NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Round

A.J. Green's 11 TDs this season were a big reason the Bengals
scored at least 34 points in their final five home games. (Getty)

This must be why they call it the "Wild Card" Round of the NFL playoffs.  Not one of the eight teams playing this weekend could be classified as elite, save maybe San Francisco, who is on the road, and whom the OXen had so little faith in winning that they waited until the last pick on what was a split-decision.

All eight teams are good, but they all have their flaws.  Some have struggled in games they shouldn't have, some are turnover prone, others struggle to win on the road.  It's possible that the OXen run the table, and it's just as possible that not one of the games is picked correctly.

Both of us will be skiing at Stratton Mountain this weekend, so let's get these picks done so we can go hit the slopes!

Week 17: Playoffs? You Kidding Me?

This might be the only scenario in which the
Bills knock off the Patriots in Foxboro.

As always, the NFL season has flown past us. It is hard to get too sad considering the best part of the season is upon us, the playoff!

I cannot remember the last time so many playoff spots were up in the air. The only team that is locked into their seeding is the Chiefs, getting the 5th seed in the AFC. Two of the games this week will decide who will win the division and who will be sitting at home next week. The Seahawks could still fall from the #1 seed to the 5th seed. In fact, every division in the NFC is on the line this week.

It should be a great day of football (every game this week will be played today) and just like every week, it should be a crazy ride. Here is how the SOBs think the games will shake out.

Austen's Eight-Point Pick
@New England over Buffalo

Austen: If the Broncos falter in Oakland, this win could give the Patriots the number one seed. Not bad for a highly mediocre team. Either way, the Pats will try their best to win this and when is the last time the Bills beat the Pats in New England? The 90s? I'll stick with the Pats.

Stally: There aren't many guarantees in life, but among them: death, taxes and Tom Brady beating the Bills.  He's 21-2 lifetime against them.

Week 16: Bye Weeks or Bye, Bye

Tony Romo didn't give up five touchdowns
in the second half, his defense did. (Getty)

Stally: There's a lot on the line this week.  Some teams are looking for a first-round bye, some for the division, some are hoping to hold onto Wild Card positions, some are looking for help to get into the playoffs, and many are just out.

I'll throw Austen under the bus and explain that I typed up my picks early Saturday afternoon and didn't get to respond to his until he was done at about 25 minutes before kickoff, so we're under a time crunch to get this out before the games.  We didn't quite make it, so let's just go.

Here's who we got:

Stally's Eight-Point Pick
New England over @Baltimore

Stally: This is an F-You pick toward an organization that I don't respect and a team that I don't think is any good.  It's a joke that the Ravens are in position to make the final playoff spot in the AFC and reflects just how bad the conference has been this season.  They only have two wins against teams with winning records, they beat Miami by three and Cincinnati in overtime.  They're lucky Justin Tucker can kick, because they needed all six of his field goals to sneak by the Lions last week.

Austen: Actually, the Ravens are still very alive in the race for the AFC North thanks to Cincinnati's mediocrity. The two teams play each other in Week 17, which very well might decide the division. I have the Patriots in this one, but I really don't like the pick and think there is a very good chance the Ravens come out on top, especially since they are at home. The Ravens might not be very good, but who is right now in the AFC? The Chiefs might be the second-best team, and they probably are one and done in the playoffs. The AFC is a mess right now.

Week 15: A Lot To Be Decided

In a season that's proven to be unpredictable, the
win-by-the-seat-of-their-pants Patriots are somehow
in a position to jump atop the AFC. (Getty)

There are three weeks left in the NFL season, and we're no closer to drawing a playoff picture than we were three weeks ago.  Well, maybe we're a little closer.

Seattle, Denver and Indianapolis have all clinched a spot, while New England, New Orleans and Kansas City appear close.  However, after that, the picture gets murky quickly.

In the AFC North, the Bengals are closing in on the division, but a loss to Pittsburgh today would gum up the works. Meanwhile, the AFC's final playoff spot is completely up in the air with four teams at 7-6 or 6-7 entering the week, and only one spot available.

In the NFC, the divisions are more up for grabs, as Philadelphia leads Dallas by a game in the East and Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay are all within half a game in the North.  It's also worth noting that at 8-5 and having beaten 9-4 Carolina, the Arizona Cardinals are very much in the hunt.

Some of the question marks will get crossed out by some crucial outcomes in Week 15; others will get carried into next week.  Here's who the OXen have this week:

Week 14: Fantasy Playoffs Start

Remember when Peyton Manning almost went to the Titans? This
week he will be tearing them up, just like he did in Indy for years.

It's a big week for the Stubborn OXen as the fantasy football playoffs begin!

The two of us play in three leagues together, including a prestigious keeper league.  This will be the first time we've met in the playoffs of that league since Austen joined in 2011.

Austen has won the championship both seasons he's played, but his team has been having a down year.  He enters the playoffs at 7-6 as the fourth seed.  Meanwhile, Stally completely blew up his team after a 1-5 start and had an impressive second half, ending at 6-7 as the fifth seed.  He's made it to five championships in the eight-year history of the league, but none since Austen joined.

Elsewhere, Stally snuck into the Theta Chi playoffs as the sixth seed at 6-7, while Austen missed with a 5-8 record (eighth seed).  Conversely, Austen will try to lock up the top seed in the nicknamed "NYC League" in the final week of the regular season, while Stally will play in a win-or-go-home game as the fourth vs. fifth seed (it's a four-team playoff).

Oh yeah, and for all this to happen, there needs to be some real football played.  That's going to be hard to predict this week, but we'll do our best.