SneakerReporter NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview & Predictions

SneakerReporter NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview & Predictions

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Houston Texans vs Cleveland Browns

 

Houston found a good one in CJ Stroud as he led the team back to the playoffs to take on the Browns this weekend. Both teams are coming off hot endings of the season as the browns were winners of 4 out of their last 5 games and the Texans winners of 3 out of 5 of their last games.

CJ Stroud proved he was ready for the moment and the Texans trusted him all season. He pass for 4108 yards and 23 touchdowns and 5 interceptions all year long, he could’ve broken the record for most yards by a rookie if he didn’t miss two games due to an injury. The Texans will be without rookie receiver Tank Dell who was having an incredible year until he broke his leg, but Nico Collins has been holding them together making big play after big play.

The Browns will be going out with Joe Flacco at the helm of things. Joe Flacco signed as Deshaun Watson was put out for the year again with yet another injury, and in his time he has looked like the Joe Flacco that everyone knows and loves, his veteran presence has been beneficial for the team as he will be calm minded going into another playoff game.

 

 

Score Prediction: Texans 27-Browns 17

 

 

Kansas City Chiefs vs Miami Dolphins

 

Both teams are coming off an interesting year, where the Chiefs have looked off on the offensive side of the ball, and the Dolphins started out hot but quickly have cooled off these past few weeks. Both teams will be in for a freezing day at Arrowhead Stadium Saturday night with a weather reaching 8 degrees and windchill reaching -30.

How much gas does Mahomes have in the tank, he has played well all year but hasn’t been able to rely on the receivers including Travis Kelce as he has played well below his standards all year. If the Chiefs want to stay in this game they will need players to catch passes from Mahomes.

Tua and the Dolphins are coming off two straight losses and one being a blowout by the Ravens, the offense has seem to struggle recently and will need a wake up call on this frozen night tomorrow. Tua will need to play his best game of his career if they want to beat the Chiefs.

 

Score Prediction: Chiefs 17-Dolphins 28

 

 

Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers

 

The Steelers will be without TJ Watt this weekend and the Steelers team has to be one of if not the hardest team to watch right now as they don’t have much going for them. Josh Allen is finally playing the way he’s been expected to be playing. This matchup could get ugly quick and may be a long cold day for the Steelers

Josh Allen and company are 5-0 in their last 5 games and they have been the leagues hottest team since their loss to the Eagles. This will be a snowy and cold game and you’d have to expect with no TJ Watt on the defensive side for the Steelers the Bills will try to run the ball down the Steelers throat.

Pittsburgh needs a miracle simple as that. Mason Rudolph will be leading the Steelers Monday, if the Steelers want to win this game they will need to take risks, and control the time of possession in order to stay in this game.

 

Score Prediction: Bills 24-Steelers 10

Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers

Dak and company have been playing the some of the most complete football all year and they’re real contenders, if they can get over the hump of recent playoff struggles they could go far this year. Jordan Love finished the regular season as the full starter for the Packers and didn’t disappoint, he will be trying his hardest Sunday to help the Packers take down Dallas.

Ceedee Lamb broke Michael Irvin’s record in week 18 for the most receiving yards and receptions in a year by a Cowboy. Dallas will need a big game from Dak and Lamb to help take down the Packers. As they’ve done all year long look for the Cowboys defensive to take risks and jump passes in hope of turnovers.

Jordan Love will need a perfect game for them to keep up with the Cowboys. They will need him to keep the ball out of harms way as the Cowboys live off turning over the other team. Aaron Jones and if AJ Dillon play you’d have to imagine the run game will be relied on heavily in this game.

 

Score Prediction: Cowboys 31-Packers 14

 

 

Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford will be coming back to where it all began to take on the hungry Lions and Jared Goff will be taking on the team that gave up on him. This will be an entertaining game as Stafford looks to end the Lions season and Goff is looking to show the Rams that he may have been worth keeping.

Detroit has played some of the best football this year and it’s hard not to root for this team as they deserve to be here after a hard impressive season, Goff was second in the league in passing yards but at times made some questionable decisions, and St. Brown and Goff will look to torch the Rams Sunday night in a must see game.

Stafford has the opportunity to play spoiler for the Lions, he’s admitted saying he has love and respect for the city and the organization but Sunday night all that will be out the window and he will do everything in his power to keep his teams season alive.

 

Score Prediction Lions 35-Rams 21

 

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Philadelphia Eagles

 

Baker may have found a home in Tampa Bay after an unorthodox start to his career in Cleveland he has made some impressive strides this year leading the Buccaneers to the playoffs. Jalen and the Eagles are in a predicament as they haven’t been able to win close games or close out games while winning this year. Something about this Eagles team has been off since starting 10-1 and potentially even before that.

Baker Mayfield will look to get his second playoff win of his career Monday night as he takes on the Eagles who have struggled to stop the run over the past few games, so the run game may be the most effective way to control time of possession and slow down the game.

Jalen Hurts has to play better if he wants to have another late playoff push again, AJ Brown is OUT on Monday with a knee injury but should add DaVonta Smith and Darius Slay back in the lineup, the team needs to rally around each-other to leave Tampa with a win.

 

Score Prediction: Buccaneers 20-Eagles 27

Jan 13, 2024 No Comments
Rudy Gobert & The Minnesota Timberwolves Defeated Portland (116-93)

Rudy Gobert & The Minnesota Timberwolves Defeated Portland (116-93)

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The Portland Trail Blazers are coming into this game against the Minnesota Timberwolves following a back to back where they lost by 62. The Timberwolves played a tough game in Boston without Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert.

Tonight Rudy Gobert reminded everyone how dominant he can be in the paint. Rudy was able to set the tone in this game against Portland as he grabbed rebound after rebound and had about 5 slam dunks. The best dunk of the night from Rudy came from the lob from Anthony Edwards where he had to reach way back to get it. The crowd and his teammates went crazy for that. On the night Rudy Gobert finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns had himself a nasty dunk as well on Badji that was crazy. KAT has been aggressive to the paint on this stretch of games and it has put the Wolves in a great position. KAT has been special inside and out and tonight he was able to put that on full display against a Portland team that had no answer for the big men without Ayton.

Naz Reid was able to lead the bench in scoring with 14 points and he was an instant offense boost tonight. It was clear that the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t have an answer for the bigs of Minnesota tonight. The great thing about this win was the fact that Anthony Edwards was able to just be in full playmaker mode as he only took 9 shots and finished with 9 points. When your best player only has 9 points and you were up by 36 points at one point thats very impressive.

The Portland Trail Blazers are a young team and they have some time to grow as a unit. They had a couple of bright spots tonight like Simons, Henderson, Camara, and Reath. The Timberwolves have been on a mission all year and Portland ran into Minnesota’s get right game. The leading scorer for the Portland Trail Blazers was Reath he was able to make some good plays in the paint but the Timberwolves slowed down Simons/Henderson on the night.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be facing the LA Clippers next as the Clips are coming in winning 17 of the last 20 games. It should make for a serious Western Conference matchup in Minnesota on Sunday. Look for Paul George and Anthony Edwards to duel it out together.

 

Photo Credit: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images

Jan 12, 2024 No Comments
New Nike LeBron 21 Colorway unveiled in Youth Sizes

New Nike LeBron 21 Colorway unveiled in Youth Sizes

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The Nike LeBron 21 line has been receiving more colorways as of late but this time around the grade school sizes will get its own exclusive colorway in a “Ice” themed scheme. 

This LeBron 21 colorway has hues of blues throughout the sneaker, a light blue on the upper and a darker shade of blue on the midsole and outsole areas. The LeBron and Nike branding can be seen in a dark blue as well. It’s unlikely these will be available in adult sizing only in youth sizes it’s rumored to be available.

This LeBron 21 colorway will likely be available for $170 USD at select few retailers like Foot Locker, Nike, Finish Line and Dick Sporting Goods. For now take an official look down below as we await a release date.

Jan 12, 2024 No Comments
Curry 4 Low Flotro “Bruce Lee-Water” Official Look

Curry 4 Low Flotro “Bruce Lee-Water” Official Look

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Under Armour is slowly bringing back the Under Armour Curry 4 Low but with a new twist with the “flow” technology. When the Curry 4 originally released it had no “Flow Technology” but since Curry won his fourth championship they’ve brought back that particular model in high top form and low top form with its newest technology. 

This Curry 4 low Flotro “Dark Water” is part of the Curry Bruce Lee collection that has been slowing releasing throughout this month. They previously released one curry 11 colorway part of the Bruce Lee collection with two more on the way and also one SlipSpeed Under Armour casual shoe. This Curry 4 Low Flotro Bruce Lee “Dark Water” is on theme with the “Earth”, “Fire”, “Wind” and “Air” theme which have all been themes on some of the shoes that have released in the collection. This pair has water patterns near the toe box area and Flotro technology.

While no official release date has been announced it’s likely these will release fairly soon with a retail price of $130 USD. For now take an official look down below.

Jan 11, 2024 No Comments
Jordan Zion 3 “Glow” Official Look

Jordan Zion 3 “Glow” Official Look

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The Jordan Zion 3 “Glow” is set to be released very soon. The Zion 3 has been one of Jordan’s brand underrated sneaker models of the year. 

This colorway is pure dominantly a cream/white color with a black tongue, black laces, and a black sock liner. The most unique part of the sneaker is if given enough sunlight the shoe glows in the dark, making it one of the most anticipated Zion 3 colorways to release yet. It also features formula 23 cushioning which is seen on The Luka Doncic line. 

No official release date has been given yet for this colorway of the Zion 3, but for now take an official look down below.

Jan 10, 2024 No Comments
First Look At the Adidas Harden Vol.9

First Look At the Adidas Harden Vol.9

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Adidas and James Harden are just about wrapping up with the Harden Vol. 7 colorways and are expected to launch the Harden Vol. 8 very soon. Harden has been seen wearing his eighth signature shoe since joining the Los Angeles Clippers. But with the Harden Vol. 8 not even released worldwide yet, it seems that there are already photos of the Harden Vol. 9 all over the sneaker community.

The Harden Vol. 9 seems to have a very futuristic design to it compared to the Harden Vol. 7 but the Harden Vol. 9 seems to have the same foam technology as the Harden Vol. 8 and Newly introduced Adidas AE 1. While nothing has been confirmed as of yet it seems like this Harden Vol. 9 is very early in development and could be subject to change. 

While the Harden Vol. 9 is still far from releasing, Adidas surely plans to release many exciting colorways of the Harden Vol. 8 over the course of 2024. 

Jan 9, 2024 No Comments