Well, it wasn’t as wild as in some previous years, but for 3 of the 4 games the outcome was not readily apparent until sometime during the 4^th Quarter.  Entertaining games overall, and we have for the 1^st time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger the same 4 teams from one of the conferences in the playoffs as in the previous year.

As well, we are reduced to 6 participants this season, as Ben the Butler has requested a leave of absence.  Not sure if it’s his ACL or the lack of sleep caused by the new arrival, Ellington.  At any rate, we hope he has a speedy recovery and look forward to him being back next season.  That also means that everyone else, mathematically speaking, has improved odds of winning the trophy this year.

Here is how everyone did over the weekend (don’t get too alarmed if you’re not in the lead, as only 13% of the total points are typically earned during WildCard Weekend games):

• 2013 Winner (in the lead with 112 points) – had the highest point total in each of the last 3 weekend games, and seems to be primed to get the trophy back to Columbus, Ohio.  You better be alarmed…
• Henrico FiveOh (92 points) – off to another good start, and I’m sure having the trophy proudly displayed on the fireplace mantle is providing incentive.  Feeling pretty smug right now, but don’t throw away the trophy shipping box quite yet.
• Buffalo Bill (89 points) – Saturday’s leader (71 points) got roughed up on Sunday, but is still in the hunt.  A lot more points to be won (or given up) next weekend.
• Pete the Terp (79 points) – his Ravens provided him the biggest benefit over the weekend, and let’s see how they do this coming weekend.  Will he pick the Ravens again? He was the only participant who was not 3-1 last weekend.
• Comeback Kid (73 points) – a little slow start, but did tie for the most points in the Seattle-Redskin game, so he has some momentum going into the Divisional Playoff games this weekend.  Need to keep riding that momentum…
• Greg the Great (30 points) – did not earn a single point on variance, but was mired in airports over the weekend on his return from vacation.  Hopefully he will have a little more time to focus on his picks this weekend.

As is tradition, here is the official Office of the Commissioner review of the WildCard games.  Your official guide to this weekend’s games will be published later this week.  This, as always, is “must read” material to help you make the best picks for the crucial Divisional Playoff games.

Houston (“We Don’t Have a Problem Anymore”) Texans 19, Cincinnati Bengals 13

There were high hopes for the Bengals coming into this one, as they were riding an impressive record over the 2^nd half of the regular season.  Plus, their D was playing with passion and putting up some impressive numbers (allowing only 12.8 points a game).  This was a tight game, but it was the Texan D that rose to the occasion, as the Bengal offense failed to score a TD.  Houston QB Matt Schaub wins his first-ever playoff game and Arian Foster goes over 100 yards for a record 3^rd time in his first 3 playoff games.  This game could have gone either way, but Bengal QB Andy Dalton was sub-par as the Bengal offense sputtered repeatedly.

Green Bay Packers 24, Minnesota Vikings 10

As if being a decided underdog and playing in fabled Lambeau Field is not enough, having your starting QB a last minute scratch is the icing on the cake.  Viking fill-in QB Joe Webb (who?) played as one would expect and the Packers comfortably beat the Vikes, while holding RB Adrian Peterson in check the entire evening.  Packer QB Aaron Rodgers tosses 2 TD’s to FB John Kuhn in the Saturday Night Sleeper.  Credit goes to the Packer D, but they weren’t really tested in this one.  How many good WR’s do the Packers have?  Takes more than 1 hand to count them all.

Baltimore Colts Ravens 24, Indianapolis Colts 9

An emotional game for the Ravens, as LB Ray Lewis most likely played his final home game.  QB Joe Flacco made some dandy passes to WR Anquan Boldin, who made spectacular plays (5 catches, 145 yards and 1 TD) at crucial moments.  Indy rookie QB Andrew ran out of Luck, although a rookie playoff record 54 tosses kept it somewhat interesting.  Are the Ravens that good or is the rookie-based Colts team just a few years away from the next level?

Seattle Seahawks 24, Washington Redskins 14

This was supposed to be the marquee game of the day, and it started out as a Redskin blowout, as they quickly jumped to a 14-0 lead in the 1^st Quarter.  RG3 hobbled around at 50% most of the day, and the Seahawk D clamped down to give RW1 plenty of chances to win this one.  Is Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch a beast, or what?  Impressive Seahawk win against a severely handicapped ‘Skins team.  Would you have left RG3 in the game?

Be sure to check out this site later in the week for The Commish’s official Divisional Playoff predictions   Don’t make your picks without reading his timely and accurate prognostications!