It's SUPER Wildcard weekend. The playoffs start and the real run to the Superbowl begins this weekend with our first ever 6 games slate, 3 games on Saturday, 3 on Sunday for us to get our teeth in to and fortunately for us in the UK they're better games are at reasonable times.
The Green Bay Packers and the Chiefs are on their bye week and will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They will play next week against the lowest remaining seeds left in the contest.
Colts (+6) vs. Bills: 51.5
The 7 seed Colts take on the 2 seed Bills in the opener for the weekend. The Colts won 11 games, but finished 2nd in the AFC South while the Bills won the AFC East at 13-3 for the first time since 1995.
Philip Rivers was brought in to take them to the next step and he has, it's not been entirely on his shoudlers though, the passing game has been varied, he likes his tight ends, Doyle, Burton and Alie-Cox get a lot of the ball as does Nyheim Hines from the backfield, while TY Hilton stepped up at the end of the season and Pascal and Pittman have chipped in as well. The key man for them in this game though in Jonathan Taylor who finished the season on fire with 7 TDs in his final 4 games and 253 rushing yards against the Jags last week.
The Bills were great on offense this season, the improvement that Stefon Diggs brought to Josh Allens' game clear for all to see. Diggs led the league in receptions and yards, while the team as a whole was 2nd in points, 2nd in total yardage and 3rd in points per drive and they dominated the final 8 games of the year, winning by 10 points in 7 of them and covering the spread in all 8.
Diggs will be the main target, and they may be without Cole Beasley through injury, John Brown and Gabriel Davis have done well in the passing game too, but the rushing game hasn't done a whole lot, Singletary and Moss sharing carries makes it tough to judge.
Bills have too much for the Colts.
Look for over Nyheim Hines rec. yards.
Rams (+3) @ Seahawks: 42
An NFC West clash kicks off the NFC playoffs, these two split the regular season, a 23-16 win for the Rams in LA, and 20-9 for the Seahawks in Seattle.
They know each other well and I'm expecting a fairly low scoring game. The QB position is up in the air for the Rams with Goff and John Wolford fighting for the spot, I think it will be Goff starting as he's been practising, but the news is deliberately mixed by Sean McVay who is 5-3 against Pete Carroll in his career. I actually think mixing it up with Wolford makes sense as he can at least move on the ground.
Kupp returns after missing last week, he and Woods are a good partnership and Higbee and Everett will get a lot of targets at TE whoever is at QB. Cam Akers will lead the run game after returning from injury last week while Malcolm Brown might get some carries near the endzone and has a habit of scoring twice if he gets one.
The Seahawks have had a season of two halves, the first half all passing, second half all defense and running. Russell Wilson has a good playoff record and does well at home vs. the Rams in general. Jalen Ramsey will likely cover DK Metcalf for most of the game, he's allowing 21 yards per game in coverage, and the games vs. the Metcalf this year he allowed just 1 reception for 11 yards from 4 targets. Tyler Lockett is hit or miss and David Moore can find the endzone.
Chris Carson will get the bulk of carries on the ground and they'll be hoping Carlos Hyde goes, if not Alex Collins and Rashaad Penny will get a few carries, Collins available at 16/1 still if you fancy a long shot.
I prefer the Rams winning here, but Unders would be the play.
Look for Seahawks/Rams HT/FT – Seahawks have won 11 1st halves, while the Rams have won 14 second halves. If the Rams lead at HT they will win.
Bucs (-8) @ Washington: 44.5
The Bucs have the best matchup possible getting to take on the 7-9 Washington football team who scraped into the post-season with the Eagles throwing the final match of the season to allow them in.
Tom Brady is in the wildcard round for the first time in aeons, he's usually on bye right now. He's been great this season though, 40 TDs on the year and he's got a bevy of targets to spread the ball around to. Mike Evans may miss out or be limited tonight, so I'm expecting bigger games for Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, while Gronk has been great in recent weeks.
Washington are defense based, they have only scored over 23 points once in the final 7 games, and while Alex Smith is rightfully going to win comeback player of the year he's the same as ever checking the ball down. Anotnio Gibson and Terry McLaurin are the shining lights on offense and both will play despite dings, Gibson had 11 rushing TDs this year but will find it tough vs. the best run defense in the league while McLaurin is great but will struggle due to their scheme.
Got to take the Bucs to win and a lean to the under.
Three team teaser;
Bills down to 0, Rams up to 9, Bucs down to 2 – comes out at 8/5
Check out TDTips.com for nearly 5,000 words of previews on these games.
Agree with the Bills and Buccs winning but the Saints should beat the Rams.
I’m sure they will of they meet each other in the next round, what about the Seahawks 😉
Like josh Allen over 304.5 passing yards 10/11 skybet
Bills should win but expect a high scoring game Bills average over 31 per game and colts over 28
The Seahawks v rams is tough to call just feel Russell Wilson could be the deciding factor an experienced class operator
Tampa should win my only Concern is the pass rush chase young having a great season and if he can rush Brady and make him move out the pocket Washington could have some success problem Washington don’t score many
Don’t mind Allen passing yards, should be high scoring and their run game is average
NFL Playoff Bets
Playoff Double
1.27/1 bet365 (Already Advised)
09/01/21
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (18:05)
BUFFALO BILLS -3.5
10/01/21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team (01:15)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS -3.5
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09/01/21
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (18:05)
NYHEIM HINES over 21.5 rushing yards
5/6 bet365
This looks a good match-up for Nyheim Hines against the Bills, he is likely to see a lot of the ball, Indianapolis use Hines more when they are behind and against this Buffalo team, they should find themselves behind, Hines stats over the last 4 games are
17 yards from 2 carries against Jaguars
44 yards from 8 carries against Steelers
43 yards from 5 carries against Texans
58 yards from 7 carries against Raiders
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09/01/21
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (18:05)
JOSH ALLEN over 2.5 passing touchdowns
11/10 bet365
JOSH ALLEN over 25.5 passing completions
5/6 bet365 (NB)
Josh Allen had 18 completions last week against Miami but that was just for the first half as he was pulled from the game as the Bills looked to rest players, before that Allen had 27 completions against New England, 28 completions against Denver, 24 completions against Pittsburgh, 32 completions against San Francisco, Josh Allen is also averaging 25 completions per game over the season
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10/01/21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team (01:15)
TOM BRADY over 2.5 passing touchdowns
31/20 bet365
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10/01/21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team (01:15)
JD McKissic over 36.5 receiving yards
20/23 william hill
JD McKISSIC over 4.5 receptions
4/6 skybet (NAP)
Washington quarterback Alex Smith has targeted McKissic on 27% of his passing plays and there is nothing to suggest he won’t target him again here, I’m expecting Washington to be playing catch-up against Tom Brady and Tampa Bay, meaning Alex Smith will have to throw more and should mean plenty of targets for McKissic,
JD McKissic stats when Alex Smith plays are 44 completions from 65 targets in 8 games, averaging 5.5 completions per game
6 receptions against Rams from 8 targets for 46 yards
9 receptions against Giants from 14 targets for 65 yards
7 receptions against Lions from 15 targets for 43 yards
3 receptions against Bengals from 4 targets for 26 yards
2 receptions against Cowboys from 2 targets for 21 yards
10 receptions against Steelers from 10 targets for 70 yards
2 receptions against 49ers from 4 targets for 18 yards
5 receptions against Eagles from 8 targets for 30 yards
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09/01/21
LA Rams at Seattle Seahawks (21:40)
RUSSELL WILSON under 248.5 passing yards
5/6 bet365
Also like the Mckissic bets, Hines I like his rec. yards, can’t say I considered rush yards.
I know the Colts have Jonathan Taylor who I’ve advised in the past but Hines is a player they use when they are behind, it’s a low total although it’s just gone dow to 19.5 yards now
I was shocked to wake up to zero winners in the Tampa game John 😪😪 what happened to McKissic ?
Bills -3.5
Buccs -3.5
Saints -4
2.24/1 @ Willy Hill
Buffalo ml
Seattle ml
Washington + 19
Tennessee + 5.5
Chicago +19.5
Pittsburgh ml
6/1 skybet ☘️
Russell Wilson over 23.5 rushing yards 5/6 skybet
Rams D is very good expect Wilson to use his legs and scamper for a few yards
The obvious choices for anytime touchdown scorers are usually Metcalf or Lockett but with the Rams strong on secondary with very good cornerbacks i fancy their tight end Hollister to score anytime at 13/2 with skybet and Hills. He will also get a enough receptions to cover but the odds arent as tidy which is unusual for a tight end. Touchdowns may a be at a premium tonight in this game so look for rare value….
Great opening game although i’m disappointed that the bills didn’t manage to cover the handicap as thats my treble down early doors although in all fairness the colts would have won with better play calling as not kicking the field goal from the 6 yard line in the 2nd quarter & then going for the 2 pont conversion when trailing by 7 has obviously cost them big time.
When you see how close play off games are and beating in Ming they went to OT in week 8 is +10 on the Bears not a bit generous? We don’t know how Kamara will be and fair enough Thomas never played week 8 but the Saints were playing well at the time and the Bears were flip flopping QBs.
*bearing in mind 🙈
Josh Allen over 304.5 passing yards winner
Russell Wilson over 23.5 rushing yards winner
Acc downed by a Stella Rams D
2 from 3 yesterday see what today brings ☘️