NFL Wild Card Weekend is in the book, with just Vikings vs. Rams remaining tonight before we turn the page to the Divisional Round. So, Marshall Newhouse of Pregame PowerUp joined Monday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to share his thoughts on everything we saw this weekend.
The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the sports media news cycle not just because of their winning performance against the Green Bay Packers but also because of star wide receiver AJ Brown pulling out the book Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy and reading it on the sidelines. The viral moment has landed the book atop the Amazon best-seller list and provided a great gift to Philadelphia-area teachers.
A.J. Brown being caught on camera with a book on the sideline is going to be such a gift for Philly-area teachers. 📖 pic.twitter.com/4dSfzMwE0k
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) January 13, 2025
Despite Brown being recognized for his reading ability, the Eagles’ offense came out slow, with some questioning whether they should be worried about Philly going forward. Newhouse explained that there was some rust and moments where the Eagles struggled to get things going. Jalen Hurts, who is recovering from a concussion, missed some throws and made some bad decisions. Ultimately, Marshall conceded that this Eagles team is not as explosive as we are used to seeing and expects the Eagles to figure things out. But make no mistake about it: Saquon Barkley and the offensive line are the engines that make this offense go. Although the Eagles were productive, Newhouse believes that Hurts will have to play lights out if the Eagles want to beat teams like the Detroit Lions and the best of what the NFC has to offer.
Although certain players and teams stood out during Wild Card Weekend, Newhouse said Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers impressed him the most. He brought MVP debate of Jackson vs. Josh Allen and explained that Lamar had distanced himself beyond the expectations that some had for him entering the season. Newhouse highlighted how much Jackson is elevating his team, pointing to a viral clip of a zone-read play. Despite Derrick Henry taking the explosive run, three Pittsburgh defenders were so focused on respecting Lamar’s play fake that they were nearly off the screen to the left. That viral clip reinforces that Jackson, as Newhouse mentioned, is playing at an incredible level right now.
Who stood out the most to @MNewhouse73 during Wild Card Weekend?
“It's got to be Lamar, you know, we've been talking about he and Josh Allen's jockeying for this MVP vote towards the end of the season…But Lamar has I think distanced himself from playing above what we already… pic.twitter.com/XU6x3978Vl
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) January 13, 2025
In other Wild Card action, the Houston Texans took advantage of the bulletin board material Rex Ryan provided when he said the Chargers were going to be on a bye week when they faced the Texans. It is safe to say Rex wrote a check that the Chargers could not cash, with the Texans going on to a 32-12 victory. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is under the microscope after being intercepted four times by the Texans defense. Newhouse shared that the Texans’ pass rush created chaos and was VERY disruptive to the Chargers’ offense. For all the acclaim that Justin Herbert has received for being a top-five player at his position and despite the coaching challenges that Herbert has endured, Marshall says we have reached the “show us” stage of Herbert’s development. The Chargers QB is unfortunately building a reputation of not performing with the lights are brightest.
Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels continues to impress as he led the Washington Commanders to their first playoff win in almost two decades, topping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20. For all the talk about Daniels’ ability on the field, the respect he is gaining for veteran leaders is impressive. Newhouse praised Daniels for his poise and performance, highlighting his incredible ability in the pocket and the respect he commands in the locker room. He pointed to a postgame moment with Bobby Wagner and Terry McLaurin, where they showed reverence for Daniels, which was rare for someone so early in their career.
Newhouse also credited Daniels for shaping Washington’s culture under Dan Quinn’s leadership, carving out a spot for himself as a lead dog. While a rib injury briefly slowed his dynamic play, Daniels has rebounded with the help of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, putting him in a position to deliver on short-yardage situations and critical downs. Newhouse highlighted Daniels’ impressive bootleg play, turning what should have been a loss into a game-winning moment, further showcasing the kind of plays only Daniels can make.
Shifting to tonight’s final game of an extended Wild Card Weekend, which was moved to Arizona due to the wildfires in Los Angeles, the Minnesota Vikings will take on the Los Angeles Rams. The Vikings are 2.5-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook. Newhouse believes this game will come down to Sam Darnold and how he handles the pressure from the Rams’ defense. In the Vikings’ regular-season finale against Detroit, the Lions created a muddy pocket, causing Darnold to panic despite having open receivers. This game will test his ability to adapt and perform under the same intense pressure.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: NFL Wild Card Weekend Recap, Surprises & Takeaways + Mike’d Up + Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl Win
Hour 2: LeBron James on the Lakers, Playing with Bronny and Bryce Committing to Arizona + Marshall Newhouse on Vikings vs. Rams Wild Card Finale
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information
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