Saturday Afternoon Edition
Saturday Morning Coffee
Every Saturday morning it’s time to pour a cup of Joe and discuss the more sports news, rumors, and topics from around the world of sports from this fan’s perspective. Comment if you like, post a question, this is your forum to speak your mind.
So it’s no longer morning, unless you are somewhere in the South Pacific reading this, but it’s never too late in the day for a cup of Joe. So pour a cup and join the conversation, it’s Wildcard Weekend and there’s plenty on the table to discuss today.
Let’s start with today’s matchup for openers.
The Texans and Raiders game provides some interesting storylines. Just three weeks ago, the Raiders were looking more like a team of destiny ready to make a run led by their MVP-like quarterback Derek Carr. But since Carr’s injury in week 16, the Raiders offense has fallen off a cliff.
With Raiders rookie quarterback Conner Cook slated to start and the Texans reverting back to the struggling Brock Osweiler (struggling for a $72 million dollar quarterback), today’s game could have the look of a defensive battle, more than anything else.
The Texans offense in general this season has been a disappointment with Osweiler under center. If they are to come out on top today, Brock is going to have to play a lot better. A couple of keys for him will undoubtedly be his ground game which will be in the hands of running back Lamar Miller. If Miller can have some early success (rushed for 104 yards in week 11 matchup against Raiders), this could open up the short passing game for Osweiler.
The Short passing game will be another key for the Texans today; a volume of completions is needed. If Brock can find his wideouts and in particular his security blanket (tight end) C.J. Fiedorowicz over the middle, a volume of completions will help build his confidence and may open things up downfield. If the Texans are going to overcome the Raiders, Osweiler is going to have to take his shots downfield with both of his receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.
The Raiders biggest key in my opinion today is relying heavily on their running game to protect their young quarterback. Latavius Murray is going to be huge in this one and I believe the Raiders plan on feeding him the ball a bunch today. Only success on the ground will keep the Raiders in this one. Cook is raw, inexperienced, and on the big stage today, it just may be too much to ask, even with the weapons the Raiders possess outside.
The other biggest key for the Raiders will be their defensive playmaker and potential Defensive Player of the Year, Khalil Mack (11 sacks this season). If he can cause disruption and get to quarterback Brock Osweiler today, turnovers could be the difference in this one.
The Raiders defense will provide some short field opportunities today. With one of the strongest legs in the league, Raiders placekicker Sebastian Janikowski will cash them in, but that won’t be enough. The Texans have a stout defense and they are playing at home, and that will likely be the biggest difference in this one.
This one won’t be pretty, but I have the Texans winning this one 23-16.
For those that will be watching the later matchup as well, quite simply I like the Seahawks for all of the obvious reasons.
The Lions lack a running game, one dimensional. The Seahawks are at home, it’s a night game, weather is their friend, the 12th man, and the Lions are a dome team.
Matthew Stafford has been brilliant this season, playing like a magician leading the Lions comeback from behind time and time again. But Saturday night the magic may run out. Playing through pain and lacking a supporting cast in the run game, the offense may not have enough to be road warriors of the Northwest tonight.
The Seahawks defense is definitely no the same “Legion of Boom” many fans have come to know and love, but they still have plenty of bite with their bark, enough to cause the Lions offense plenty of problems.
And with quarterback Russell Wilson under center, the Seahawks are in good hands. Wilson plays with plenty of swag and typically comes up big in big-time situations. I am expecting another big performance from Wilson tonight playing at home, this one could be decided by a large margin.
My pick here is Seahawks over the Lions, 31-16.
This is just how I see it on Wildcard Saturday.
~David G. Ortega
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