We’re officially on the Mike Vrabel Watch.

Remember, it was five long years ago this same playoff weekend when Vrabel’s Tennessee Titans beat Tom Brady’s New England Patriots, officially ending the Patriots Super Bowl run – three straight appearances in the big game with two wins.

The Titans took the Patriots place in the AFC Championship Game at Kansas City and actually jumped out to a quick lead before the Chiefs came back and won. Two months later Brady left and the Patriots dynasty was over.

Now it certainly looks like Vrabel will return as the Patriots head coach if the two sides can come to a contract agreement, especially in length and financial terms. New England Friday wrapped up a virtual interview with this year’s hot coordinator, Detroit’s Ben Johnson, and the Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn turned down the chance to interview. Good for him, because the Patriots made a sham of the Rooney Rule by interviewing Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton early this week. They are two candidates out of the NFL, who no one else is really looking at, and were available to be interviewed with no waiting so the team could satisfy the Rooney Rule.

We’ll see if there’s any repurcussions of that but in the meantime, the whole football world figures Vrabel is the guy if he doesn’t look elsewhere.

Thus, remembering that end of the dynasty, here we go with our first postseason choices, beginning with all six Wild Card games:

CHARGERS 24, TEXANS 17

This isn’t as good of a Houston team as it was a year ago, and it’s time for Justin Herbert to take that step forward with Jim Harbaugh as his coach and lead the Charters into a deeper run.

RAVENS 27, STEELERS 16

You want to think the Steelers will keep it close, but their trend has been so bad, and Russell Wilson isn’t going to suddenly get any better. The Steelers will hang in there but Lamar Jackson and Baltimore move on to Buffalo.

BILLS 24, BRONCOS 13

Another game in which the underdog makes life tough for the favorite for a bit,but Bufflo’s talent negates Denver’s defensive tenacity. Josh Allen will be set for a big matchup with the Ravens next week.

EAGLES 30, PACKERS 17

It will be a disappointing end to an otherwise good season for the well-coached Packers. But if Jalen Hurts, who is expected to play after being out two weeks with a concusson, and Saquon Barkley play the way they’re capable, the Pack won’t be back after Sunday.

BUCS 27, COMMANDERS 24

This could actually be the best game of the weekend. Jayden Daniels has shown no fear, but he is a rookie, and Baker Mayfield has been through the wars. Plus he and the Bucs are playing at home, if that matters. The Commanders are the better overall team, but we just think the rookie may make a mistake or two in his first playoff game.

VIKINGS 33, RAMS 28

Tough call, as teams usually rally around disasters such as what’s going on with the Los Angeles fires. But Minnesota can’t be as bad as they looked last Sunday night, the Vikes have won 14 games for a reason, and may have the crowd edge with the game being played in Glendale, Ariz. Could be on to Detroit, as Dan Campbell told Kevin O’Connell after last Sunday night’s game.

LAST WEEK: 5-2

FINAL REGULAR SEASON: 86-40

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on X (@Telegraph_TomK).