Sharp or Square: Wild Card Weekend Recap & Reactions

If I could describe our first weekend of playoff betting as a team, it would be a group that thought it was peaking at the end of the season and then got its ass kicked in the playoffs. We were wrong on just about every side, wrong on just about every total, and somehow the only underdog that didn’t cover all weekend was the one we actually picked in the contest.

It was so bad that despite the Bears, despite the Hoosiers, I went to bed sad on Sunday night. By Sunday afternoon I was just staring into the depths of the TV as another touchdown got scored, and even my wife couldn’t make fun of me. That’s how bad it was.

This was a weekend decided by special teams, by bad habits showing up at the worst possible time, and by us outthinking and outmaneuvering ourselves into losses. Shame on us. Let’s go game by game.

Packers at Bears

This was a late change and another one that felt good for a long time. We were cruising, making up for the debacle that was the Rams, and I was willing to sacrifice the Bears because Indiana had me so happy. Fate intervened and I was forced to make an emotional commitment.

At some point I stopped caring about the bet. I got what I deserved on the bet. I was on the Bears. I love the Bears. Let’s go.

I took them live at halftime, knowing there was no way it was going to happen, but just in case Caleb did something crazy in the fourth quarter, I wanted to have something on it. And then it actually happened. Twenty-five points in the fourth quarter doesn’t even sound real, but it was real.

This game came down to the kicker. You miss two field goals and an extra point in a game you should have won a thousand times over, it changes everything. Jordan Love threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers. He should never lose that game.

Caleb was overwhelmed for three quarters. It was too fast for him. Then once Green Bay went into prevent, he settled in, got into a groove, and that jumpman throw on 4th and 8 is going to live forever. I’ve done nothing but watch videos of the Bears and the city of Chicago celebrating.

Unlike the Rams, I have no regrets about this bet. The Packers were up 15, we were on the under, and the Bears had a 5% chance to win with a quarter left. It was a good bet. Playoff football happened.

I’m waking up as a Bears fan and I am elated.

49ers at Eagles

We barely survived the under, and we needed AJ Brown to drop a wide open pass just to make sure there wasn’t a threat. That tells you everything.

This is how bad it is in Philly. My older son, who doesn’t even like sports, texted me that it might be time for AJ Brown or the offensive coordinator to go. My younger son sent me TikToks of fans losing their minds. I shut the blinds and lived in the sadness.

Brown was embarrassing. Quitting on routes, drops on third down, shaking teammates’ hands and disappearing. I’d still rather have him than eat $20 million in dead cap, but that performance was inexcusable.

The Eagles felt like they were dominating this game. Up 13-10, controlling possession, one touchdown away from shutting it down. Then Fangio’s defense gave up 13 points in the fourth quarter to a banged-up Niners team.

The penalties were outrageous. San Francisco had one penalty all game. The Eagles had seven at home. Trent Williams was holding on every play and nothing got called.

The Eagles had four drops on third down, the most tracked since 2006. Teams with zero turnovers and 35-plus minutes of possession are 28-2 at home over the last 40 years. The Eagles are one of those losses.

This wasn’t a Super Bowl team. The Eagles came undone the exact way they’ve come undone all year. Teams are who they are, and the playoffs expose it.

Chargers at Patriots

What the hell were we doing?

We fooled ourselves. We let trends convince us Justin Herbert was a playoff quarterback. He’s not. At least not yet.

The offensive line wasn’t the issue. He had protection. He missed open guys. He made bad reads. He couldn’t make a play.

The Patriots struggled early. Drake Maye had jitters. They held New England to 16 points. That should have been enough. Herbert had four downs in the red zone and couldn’t even get a first down.

This wasn’t Houston. This wasn’t a great defense. This was a Patriots team begging to be beaten and Herbert laid an egg. Three points in a playoff game is embarrassing.

I’ll back Herbert in the regular season. In the playoffs, he’s going on the big board. We have to ask the question now. Is it the team, or is it him?

We should’ve just bet the under.

Bills at Jaguars

Matt Mitchell guaranteed a Bills win, and good for him. Good for Josh Allen. Good for the Bills.

But this game should never have been this close. Liam Coen blew it. They were running the ball at will and still had Trevor Lawrence throw 30 times. It made no sense.

Cam Little changed everything. Trolls all week, then misses the kick. That swing cost Jacksonville the game.

Josh Allen was Superman. 80% on completions, no No. 1 receiver, dragging that team with a bad leg and a bad foot. That’s why we give him the accolades.

The coaching is still terrifying. McDermott’s end-of-game decisions are brutal. They got lucky Trevor Lawrence threw that pick late because Mahomes has beaten them with 13 seconds remaining before.

But Allen got the monkey off his back. First road playoff win. That matters. It’s all about how his body responds now because he got beat up.

This is what we get for doubting Josh Allen.

Shame of the Week

Shame on us.

We didn’t bet the Panthers at home as big underdogs. We didn’t bet Mike Vrabel, the best coach against the spread in NFL history. We outthought ourselves into losses.

And shame on AJ Brown. The city is heartbroken. The talent is undeniable, but the behavior and the performance don’t match. The grass is green right where your feet are.

Winner of the Week

Caleb Williams.

He preached it. He walked it. He did it. The Bears get the Rams at home with an injured Stafford and I couldn’t be more excited. If you’re a Bears fan, this feels like the beginning.

Bear season.