NFL Wild Card Predictions: Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold make their playoff picks
Sunday 6 January 2019 19:58, UK
With the regular season done and dusted for another year, it's now a clean slate for every playoff team with Super Bowl aspirations. A clean slate too for Neil Reynolds in his NFL predictions battle with Jeff Reinebold...
Each week, on the Inside the Huddle podcast, Neil and Jeff make their predictions for every NFL game, keeping a tally of their records as the season goes on. Jeff was a convincing winner over the regular season, finishing 11 games clear of Neil with a 165-89-2 record, but we wipe the record clean once again for the playoffs.
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Read on to see Neil and Jeff's Wild Card weekend predictions...
Los Angeles Chargers (#5) @ Baltimore Ravens (#4), AFC
Sky Sports USA (407), 5.30pm, Sunday
NEIL PICKS: RAVENS
The Ravens are certainly the in-form team, winning six of their last seven, due to historic levels of running the football. There's rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the way, and undrafted breakout runner Gus Edwards. The Chargers (12-4) may have the better record on the season, but all that has earned them is a Wild Card berth and a tough trip east. I'm going for the Ravens to keep the run going.
JEFF PICKS: RAVENS
I agree with you. One of the Chargers' four losses was actually against the Ravens, and now you need to fly from the west coast to east, play in cold weather and you're playing at 1pm in the afternoon on the eastern time zone, which is early morning back out west. That's not a fair fight.
The Chargers are a good football team, but they're not built to play Baltimore's style. If they get an early lead they've got a chance as I don't think the Ravens are good enough throwing the football. But I like the Ravens.
Philadelphia Eagles (#6) @ Chicago Bears (#3), NFC
Sky Sports USA (407), 9.40pm, Sunday
NEIL PICKS: BEARS
The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles fought and scrapped and clawed their way into the playoffs, winning five of their last six. But the Bears are also coming in red-hot, winning four straight. I know there's the Nick Foles magic for Philly. His story is just spectacular, but not every great story has a great sequel, and I think this Bears defense - the best in the NFL - ends the Foles fairy tale.
JEFF PICKS: BEARS
What this Foles has done as a playoff quarterback is unbelievable! If this kid lights it on fire again and wins a second Super Bowl, what does he do? Quit and go into the Hall of Fame? It's remarkable. But, boy does this Bears defense, led by Khalil Mack, look good - up in Minnesota last week they just pounded the Vikings. I'm taking Chicago.
Indianapolis Colts 21-7 Houston Texans
NEIL PICKS: COLTS
Watching Houston last week, though they beat Jacksonville, I thought they might struggle in the playoffs. I don't think they've got enough in the run game, specifically, and you know I'm going to go with my boy Andrew Luck and the Colts to win on the road.
JEFF PICKS: COLTS
When you look at Houston as a football team, you think "No 3 seed? Really?" They may be by record, but I don't like watching them play right now. They've lost Will Fuller and Demaryius Thomas at wide receiver, and so it means you put all of their hopes on the quarterback really. Deshaun Watson is one of my favourite players, and one of the really bright stars in the league, but I just think beating the Colts - in the form they are in - is a tall ask.
Seattle Seahawks 22-24 Dallas Cowboys
NEIL PICKS: SEAHAWKS
Both finished the season 10-6, and both are strong running teams, but I think Seattle - with the No 1 rushing attack in the NFL - can get this done on the road. But there isn't much between these teams.
JEFF PICKS: COWBOYS
I went back and looked at the Week Three game where these teams played each other, but that was a different Dallas team back then. The Amari Cooper effect - after his arrival via trade - is a legitimate deal. I just think the Cowboys are an all-round better football team. I do, however, like Russell Wilson. That's the only reason why a don't consider this a Dallas banker, but I'm taking the Cowboys at home all the same.
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