PMT DB
PMT DB
Super Wild Card Weekend Recap: Jaden Daniels' Voodoo and the Ravens' Ground Invasion
Super Wild Card Weekend finally felt like the playoffs on Sunday night, but we had to slog through a few duds on Saturday to get there. The Texans kicked things off by absolutely suffocating the Chargers, proving that Houston's defense is a lot more than just a supporting cast for CJ Stroud. Big Cat was quick to offer a formal apology for ever doubting their unit.
Big CatThe Houston Texans' defense won them the Wild Card game against the Chargers
That Texans defense, holy shit, did they bring it on Saturday? They were so goddamn good. And not only were they so good, I thought that game was decided by the fact that the Chargers came out like basically a perfect start... if the Texans defense doesn't play their balls off to start the game... that game could look totally different.
While the Texans looked like a complete team, the Chargers looked like a group that didn't know how to move the chains unless the ball was going to Lad McConkey. Justin Herbert struggled with four interceptions, but even after a terrible Saturday, Big Cat isn't ready to let go of his franchise quarterback stock.
Big CatI'm buying all the Justin Herbert stock right now
I'll say this right now, and this isn't me defending Justin Herbert because he was terrible on Saturday. I will buy all the Justin Herbert stock right now... If you think that he's just like a terrible quarterback, that's fine. I still think he's pretty good.
Hank is already looking ahead to the divisional round, convinced that the Texans' formula can take down the reigning champs. He’s leaning into a heavy dose of anti-Chiefs sentiment and some very specific statistical comparisons to Joe Burrow’s Bengals.
HankThe Chiefs aren't as good as their 15-win record suggests
The Chiefs could lose this game [against the Texans]. They're not as good... They're not as good as their record says they are... if you stacked 'em up against the other teams that had similar records over the course of history, like they would be the worst one.
The Ravens and the Steelers' Purgatory
Saturday night was a reminder that the Ravens are currently operating on a different planet than the rest of the AFC. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry Kissinger turned the Steelers into a puddle, running for nearly 300 yards in a ground invasion that felt over by the second quarter. Big Cat is convinced Baltimore is the most complete team in the field.
Big CatThe Ravens are a Super Bowl championship level team
The Ravens are just like a complete team. Full, full. Like everything... This team is a Super Bowl championship level team. And they do have to play possibly two other teams that are in that level, which is unfortunate, but like they're just so good and so complete.
The loss leaves the Steelers in a familiar, frustrating spot. Mike Tomlin remains a great coach, but the lack of a modern offense and a playoff win drought that’s now approaching a decade has Big Cat wondering if it’s finally time for a change in Pittsburgh.
Big CatIt is time for the Steelers to move on from Mike Tomlin
I do think that it probably is time to move on to something different... There is a point though, where it feels like the message is getting lost and there isn't growth... Sometimes the message gets lost and you have to change something. You have to shake something up because it's actually almost like a curse to have Mike Tomlin as your coach still, because you're never bad enough to pick at the top of the draft to get a franchise quarterback.
PFT had a more creative solution for the Steelers' quarterback woes, suggesting they should empty the clip on a specific veteran if the Vikings decide to tag him.
PFT CommenterThe Steelers should trade two first-round picks for Sam Darnold
Two 18 overall picks or 17 overall picks for Sam Darnold. I think I might do that if the Vikings tag them... I think Arthur Smith can get something good outta Sam.
Bills Roll and the Eagles Survive
Sunday morning started with the Bills proving why nobody circles the wagons like them. Josh Allen made the Broncos look like interns in the second half, though Khalil Shakir was the real breakout star of the day. PFT thinks the rest of the league needs to start putting some respect on his name.
PFT CommenterKhalil Shakir is a top-tier wide receiver
I think we need to start respecting Khalil Shakir a little bit more. Because he is, I love him, he is a top tier wide receiver. He doesn't get talked about like he is because his name wasn't Stefon Diggs... but he can play.
In Philadelphia, the Eagles took advantage of a Packers team that was essentially a walking hospital by the fourth quarter. While Jalen Hurts looked a bit rusty coming back, the defense dominated. However, Max is still terrified of the Eagles' special teams unit, specifically the guy who keeps missing extra points.
MaxEagles kicker Jake Elliott is a major issue heading into the divisional round
If I'm being honest, there's one thing that I'm concerned about and that's the kicker. The kicker is a big issue.
Big Cat isn't quite ready to crown Jordan Love as the next Hall of Fame successor in Green Bay just yet, noting that while he's good, he hasn't shown that "insane" factor consistently. Looking forward to next week, Max has a very specific preference for who he wants the Eagles to host.
MaxI'd rather the Eagles play the Rams than the Vikings next week
If you had to tell me that I had to pick a team, I would, I would pick the Rams. We handled the Rams in that first game. Their defense could not stop at the run... and they would've to travel from LA to Philly in the cold.
Jaden Daniels and the Commanders' Voodoo
Sunday night finally gave us the drama we were craving. The Commanders took down the Bucs in a game that felt like it was fueled by pure destiny. Between the fumbled snaps by Baker Mayfield and a game-winning field goal that banked off the upright, Big Cat is convinced the vibes in DC are supernatural.
Big CatThe Commanders have 'Team of Destiny' voodoo energy
The Commanders have the most voodoo and it's a good thing they just have like, I don't wanna say Team of Destiny, but I watching that game... they're gonna go down the field and they're gonna win this game with a walk off field goal. I said it to Jerry, I said it in my head.
PFT is officially in love with Jaden Daniels, calling him the best "team" he's ever rooted for in his life. The rookie’s poise in the fourth quarter was the difference, especially as Todd Bowles seemed to freeze up in the game's biggest moments. Big Cat didn't hold back on the coaching mismatch.
Big CatTodd Bowles simply cannot handle the pressure of high-stakes playoff moments
Todd Bowles... that guy's brain just freezes. And then you have... Todd Bowles is just, he freezes. I don't know what the fuck goes on with him... he just can't be in those pressure moments.
Who's Back of the Week
To wrap things up, Hank used his Who's Back to announce his official return to the Patriots bandwagon following the hire of Mike Vrabel. He thinks the "path of glory" is back in Foxborough, though Memes was quick to point out that the coaching staff might be missing their primary engine from the Tennessee days.
MemesMike Vrabel is a fraud who relied on Prime Derrick Henry
Mike Vrabel is proof that one smart clock management moment in a nationally televised game buys you five to 10 years of NFL media thinking you're a great coach... Prime Derrick Henry is not walking through the Patriots door... He was a Derrick Henry merchant.
Finally, Big Cat took aim at the NFL's rumored playoff format changes, begging the league not to ruin the sanctity of winning a division. If the NFL starts stripping home games from division winners, the regular season rivalry games just won't hit the same.
Big CatThe NFL should not change the playoff format to strip division winners of home games
NFL might change the playoff format where division winners get an automatic entry but not necessarily home field in the first round. This would suck. NFL is what makes the NFL great. Winning your division should mean a lot. Don't overreact to one year.
Next week we get the Bills vs. Ravens, which might actually be the game of the century.
