The Woot and Wye Show: Divisional Round Recap & Conference Championships

With Woot vacationing in Huskisson on the New South Wales South Coast, both episodes of The Woot and Wye Show this week were co-hosted by RJ Ochoa of Inside the Star and Ocho Live. As a Dallas Cowboys expert, RJ Ochoa provided unique perspective on the Dallas Cowboys loss and what the future holds for them in our divisional round recap podcast.

We also discuss on the show Aaron Rodgers’ legacy, that third and twenty play, Brock Osweiler’s historically terrible play, Seattle sulking, Eric Fisher’s holding penalty, why James Harrison is an alien, how a Kevin Peirre-Louis holding penalty changed a playoff game and why Travis Kelce is a dick.

https://vine.co/v/53UOguDqjQ2

In the second show of the week we preview the two Conference Championship Games, both of which look to be blockbusters. Also on the podcast we discuss Adrian Peterson’s future, Kyle Shanahan reportedly accepting the 49ers Head Coaching job and the Colts’ failure in trying to land Jon Gruden.

The NFC Championship Game features the likely 2016/17 NFL MVP in Matt Ryan taking on arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Aaron Rodgers. This game opened up with a game total of 60.5 points by Vegas, making it the highest game total in NFL playoff history. Vegas, as always, nails it because we expect a shoot out. This is the first game since 1970 that features 2 teams who have scored 30 or more points in their last five games. The last time they met the Falcons were victorious 33-32.

Both Ochoa & Wye believe that the quarterbacks will have big games and this game could ultimately be decided by a minor playing making a play on special teams or forcing a freak turnover. The key match up in this game no one is talking about is Vic Beasley against Bryan Bulaga. The Falcons need to get pressure on Aaron Rodgers. Both us are taking the Falcons outright because we trust their overall offense more with that running game but we think it will be close and are leaning Green Bay against the spread.

The AFC Championship Game will see the New England Patriots finally play a real opponent in the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots have had a dream run facing a clown car of crap quarterbacks for most of the season. The best quarterback they have beaten is Andy Dalton. The last time they faced an elite quarterback: a loss at home to Russell Wilson. The Steelers have also had a relatively easy schedule but are coming off an impressive win in Arrowhead, well as impressive as a six field goal performance can be.

The Steelers offensive line allowed only 3 total pressures on Ben Roethlisberger against the Chiefs dominant defensive line.

Ninety is the magic number in this game. The Steelers are undefeated this year when LeVeon Bell rushes for 90 or more rushing yards but the New England Patriots haven’t allowed a 90 yard rusher in 24 straight games. The Steelers offensive line has been dominant down the stretch and only allowed 3 pressures last week against one of the best defensive lines in the league. They have the edge up front against this Patriots front seven. If Bill Belichick does what Bill Belichick does and shuts down an opposing teams best weapon then the Steelers will need a big game from Antonio Brown against Malcolm Butler. Brown has 15 catches for 230 yards a TD in two games while be shadowed by Butler.

LISTEN TO THE WOOT AND WYE SHOW

Even though the Steelers defense has been playing much better down the stretch, allowing 17.3 points per game in their seven-game winning streak to end the regular season and 14 points per game in the playoffs, you trust that Tom Brady and this offense will put up plenty of points like they have done all year. Ochoa thinks the Steelers will win this game outright while Wye prefers the Steelers against the spread with New England winning by a field goal. 

We finish the show making our William Hill Lock of the Week. What is yours this week?

Have your say on any of the issues discussed on the podcast by listening and tweeting @wootandwye. You can listen to our show by clicking on the link above or alternatively you can listen on: