It’s Wild Card Weekend – oh, excuse us, “Super” Wild Card Weekend, as the NFL is calling it.

But things have gotten pretty wild around here leading up to the whole weekend, basically due to the abnormal statement issued by the idle-til-next season New England Patriots on Thursday night. They told us they are in negotiations with defensive assistant Jerod Mayo to keep him on staff, and that they’ll begin a search for an offensive coordinator next week.

Think Bill Belichick has all of a sudden gotten warm and fuzzy? This was done obviously by ownership, namely Robert and Jonathan Kraft. OK, in meetings with Belichick this past week it’s pretty well known that it was agreed upon that the offensive staff has to change, etc.

Here’s why they’ve become public: The business side of the organization is telling the football side it’s becoming a little harder to sell this team to sponsors and the fans. Mayo is a popular figure, and if he’s smart he’ll still interview for the Carolina Panthers head coaching job, unless he thinks he’s just satisfying the Rooney Rule and nothing more.

But Thursday’s announcement, emailed out in the evening, signals that they’re getting a little uneasy in Foxborough. And, with a post-Brady 25-26 record with one playoff appearance and no playoff wins in four years, they should be.

Meanwhile, here’s a look at the Wild Card games that are taking place without the Patriots in order of appearance:

NINERS 30, SEAHAWKS 17

Geno Smith has done wonders this year in Seattle. Brock Purdy has amazed us for a Mr. Irrelevant. But Purdy has a better team around him, one we think is Super Bowl bound.

JACKSONVILLE 24, CHARGERS 21

Upset Special. Yes, Los Angeles is better. But there’s just something about this recent run the Jags are on, which is a testament to good coaching. Look at the turnaround in Trevor Lawrence’s game. Doug Pederson gives Jags the coaching edge.

BILLS 40, DOLPHINS 7

Remember what Buffalo did to the Patriots in last year’s Wild Card game? Well the Dolphins are quarterbacked right now by Skylar Thompson. ‘Nuff said.

VIKINGS 33, GIANTS 17

We’re not buying the fact the Giants are ready to pounce on the Vikings after losing to them on a 61-yard field goal last month. New York simply isn’t that good, especially in the secondary, and the Kirk Cousins will tear them apart.

BENGALS 24, RAVENS 10

Baltimore, without Lamar Jackson, will put up a fight. But Cincinnati really doesn’t belong having to play this game. They’ll meet Buffalo again in another week, as Joe Burrow, after a slow start, will get into a groove against a tough defense that will have to carry its offense.

COWBOYS 30, BUCS 17

Could this be Tom Brady’s swan song? He probably won’t want to go out this way but the fact is Tampa Bay just isn’t a very good football team, as 8-9 shows. Plus they’re poorly coached. Cowboys will head to Philly, while we say Brady heads into retirement.

LAST WEEK: 5-2

REGULAR SEASON: 71-54

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