other field goals. Due to Cockroft's ineptitude the Browns passed up what would have been the game winner with :41 seconds left, and instead ran the infamous Red Right 88.

You'll see the predictable result at the 34 minute mark of part 3 above. The end to yet another sad chapter in Cleveland sports history. 

A side note: If you watch carefully one of the crowd shots features two Cleveland fans sharing a flask of booze in cavernous old Cleveland Stadium. Think to yourself how different the NFL is now. In 1981 the stadium was filled with drunken working stiffs instead of today's drunken rich guys. And do you think today's NFL would just allow piles of snow to remain close enough that the players run knee deep into them out of bounds? Hell no! This was real football. 

I Didn't Go To Bed Until Halftime Highlights Was Over. October 22, 1973.

I never missed Howard Cosell's Halftime Highlights on Monday Night Football as a kid. I begged my parents to let me stay up to see them. In those days there was no ESPN. You got the games you got on Sunday and didn't see much of anything from the others. Fun fact: 1973 was the first season where you could see your local team if the game was sold out. Up until then it didn't matter. Not even the Super Bowl could air live in your town if your team was in it. Commissioner Pete Rozell wouldn't back down even when President Nixon called for the blackout to be lifted so he could see the Skins and Dolphins in Super Bowl 7. Can you imagine! The owners had no idea what a gold mine they were sitting on. 

Anyway the above gem is from week 6 (Raiders/Broncos) of the 1973 season. The Sunday highlights begin at the 3:30 mark with the Colts and Lions from Tiger Stadium. The Lions mascot is hilarious in his raggedy Halloween get up. The goal posts were still in the front of the end zone and the crowd noise in the package was a cheap loop. Classic!

December 23, 1972 The Immaculate Reception. Oakland at Pittsburgh. AFC Divisional Playoff. 

Okay, I cheated a bit. You can tell by the modern bug on the screen that this was a rebroadcast by NBC at some point. Still it's such an important moment in league history it's worth pointing out. The legendary Curt Gowdy on the call.

December 31, 1983. Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins. AFC Divisional Playoff.

After crushing the hated Denver Broncos in the AFC Wild Card game for Seattle's first-ever playoff victory, the 9-7 Seahawks traveled to Miami as heavy underdogs to the 12-4 Fish. Marv Albert is on the call as Dave Krieg immediately kicks off this video by throwing an awful interception. After the Dolphins score Steve Largent makes a couple of huge catches (he didn't make his first of the day until the 2:25 mark of the 4th quarter!) and Curt Warner seals it to send Seattle off to the AFC Championship Game. Also: Chuck Knox!

(Note: You might be confused at the 8:15 mark. This video seems to be right off the satellite as it includes booth banter during a break. Sadly Marv doesn't say anything weird.)

Monday December 11, 1972. Live From The Moon. Jets at Raiders.

This portion of Monday Night Football is extraordinary because it begins with the end of an ABC News live report on the final Apollo Mission to the moon. That's followed by Glen freaking Campbell singing the national anthem and then Joe Willie Namath and the Jets in the East Bay to take on The Raiders. As long as we're on the space travel kick, you'll note the man they said came from the University Of Mars Otis Sistrunk was an Oakland rookie. Opening with a blimp shot seems anti-climatic after watching men on the moon, eh?

December 28, 1975. Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings. NFC Divisional Playoff

I couldn't find much of the "Hail Mary" Game, but this is the best part anyway. Staubach heaves up a bomb to Drew Pearson for the winner. 

Bonus! The NFL Today pre game live from Metropolitan Stadium! 

Yessir! Brent Musberger, Irv Cross, and the smoking hot Phyllis George. Ads included and a cheesy "making of the NFL Today" feature. 

December 26, 1970. Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys. NFC Divisional Playoff.

This game is only noteworthy because it's damned hard to find any over-the-air footage of something this old. We find Frank Gifford before he went to work for Monday Night Football and his harpy wife Cathy Lee was probably still in the Baptist kids choir. All that said, this may well be the most boring playoff game in history as the Cowboys beat the Lions 5-0. The video mercifully ends with the opening kick-off. 

Well, this is funny. I found the post-game too.

A young Dick Stockton handles the highlights and an excruciatingly long interview with coach Tom Landry. At the 2:45 mark you see what might be the first-ever Gatoraid commercial. 

December 12, 1982. Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots. The Snow Plow Game.

This seems like a good place to stop. Before there was Deflategate, Spygate, and The Tuck Rule there was The Snowplow Game. John Smith kicked the game winner in a 3-0 victory after a work-release inmate named Mark Henderson plowed a bare spot on the Schaeffer Stadium turf. Coach Don Shula would protest the game to no avail, though the league would pass a rule several months later banning snow plows during games. Today the tractor hangs from the roof of the Patriots Hall Of Fame. What is it with this team?! Anyway, sorry for the lousy footage here, it was all I could find. 

Prop Me Up, Man. Brian Phillips Super Bowl Prop Bet Rundown

I don't know about you, but with chaos all around I just haven't given the Super Bowl much thought this year. It's game day, though, and since Trump has made himself part of the show with a Fox News sit down let's dive in and see if we can make sense of it all. Maybe he said something about his pal Tom Brady being "terrific." 

Woah boy, they'll be walking that one back until opening day of baseball season, as he's throwing out the first pitch at the Nationals opener and says our recent invasion of Canada was like Russia in the Crimea because the Canadians wanted us there. 

I hope Trump doesn't steal one of Bob Kraft's rings too.

Yikes, getting a bit tense around here. Let's have some fun with Super Bowl prop bets to lighten the mood. I'll list the favorite in some categories that caught my eye along with a fun long shot I like for whatever reason.

MVP

Tom Brady 1/1

Devonta Freeman 22/1

Hey why not. He's a great player on a high powered offense. 

Most Rushing Yards

LeGarrette Blunt 2/1

Dion Lewis 6/1

One never knows from one game to the next who the feature back for the Pats will be. Since coming back from injury though Lewis has seen an ever increasing work load.

Most Receiving Yards

Julio Jones 8/5

Mohammad Sanu 10/1

We all know the Patriots will try to focus on your best weapon. Julio is a beast though so we'll see how well than can do that. Sanu had a nice game against the Packers. It'll probably be Jones though.

First Touchdown

Julio Jones 9/2

Tevin Coleman 14/1

I can see the Falcons involving Coleman early.

Fullback Scores First Touchdown

Patrick DiMarco 30/1

James Develin 55/1

I'd throw down a buck on both. Why not.

Steve Young's all time Super Bowl single game record of 6 TD passes is tied or broken.

9/1

That seems low, but 6 is a ridiculous number when you ponder it. That said I expect this game to be high scoring so I'd probably throw down a couple bucks on that. 

Belichick Hoodie Color

Blue 4/11

Red 40/1

It'll probably be blue. 

Joe Buck is clean shaven.

10/1. It's the Superbowl. He'll shave. 

Over/Under amount of times Troy Aikman makes reference to one of his Super Bowls:

1.5

I'll take the over.

Lady Gaga rips the President.

10/13

Trump picks:

Patriots 1/4

Falcons 4/1

There's no way he's picking Atlanta. He knows Ryan endorsed Hillary. He'll never forget. Hell he'll probably call him out for it. Can't bet on the prop though.

If Patriots win, commissioner Roger Goodell does not appear to hand them trophy:

100/1

I agree. He has to. Oh man will it be awkward. Maybe Putin should appear and hand it to them instead. Makes sense.

Ok My Score Pick:

Atlanta 41 New England 38

Conference Title Games with Brian Phillips

What a week eh. I almost forgot there was football today. I don't know about you, but I think we could use a couple of good games today. Coupla cold ones too.

It's funny how life works. Had Donald Trump been able to sue his way into the NFL he may never have run for president. Then again maybe he would have run a lot sooner. Perhaps in a parallel universe Jerry Jones would have run instead and Chris Christie could have been his dream date VP.

.At any rate, this is one of the better ESPN 30 for 30s and the 45th President is very much a star player. 

Jeff Pearlman is working on a USFL book. I've been following on social media his progress. He's done hundreds of interviews, but I doubt he got Trump to talk about the league again. That was a one shot deal. 

Green Bay at Atlanta

NFC Championship Game

3pm

Fox

Falcons -5 1/2

The line has been on the move all week as the Packers' health woes come into sharper relief. Among wide receivers Jordy Nelson (broken ribs) Devante Adams (sprained ankle) Geronimo Allison (hamstring) only Nelson has practiced this week and he's been limited at that. 

Friday we learned Aaron Rodgers has been fighting a flu bug all this week. Funny... We're coming up on the 20th anniversary of this:

Or... was it the flu? Ah no time for that now.

If anyone can overcome the creeping crud and play well it's Rodgers. Of far more concern are his wide receivers.  Even if Nelson and Adams can go, they are for from 100 percent. Tight end Jared Reed and running back Ty Montgomery are going to be be hugely important today. If Rodgers can get them involved I'll give them a chance.

Wow the Falcons look scary on offense. That two-headed running back monster of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman make this vaunted Falcons offense go. Julio Jones has been battling a bad toe for weeks now, but the man is a gamer. He'll be out there making plays. 

The Falcons defense meanwhile has been making improvements. They'll be looking to create some pressure as they did last week against Seattle. The Packers will have to dial up some as well from the likes of Micah Hyde as they did in Dallas last week. He was a real factor.

I'll join the rest of the world in expecting a high scoring, entertaining game, but I think those injuries are going to be too much for the Packers on the road. I'll lay the points with Atlanta 41-35.

Pittsburgh at New England

AFC Championship Game

6:20pm

CBS

Patriots -6

Brock Osweiler, Matt Moore, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trevor Semien, Joe Flacco, Jared Goff, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Colin Kaepernick. That's the list of quarterbacks the Patriots have faced during their current 8 game winning streak. The last time they lost? To Russell Wilson and the Seahawks over two months ago. The Patriots beat the Steelers back in October, but Ben Roethlisberger was out with a bum knee. If you look at the Patriots schedule in total the best quarterback they faced after Tom Brady returned from suspension was Wilson.... That was Brady's only loss of the year. 

The Steelers got 149 yards of total offense out of La'Veon Bell that day, and they look to get more than that tonight. This game can be pretty simple when the stakes are this high. Pittsburgh will look to keep Tom Brady on the bench. The Patriots know they can't give up big plays to Antonio Brown. There should be room for Bell to do this thing. 

New England got a big game from Legarrette Blount back in October against the Steelers as well. They'll also seek to shorten the game tonight with lots of possession, and Blount is the key.

In a lot of ways these two are looking into the mirror. Offensively capable, middling defense. It'll be fascinating to watch and all the better as weather will be no factor.

I've stated before that you go broke picking against the Patriots. I'll split the difference here and take those points, but the Pats for the win 23-20.

Picking the Next Round of NFL Playoffs and Trump Prop Bets - Brian Phillips

Well that Wild Card round was a real dumpster fire eh. Four games, four blow-outs.  I picked all the winners anyway, but that wasn't hard to do. This week for the divisional round I'll throw down a score and make a selection against the spread too. Plus, for some fun, I'll include some Trump prop bets from the UK, where those degenerates will bet on anything. 

(Trump lines courtesy of Paddy Power.)

Saturday January 14

Seattle at Atlanta

4:35PM/Fox

Atlanta -4 1/2

Trump to be impeached within 6 months: 4/1

A classic match up of a great Atlanta offense and the always stout Seattle defense. Back in week 6 the Seahawks held off the Falcons at home 26-24, but Atlanta will point to a late non- pass interference call that cost them a chance at a game winning field goal.

It was a strange game to be sure. The Falcons erased a 17-3 halftime deficit with three third quarter touchdowns to take the lead at one point. On the sidelines they had the Seattle defense screaming at each other. 

This time Atlanta's number one offense gets Seattle at home, and the Seahawks will have to go without injured safety Earl Thomas (out for the season with a broken leg). Running back C.J. Prosise has been upgraded to questionable after missing several weeks. He was huge in wins at New England and home to Philadelphia before getting knocked out against Eagles.

Seattle's terrible offensive line had a good game against Detroit because they could run the ball. If they fall behind and have to throw it's probably over. They literally cannot protect Russell Wilson. 

I'll take Seattle and the points, but Atlanta 28-26
 

Saturday January 14

Houston at New England

8:15pm

CBS

New England -16

Trump paints the White House gold 500 to 1

Vegas can't make this playoff record setting line high enough, and it's not hard to grasp why. If you want to bet against the Pats be my guest, but a lot of people have died on that mountain. Not me. Sure Houston's defense is capable of putting up a decent showing, but once the terrible Brock Osweiler turns the ball over three or four times this baby will turn into a massacre real fast.

Here enjoy this instead. 

I'll give you all of those 16 points and more in taking the Pats.

Patriots 38 Texans 13

Sunday January 15

Green Bay at Dallas

4:40PM

Fox

Dallas -5

Trump says "I'm very rich" during address. 25 to 1

Remember the last time these two met in the playoffs?

Who could forget! Skip Bayless is probably still talking about it. Anyway things are different two years later. The Cowboys have those rookies... Zeke and Dak, and together with that behemoth offensive line Dez Bryant no longer has to do everything. 

I would have picked the Packers here actually as they've looked so good of late, but Jordy Nelson, with his two broken ribs, has been ruled out. 

Brutal man. Yes the rest of the receiving corp has some talent, but are not terribly reliable when you need them most. Green Bay will miss Nelson greatly as they did last season. Meanwhile Dallas fielded the number one defense against the run in 2016 so this is all on Aaron Rodgers.

Want a blueprint for Dallas success Sunday? Look to their regular season tilt at Lambeau this season. Prescott was a tidy 18-27 for 247 yards and three touchdowns and Zeke Elliott rushed 28 times for a 157 yards in a 30-16 victory. That's it, that's the plan.

Green Bay won't turn it over four times as they did that day so I expect this to be a lot closer.

I'll take the Packers and the points, but Dallas 27-24.

Pittsburgh at Kansas City

Sunday January 15

8:20pm

NBC

Kansas City -1

Trump "Golden Shower" footage shows up online: 5/1.

You're not crazy. This game was scheduled for 1pm on Sunday, but the K.C. area is expecting a rather nasty ice storm Sunday To give everyone more time they've moved this one to prime time.

The Chiefs would get more credit here from the bookmakers at home, but the Steelers are a "public team." What that means basically is they have fans all over America and when those bros go to Vegas they get hammered and put their hard earned dough down on their favorite team God damn it! 

The sports books know this. The sharp money meanwhile will flow to the Chiefs. As we get to the weekend more drunk Steelers fans will pour into the casinos... That line will probably move in KC's favor. If I were a gambling man I'd be all over that shit.

The weather is going to be terrible and Big Ben has sucked on the road all year. This has officially become a thing. For whatever reason, he's great at Heinz Field, and almost Brock Osweiler on the road. 

The Chiefs have their own problems. Alex Smith is... Alex Smith. You can only go so far with this guy. KC will try to get things going on the ground with Spencer Ware, and of course a lot of all world tight end Travis Kelce.

For Pittsburgh they have to give the ball to Le'Veon Bell... 30 times at least. That weird hesitation thing he does is really starting to mess my head up. 

I'll take the home team with the sharp guys in lousy weather and a push on the -1.

KC 21 Pittsburgh 20.

Brian Phillips hosts the morning show on CD1025

CD102.5 DJ Brian Phillips Breaks Down the NFL Playoffs.

Brian Phillips hosts the morning show on the legendary independent radio station CD1025 in Columbus, OH. Tune in early and often.

Well there it goes... another NFL season gone into the ether. Last year is already long forgotten. Only two of the six NFC teams in the field were here last year (Seattle and Green Bay). While the AFC is more stable, the defending champion Broncos will not defend their title. Such is life in the NFL. The Patriots are good and the Browns are bad and we'll see about the rest. (Though the 49ers, Jags and Rams were pretty embarrassing too.)

Saturday January 7

4:30 PM  -  Oakland at Houston - ABC

Sadly for Raider nation Oakland goes into their first playoff appearance in 14 years without Derek Carr at the helm. He broke his leg week 15 and Matt McGloin left their season finale with a bum shoulder. Now Oakland turns to Michigan State's Connor Cook. No rookie in the Super Bowl era has been made a first time starter in the playoffs. 

There is good news though for the Raiders. The Texans have their own quarterback problems. Late in the season Houston finally pulled the plug on free agent bust Brock Osweiler for Tom Savage, only to have Savage concussed against Tennessee in their season finale. Because of Osweiler's shortcomings I'm certain Houston would love to run the ball, but Lamar Miller is far from 100 percent. This country is filled end to end with fantasy players who's season was ruined after drafting Texans wideout Deandre Hopkins in the first round. If Osweiler could just throw him the ball where he could catch it.... Probably too much to ask. 

The way forward for Oakland is on the ground as well. If Houston's top ranked defense has a relative weakness, it's against the run. Oakland will have to get something from Latavius Murray in this one. 

This may be close to unwatchable for all moms and wives. 

Houston 13 Oakland 10

8:30 PM - Detroit at Seattle - NBC

For the Seattle Seahawks this has been a weird year. A 9-3 loss in L.A. A 6-6 tie in Arizona. A loss at New Orleans. Falling 14-5 at Tampa Bay. Nearly losing to the hapless 49ers New Year's Day. And despite all that and more Seattle traveled to New England and beat the Pats back in November. They're hard to figure.

Cheers to long suffering Lions fans for getting into the postseason after the Redskins didn't bother to show up against the Giants January 1. With that result Detroit backs in on a three game losing skid. 

Despite their recent struggles, if the Lions can mount any sort of a pass rush Saturday against Seattle's putrid offensive line, they have a chance. The Seahawks couldn't even protect Russell Wilson at San Francisco, nor could they get much of a running game going. Detroit will have to dial up the pressure early and often and look to make big plays on defense. If Seattle's Thomas Rawls struggles to run again it could be another long day. 

For Seattle this game turns on their defense as well. Matthew Stafford needs to be harried and harassed all night. Zach Zenner gave Detroit's punchless running game a bit of teeth the final two games. They'll need some production from him again here.

Home field and that Seattle defense should be enough to get the Seahawks through this round. (The Lions are 0-10 life time in road playoff games). 

Seattle 20 Detroit 13

Sunday January 8th

1:00 PM -  Dolphins @ Steelers - CBS

Can you name the Dolphins starting running back week 1? It was Arien Foster and he's retired now. Against Pittsburgh in week 6 the Dolphins found their running game in Jay Ajayi who abused the Steelers 204 yards. With temps in the lower 20s Sunday and Miami a ten point dog it's a pretty simple formula. Look for Ajayi to get at least 30 carries. Quarterback Matt Moore gets the nod as Ryan Tannehill's balky knee isn't ready. I don't see this as much of an issue. Tannehill isn't that good, and Moore is one of the more capable number twos in the league.

After a week off the Steelers firm of Ben, Brown, and Bell are back. It's not a mystery as to what Pittsburgh wants to do here. Le'Veon Bell will get all the touches he wants as Miami's run defense was near the bottom of the league this year. The big plays will be there in the passing game for Pittsburgh once Bell gets established. I don't see this as much of a contest. 

Pittsburgh 31 Miami 16

4:40pm - New York Giants at Green Bay - Fox

This is the toughest game of the lot to pick, but with the Packers winning six in a row to take another North title it's hard to doubt them. Aaron Rodgers was a cold blooded killer during that run and Jordy Nelson was all world. The mystery is Davante Adams. The kid can play, but has been plagued by a case of the drops. Ty Montgomery gave Green Bay a running threat they had been struggling until late in the season to find, but the Giants have been very stingy against the run (and not terribly giving against the pass for that matter). This game will ride on Aaron Rodgers, which isn't such a bad deal for the Pack. 

Though they found a bit of a ground game of their own late in the year with Paul Perkins (a kid with a ton of potential) the way forward against the Packers is clearly through the air. That will be a huge challenge for the G-Men, especially with temps in the teens at kick off. Only the Texans averaged fewer points per game among the playoff entrants. If the Giants can pull of the upset they'll need Odell Beckham Junior to go off for something like 10/120 and two touchdowns. Eli Manning has been pedestrian all season, but don't sleep on the two time Super Bowl champ in January. 

Green Bay 24 NY Giants 17