“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2022 Divisional Round NFL Picks

January 21, 2023

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 5 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:

Divisional Round Playoff Games

Ha Kung’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

Last year I ended up with a 64.7% record for the season, so that’s seven years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. Plus, I had a 75.5% record on Locks of the Week and a 58% record on Upsets of the Week. I had a decent week going 4-2 in Super Wild Card Weekend, with a total of 176-99 for the season (64.0%), 15-4 for Locks of Week, and 8-11 for Upsets of the Week. Don’t worry, I don’t plan on stopping now!

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for the Divisional Round Playoffs…

Lock of the Week ➡ Kansas City Chiefs (-8.5) over Jacksonville Jaguars

This game might be close, but there’s a better than even chance it’s a blowout by the Chiefs. The Chiefs have had the week off to get healthy and have been rolling prior to the playoffs with the most yards (413.6) and most points (29.2) scored per game in the regular season. The Jaguars had an amazing comeback for the ages against the Chargers in a terrific demonstration of tenacity, but the Chiefs are a far more dangerous and far more consistent team on offense than the Chargers. The Jaguars allowed the 5th most passing yards per game (238.5) and have the 7th least total sacks in the regular season, so you can bet that Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce will take advantage of that. Don’t over think it. Lock it in.

Upset of the Week ➡ New York Giants (+7.5) over the Philadelphia Eagles

I know that it’s been trendy this week for people to pick the resurgent Dallas Cowboys in an upset over the San Francisco 49ers, but I honestly think that the 49ers are the most well-rounded team in the playoffs on all aspects of the game, offense, defense and special teams. Plus, the Cowboys had to fly cross country on a short week, having played on Monday in Tampa, while the 49ers had a full week of prep with no travel required.

So I’m actually going with a much more controversial upset with the Giants beating the Eagles for the first time this season. First, I’m concerned about the health of the most important Eagles players, QB Jalen Hurts and RT Lane Johnson. Hurts didn’t take any chances running the ball against the Giants 2nd and 3rd team defense in Week 18, and the Eagles barely eeked out a win 22-16. He’s not on the injury report, but we have no idea how his shoulder is doing and how it will react to being hit when running the ball. Johnson is reportedly playing through a painful groin injury, which will make him susceptible to the Giants pass rush, again something we won’t have clarity on until the game. On the other side, the Giants are now completely healthy on both offense and defense. Second, in the Wild Card game against the Vikings, Daniel Jones looked like an All-Pro running for 78 yards and passing for 301 yards and 2 TDs. The Eagles allowed the least passing yards in the league per game in the regular season, but were vulnerable on the ground allowing 121.6 yards per game. The Giants actually edged out the Eagles for rushing yards per game in the regular season with 4th most at 148.2, and that’s before the big Jones rushing breakout. Finally, it might be surprising to learn that the Giants don’t give many extra chances as they have the 2nd least giveaways during the regular season. I think the game will be close, but I think the G-Men behind Jones and Saquon Barkley, will find a way to pull off the upset.

Joanne’s Picks

Scott’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

There’s no way all the higher seeds win, but I don’t have a feel who to call. Nothing would surprise me this weekend, even if we had 4 upsets. They all look like good games, which is a win for the fans.

Kaiden’s Picks

Wole’s Picks

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

New Episode (538) Listen via link tree https://t.co/bZfGHgEfUh @Commanders starting @Sam7Howell? – 8:38 min #httc
Should the @Washwizards trade Kuz? – 21:33 #DCAboveAll #HBCUCorner with @Howard_WBB coach @Coachtygrace – 40 min #themecca #thehilltop @MEACSports #meacpride pic.twitter.com/0TAvzyErLn

— Urban Sports Scene (@UrbanSportScene) January 19, 2023

Ray’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Jacksonville at Kansas City: The only favorite I am taking against the spread. Chiefs have way too much firepower and unlike the Chargers they will step o the Jags neck if they get the chance.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants: I’ve talked myself into a Giants upset. When the Eagles stomped the Giants in New York, Jalen Hurts was healthy and the Giants weren’t. Now the reverse is true. Hurts has played 1 game in the last 5 weeks due to a shoulder injury and that game against the Giants backups wasn’t particularly great. And it’s a division rivalry which means there is no intimidation factor to playing on the road at a top seed. Giants can control the clock with Barkley and Jones on the ground and if Hurts’ shoulder still isn’t 100 percent will have opportunities to make big plays on defense.

Cincinnati at Buffalo: I’ve believed that Buffalo was the best team in the NFL from night 1 of the regular season. So I can’t jump off of them now. I expect this to be a high-scoring thriller.

Dallas at San Francisco: Brock Purdy can’t turn into a pumpkin in this game or the 49ers will lose. San Francisco varied rushing attack will do just enough to get the Cowboys out of position and Purdy will make just enough plays to squeeze out a win by a FG or less.