Tampa Bay (5) vs Washington (4)
One of the more odd matchups of the Wildcard Weekend will feature of course Tampa’s Tom Brady on offense but the Bucs strong safety Mike Edwards hopes to slow down the two-headed quarterback in Alex Smith and Taylor Heinicke of Washington.
Edwards was another part of Stoops defense at Kentucky from 2015-18 playing all four years and making 317 tackles and coming up with 10 interceptions. He was a two-time captain as well.
When he was drafted he told the Tampa fans what they were getting.
"“It’s important because I feel like I’m a ball guy. I love the ball. I love to get to the ball and taking away the ball. That’s what I harp on. Getting turnovers. If it’s fumbles or interceptions, whatever it may be. I’m a play-maker so I can help the team out next year as far as taking the ball away. Getting fumbles. Getting interceptions. Whatever it may be but I feel like I’m a play-maker on the back end.”"
Drafted in the third round with the 99th overall pick in 2019 he had a solid first year as a starter, but hasn’t had as much playing time this year. He has two interceptions for 67 yards and recovered a fumble as the Bucs No. 2 safety behind Antonie Winfield Jr.
Tampa would love to somehow make their way through the playoffs and be home to play in the Super Bowl, but that looks to be a rocky road. Brady has looked awful in prime-time games this year but then it is the playoffs and he rises to the occasion. They have the fifth-best odds at 10-1 to win it all.
TV: Sat. Jan. 9, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Spread – Tampa -8
I’ll take Tampa 28-2