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Picking Your 2025 Divisional Round Winners by Better Uni

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Good morning, Uni Watchers. It’s Friday — we made it!

In a surprise move last night, the Chicago Cubs unveiled their new City Connect uniforms for 2025 — I’ll have full coverage of that later this morning. But first…

Last Friday I began my annual rite of picking NFL Playoff game winners, by better uniform, against the spread. I usually end up slightly better than .500 (7-6), but I had a couple 8-5 seasons back to back as well.

Generally I start out well, often going 4-2 (once 5-1) in the Wild Card round, before fading back as the playoffs wear on. For this year’s Wild Card round, I lost Chargers/Texans, won Steelers/Ravens, won Bills/Broncos, lost Packers/Eagles, lost Commanders/Buccaneers, and finally, won Rams/Vikings. So I start out 3-3 this time around.

After a pretty great looking slate of games last weekend, tomorrow’s and Sunday’s matchups won’t nearly be as nice. All four games will feature at least one team in same color pants and socks, two teams will be almost icy white, but thankfully, two of the games will have home teams in their best uniforms, so at least those will be easy picks. The other two games? Well…let’s have a look.

• • • • •
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2025

Texans vs. Chiefs

Time: 4:30 pm ET
TV: ESPN

SPREAD: CHIEFS -7.5

Considering how the Texans could dress for this game in Kansas City, it’s not the worst combo they could wear. But this trend to wear as much white as possible was never a good one, and hopefully will fade away sooner rather than later. If the Texans would just wear navy (or even better, red) socks, this would be a much tighter uniform matchup. But no matter what the Texans wear, their uniform pales in comparison to the greatness of the KC uniform. The Chiefs seriously want to become the first team to win three straight Supes, and their quest starts tomorrow. This is a hands-down easy pick.

THE PICK AGAINST THE SPREAD: Chiefs giving 7.5 points

__________
Commanders vs. Lions

Time: 8:00 pm
TV: FOX

SPREAD: LIONS -8.5

As of late last night, the Lions still hadn’t made the official announcement on their uniform, but I am 100% certain it’ll be the good luck Blueberries (aka Monolulu Blue). Which means this is going to be an ug-lee looking game, especially under the less-than-stellar Ford Field lighting. Under almost any other circumstance, I’d be picking against the Lions, even if they’re undefeated in them, as I just don’t like that look (although, somewhat surprisingly, it’s grown on me over the season). If the pants had stripes, like the previous Blueberry set, that would help a lot. But tomorrow night the Lions are playing the Commanders, who are running back the look in which they doinked out a win over the Buccaneers — the dreaded burgundy helmet and white jersey over burgundy yoga pants. Honestly, I’d rather see the Commanders in full mono-burgundy than to break it up like they are. I like this look even less than the Lions’ — so by dint of being the lesser of two evils, I will pick Detroit.

THE PICK AGAINST THE SPREAD: Lions giving 8.5 points

__________
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2025

Rams vs. Eagles

Time: 3:00 pm
TV: NBC

SPREAD: EAGLES -6

Sunday starts off with another pair of teams going mono below the waist, although the Rams wore royal/white/royal/royal on the road more than any other combo, and of course the Eagles have gone midnight green/midnight green/white/white in all but one game when they wore the green jerseys. So while disappointing, the matchup is typical of what both teams have worn most often throughout the season. Had the Rams elected to wear their sol pants, this could be no contest, as I think that royal/white/sol/royal is their best look, and one of the better modern uniform designs (though it could certainly be improved with a few small tweaks). Conversely, had the Eagles elected to wear black socks, they’d be an easy pick over the royal-heavy Rams. But neither team is wearing their best possible combo, so this comes down to a coin flip. It came up Rams. But honestly, this is a pretty even uni-matchup. Doesn’t make it a good uni matchup, but it’s an even one.

THE PICK AGAINST THE SPREAD: Rams getting 6 points

__________
Ravens vs. Bills

Time: 6:30 pm
TV: CBS

SPREAD: RAVENS -1.5

The Ravens are one of those teams who have a few really, really excellent uni combos, and some that don’t look nearly as good. Usually the good ones involve wearing some purple. Unfortunately, they’ve chosen to come as close to icy white as they can (the forecast in Buffalo calls for single digit temps, wind chills below 0°, and a 40% chance of snow). The decision to go black/white/white/white may play in their favor if there’s blowing snow and/or snow on the turf, but I wish they’d at least have chosen to wear black socks. Ideally they would have gone with purple pants and white hose, but alas, they have not. That makes the decision to take Buffalo, once again in their absolute Sunday best, an easy one. I’m rooting for a snow game, but not for the team I won’t be able to see if it does.

THE PICK AGAINST THE SPREAD: Buffalo getting 1.5 points

• • • • •
And there you have it. My picks for Divisional Series Weekend, based on the better uni. I’ll continue picking “better uni” winners for the remainder of the playoffs and through the Super Bowl.

Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments below. If you disagree, which games would you pick differently?

 

 
  
 

Guess the Game from the Scoreboard

Guess The Game…

…From The Scoreboard

Today’s scoreboard comes from Peter Zdaniwicz.

The premise of the game (GTGFTS) is simple: I’ll post a scoreboard and you guys simply identify the game depicted. In the past, I don’t know if I’ve ever completely stumped you (some are easier than others).

Here’s the Scoreboard. In the comments below, try to identify the game (date and location, as well as final score). If anything noteworthy occurred during the game, please add that in (and if you were AT the game, well bonus points for you!):

Please continue sending these in! You’re welcome to send me any scoreboard photos (with answers please), and I’ll keep running them.

 

 

Guess the Game from the Uniform


Based on the suggestion of long-time reader/contributor Jimmy Corcoran, we’ve introduced a new “game” on Uni Watch, which is similar to the popular “Guess the Game from the Scoreboard” (GTGFTS), only this one asked readers to identify the game based on the uniforms worn by teams.

Like GTGFTS, readers will be asked to guess the date, location and final score of the game from the clues provided in the photo. Sometimes the game should be somewhat easy to ascertain, while in other instances, it might be quite difficult. There will usually be a visual clue (something odd or unique to one or both of the uniforms) that will make a positive identification of one and only one game possible. Other times, there may be something significant about the game in question, like the last time a particular uniform was ever worn (one of Jimmy’s original suggestions). It’s up to YOU to figure out the game and date.

Today’s GTGFTU comes from John Glanser.

Good luck and please post your guess/answer in the comments below.

 

 

And finally...

…that’s all for the early post. I should have several more articles for you today, including Anthony’s Ticker and the aforementioned Cubs City Connect uniforms, plus more!

Everyone have a great Friday and a better weekend.

Make sure you check Uni Watch out on Saturday, as new Weekend Editor Anthony Emerson will begin his tenure! Please welcome Anthony to his new position officially! He’ll take you through until Monday, when I’ll be back.

Peace,

PH

Categories
NFL
Comments (0)

    GTGFU I’m thinking 9/13/2015? Got to work early and went down a rabbit hole and that’s the only place I can see at Houston with those two.

    I think your nuts I love the All white uniforms Texans are wearing thats Ther best uniform combo n I’m glad Ravens are wearing All white also Which is great look I don’t like Dark pants at all Or all dark uniforms I’m a huge fan of All white uniforms they look fabulous on TV big-time Stand out professional look clean Just a great look how people that say they don’t like the all white uniforms are crazy .It just looks great especially if it snows that’s unreal the snow mixes with the all white uniforms Even better is the Icy white Helmet being white but the Texans n Ravens don’t have a White helmet that

    I can’t believe the Lions are wearing such a ugly uniform combo tonight the Blue pants gotta go wear white pants would look much better but the All blue uniforms look awful ugly

    The way things are shaking out, for a good looking Superbowl matchup the Eagles are going to have to get there from the NFC. Commies and Rams are swoosh inspired garbage. The Lions would look good if they wore silver pants, but they insist on going mono blue.
    At least the AFC has three good looking team left with KC, Buffalo, and Baltimore. All three of those teams would have good contrasting color matchups with the Eagles too.

    NFC is the ‘home team’ correct?
    If that’s the case, gimme the Rams royal over sol and even the Commies burgundy over ‘gold’ instead of the Eagles midnight/white set (which is fine, but not as good as those colorful combos).
    I sincerely doubt the Lions will make it to the title game.

    However, if Washington gets to the Super Bowl and considers their white over burgundy leggings look to be lucky, that’ll not be an eye-pleasing NFC representation.

    Normally I would let this go, but since this website is devoted to minutiae and details – and because I’m a grammar nerd – I have to comment that the NFL title game is the Super Bowl. Not the Superbowl.

    Personally I think the Commanders look good in either their burgundy/burgundy/white/burgundy or burgundy/burgundy/gold/burgundy home sets.

    If I were to rank the best available options for the remaining teams, it would be something like this:

    NFC:
    1. Detroit: Silver/blue/silver/blue. One of the best combos in the NFL, and they never wear it.

    2. Washington: Burgundy/burgundy/gold/burgundy

    3. LA Rams: Blue/blue/yellow/blue. From a distance, this is a great-looking uniform. It’s only when you get up close and see things like the gradient numbers and the Hello My Name Is patch. I don’t even mind the patch, but I really don’t understand the jagged stitching at the top of it.

    4. Philadelphia: Their best home look is green/green/white/black, which I think they wore only once this season. Normally they go with the leggings/leotard look. Green socks instead of black would be an improvement, but overall I find the Eagles colors dark and boring.

    AFC:
    Tie – Buffalo: White/white/blue/white
    Tie – Kansas City: Red/white/red/striped – They look good but I loathe the Chiefs. The only way I’ll watch the game if the Chiefs are in it is if somehow the Commanders make it, which we all know isn’t going to happen.

    3. Ravens – black/white/purple/white

    4. Houston: Normally they go black/white/black/black. Against the Jags they wore white socks and it made a world of difference.

    Super Bowl it is! i also vote for SB# as the abbreviation instead of the dreaded “Supe” that this site seems to like but i haven’t seen written elsewhere or heard anyone say in real life

    GTGFTS
    23 Aug 2017

    Josh Harrison’s becomes the first player to end a no hitter with an extra inning walk off HR.

    link

    Also, the Dodgers’ Rich Hill had a potential perfect game; the perfect game was broken up by a ninth-inning error, the first time that had happened in MLB history. Sorry Rich!

    Part of me wants to see the Rams go with sol colored socks with the blue britches. But, then that would give them an option to go leotard with the sol pants……………….. So, I better be careful about what I wish for LOL

    Why don’t the Rams every wear All white uniforms anymore last year they did this year not once I don’t like the Gold or blue pants with the white tops All white look great with the Rams also

    I’ll wait for a more robust reveal, and the UW coverage before going to in depth, but the Cubbies CC looks like another winner to me. They’ve done a good job on both sets, as far as I can tell.

    Reporting last night claimed the Cubs uniforms are not a city connect and instead just an additional alternate.

    “While this uniform certainly has the look, feel, and origin story of a City Connect uniform, it is, in fact, an alternate uniform—not a City Connect. It will slide alongside the Cubs’ home whites, road greys, and alternate blues as their fourth of four permitted regular uniform slots.” – Our Friends at SportsLogos.net

    link

    I’m only seeing one source specifically referring to it as their city connect, but most sources are saying that it’s “replacing the wrigleyville city connect”. perhaps Nike, or certain teams are trying to distance themselves from the gimmick without ditching the unis? While this uni does attempt to connect to the city and succeeds, the NBA is a great example of how thin a specific gimmick can get rather quickly. It would benefit them to simply offer “alternates” every 5 years and not specify that they have to connect to city history or whatever.

    Cubs released new CC uniforms. Retiring Wrigleyville and going to baby blues, with story telling of Blues roots to Chicago.

    Anyone heard what color pants will be worn with this? Baby blue, white/pinstripe or solid white?

    I don’t like Sol. There I said it. And, I am a yellow fan in uniforms. It’s too aggressive. So’s the royal they have gone with. Once, you get to the bath water greys I think the Rams unis are close to the bottom of the league.

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