What a crazy weekend, with 2 of the 4 games going into OT and the home team coming away with only with 1 win!  Nothing like the 1st round of the playoffs…  Let’s get right into the results and HSBT standings.

Houston Oilers 22, Buffalo Bills 19 (OT)
Finally, a Houston game worth watching.  The Bills went out to an early lead, with Josh Allen looking extremely sharp, poised and confident.  We found out the answer to the question “will Fuller play?” before kickoff and that added to the Bills frenzy.  Unfortunately for the Bills, Texans QB Deshaun Watson did play and that last minute OT escape from 2 potential sackers to get the ball down to inside the 10 was the difference.

Buffalo has a lot to build on for the future, but the future does not include an away game this weekend.

Buffalo Bill (who remarkably picked the Texans to win – is this blasphemy?) took the early HSBT lead with 53 points, with a game variance of 1 point.  Impressive… for the moment.

Tennessee Titans (former Oilers) 20, New England Patriots 13
Smiles and high 5’s quickly erased the sting of an earlier loss for Bills fans, as Titans RB Derrick Henry ran wild through the so-called “vaunted” Patriots D for close to 200 total yards.  I know everyone hated to see Tom Brady lose another home game this year and have to watch the rest of the playoffs on TV.  Pretty dominating win, in spite of passing for less than 100 yards, for Tennessee.  This one could have also gone to OT, but Brady’s final minute pass was a pick-6.  Pity party for Tom is being planned at his 9,716 sq. ft. mansion in Brookline… (which is for sale for a cool $40 million).

Pete the Terp took honors in this game, with 45 points, while Greg the Great posted the 1st goose-egg of the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings 26, New Orleans Aints 20 (OT)
Who was wearing #9 for the Aints on Sunday?  It couldn’t have been the all-time NFL passing leader, right?  Was this a surprise.  Originally seen as a Saint blowout win, the Vikes dominated in almost every important category and you could see a few brown paper bags in the stands late in the game.  3 years in a row with a home playoff loss really hurts.  Minnesota QB Kirk is certainly no kissing Cousin for anyone in New Orleans!

Everyone picked the Aints to win somewhat handily, but it was 2020 Winner who led the way with 26 points.  Not to be outdone by Greg the Great, all-time goose-egg leader Buffalo Bill recorded his 1st of the playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks 17, Philadelphia Eagles 9
No, this is not the halftime score…  Were the defenses that good or are the offenses that bad?  Eagles QB Carson Went(z) down again and his 40-year old replacement needed a little squirt of oil like the Tin Man.  As usual, Hawks QB Russell Wilson did what he had to do to win.

Pete the Terp and HenricoFiveOh tied for the honors in this tilt with 35 points each.

HSBT Standings
After the first 4 of 11 games (which have historically accounted for 13% of the total points in the playoffs), we find the following positions out of the gate with combined record of 7-21 (yikes!):

• Pete the Terp – 105 points
• Henrico FiveOh (current trophy holder) – 90 points
• Buffalo Bill – 66 points (and a solid contender for his 1st trophy since 2003)
• JTB – 51 points (despite going 0-4 over the weekend)
• 2020 Winner – 43 points
• Comeback Kid – 39 points (keeping up with JTB by going 0-4)
• Greg the Great – 36 points

We have 4 terrific outdoor games upcoming this weekend in the Divisional round, so look for my expert analysis and predictions as we get closer to kickoff next Saturday afternoon.  Don’t forget to also submit your Super Bowl Bonus pick, as it’s worth 100 extra points.

Have a great week and start putting together your thoughts as the stakes get higher and the collars get tighter!

Until then, I am

THE Commish