Participants,

Now that we’re down to the Elite 8, don’t forget to also submit your Super Bowl Bonus pick along with your 4 game scores before the 4:30pm Eastern Time kickoff on Saturday.  That’s 100 points you could leave on the table, and it’s shaping up to be a close race for the coveted Trophy – so every point is going to matter!

The Data Analytics team here at NFL Headquarters has been running models and scenarios since Sunday night and has advised me that this will be called “Upset Weekend.”  Here is a summary of what you can expect in the Divisional Games this weekend:

#6 Indianapolis Colts (11-6) @ #1 Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
Revenge time?  Remember the Colts comeback from a 28-point deficit in the 3^rd quarter 5 years ago in their Wild Card Weekend tussle against the Chiefs?  Is another home playoff loss in store for the Chiefs?  The Titans (last year) and Steelers (2 years ago) are painful reminders.  In fact, the Chiefs have lost 6 straight home playoff games, dating back to 1995.  The Chiefs started the season red-hot, then cooled down (3-3) in their last 6 games. Ever since RB Kareem Hunt was released, the offense has sputtered.  Meanwhile, the Colts are 10-1 in their last 11 games.  Head Coach Frank Reich is pushing all the right buttons and the next one he will hit is for a ticket to the AFC Championship game next weekend!

Starting off the weekend with another road team Boom!
Indianapolis Colts 30, Kansas City Chiefs 27

 #4 Dallas Cowboys (11-6) @ #1 LA Rams (13-3)
Who’s better – Elliott or Gurley?  We’ll find out during the Saturday Night Live thriller from LA.  America’s Team relies heavily on Zeke, while the Rams have more weapons at their disposal.  As we saw last weekend, good D should overcome good O.  Gotta like Dak to outperform Jared in what could be a slippery field again (early evening dew – like last year, remember?).

Home teams go 0-2 on Saturday…
America’s Team 26, LA Rams 24

#5 The Other LA (13-4) @ #2 New England Patriots (11-5)
The 3^rd consecutive road team win (or home team loss, whichever you prefer) will be witnessed in Foxboro as the super-Charged Bolts pull out all the muskets early to shoot down the heavily favored Patriots in what will be written up as one of the great upsets in NFL Playoff history.  Down 21-0 after the 1^st quarter, the outmatched Patriots will never get it going and QB Tom Brady will go down with a knee injury in their 1^st home loss of the season.  Patriot Head Coach Belichick will have less to say than his normal nothing after this surprising loss.

All Bills fans are smiling…
San Diego Chargers 41, New England Patriots 16

#6 Philadelphia Eagles (10-7) @ #1 New Orleans Saints (13-3)
Finally, a home team victory this weekend.  Whew.  Can you say “repeat” of the Week 11 Saint drubbing of the flight-less Eagles, 41-7?  Don’t, because it probably won’t be another blowout, but you can count on QB Brees to heat up some Cajun cooking (ingredients include Kamara sauce, Ingram powder and Thomas juice) and toss at least 3 TD passes against a highly vulnerable Eagles D backfield.  Nick Foles will put up another gallant effort, but it will be too little.

Please pass the Tabasco…
New Orleans Saints 37, Philadelphia Eagles 20

As a reminder – your picks for all 4 weekend games, plus your Super Bowl Bonus pick, are due no later than 4:30pm Eastern Time this Saturday.

Greg the Great will be manning the real-time scoring tracker on Saturday night.  It’s gonna be another wild weekend.

~~ The Commish