The Post Season Pint Returns & Our Picks Are In!

👋 Welcome back to the chaos!

Leesl: Well, here we are. The final four. Andy, before we talk about the games, we need to address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the Bear and the Cowboy in the room. 🐻🤠

I’ve officially opened a sign-up sheet for NFL Grief Counseling. My Cowboys have been gone so long I’ve started watching old VHS tapes of the ’90s just to feel a pulse, and after your Bears’ heartbreaking overtime exit last week… well, I saw you staring at the toaster for twenty minutes this morning. 🍞👀 We need help. Please send tissues, soft blankets, and maybe some team merch.

Andy: I don’t know what you’re talking about, Leesl. I’m definitely not in grief; I’m in a period of reflection. 🧘‍♂️Using my intuition, I can see it was actually a surprisingly successful season. Sure, it was a disappointing end, but holding the Rams to 17 points was a win for the defense! We’re building something! 🏗️ Besides, I’m up by a game in our picks, so it clearly shows who has the better instincts. 🎯

Leesl: You’re using words like reflection and intuition? Goodness, Andy, did you start watching the Hallmark Channel when I wasn’t looking? 📺🎄This is classic denial. You’re talking about the Bears playoff loss like it’s a heartwarming montage where the town rallies to save the family farm. You certainly weren’t reflecting when you were yelling at the TV last Sunday; you were undergoing a sports-induced breakdown!

But fine, if you want to believe that its intuition that leads you to the safe picks, go right ahead. I see you’ve put your money on New England and Seattle. I am officially acknowledging that my post season pain is real and I’m coping by letting go of logic. I’m betting on the drama of the underdogs!

SEASON STANDINGS: “Surprisingly Successful!”

Leesl: 185-95-1 | Andy: 186-94-1

Conference	Leesl	Andy
NE @ DEN ⚔️	DEN	NE
LAR @ SEA ⚔️	LAR	SEA

Let’s Dive In – Intuition vs the Underdogs!

🏈 AFC Championship: New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Andy: Look, I’m definitely following my intuition here. Drake Maye has the “hot hand,” and the Patriots are clicking at the perfect time. Yes, Bo Nix being out is a bummer, but football is a game of momentum, and New England has all of it. Jarrett Stidham hasn’t thrown a meaningful pass in two years—asking him to beat this Patriots defense in the AFC Championship is like asking for a Hallmark movie ending that just isn’t going to happen. 💂‍♂️

Leesl: You can call it intuition; I call it ignoring the “Mile High Voodoo.” 💀 Andy, the Patriots have played Denver four times in the playoffs, and they are 0-4. They have literally never won a postseason game in that thin air. Denver’s defense is still the #1 unit in the league, and they just forced five turnovers against Josh Allen. I don’t need Stidham to be a hero; I just need him to hand the ball off while the Denver defense makes life miserable for even a star like Maye. History is on my side!

🏈 NFC Championship: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

Andy: This is where my “reflection” pays off. Seattle is the #1 seed for a reason. That “12th Man” crowd is going to be deafening, and their defense is built to stop exactly what the Rams do. 🔊 Sam Darnold has been efficient all year, and even if he’s a little banged up, the Seahawks’ run game will carry them. It’s the safe, logical pick for a team that has looked like the best in the NFC all season.

Leesl: “Safe and logical” is exactly why you’re only up by one game, Andy! The Rams just ended your Bears’ season—you should know better than anyone how dangerous Matthew Stafford is right now. He’s an MVP finalist, he’s healthy, and he already dropped 450+ yards on Seattle once this year. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold is nursing an oblique injury. If he can’t move comfortably, that Rams pass rush is going to feast. I’m betting on the veteran experience over the “safe” home favorite. 🐏

Sip, Score, Repeat!

Leesl: Since I’m leaning into the “voodoo” of Mile High and looking to finally pull even in our standings, I’m cracking open a Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA. It’s a bold Colorado brew with a 9% ABV—just enough “chaos juice” to fuel my belief in these underdogs. If the Broncos and Rams pull this off, I’m officially the head of the household again. What about you, Andy? Something sweet and bubbly to match your Hallmark-level optimism? 🥂

Andy: Very cute, Leesl. But I’ll leave the “bubbly” to you. I’m sticking with a classic: Samuel Adams Boston Lager. 🍺 It’s reliable, it’s balanced, and it matches my New England pick perfectly. You can talk about “voodoo” and “logic-tossing” all you want, Leesl, but at the end of the day, the scoreboard doesn’t care about your high-ABV chaos. My one-game lead is safe. See you at kickoff—try not to spill that IPA when the Seahawks clinch the NFC!

Join the Support Group!

Leesl: Alright, we’ve made our peace (or at least, Andy has “reflected” on his). Now it’s your turn. We’re clearly a house divided, so we need some tie-breaking votes from the sidelines.

Are you riding with the “Chaos Underdogs” or playing it safe with “Hallmark Intuition”?

Drop a comment below and let us know: 👇👇👇

1. Who is your pick for the Super Bowl? (And are you currently in “NFL Grief Counseling” like us?)
2. What’s your Post-Season Pint for Sunday? Are you going bold with a Voodoo Ranger or keeping it classic with a Sam Adams?

Andy: Choose wisely. There’s only one game separating us, and I’m not planning on letting that lead slip. See you in the comments!