Well, they were 100% on the mark when they named it Wild Card Weekend, huh?  Before we get to analysis of those 4 games, here are the current standings for the HSBT:

Comeback Kid – 243 points
Buffalo Bill – 106
2010 Winner – 99
Greg the Great – 71
Pete the Terp – 60
Ben the Butler – 59
Henrico FiveOh – 40

Talk about a comeback – Comeback Kid is in 1st place with a HSBT record 243 points in the Wild Card games!!  He was the top point getter in 3 of the 4 games, just missing out by 12 points to Buffalo Bill in the NY Jets @ Cincinnati game.  Plus, he is the only one with a winning record (3-1) at this juncture.

A record-setting 4 goose-eggs were also recorded, with Buffalo Bill increasing his all-time record in this category to 30.

Everyone missed sorely in the Green Bay @ Arizona game, with the low variance being 41 (Comeback Kid) – another HSBT record.  You have to go back to 1996  to find the game where the former record for highest variance was “earned.”  In that year, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Detroit Lions, 58-37 in a Wild Card game.  The weekend before, the Lions won to advance to the playoffs.  They have not won a game since… 

Shortly after the conclusion of the Green Bay – Arizona game, I had the opportunity to interview Comeback Kid on his great start.  Here is what he offered: “I thought it would be a lot tougher to start out respectably after a 2-year hiatus from the competition.  So much for the competition.  How could you not pick Baltimore and Arizona in the Sunday games?  Apparently I was the only to think that way (other than Pete the Terp, who also picked Arizona).  Looks like I’m a shoo-in for the trophy this year!”  We’ll see.

Buffalo Bill started strong, winning the Jets – Bengals game, but limped in sorely on Sunday with a grand total of 1 point for the 2 games.  2010 Winner had another strong start and is looking ahead to the key games this coming weekend.  Greg the Great is off to a mediocre start, but has been known to surge the deeper into playoffs we get.  For the others, a lot of work and back to the drawing board for this weekend’s games.  Collectively, “they” amassed a total of 159 points, just under 13 points per participant per game.

Now let’s turn our focus to the results of the Wild Card games:

New York Football Jets 24, Cincinnati Bungles 14

As expected, Cedric Benson did make a difference in the Cincy running game, but not much else changed as the Jets whipped the Bagels for the 2nd straight weekend.  Mark Sanchez played like a veteran and Carson Palmer played like, well, Carson Palmer.  Chad Ochocinco was basically invisible, as Darrelle Revis stuck to him like super glue.  The Jets running game and stellar defensive effort earned them a trip to San Diego.

Dallas Cowboys 34, Michael Vick 7, Philadelphia Eagles 7

A blowout game that was basically over before you could get comfortable on the sofa.  Are the Cowboys really this good?  We know the Eagles are really that bad. 

Baltimore Ravens 33, New England Patsies 14

If you tuned in a minute late to this one, it was essentially over.  Ray Rice ran often and for big gains, with 159 yards and that 83-yard TD run on the 1st play from scrimmage.  Here come the Ravens again – they must like the #6 seed (reference last year when they almost went to XXLIII as the #6 seed).  Gee, I wonder if Brady missed not having Welker?  And what’s up with Randy Moss?  Wish I could make what he does by just jogging around the football field.  Total domination by the Ravens.

Arizona Cardinals 51, Green Bay Packers 45

What a game!!  Another fast start in this one probably had most of you thinking it was over after the 1st quarter.  Kurt Warner (29 of 33 for 379 yards and 5 TDs) and Aaron Rodgers (28 of 42 for 422 yards, but only 4 TD passes) put on a show.  Turnovers told the story in this fun-to-watch, seesaw battle.  Ultimately and ironically a defensive play won the game.

Divisional Playoffs are next, with another 4-game schedule this coming weekend.  I’ll offer some insight into those games later this week.  In the meantime, I’m still trying to get some oxygen after the Cardinal win…

The Commish