An NFL Divisional Round playoffs preview
The GIST: After a Super Wild Card Weekend chock-full of gridiron chaos, eight teams — four from the American Football Conference (AFC) and four from the National Football Conference (NFC) — punched their tickets to this weekend’s divisional round. Hut, hut, here we go.
AFC
No. 4 Houston Texans vs. No. 1 Baltimore Ravens, tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. ET: The Ravens, led by All-Pro quarterback (QB) Lamar Jackson, were Super Bowl favorites all season and for good reason: They led the league in rushing and sacks. Coming off a bye week, the Ravens will be extra dangerous.
- But don’t count out rookie phenom QB C.J. Stroud and the Texans, who torched Cleveland’s top-ranked defense last weekend.
No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 2 Buffalo Bills, Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET: This matchup is guaranteed to make the whole place shimmer. The defending Super Bowl champ Chiefs have bested Buffalo in their last two postseason tilts, with Mr. Swift, aka tight end Travis Kelce, hauling in a total of three touchdowns (TDs) in those two games. Bad blood, indeed.
- That said, KC will be hitting the road in the playoffs for the first time in the QB Patrick Mahomes era. And playing at Orchard Park is never easy. Plus, Bills QB Josh Allen is feeling it after absolutely slaying last week.
NFC
No. 7 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 1 San Francisco 49ers, tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET: Yes, the Packers shocked the world with last week’s dismantling of the No. 2 Dallas Cowboys, but they’re in for an even bigger challenge against the 49ers, who enjoyed a first-round bye after securing the No. 1 seed.
- With seven All-Pros, including running back Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Fred Warner, San Fran looks poised to quash the upstart Pack.
No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. No. 3 Detroit Lions, Sunday at 3 p.m. ET: Coming off their first playoff win since 1992, the Lions are looking for their first multi-win postseason since 1957. Even better, the squad can do it at home as they prepare to host their second playoff game in as many weeks. Safe to say, Motown is electric.
- Lions QB Jared Goff is still riding high after topping his former squad last week while star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson will hope to make Bucs QB Baker Mayfield uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Tampa will rely on their postseason pedigree to stifle the Lions’ charge.
