Schein 9: NFL Wild-Card Playoff Picks and Week 18 Recap

Schein 9 NFL Wild-Card Playoffs:

There is not any such factor as January within the NFL.

Finish of the common season. Firing and hiring coaches. The carousel and rumor mill are spiraling uncontrolled. Playoffs have been set. A wild weekend goes to be off the charts.

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We go over all of it, Schein 9 type:

1. Patriot Video games

When information broke on Friday that the Jets had carried out their first interview with Mike Vrabel, we instantly stated on VSIN’s “Make it Rain with Adam Schein” that this might result in the Patriots firing Jerrod Mayo and Antonio Pierce being carried out in Vegas . And it occurred. And it is all linked.

Vrabel’s curiosity in airplanes was real. The roster has expertise. Vrabel has been a longtime fan of Aaron Rodgers. The Jets are the one staff with a training emptiness that additionally wants a basic supervisor, that means Vrabel can facilitate the particular particular person he needs to work with. That is why the Patriots and Raiders needed to reply.

Vrabel is within the Patriots Ring of Honor. Vrabel is beloved by the Kraft household and Patriots followers. He is a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion in New England and was nice as a coach at Tennessee, the place he at all times pushed the undermanned Giants to overachieve. You made a powerful case for why Vrabel was the precise man, and the one choice, to interchange Invoice Belichick. Bob Kraft went with Jerrod Mayo. It was a catastrophe. Mayo had been overwhelmed by all of it and lasted only one season, with the ignominious remaining recreation of successful and incomes the No. 1 decide.

The Raiders ought to by no means have saved Antonio Pierce. Sure, the staff performed with the juice once they changed Josh McDaniels. That had extra to do with the utter disdain the gamers had for McDaniels. And the truth that Mark Davis listened to key gamers who wished to maintain Pierce, together with Davante Adams, who was finally traded, effectively, that is ridiculous. So I am not even speaking to one-time Raiders assistant Jim Harbaugh, who wished the job. Now Tom Brady is in command of Mark Davis’ staff. And nobody loves Vrabel and understands who he’s as an individual and coach greater than Brady.

NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport studies that the Patriots will interview Vrabel on Thursday. It will transfer rapidly. We have been anticipating for months that Vrabel would coach the Patriots or Raiders, in that order. Let the video games and domino impact start.

This consists of…

2.Large Ben

Ben Johnson is the most well-liked assistant coach available on the market. There are some questions if he needs to turn out to be a head coach. He loves working the Lions offense. He withdrew from working for leaders after being interviewed final 12 months. Its X’s and O’s are distinctive. Johnson might not be the perfect chief as a head coach. Actually, I do not care. His taking part in guidelines are distinctive. If the Bears do not get Vrabel, Johnson must be the second choice. I’d then take into account buying and selling for Mike Tomlin or Kevin Stefanski. If the Raiders rent Vrabel, Johnson will bounce to the highest spot in New England.

Which implies that the most important loser could also be…

3. Fanan Khan

How Shad Khan and the Jaguars fired Doug Pederson and in some way saved basic supervisor Trent Baalke is theater of the absurd. Baalke’s document in Jacksonville is in the bathroom. The menu has holes in it. He as soon as, inexplicably, chosen Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson with the highest decide within the draft, the best guess ever and a horrible determination ever. Balke continues to outlive failed coaches. Bear in mind, he additionally feuded and ruined a superb factor with Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco. There have been whispers that Ben Johnson was interested by teaching Trevor Lawrence, bringing in a GM he was suitable with, and dealing for an proprietor like Khan who’s hands-off and competes within the AFC South. It’s unimaginable to see the choosy Johnson placing his profession in Baalke’s arms.

4. Aviation gas

At this level, you’d should be a very unhealthy teaching candidate to not get interviewed by the Jets. Ron Rivera? What on earth…

Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, and Brian Flores are my high picks for the Jets, and have been for the reason that second Robert Saleh was fired. Glenn performed for the Jets and understands the mission and the craziness. Consider this like what occurred when DeMeco Ryans returned residence to Houston and what the Texans had been like earlier than he arrived. Glenn is a good defensive coordinator who will add instantaneous toughness and credibility. He performed for Invoice Parcells’ Jets. That is what the 2025 Jets will appear like. Glenn additionally performed for the Jaguars and coached in New Orleans. I additionally love Flores right here. Nice defensive thoughts and New Yorker. The Dolphins had been torn once they fired him. Flores is a tradition builder and creates accountability.

5. Vikings Quest

Properly, the Week 18 Vikings-Lions matchup went precisely the alternative of what I anticipated. I assumed this ebook had 38-35 Vikings written on it. As an alternative, it was a disjointed offensive efficiency and an entire failure from my buddy Sam Darnold and the Vikings, clearly his worst recreation in a Minnesota uniform. Detroit confirmed its toughness and training en path to incomes the coveted high seed and a first-round bye. However I am not able to say goodbye to the Vikings. I nonetheless love this 14-win staff. Now, I might like them much more in the event that they did not should face the Rams on Monday evening. My belief and respect for Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and the Rams is off the charts. However I nonetheless suppose the Vikings will prevail, regardless of their loss to Los Angeles earlier this 12 months. The highway to the playoffs may face the one two groups they’ve misplaced to this season, first Los Angeles after which the Lions, who’ve crushed them twice. However, whenever you catch your breath, this Minnesota staff nonetheless has elite teaching and expertise. I nonetheless suppose they’ll make it to the Tremendous Bowl. And should you suppose, to contemplate…

NFC Championship: +750
Tremendous Bowl: 16-1
Sam Darnold wins Tremendous Bowl MVP: 22-1

Very totally different odds than final week.

6. Charged

My favourite recreation of the weekend is the Chargers pitting 2 1/2 in Houston towards the struggling Texans. Houston is basically lucky to play within the AFC South. They’re within the match and internet hosting a playoff recreation solely as a result of they play in a poor division. Houston has backed down. CJ Stroud had a second season. Taking part in on the offensive line was offensive. Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs had been injured. Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers coming to city is the worst attainable rivalry. Justin Herbert has been on hearth. Derwin James and the protection at all times deliver vitality and are effectively coached. Houston was positioned within the regular wild card slot on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 PM ET, simply as a reminder that the Texans are the least thrilling playoff staff. I count on Los Angeles, 12-4-1 towards the unfold, to punch the Texans within the mouth and win this recreation by double digits.

7. Bates

It is loopy to suppose that the Steelers are the highest canine on a wild weekend, contemplating historical past. Pittsburgh-Baltimore is the fiercest and most intense rivalry within the NFL. The Steelers beat the Ravens 18-16 in mid-November. Traditionally, these video games have been single-score. The Steelers’ protection was Lamar Jackson’s kryptonite. Jackson has one thing to show within the playoffs. None of that issues for Saturday. Not one of the above even registered as a dialogue level. Give it some thought. Baltimore has the texture of a Tremendous Bowl staff. The Steelers haven’t any enterprise making the postseason after shedding 4 in a row. We screamed loudly after the Steelers’ loss in Cleveland that they’d end 2-4. They did. Crime is a multitude. George Pickens is uninterested and talks a couple of disastrous recreation. Russell Wilson can’t full a ahead cross. Mike Tomlin hasn’t received a playoff recreation for the reason that 2016 season. Chew on this nugget of absurdity… The Steelers have 80 regular-season wins from 2017-2024, probably the most in a stretch of eight seasons and not using a playoff win in NFL historical past in the event that they lose on an evening Saturday.

I believe Jackson and Derrick Henry lower into the Steelers protection. Usually I might be very hesitant to select 10 in a division stage rivalry recreation like this. The uncommon exception to one-score video games between the 2 golf equipment was simply three weeks in the past when Baltimore beat the Steelers by 17 factors. And Pittsburgh is basically unhealthy proper now. Baltimore is nice with Which Tons to show. I am going to put the ten with the crows.

8. Very painful

It is unimaginable to foretell whether or not Jalen Hurts will clear the concussion protocol in time for Sunday’s recreation. This isn’t an ankle or knee to work from. However as we converse proper now, the road on Philadelphia and Inexperienced Bay is -4.5. Christian Watson tore his ACL. Jordan Love could not really feel his hand final week and has didn’t beat an important staff all season. The Eagles didn’t play Saquon Barkley and allowed him to pursue a single-season dashing document so he may put together for a dominant playoff run. Get 4.5 now earlier than the harm is eliminated. Even when not, the Eagles’ run-and-defense type will make it stick.

9. Chef Baker

It looks as if everybody and their mom (together with my mom) is on the Jayden Daniels bandwagon for the postseason. I perceive that. Daniels’ rookie 12 months was particular. There is not any probability the brilliant lights of the playoff will likely be too massive. Daniels is a stud. However I’d love for the Bucs to place up three factors on Sunday evening. Sure, the win over the Saints on Sunday was nerve-wracking. However Baker Mayfield can be constructed for this. I do not like Washington’s protection in any respect. Mayfield, first-ballot Corridor of Famer Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, the Bucs’ spectacular offensive line and Liam Quinn’s offense ought to flourish.