JFG Nation! It’s Wildcard Weekend, and the Golden Globes are on Sunday, so let’s get right to the picks!

Kansas City (-3.0) @ Houston, O/U 40.0: Tricky matchup. This is the game no one I know is talking about, and in the age of parity that’s often where one Super Bowl rep comes from. The Ravens, the Giants, the Packers – all of these previous 4-5-6 seeds were in not-exciting first-round games, and then went on to be that surprising “battle tested” team in the SB. Both of these teams qualify – KC with their impressive defense and unheard-of lack of turnovers, and Houston despite QB struggles has good momentum. I see KC pulling it out here, but it’s gonna be close and low…21-17 Chiefs. KC covers, but the UNDER hits.

Pittsburgh (-3.0) @ Cincinnati, O/U 45.5: It’s going to be chilly and rainy in Ohio this weekend. When the weather tends to stunt the passing game, I have to go with the more experienced QB in Big Ben. It’s odd – normally I would be super down on AJ McCarron leading the Bengals in a playoff game, but the rest of Cincy is so good I think this game is closer than people think. I do think Pitt eventually wins, but I could see a PUSH in this game with an OVER. I’m going to forecast…27-24, Steelers.

Seattle (-5.0) @ Minnesota, O/U 39.5: As my friend @TheBackUpQB texted me as soon as this line came out, “What am I missing here?” I agree – everyone put down your Powerball money and quickly go to your nearest bank, withdraw all your savings, and place it all on the over here. 39.5?? Besides a clunker to the Rams in Week 16, the Seahawks have been averaging over 30 points BY THEMSELVES IN THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS. I know both D’s are decent but there’s no way this game stays under 40 total points. No clue on spread, but BET THE OVER. 

Green Bay (-1.0) @ Washington, O/U 45.0: Closest line of the weekend, and it’s easy to see why. Green Bay evokes images of a juggernaut, but there have been so many injuries on that offensive line that Aaron Rodgers is getting KILLED back there. Whereas James Jones and Randall Cobb need 4-5 seconds to get separation, and by then ARodg is on the ground. On the flipside, the Skins and YOU LIKE THAT Kirk Cousins have momentum, but they seem a little TOO sexy of a pick right now. If Green Bay can run the ball, then they will win. Otherwise, I’m calling a 24-21 Redskins victory and cover.

Best Motion Picture Drama: The Revenant is apparently both the movie I have the least interest in seeing while being lauded by all the morning shows as amazing. Look, I get it – the bear scene is ridiculous, Leo had to eat a raw fish while filming, the director could only film for one hour a day, blah blah blah. Zero interest. Someone convince me. To be fair, Mad Max is the only movie in this category I’ve seen, and it was damn good. There aren’t any guitar playing mutants playing flaming rock music in The Revenant, is there? No? Just making sure. Who wins? Oh, I don’t know. Let’s say Spotlight. I have no idea.

Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy: If you haven’t noticed, I am in love with The Big Short, end of story. The book is great, the movie is great, and while I loved The Martian, The Big Short killed it for me. Ensemble cast, quirky story telling – it’s a classic. I’m become a maniac recently, screaming at people YOU NEED TO LEARN ABOUT THE MORTGAGE CRISIS. Yeah, it’s a problem.

Give me your predictions in the comments below, JFG Nation!

Today’s junk food: Limited Edition Pepperidge Farm Banana Chocolate Milano Cookies!!

Limited Edition Pepperidge Farm Banana Chocolate Milano Cookies: The Money Shot

Limited Edition Pepperidge Farm Banana Chocolate Milano Cookies is the final of the new Milano flavors Pepperidge Farm put out this January. I LOVE banana and chocolate together, but I know it’s not for everyone. Still, I can’t help thinking FINALLY, PEPPERIDGE FARM. It’s about damn time.

Opening this bag of Limited Edition Pepperidge Farm Banana Chocolate Milano Cookies, I smelled a LOT of sort-of artificial banana smell. Or, to be fair, it basically smelled like a bag of over ripe bananas. Which can be off-putting, but I was glad to know that PF was going for gusto, boldness, all of the above.

Biting into one of these Limited Edition Pepperidge Farm Banana Chocolate Milano Cookies, I got a slight banana flavor that grew as I chewed. Like other Milano varieties, I really had to get through the cookie to the confection stripe before I was able to taste anything. Still, once I got to the center, I thought the banana flavor was front and center – and in a very good way.

The overall flavor of this Limited Edition Pepperidge Farm Banana Chocolate Milano Cookies was of a mild banana bread. As the banana flavor mixed with the cookie and the dark chocolate, the flavor I was tasting was familiar – chocolate banana bread! Which I love. Sure, the texture was a little off, and there was no nuttiness, but to me the flavor profile went in that direction very clearly. It did take a tiny beat for the flavors to meld as I chewed, but once they did I was so so happy.

The cookie helped mute any overwhelming fake banana taste, but the flavor was present – unlike the Salted Caramel or Mocha cookies, the aroma wasn’t too far off from the flavor. I know Candy Hunting commented on my insta pic of these that she must’ve gotten a bad batch because the cookies she tried had no banana flavor. My batch had banana flavor in spades. If you like this combo to begin with, I think you’ll enjoy these cookies.

PURCHASED AT: Target, Germantown, MD

COST: $2.89

Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. I also have Google+!! Let’s hang out.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy