The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE season is done and to celebrate my last place finish in our weekly “pick-em” challenge here at the Tribune I channelled my all time favourite football related rant.

At 11-5 in Week 17, rounding out my totals at 148-108 for the year, I have left so much to desire.

Here is my variation of the famed Jim Mora press conference rant after his 2001 Colts lost 40-21 to the San Francico 49ers.

Well, I’ll start off by saying this: do not blame my season on any strategy, ok? I don’t care who you pick against - whether it’s a high school student, a non-football fan or even your uninterested grand-mother - much less seasoned NFL experts like I did.

When you pick against the Carolina Panthers five times in the first seven weeks, 10 times over the course of the entire season - you aren’t going to beat anybody I just talked about.

Anybody! All right?

And this year was a disgraceful performance in my opinion. I threw this season away.

I gave it away by doing that. I gave them the friggin’ season. In my opinion, that sucked.

Ah. You know?

You can’t make bad picks like that. Holy crap! I don’t know who the hell I think I am when I do things like I did. Unbelievable. Bad picks all year. I thought the Dolphins could make a run. I’ve had more bad weeks than good weeks this year. That might be a “Pick-Em” record!

And I’ve still got to show up to the office, sitting two seats down from Sannie - one can only imagine how stressful this is.

This is pitiful! I mean, it’s absolutely pitiful to perform like this. Pitiful!

• With that said, here are my NFL Wild Card Picks:

Kansas City Chiefs

(11-5) @ Houston

Texans (9-7)

The Chiefs are heading into the playoffs as the hottest team in the league, winners of their last 10 games. With defence built to stop the run on the way to the quarterback the Chiefs certainly have what it takes to make a deep run this post-season.

All season long I have been high on the Houston Texans, often bragging and boasting about the playmakers they offer on both sides of the ball. Heading into the league’s second season my mindset still hasn’t wavered - the Texans are for real.

This match-up will come down to the running games of both teams, and it is there that I expect the Kansas City Chiefs to make the separation. It is safe to expect good numbers from D’eandre Hopkins and the Texans offence, but that Texans defensive unit might not have enough to slow down the opposing team. Pay attention to the third quarter as both teams are known for starting out the second half of games flat, the winner of that quarter could very well win this game.

HEART: TEXANS

MIND: CHIEFS

PICK - CHIEFS

Pittsburgh Steelers

(10-6) @ Cincinnati

Bengals (12-4)

There has to be some legal motion the Bengals can file against the Steelers. In fact, the team has played well all season in hopes of avoiding their division rivals in the playoffs. But guess who they have to play this week.

Andy Dalton is still out for the Bengals and the Steelers are entering this match-up having been in playoff mode for the last three weeks.

HEART: STEELERS

MIND: STEELERS

PICK: STEELERS

Seattle Seahawks

(10-6) @ Minnesota

Vikings (11-5)

The Vikings are the 2015-2016 NFC North division winners, as a reward for that achievement they get a shot at arguably the best team in the league. Watch-out!

While I am completely confident in the skills of Vikings star running-back Adrian Peterson, the effort put forth by the teams overall offensive unit isn’t always that great.

Second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has a lot to prove in this matchup, he is playing at home so the crowd is behind him. However, just in front of him is the tough, eager and angry Legion of Boom!

HEART: VIKINGS

MIND: SEAHAWKS

PICK: SEAHAWKS

Green Bay Packers

(10-6) @ Washington

Redskins (9-7)

Aaron Rodgers has carried his Packers to the playoffs, in what may be the most uncertain match-up of wildcard weekend. A-Rod has a chance to take them one step closer to the Super Bowl. It’s no secret that the Redskins can be beat, it’s no secret that they are susceptible to the pass. This weekend they will be exposed and have to find a way to slow down that Packers offensive unit.

HEART: REDSKINS

MIND: PACKERS

PICK: REDSKINS