Participants,

Reporting to you from the Seattle area, so my apologies for the late update.  Quickly, here are the HSBT standings after the 6 games last weekend (and thanks to everyone, even the rookies, for submitting their picks on time):

• Buffalo currently holds the lead with 302 points, which is a normal place for him to be at this juncture.  His 142 points in the LA Charger – Houston Texans game is the most ever for a Wild Card game, as is his 302 points for the Wild Card Weekend games.  The power of 10 participants
• 2025 Winner is off to a great start with 245 points
• The 2 kids (Comeback Kid and City Kid) are tied for 3rd with 234 points apiece
• Greg the Great – 227 points
• HenricoFiveOh – 128 points
• Pete the Terp – 105 points
• JTB hit the century mark with 100 points
• Ice Cold was, and “earned” 71 points.  Sophomore jinx?
• THE Chosen One (our other rookie) is off to a rather slow start with 64 points

Wild Card Game Summary

Houston Texans 32, Lost Angeles Chargers 12
So, Chargers QB Herbert tosses 4 INT’s, surpassing his full season total of 3.  Another titanic defeat for him, as he was still remembering the colossal meltdown a few years in a Wild Card game in Jacksonville.  The Texans D came up big when needed and RB Mixon led the way on offense.

Buffalo Bill got off to great start with those record-setting 142 points.  On the flip side, a record 5 goose-eggs were “earned”.

Baltimore Ravens 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 14
It felt like the score could have been 49-14, as the Ravens rushed for a couple hundred yards in the first half.  QB Jackson was a magician and the Steel Curtain was reduced to rubble.  When you have 2 QB’s, you don’t have a QB, as Russell Wilson and Justin Fields confirmed Saturday night.  Ravens look unbeatable.  The Steelers had lost 4 in row going into the playoffs and the Ravens were dynamite over the last month.  Neither trend changed.

2025 Winner Earns the most points (68), as he begins his march towards the trophy.  Zero goose-eggs in this one.

Buffalo Bills 31, Denver Broncos 7
Rookie QB’s playing their first playoff game on the road have never been very successful, and Bronco QB Bo did not Nix that belief.  After a quick TD early in the first quarter, the Broncos were held to zip the rest of the game.  The Bills spread the ball around, and RB James Cook had another terrific day (over 125 yards on the ground).

Greg the Great earns 112 points for top honors in this one.

Philadelphia Eagles 22, Green Bay Packing 10
Did anyone really think the Love Hurts matchup (not as sung by Nazareth in 1976) would be close?  The Eagles were once again led by RB Saquon and a stout D.  The Packers just didn’t have enough offensive firepower, especially with long-ball threat Watson on the bench.

City Kid leads the way with 73 points, in a very tight competition.

Washington Redskins 23, Tampa Bay Bucs 20
Easy to see who should now be Rookie of the Year.  QB Daniels played like a veteran (bandaged and bloodied) as they overcame the favored Bucs on a last-minute FG.  It was the first Washington playoff win in almost 7,000 days, when they beat Tampa Bay in a 2006 wild card game.  On to Detroit.

Once again 2025 Winner and Pete the Terp lead the way with massive outings of 33 points.  On the flip side, Comeback Kid recorded his second goose-egg of the playoffs.  But there is a long way to go, as he well realizes.

LA Rams 27, Minnesota Vikings a lot less
Was that the Steelers dressed up in Viking uniforms?  Guess the loss to Detroit last weekend was more devastating than earlier believed.  Vikes QB Darnold sacked 9 times.  Wow!  This one was not even close and those of you on East Coast time were probably asleep before the clock struck 00:00 in the 4th quarter.

Comeback Kid gets in the winner circle with 102 points and THE Chosen One sported his first official goose-egg.

REMINDER FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND
Your predictions for all 4 weekend games are to be submitted no later than the start of the first game on Saturday.  Plus, do not forget to send your Super Bowl Bonus pick (who you think will win the Super Bowl) for those 100 extra points.

Until then, I remain,

The Commish