2019 Wild Card NFL Picks

January 3, 2020

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head to head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 4 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Wild Card Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

Last year I ended up with a 66% record for the season, so that’s four years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I had a decent week 16, going 10-6, leaving me in 2nd place and only three picks off 1st with a 165-90 record (64.7%).

Plus, I had a 94% record on Locks of the Week last year. This year, I’m 15-2 (88.2%) for Locks of the Week, and I’m now 11-6 (64.7%) on Upsets of the Week.

Let’s get to that Lock and Upset for Wild Card Weekend…

Lock of the Week => New Orleans Saints (-8.0) over Minnesota Vikings

Drew Brees actually has the highest completion percentage of any QB in the league (74.3%) and Michael Thomas has the most receptions (149) on the most targets (185) and the most receiving yards (1,725) of any WR in the league, both spearheading the 4th best offense per DVOA in the league. The Saints are really rolling into the post-season, were only a Packers FG away from a bye week, and we all know how Brees is at home in the Superdome. The Vikings may be rested, but Kirk Cousins has not been ready for prime time, and arguably their best weapon, Dalvin Cook, is not quite 100% and now facing a Saints defense 5th best at defending the run. The Saints are looking to avenge they’re playoff “loss” last season, so I’m ready to lock them in.

Upset of the Week => Buffalo Bills (+2.5) over Houston Texans

Check out my breakdown of why I think the Bills will beat the Texans in my game preview!

Also, check out my breakdown of why I think the Titans will beat the Patriots in my game preview!

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Happy new year.

The playoffs are always such a challenge to pick. Who’s healthy, who’s hot, who’s at home. These are all key factors. My history with the playoffs hasn’t been strong recently, hope 2020 is different.

Wally’s Picks

Wally’s Thoughts:

Check out Wally’s thoughts on the Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on the Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Buffalo at Houston: This game looks a lot like Indianapolis at Houston. The Bills come in with a fantastic defense and a running game that could take advantage of the Texans defense. Can Devin Singletary dominate like Marlon Mack last year? And will Houston give DeShaun Watson enough time? Buffalo will repeat Indy’s feat from a year ago and win their first playoff game since 1995.

Tennessee at New England: Last time they met in the playoffs the Patriots laboured before pulling away from the Titans. Tennessee has the right formula. A punishing running attack with Derrick Henry and a red hot Ryan Tannehill. The Pats are playing on wild-card weekend for the first time in 10 years and Tom Brady looks every bit of his 42 years. And yet you are asking me to take Tannehill and the Titans in New England in January. And I just can’t do it.

Minnesota at New Orleans: Kirk Cousins? On the road? In the playoffs? Against Drew Brees and that offense? You are kidding right? Saints roll here.

Seattle at Philadelphia: This was tough too. NFL wild-card history is littered with road favorites losing to home teams with bad records in the playoffs. Russell Wilson is relying on guys signed off the street (and Marshawn Lynch is 2 years out of the game). The good news is that the Seahawks have Russell Wilson and the Philadelphia has a terrible secondary. And though Carson Wentz is playing well he will lose his first playoff game due to some more late-game magic from Wilson. Seahawks by a field goal.