The Tribune

WEEK 17

AWARDS

• The “Sometimes You Deserve That Lifetime Achievement Award” Award presented by Leonardo DiCaprio - Cam Newton. People conveniently forget that Cam came into the NFL breaking records as a rookie and he hasn’t slowed down. After surviving a life-altering car crash and losing his No.1 option in training camp, Cam produced the best season of his career and nearly went undefeated throwing to Ted Ginn.

• The “I’m Better Than The Last Thing You Saw From Me” Award presented by Quentin Tarantino - New York Jets. The Jets had an opportunity to make the playoffs and stick it to Rex Ryan at the same time. They did neither. What an awful way to limp into the off-season, realising that Ryan Fitzpatrick was Ryan Fitzpatrick all along.

• The “Bottom Falls Out Eventually” Award presented by Charlie Sheen - Johnny Manziel. How many chances is he going to have? Well not in Cleveland, they’re done with him, but Manziel is going to get another shot at a starting job somewhere and we still actually have no clue whether he’s capable of being an NFL quarterback. Also LeBron’s marketing agency just dropped him and LeBron will believe in anything...even the Cavs. I’m disappointed in myself for spending this many words on Johnny Manziel.

THE WILD CARD ROUND

Chiefs at Texans

RENALDO: The Chiefs started the season 1-5 and their star running back got hurt. The Texans started the season 1-4 and their star running back got hurt. There’s nothing that makes sense in this league. We’ve arrived at a point at a playoff weekend where Alex Smith is probably the most trustworthy and reliable option. I was all in with the Texans and the Brandon Weeden quest for spite and trolling Jerry Jones...until I heard that Brian Hoyer’s back and Weeden goes to the bench. There’s nothing fun about Brian Hoyer.

CHIEFS over Texans

SANNIE: While my gut is telling me to go with the birthplace of King Bey (Beyonce), Alex Smith is kind of cute (more than kind of).

CHIEFS over Texans

Steelers at Bengals

RENALDO: You’ve got to love a game filled with divisional storylines, a biblical level of hatred between the opposing teams and gratuitous shots of Katherine Webb-McCarron. Marvin Lewis isn’t telling us something. Sure AJ McCarron is getting all the first team reps but Andy Dalton’s cast is off. This is setting up for a finish that only Vince McMahon could write.

STEELERS over

Bengals

SANNIE: I have been faithful to the Bengals all season, I won’t change that (not yet at least).

BENGALS over Steelers

Seahawks at Vikings

SANNIE: Russell

Wilson.

SEAHAWKS over

Vikings

RENALDO: Guys, just give in. She’s right and that’s all she needs. Russell Wilson. I guess if you want to say some football stuff - Kam Chancellor, Marshawn Lynch and Russell Okung are all back so the Seahawks are healthy again for the first time in a long time.

SEAHAWKS over

Vikings

Packers at Racial Slurs

RENALDO: Games like this one is why the NFL is unfair. Everything I’ve watched over the past few months has indicated that the Green Pay Packers are an average team and they’ve made Aaron Rodgers look like a slightly above average quarterback. Meanwhile the Racial Slurs confidently strode into the playoffs looking like a team that belongs in the conversation. Kirk Cousins is the better quarterback headed into this game. The Racial Slurs are the better team. Sound logic and reasoning would lead any progressive thinking person to take the Racial Slurs at home. But Aaron Rodgers still has Olivia Munn...and she’s Psylocke.

PACKERS over Racial Slurs

SANNIE: So after last week and not realising that Robert Griffin doesn’t play (because no one told me), I realised I don’t know anything about the Redskins, at least I know who Aaron Rodgers is (please at least tell me he is playing).

PACKERS over

Racial Slurs