Super Wildcard Weekend is here and the NFL begins whittling down playoff contenders in a bid to find this year’s Super Bowl champion.
Gridiron guru Andrew Cunneen breaks down a Sunday night pairing of the Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles (9:30pm) and Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:30am) from the NFC side of the bracket – first up, it’s the city of the brotherly shove…
NFL Playoffs Sunday Night Punt
9:30pm: Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Handicap: Packers +4.5
Saquon Barkley Anytime Touchdown
1:30am: Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Total Points – Over 50.5
Mike Evans Anytime Touchdown
A Multi-Match Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 11/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Handicap – Packers +4.5
I don’t know why people want to doubt Matt LaFleur so much.
Perhaps it’s that Jordan Love hasn’t taken the next step, or because Christian Watson is now injured, or because they’re going on the road to face the league’s best defence.
The Packers have been here before.
Since LaFleur came into this job in 2019, they’ve contested seven postseason games.
In those, they blew out the Cowboys, ran the juggernaut Niners to within three points, lost to them by three the previous year, beat the Rams, lost by less than a touchdown to Tom Brady’s Bucs..
I mean, I could go on and include a win in 2019 against Seattle, but the point is now laboured – he saves his very best for the postseason. We’ll see that again here.
Saquon Barkley Anytime Touchdown
So, what’s the downside to backing Saquon Barkley to score in a season where he hit 2,000 yards?
Well, it’s typically been the Tush Push, Brotherly Shove – whatever you want to call it.
But Hurts is coming back after a concussion. There’s no way they’re giving him the ball a week removed from a brain injury and asking him to hit bodies.
It may be an integral part of their success, but Barkley will almost always get that yard as well – that’s the joy of having a player like him.
Take into account that Green Bay struggle with coverage linebackers and you’ve got yourself a lovely bet in here.
Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Total Points – Over 50.5
The Bucs possess the most fluid passing game in the NFL, and the league’s most energised running back in Bucky Irving.
They’ll never find themselves in an uncompromising situation unless they take a sack – and they possess a top-three tackle pairing, and combine that with Baker Mayfield’s escapability.
Washinton? The one thing that Tampa Bay are not, is fast on the edge.
When Daniels gets the feel of pressure, he’ll escape right and left as the pressure comes from the interior.
These are drive-extending principles and neither defence is very well equipped to stop the other.
This is going to be the game of the weekend.
Mike Evans Anytime Touchdown
No NFL player has had more consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons than Mike Evans. Even year, pundits and fans alike talk about his value going down due to expected decline in his production but it never quite works.
Not only is he their best one-v-one receiver, he’s also their deep threat. When push comes to shove and the Bucs need points – and they will – it will go to number thirteen.
And he’ll oblige. Like he’s always done.
NFL Super Wildcard Weekend Betting Tips
9:30pm: Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Handicap: Packers +4.5
Saquon Barkley Anytime Touchdown
1:30am: Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Total Points – Over 50.5
Mike Evans Anytime Touchdown
- A Multi-Match Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 11/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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