The Shenoa Report
January 15, 2022
Super Wild Card Weekend
It’s the first week of playoffs! Games will be on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday! Did your team make it to the postseason? Mine didn’t, but I’m just happy that we fired our head coach and our GM “retired”.
The Monday after the conclusion of the regular season is known in the NFL as Black Monday. This is the day that many coaches find themselves without a job. The Raiders, Jaguars, and Broncos didn’t wait till Monday. We all know that Jon Gruden lost his job mid season, Urban Myer made it 13 games into the season, and Vic Fangio, Denver’s head coach, was fired pretty much after the conclusion of the Broncos last game. Monday’s firings came first with the Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and Bears head coach Matt Nagy, followed by the surprise and a little head scratching firing of Dolphins head coach Brian Flores. Giants fans everywhere couldn’t believe that Joe Judge wasn’t on Monday’s list. His name was added Tuesday, thank god, and Texans head coach David Culley was let go Thursday.
Now for the teams that made it to the playoffs. You might be surprised by who made it and who didn’t if you missed the final week of the regular season. This is a good segway into the recap of week 18! PS I went 9-7 on my picks.
Chiefs @ Broncos 28-24
It’s safe to say that the Broncos did not go down without a fight. It was a Melvin Gordon fumble picked up by KC rookie linebacker, Nick Bolton, who ran into the endzone, scoring a touchdown in the 4th quarter that sealed both of the team’s fate. The Chiefs play the Steelers next and the Broncos just go home.
Cowboys @ Eagles 51-26
We all know that I dislike both of these teams, duh, I’m a Giants fan. But, it was really nice to see the Cowboys cream the Eagles. The Eagles have yet to beat a team this season with a winning record, and even though they are heading to Tampa for the playoffs, I think that’s where their season ends. The Cowboys will be hosting the 49ers.
Steelers @ Ravens 16-13 OT
Ugh! It’s not fair. We already said goodbye to Big Ben. I can’t believe they won this game in overtime. It was Boswell’s trusty foot that kicked the field goal, sending the Steelers to the playoffs. But they didn’t get there on their own, they had big help from the Colts and the Raiders…
Bengals @ Browns 16-21
Even though the Browns missed their chance at the playoffs they finished their season with a W, and they did it without Baker Mayfield. Of course the Bengals didn’t play a lot of their starters either but still, the Browns won and I got the pick right. The Bengals will host the Raiders in their wildcard game.
Packers @ Lions 30-37
If you are a Lions fan, you should feel gosh darn proud of your team. I mean, they beat the Packers! That’s awesome. Sure, they finished with 3 wins on the season but this team has heart, and pride, and a coach that cares. Obviously, I got this pick wrong, but I’m ok with that. The Packers have the number one seed in the NFC so they won’t be playing next week.
Titans @ Texans 28-25
The Titans clinched the number one seed in the AFC with this win but the Texans fought till the very end. Even Julio Jones got his first touchdown of the season as a Texan. It was a really good, competitive game. It sucks that the Texans fired their head coach, after only one season, especially in the state the team was in. The Titans have a first round bye and will not play in the first round of the playoffs.
Colts @ Jaguars 11-26
The Colts just had to win and they were in. They controlled their own destiny. They were also the first team that Hard Knocks followed during the season. Was that added pressure? Man, they were never in this game. It was hard and shocking to watch all at the same time. The Colts hadn’t won in Jacksonville since 2015. It’s not a good streak to have. The Jaguars played lights out, and Tevor Lawrence finally started to look like an NFL quarterback for the first time in his career. It was a tough loss for the Colts for sure, and they’ll have all of the off season to think about it.
Bears @ Vikings 17-31
Both teams fired their coaches after this game. Both teams didn’t make the playoffs. It wasn’t even a really good game to watch.
Washington @ NY Giants 22-7
You guys, I’m just so thankful this season is over and we have a break from the trainwreck that is the NY Giants. It was an ugly, ugly game. There are so many things I could say about this game but I don’t want to get all worked up right now. Silver lining, Jake Fromm threw his first touchdown pass in the NFL. Good riddance Dave Gettleman and Joe Judge.
Saints @ Falcons 30-20
The Saints could have clinched a playoff berth but they needed the 49ers to lose their game. So even though New Orleans won they were denied the opportunity to get into the postseason. At least they played hard until the end, unlike some other teams…
Jets @ Bills 10-27
Speaking of other teams, the Jets did not play hard until the end. The Bills on the other hand, clinched the AFC East title with this win. The Bills will host the Patriots in the wild card game and the Jets will just go home.
Patriots @ Dolphins 24-33
I was shocked that the Patriots lost this game. I was also shocked that Brian Flores lost his job after 2 winning seasons and beating the Patriots in their season finale. The Dolphins didn’t make the playoffs and the Patriots will be heading to Buffalo for the wild card game.
Panthers @ Buccaneers 17-41
Even with the Bucs being as beat up as they are, they had no trouble defeating the Panthers at home. The Bucs will host the Eagles in the wild card game while the Panthers will not do any hosting unless they have dinner parties as they didn’t even come close to making the playoffs.
Seahawks @ Cardinals 38-30
The Cardinals did not clinch the NFC West division title because they needed a win and a Rams loss, and only half of that came true. The Cardinals will travel to LA to face the Rams in the wild card game and the Seahawks will just go home.
49ers @ Rams 27-24 OT
The 49ers needed the win more, as they wanted to go into the postseason, and a win would get them there. The Rams clinched the NFC West division title because the Cardinals lost. The 49ers are peaking at the exact right time for a good playoff run. I wouldn’t be surprised if these two teams meet again in the postseason. The 49ers started off slow but had a tremendous comeback, forcing overtime. It was a Robbie Gould field goal that propelled the 49ers into the playoffs. The Rams will host the Cards in the wild card game and the 49ers will travel to Dallas for their wild card game.
Chargers @ Raiders 32-35 OT
This game was ridiculous. Honestly though I only watched the first half because Klay Thompson was starting his first game back since 2019 with Golden State, so I watched that game instead. I missed an absolutely crazy ending, where the Raiders won their 4th overtime game, ending the Chargers season, all the while helping the Steelers get into the postseason. The kicker is, pun intended, had this game ended in a tie the Chargers and the Raiders would have both made it into the playoffs and the Steelers would not have. I’m sure Chargers fans hate the Raiders even more than they ever have. The Raiders are now headed to Cincinnati for their wild card game.
SUPER WILD CARD WEEKEND
Saturday, January 15th
Raiders (10-7) @ Bengals (10-7) (4:30pm NBC)
The Raiders haven’t won a postseason game in 19 years, while it’s been over 30 years for the Bengals. As long as this game doesn’t go into overtime, being that the Raiders have won all 4 of their games that went into OT, I’m picking the Bengals to win, and I’m rooting for them as well. In all seriousness I’m hoping overtime isn’t even an option. I’d like to see the Bengals annihilate the Raiders.
Patriots (10-7) @ Bills (11-6) (8:15pm CBS)
The weather conditions are going to be eerily the same as the last time these two teams played in Buffalo. Hopefully the outcome will be different this time. Mac Jones led the Pats to a win with only 3 passes for 15 yards. With the Giants season done I’m now a Bills fan for the postseason. I’m hoping they can actually win this game but I do have my doubts. The Patriots were embarrassed in their season finale losing to the Dolphins and I think that’s going to be enough ammunition to upset the Bills. Had the Patriots beat the Dolphins I think things would be different. Mac Jones has not played a postseason game as he is a rookie and Josh Allen has so that should help the Bills. The last time the Bills hosted a home playoff game at full capacity was December of 1996. Josh Allen was seven months old, Stefon Diggs was three years old and Tremaine Edmunds, Devin Singletary, and Gabriel Davis were not born yet.
All that being said, I’m going with my heart and picking the Bills to win this game. Hopefully that doesn’t jinx the outcome. GO BILLS!
Sunday, January 16th
Eagles (9-8) @ Buccaneers (13-4) (1pm FOX)
I hope the Bucs punch the Eagles in the mouth. I hope that they smash them into the ground. The Eagles haven’t beat a winning team yet this season and I don’t think it starts now. I’m picking the Bucs to win this game and I’ll be rooting for them too.
49ers (10-7) @ Cowboys (12-5) (4:30pm CBS)
The last time these two teams met in the postseason was in the 1990’s. The 49ers are playing lights out right now. I’d love to see the Cowboys lose at home and I think they just might. I’m going with the upset and picking the 49ers to win this game and I’ll be pulling for them too.
Steelers (9-7-1) @ Chiefs (12-5) (8:15pm NBC)
I think it’s really nice that the Chiefs are throwing Big Ben a retirement party. I’m rooting for and picking the Chiefs to win this game and I hope they do so handley.
Monday, January 17th
Cardinals (11-6) @ Rams (12-5) (8:15pm ESPN/ABC/ESPN+)
This is the first Monday night Wild Card game in NFL’s history and on top of that we also get the Manning Cast! I really just want this to be a good game; I like both teams quite a bit. I’m going to pick the Rams to win this game.
Thanks for the edit Eric!
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