The Wildcard round is hissstory and the NFL has slithered by with some odd decisions.
First, hats off to our Cobra Rank First Class Sleuths who are clearly onto the NFL’s game.
• St. Patty’s Fire
• The Franchise
• Cure
• Drunkbassguitar
• Wazu
These fine gentlemen have demonstrated exemplary ability in examining the NFL’s strategy in rigging games. Good job, Cobras. We’re on to them.
Lets burrow into the Viper’s nest:
Strangely, 4 of the 6 games played were non-competitive blowouts. The NFL/Vegas (whomever) went through a lot of work to rig these WC scenarios into place (as discussed in week 18) only to see them playout as completely uninteresting games.
Python Sergeant First Class BearCat has pointed out
Originally Posted by :
The AFC playoffs are dominated by the smallest TV market teams in the conference. The Titans (11th), Chiefs (12th), Bengals (13th), and Bills (16th) represent the smallest group average in history https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comment...e_smallest_tv/
Fantastic investigative work, Python Sergeant First Class.
It seems that the NFL is banking on the more fanatical, small market teams netting them the most financial gain. They’ve scaled back nearly all large market teams from the playoffs, sans the CA teams (note for future reference). It’s an interesting move. They must have some analytical data that we don’t yet have access to. We’ll watch how this plays out.
There were some ref shenanigans in the Cinci game. The NFL clearly wanted the Raiders out of the playoffs. Another odd move considering the rigging required to get them in. They clearly favor Cinci’s #16 market over Las Vegas and their new stadium. The Vegas stadium theory seems to have no legs.
The Divisional Round is set:
Bengals @ Titans
Bills @ Chiefs
49ers @ Packers
Rams @ Buccs
This round seems to get harder to pick the closer we get.
Bengals @ Titans - This one is probably the hardest to pick. On one hand you've got the young QB in Burrow and a Bengals win would give the NFL the rematch they want between Burrow and Mahomes. On the other hand, does the NFL want the AFC Championship game in Arrowhead AGAIN. I'm still going Bengals on this one.
Bills @ Chiefs - Game of the week. The ref crew isn't complete trash and I think the teams are allowed to play their respective games. I think it's close and comes down to a FG to win. Mahomes vs Burrow II is set.
49ers @ Packers - Probably the most boring game of the weekend. The Packers are to strong for this one and the NFL wants them in the Championship game. Pack win.
Rams @ Bucs - This is a toss up. You've got a large media market in LA versus the NFL Golden Boy in Brady. I think ultimately injuries derail the Bucs here but the refs keep it closer than it actually is. Rams win.
Buccaneers vs. Rams: Bucs win. The only thing the NFL loves more than trying to force teams into L.A. is forcing Tom Brady to advance in the playoffs.
Packers vs. 49ers: Packers win. It's the only way to get Rodgers/Brady.
Titans vs. Bengals: Bengals win. Joe Burrow/Jamarr Chase are the story the NFL wants. College teammates dominating again together in the NFL. So much fun! The NFL has assigned Clete Blakeman to this game to make sure it happens.
Chiefs vs. Bills: Chiefs win. Since the Titans are being Blakemaned, it means the winner of this game will host the AFC Championship. The NFL doesn't want to see dildos on the field during championship weekend. [Reply]
First, hats off to our Cobra Rank First Class Sleuths who are clearly onto the NFL’s game.
•St. Patty’s Fire
•The Franchise
•Cure
•Drunkbassguitar
•Wazu
I'm not trying to be an asshole, because I've really enjoyed this exercise, but I feel like you've overlooked me for the above list.
Did you not see my post after the Bengals-Raiders game where I mentioned that I had been telling my buddies all week that I knew the officials were going to allow Chase to push off and that they'd also be blowing whistles mid-play to sabotage the Raiders Defense?
I just don't feel as though I should be penalized simply because I was too busy to come post that prediction on Chiefsplanet.
Thank you in advance for your reconsideration. [Reply]
I'm pretty sure I laid out EXACTLY how the playoffs were going to go and so far, I haven't been wrong.
Originally Posted by Mr. Plow:
I'm going to bet that 2 teams will play and then one of them will win. That cycle will repeat until after the Super Bowl. Mysteriously, after the Super Bowl is over all of the teams will stop playing and there will be no more games - conspiracy?
The real question... is the NFL really going to advance the most famous anti-vaxxer not named Rogan? Do they want this topic discussed in detail during the 2 week media blitz leading up to the SB? Fauci is in full on damage control mode right now...something to consider.
Clete being assigned to the Burrow game...he hasn't called a playoff game without controversy...since never. Bye Titans...and whoever your QB is. What's his name again? Bengals resting Macaulay Culkin looks to have been a shrewd seeding decision...Blakeman is like a 12th player...if you are on the right side of the rig job. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BlackOp:
The real question... is the NFL really going to advance the most famous anti-vaxxer not named Rogan? Do they want this topic discussed in detail during the 2 week media blitz leading up to the SB? Fauci is in full on damage control mode right now...something to consider.
Clete being assigned to the Burrow game...he hasn't called a playoff game without controversy...since never. Bye Titans...and whoever your QB is. What's his name again?
I kinda think the vaccination controversy stuff has jumped the shark. However, it is worth worrying that he could actually catch COVID and we'd have a Jordan Love Super Bowl. Isn't Josh Allen also unvaccinated? [Reply]
I'm not gonna make predictions, but, after the game, I'll make vague observations about how penalties could have been called on most plays and that's how the games are rigged.