In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Bud Light:
Look, I’m not the type to complain about bad football.
But this is Super Wild Card Weekend we are talking about, and I had plenty of hope for fireworks heading into these games.
Instead, this was the reality heading into SNF …
The Texans pummeled the Chargers, 32-12. It was an upset, so some intrigue there, but this game was never close.
The Ravens easily handled the Steelers, 28-14. Baltimore covered the 9-point spread, but we couldn’t even hit the over here (44.5). There was no drama to be found.
The Bills smashed the Broncos, 31-7. We couldn’t clear the over here (48.5), either.
The Eagles squeak past the Packers, 22-10. 46 projected points here, only 32 scored.
But then the Commanders went and pulled off a 23-20 stunner over the Buccaneers (thanks to a miraculous doink at the buzzer!) and totally redeemed Wild Card weekend.
Even better, tonight’s tilt between the Rams and Vikings has all the makings—a tight spread (Minnesota -2.5) and a solid over/under (48)—for another great game.
For more takeaways from yesterday’s action, check out my full recap column below …
What else is in today’s newsletter?
- Pete’s Pick 6: Some light reading for AJB
- Watercooler: Commanders comeback, never in doubt
Wild Card Sunday Takeaways
by Peter Overzet
It's time for Pete's Pick 6—a weekly recap column where I spotlight the best and the worst performances from Sunday's games. In today's edition, we are devoting one bullet to each team who played yesterday.
Let's dig in…
📚️ Inner Excellence: Train your mind for one catch & a W
You know it was a boring game when the biggest highlight was A.J. Brown reading a book on the sideline during the second half.
The book in question? Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy. If you are wondering what it's about … well, it's exactly what you'd expect it would be:
This step-by-step training manual from one of the world's top mental skills coaches will teach you how to train your mind like the very best.
Apparently he brings it to every game–you can listen to him explain the backstory here–but it was particularly funny to see him studying it immediately after Jalen Hurts badly missed him on a fake tush push play.
With only one catch on the day, he certainly showcased way more inner excellence than outer excellence vs. the Packers.
It's a bummer that the holidays have come and gone because this book would have made the ultimate stocking stuffer for the football fan in your life. I guess you'll just have to buy it for yourself like Ian did.
🙏 Jayden Daniels, Mr. Clutch
We asked the question yesterday whether Daniels could continue his heroics in the postseason—a place not typically too friendly to rookie QBs.
The moment was clearly not too big for him as he led the Commanders to an impressive road win in Tampa.
He didn't go nuts (268 yards and 2 TDs passing, 36 yards rushing), but he also showed poise in the pocket during some extremely important drives and didn't make any mistakes.
The Commanders line was under constant siege from the Bucs pass rush, but Daniels remained calm and collected.
Zane Gonzalez will steal the headlines thanks to his doink, but this win was all about Daniels.
He now gets a much tougher test on the road in Detroit next week vs. the NFC's top team. Can't wait.
4 MORE WILD CARD HIGH/LOWLIGHTS
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AROUND THE WATERCOOLER
The latest analysis and insights from our merry band of football nerds:
🤝 Predictions, Projections, and more for the MNF finale. Rams vs Vikings.
🤯 This game took years off Matthew’s life. Never in doubt, right?
👪️ The best player intro yet? Involving the fam is A+.
📷️ An incredible shot … of the Ty Johnson TD.
🤔 Could Mike Tomlin be on the outs? Doesn’t sound like it.
