“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2024 Wild Card Picks

January 11, 2025 Leave a comment

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 7 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:

After a 64.7% record three seasons ago, and 63.3% (178-103) two seasons ago, I ended up with 63.4% (180-104) last season. So that’s nine years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I also had 85% right for Locks of the Week (17-3) and 42.1% for Upsets of the Week (8-11), so not only did I beat my 2022 percentages for both Locks and Upsets, but I have nine years in a row of Locks being over 70%.

I had a decent Week 18, going 9-7 leaving me at 189-83 for the season (70.3%) and hit my Lock of the Week with the Buccaneers (14-3 on the season), but missed my upset with the Jaguars (8-9 on the season).

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Wild Card Weekend…

Lock of the Week ➡ Baltimore Ravens (-10.0) over Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are limping into the playoffs on a 4-game losing streak where they’ve averaged only 14 points while allowing the 4th most passing yards to opposing offenses (258.5). The Ravens on the other hand have the most yards (424.9) and 3rd most points (30.5) per game on offense. I know there’s a the “Lamar Jackson stinks in the postseason” narrative, but I don’t think that’ll be an issue this week. Lock in the Ravens.

Upset of the Week ➡ Minnesota Vikings (+1.0) over the Los Angeles Rams

This one is a little more of a gut call than anything else. The Vikings were embarrassed by the Lions in Week 18, but they were on fire before that with the 6th most pass yards (237.8) and 9th most points (25.4) per game on offense, while allowing only the 5th most points on defense (19.5). Matt Stafford surely has the edge in terms of playoff experience, and the Rams did beat the Vikings in the regular season, but the Vikings weren’t expecting Puka Nacua to play that time. They’ll be ready this time and ready to prove they belong. I think the Vikings find a way to win and like the potential for an “upset”.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Wole’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Wole’s Thoughts:

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

Ray’s Picks

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out more of 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:

Chargers at Texans: Even though I’ve thought the Chargers and Jim Harbaugh a bit fraudulent all year, the Texans have been a mess for most of the 2nd half of the season. Take L.A.

Steelers at Ravens: Baltimore is primed for a big Super Bowl running have caught and passed Pittsburgh in the final month of the year. Pittsburgh’s long playoff losing streak continues.

Broncos at Bills: Sean Payton, Bo Nix and Denver deserve all the apologies from doubters like myself. But Josh Allen and Buffalo won’t get caught looking ahead to a potential blockbuster with the Ravens.

Packers at Eagles: Recall that this was a white knuckle win in week 1 for Philadelphia. Green Bay is up and down but would you rather have Jordan Love or Jalen Hurts. Would you rather have the Philly defense or the Green Bay defense. Packers will do just enough to slow down Saquon Barkley and that will give them another 2-7 upset.

Commanders at Buccaneers: This has whoever has the ball last will win sort of vibe. Jayden Daniels adds to his legend with a last second TD and 2-point conversion to win by a point.

Vikings vs. Rams (Glendale, Arizona): The site change probably means more Minnesota fans at the game. But I really don’t trust either side. Aside from the Super Bowl year, Sean McVay’s playoff record is no good and instead of playing his starters a few series he completely rested them, a strategy I strongly disagree with. But then there’s Minnesota who I haven’t believed in all year. And with everything on the line, the Vikings couldn’t stop a great offense and Sam Darnold couldn’t keep up. Take L.A.