DIVISIONAL ROUND RE-CAP & HSBT UPDATE

Before starting the Divisional Round Re-Cap, I would be remiss not to mention that in the 6 Super Wild Card Weekend games, JTB recorded an undefeated slate by picking all 6 game winners.  Yep, 6-0.  Great start (but with a “minor” correction this past weekend)!

Three.  3.  The biggest number of the weekend?

• 3 of the 4 favored teams won (at home)
• The 3 very best “old guard” QB’s were showcased over the weekend – Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Their combined uniform numbers totals 33
• More than 3 missed FG’s
• Ravens potent offense held to how many points?  3
• Number of consecutive home playoff losses by the Aints climbs to 3
• Number of consecutive home AFC Championship games to be played in Kansas City to a record 3

DIVISIONAL ROUND RE-CAP
#1 Green Bay Packers 32, #5 LA Rams 18
A healthy Aaron vs. a banged up Aaron.  Great offense beats great defense. The Packers offense steamrolled the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense (too bad all-world DT Aaron Donald was not at 100%).  The Rams D had smothered opponents all season by inviting them to run, avoiding giving up the big plays and daring offenses to dink and dunk their way down the field, betting most offenses would get impatient.  Most can’t play that style.  Aaron Rodgers can and did at Lambeau in the weekend opener.  It was a beautiful, balanced offensive performance by the NFC’s #1 seed.

The Rams played better Goff-ense, but it wasn’t their day in the frozen tundra (where QB Jared is now 1-3 when the game time temp is less than 33).

An extra day for rest and game prep bodes well for next Sunday’s clash.

HSBT Update – As in Super Wild Card Weekend, 2021 Winner gets off to a good start and leads the way with 97 points (anchored by a season low variance of 3 paltry points)

#2 Buffalo Bills 17, #5 Baltimore Ravens 3
A thriller, capped off by a 101-yard Pick 6 by the Bills in Quarter 3!  Josh Allen (1 of 3 legitimate contenders for league MVP) tossed another TD to WR Stefon Diggs – a 3-yarder.  The Bills D came up huge, resulting in three 3-and-out’s by the Ravens.

HSBT Update – Pete the Terp (one of 2 Participants to pick the Ravens to win), picks a low game score and walks away with 142 points.  He would have rather walked away with a Ravens win.

#1 Kansas City Chiefs 22, #6 Cleveland Browns 17
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid was 3-0 vs. the Browns before kickoff of the Sunday starter game (roughly a 3pm kickoff).  The stripes were not kind to Cleveland all day and cost them a minimum of 3 points (and most likely 10).  KC QB Mahomes suffered a concussion and his status for next weekend is up in the air right now.

The game played a lot tighter than predicted.  Kudos to the Browns.

HSBT Update – Pete the Terp earns the most points once again, with 101.  Is the Divisional Round points record (422 in 2014 by Henrico FiveOh) in jeopardy?

#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30, #2 New Orleans Aints 20
The “over-40” QB game became a disappointment for the Aints Drew Brees, who might have played his last NFL game, as he tossed 3 picks in another bitter home playoff loss.  The Bucs Brady accounts for 3 TD’s (2 by air – 1 being a 3-yd strike – and 1 by land) and K Ryan Succop goes 3-for-3 on FG’s and 3-for-3 on Extra Points.

In this, the 3rd game of the season between these 2 NFC South rivals, the Aints did not go marching on to win #3.

HSBT Update – Buffalo Bill chalks up the most points, with 187, anchored by a game variance of 3.

HSBT UPDATE
After 10 games and with only 3 to go (representing over 55% of the remaining points to be earned), the standings look like this:

• Buffalo Bill – Came on strong Sunday to capture the lead with 552 points (and a nifty 9-1 record so far)
• Henrico FiveOh – Retains his 2^nd place position with another strong weekend showing (1 of 4 Participants to go 4-0 over the weekend) and 515 points
• Pete the Terp – Currently positioned to capture the Bronze Chicken Wing, with 455 points. That final Sunday game goose-egg hurt
• 2021 Winner – Beginning to make his move, with a total of 414 points
• Greg the Great – Leader in a close group of 3, with 374 points. Like Pete the Terp, that goose-egg on Sunday night hurts
• A tie for 6th place between Ben the Butler and JTB, both with a total of 362 points. JTB did not have a good weekend, with an 0-4 record and 72 points (and a pair of goose-eggs).  Look for him to reverse that next weekend.  Ben the Butler has remained steady with a nice 4-0 weekend (8-2 overall)
• Comeback Kid – Better start going, with 277 points. And he another Bills game to ponder this weekend.  Not our of it mathematically, but will need a very strong showing on Sunday

2 huge games this coming weekend and The Commish and his team will be busy in our never-ending quest to provide you with the best and most informative information to help you with your game picks.

Until my Conference Championship games analysis and predictions later in the week, I remain,
~~ The Commish