Instant Hippo Thoughts – Wild Card Weekend, 2024 Season

YEEEHHHHHAAAAAWWWWW, Wild Card Weekend means SIX games now, not that they all lived up to any sort of billing.

Very briefly recapping Saturday, the 500s started horribly, then flipped on a dime and ass-blasted Clippers du Merde, 32-12.  A Scorigami and everything!  Houston springing to life could have maybe inspired the Yinzers to shake off their haze…but it didn’t.  Ratbirds led 21-zip at the half, and cruise controlled to a 28-14 home win.

So, we had early Sunday action in WNY, and my Donks (WOO!!) surprisingly came out swinging, taking a 7-nil lead on the opening drive of the game.  Denver calls the fly route to Franklin once every single game, and he finally fucking CAUGHT one of ’em!

It would…not be a harbinger of things to come.  Denver did hold BUF to a field goal on their opening drive, and despite being outgained and out-possessioned dramatically over the rest of the opening 30 – it was a manageable 10-7 at the half.  Both defensive coordinators really called masterful games, keeping the quartered backs mostly within the pocket and taking away their favoUrite little routes/plays.   But one QB is capable of rapidly going through all his progressions and making whatever play there is to be made – and his name ain’t Bo Nix.  We’d end with Bollo del Verdad taking three knees inside the DEN 10, for a 31-7 final.  No rage from me, there was no path to victory here whatsoever.  The team fought, especially on defense, and didn’t look fazed by the occasion.  Buffalo is just a lot better, and it showed.  No big whoop.

Bills Mafia will host Lamar! and company next week, and that will be some must-watch shit.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, caught an early break (fumble on opening kickoff), and this WOULD be a harbinger of Green Bay’s doom.  7-0 was almost as close as they’d get the rest of the way.  I mean, very briefly they cut the margin to 16-10, but the Iggles just managed to pay attention long enough to shut the door, and shut it HARD.  It was a very solid defensing performance, but Hurts’ passing game was every bit as fugly as Jordan Love’s.  And Love at least had the excuse of ded receivers all over the pitch.  But when you have Saquon on your team, you’ve always got a chip and a chair, and he churned out all the offense Philly really needed.  For THIS round, anyway.  22-10 is your final.

Time to put one’s caffeine intake to the test, because the nightcap was a proper FITBAW match.  Back and forth we went, trading leads – until Dan Quinn got the best run blitz of the century, stuffing Bucky Irving on 3rd and inches and forcing a MRSA Men placement attempt.  It was good, but now we are just tied at 20, setting Jayden Daniels up to bleed the last 4-and-change so the Commies could win on a short(ish) placement of their own.  He did, and they did, 23-20.  There was much rejoicing within the Comintern.  Washington now rolls on to Detroit, where Henry Ford’s strike-breakers await.  Heady times, Proletariat.

Tune in tonight, to see how badly Touch of Downs torches RRRRRRRRRRRRRRAM IT!!, en route to the DET/MIN clash almost everyone wants.