Welcome to Glass Slipper! The Matthew Golden redemption arc will be special; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper is going on sabbatical soon. Little Jakey needs to focus on his work, so my Super Bowl recap on February 10th will be the final edition of the newsletter for a while. Let’s make this last month the best yet!

I unexpectedly extended my college football picks into the postseason, because I felt like handing out more prizes. Let’s do the same with the NFL. The rules haven’t changed; each time a prediction is wrong, it costs me $10 in rewards. I’ll make five picks for each of the four rounds of the playoffs. You’re getting 20 extra chances to inflate the Prize Pot. Keep on rooting against me!

Prediction 1: Davante Adams records 65+ receiving yards against the Panthers.

As you may have gathered, I love Davante Adams. He’s probably one of my three favorite non-Bengals that have ever played the position. In addition to the first-ballot Hall of Fame numbers, Adams does the little things right. Watch him run-block today, if you want proof.

My guy is finally back on the big stage after frustrating stops in Las Vegas and New York, and that hamstring is healed. It doesn’t matter which matchup he draws, quite frankly. Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade. Davante is ready to put on a show.

Prediction 2: Keon Coleman scores a touchdown.

Here’s what I wrote about the 22-year-old last January.

Half of me feels vindicated. The other half is unbelievably disappointed. You’re so talented. Don’t throw away a ridiculously lucrative career because you can’t wake up on time. We’ve seen what it looks like when Coleman is engaged. It’s nine receptions for 122 yards and three touchdowns against LSU in 2023. It’s an 8-112-1 statline against Baltimore in Week 1. I want you to prove me wrong, man.

Though no singular performance is going to yank me onto his bandwagon, I do think Keon gets involved tomorrow; the Jaguars roll with smaller corners, and Josh Allen will be enticed to give his 6-foot-3 wideout some opportunities. Coleman finds the end zone for the first time since November.

Prediction 3: Jalen Hurts does not commit a turnover, and Philadelphia defeats San Francisco.

Somehow, people have forgotten about the Eagles. I simply don’t understand it. As soon as the AJ Brown drama cooled, these dudes permanently left the headlines. This is a large-market franchise, that humiliated a dynastic team and snatched a ring. Almost every true star from that Lombardi-winning roster is back. Why are there four squads with better title odds than Philly?

Ask an average NFL fan to identify the Eagles’ biggest weakness, and they’ll point directly at the man leading the huddle. I’d love an explanation for that one, as well. He’s 27, with more Super Bowl starts than any active QB1 not named Patrick. 57-25 in the regular season. 6-3 in the dance. If you value highlights over winning, just say that.

For almost three years, Niners supporters have been itching for another shot at Philadelphia. That loss in the NFC championship game - when Kyle Shanahan infamously ran out of quarterbacks - has stuck in their craw. I think this is going to be a fantastic battle; Hurts delivers, and the defending champions advance.

Prediction 4: Justin Herbert finishes with a passer rating below 90.0 against the Patriots.

When the I-only-care-about-what-you-do-in-the-playoffs people embark on a reputation-soiling spree, they mostly skip over Justin Herbert. He takes 15 minutes of heat, before the masses resume fawning over his metrics again. It’s an awfully curious thing, I must say. Justin has reached the bracket twice. 0-2. In his first appearance, he choked away a 27-point lead to Doug Pederson. In his second appearance, he tossed four interceptions. Lamar Jackson’s shortcomings don’t sound too embarrassing anymore, huh?

Eventually, the general public will have no choice but to levy some criticism. I’m envisioning a rough outing from Herbert in Foxborough.

Prediction 5: Houston and Pittsburgh combine to score 35 points or fewer.

I can’t wait. Let’s cross our fingers for the grossest final score possible. Like, 15-11 or something. I want the folks who crave offense to scatter by halftime. Give us an ugly slugfest.

Obviously, a Bengals boy like myself wants Houston to prevail. But I’m just excited to watch two brilliant defenses trade blows for hours on end. Best punter wins.

• Week 18 Results: 2-3

• Overall Season Picks Record: 36-54

• Current NFL Prize Pot: $540

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