This past weekend reminded you why playoff football is different. Records matter less. Experience matters more. And mistakes get magnified.
You could see it right away — the teams that stayed calm, protected the ball, and leaned on who they are moved on. The ones that tried to get cute or fell behind early? They’re packing bags.
Now as we head into this next round, the picture’s getting clearer.
What Last Weekend Told Us
• Experience wins in January.
Veteran quarterbacks and teams that have been here before didn’t panic. They adjusted. That’s not coaching talk — that’s real.
• Defense still travels.
Cold weather, hostile environments, short weeks — defense keeps you alive. Teams that couldn’t get stops didn’t last long.
• Close games are decided late.
Every matchup came down to execution in the fourth quarter. One bad throw, one missed assignment, one drive you don’t finish — that’s the season.
Looking Ahead to This Weekend
Here’s how I see it shaking out.
Bills vs. Broncos
Buffalo’s been here too many times to let Denver hang around.
Prediction: Bills win — experience and firepower late.
49ers vs. Seahawks
This one’s tough because Seattle’s dangerous, but San Francisco knows how to close.
Prediction: 49ers win — physicality wears Seattle down.
Texans vs. Patriots
Houston’s fun, but New England knows how to play playoff football.
Prediction: Patriots win — discipline and defense.
Rams vs. Bears
Chicago’s season’s been impressive, but this is where the Rams’ experience shows.
Prediction: Rams win — quarterback play late makes the difference.
Big Picture
Nothing I saw last weekend surprised me — and that’s the point.
The playoffs don’t reward potential.
They reward execution, composure, and teams that know exactly who they are.
That’s the lesson for everyone watching — including the Saints.
This is what you’re building toward.
This is the standard.
We’ll see who keeps rising… and who blinks.
Who Dat.
— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank