PUTTING IT ON THE LINE: With the Cowboys out of the postseason picture early, focus turns to the NFL’s Divisional Playoff round with favorites being put to the test
(FINAL SCOREBOARD: 7:15 a.m., Monday, January 24, 2022)
In the National Football League’s first-ever Super Wildcard Weekend featuring six first round playoff games, every home team favorite — except for one — won to advance to this week’s Divisional Playoffs. Unfortunately for those of us in Texas, the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys proved to be the lone exception.
But as a result, this week’s matchups should produce some classic showdowns with two games Saturday and two more Sunday.
In the AFC, the top-seeded Tennessee Titans (12-5) will be fully-loaded when the AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals (11-7) come to town for a showdown at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. And the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs (13-5) will host the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (12-6) at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
In the NFC, the surprising and surging San Francisco 49ers (11-7) make their second straight road trip to take on the defending Super Bowl champion and NFC South titlist Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-4) at 2 p.m. Sunday. And after staying home to watch last week’s action, the top-seeded and rested Green Bay Packers (14-3) will host the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams (13-5) at 7:15 p.m. Saturday in the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field.
THE SPORTS BUZZ Gridiron Gurus pick’ems panel remains focused on the NFL playoffs following the unprecedented 17-game regular season. Throughout the NFL postseason, THE SPORTS BUZZ Gridiron Gurus pick’ems panel will put their expertise and experience to the test by picking the NFL playoffs on the road to Super Bowl LVI Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Joining THE SPORTS BUZZ Gridiron Gurus pick’ems panel this season will be Toney Rogers, a local business owner in the Heart of Texas, while Don Nicholas, Field Representative for U.S. Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Meridian Yellowjacket football head coach Wade Morton and The Sports Buzz’ Brett Voss return from last year.
By picking the Super Wildcard Weekend favorites in every game, Don (5-1) finished the week at the top by only missing the Cowboys pick. On the other hand, Wade (5-1) kept pace by being the only panelist to select the San Francisco 49ers in the upset over Dallas. In the meantime, Brett (4-2) and Toney (4-2) both missed on the Cowboys and their “upset special” picks.
Join us every Thursday throughout the 2021 football season as THE SPORTS BUZZ Gridiron Gurus pick their winners for a select group of the week’s high school games, your favorite college teams from the NCAA Div. I, Div. II and Div. III, as well as the state’s two NFL teams, the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, and the postseason all the way to Super Bowl LVI.
Be sure to make your picks as well!
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