Last Week's Record: 4-1-1
Overall Playoff Record: 4-1-1
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
AFC Divisional Playoff Game
(4) Cincinnati at (1) Tennessee
A Case for the Bengals: The Bengals have nothing to lose. They are playing with house money. They got their first playoff win since 1990 with their win over the Raiders last weekend. They can be loose all game and all the pressure is on the #1 seeded Titans in this game. I like the vibe of this Bengals team coming out of last week. Plus, these teams didn't play each other during the regular season, and I think that gives the Bengals an advantage. Also, maybe Joe Burrow really makes the LEAP in this game and puts him on the level on the other young franchise QBs in the NFL.
A Case for the Titans: The Titans are battle tested the last few years in the playoffs and have consistently been one of the better teams in the AFC. They made the AFC Championship Game two years ago, lost a tough playoff game last year at home, and this year grabbed the #1 seed. I give the coaching edge to Mike Vrabel over Zac Taylor. It sounds like Derrick Henry is going to give it a go here since being out most of the year with a foot injury, so that would be a huge factor in this game for the Titans. Obviously, being at home with their fans will give them an edge and having the bye last week will be big for them. Also, will this moment be too much for a young Bengals team? It won't be for the Titans.
Prediction: TENNESSEE (-3) over Cincinnati: This will be a close game for awhile. I think it goes back and forth, but ultimately the Titans will find a way to win the game and advance to the AFC Championship Game for the second time in three years.
Final Score: Titans-27 Bengals-20
NFC Divisional Playoff Game
(6) San Francisco at (3) Green Bay
A Case for the 49ers: They have something brewing right now. They were down 17-0 to the Rams in Week 18 with their playoff hopes at stake, and they came back and won the game. They went into Dallas and dominated the Cowboys for most of the game and pulled it out in the end, and now they head to Green Bay. I think they are battle tested because they were basically playing playoff games every week for like the last month of the season. They know they can win on the road. I like Kyle Shanahan in the coaching matchup over Matt LaFleur. I don't think they are going to go into Lambeau Field on a chilly Saturday night and feel intimidated. I think the 49ers truly believe they can hang with the Packers and win this game.
A Case for the Packers: They have benefit of getting the bye last week, so they are rested and ready to go. Aaron Rodgers is the MVP of the league this year, and he is playing at a high level. The lost in the NFC Championship Game the last two seasons, and Rodgers has been so close the last few years that it seems like he is destined to get through to another Super Bowl. It will be interesting to see how the cold weather affects the Niners-especially with Jimmy G having a thumb injury on his throwing hand. Also, the Packers are getting healthier for this game on their defense, so the reinforcements are there. The Niners might be without Nick Bosa and Fred Warner due to injuries they suffered in the Dallas game last week, and they have a shorter week because they played Sunday afternoon in Dallas and head to Green Bay and play on Saturday. This will be San Fran's third straight road game including the Week 18 finale at the Rams, so that could play a factor.
Prediction: GREEN BAY (-6) over San Francisco: This game will be close throughout and I think San Francisco will keep it close and within a one possession game into the fourth quarter, but I think Rodgers puts the Packers on his back like he has all year and puts them into their third straight NFC Championship Game.
Final Score: Packers-26 Niners-19
NFC Divisional Playoff Game
(3) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Tampa Bay
A Case for the Rams: The Rams are coming off a huge win at home over the Cardinals in the Wild Card round, and their star acquisitions all played well. Matt Stafford, Von Miller, and Odell Beckham Jr. all played well last week. You can see a scenario where Miller and Aaron Donald just make life miserable for Tom Brady. The Bucs got a little banged up on the offensive line last week in the win over Philly, so that could be a huge factor. Stafford got his first playoff win out of the way, and I think that could give him some huge confidence heading into this game. The Rams buried the Bucs earlier in the season, so they have that to use as motivation. Sean McVay will have them ready to go and with all the stars that they have on their team, they are about as dangerous as anyone to knock off Brady and the Bucs.
A Case for the Buccaneers: The bottom line is that you really can never bet against Tom Brady in a big playoff game. Somehow, he will find a way to get it done. I think Tampa Bay will use the motivation of losing to the Rams earlier in the year and keep that fresh in their minds when they make adjustments for this rematch. The Bucs have had one goal this year and that was to get back to the Super Bowl and win it again, and I think that mindset will give them an edge on Sunday. They can match all the star players for the Rams with their own, and they looked dominant last week in their blowout win over the Eagles. It is hard to bet against this group-which has won all five playoff games since Brady arrived in Tampa. Throw in the fact that they are home, and you have to like their chances.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams (+3) over TAMPA BAY: This is a hard game to predict, but I think at least one road team will win this weekend, and I think that will be the Rams. I expect a really close game, but look for the Rams to get back to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2018.
Final Score: Rams-28 Buccaneers-25
AFC Divisional Playoff Game
(3) Buffalo at (2) Kansas City
A Case for the Bills: They have one of the three best QBs in the NFL with Josh Allen, and he is playing at such a high level that he can single-handedly win any game in any environment. He is that good. They could be down late in the game, and he could just take the game over. They already beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium back in October, so they know they can win there. They seem to be a team that is built to stop this KC offense. I don't think they will be intimidated, and this team just looks and feels different after they had that loss to the Bucs in Tampa. They haven't lost since, and I think that this could be their time in the AFC, and this could be one of those passing of the torch games.
A Case for the Chiefs: At one point they were 3-4 and people were worried if they were going to make the playoffs. They finished 12-5 and absolutely destroyed the Steelers last week at home in the Wild Card round. We know how dominant their offense can be when they get going-especially at home. As good as Josh Allen is, Pat Mahomes is better. They can use the loss at home to Buffalo in October as motivation. As long as they don't turn the ball over and try to get too cute on offense, no one is beating them-especially in Arrowhead. Can they really lose twice to Buffalo at home in the same year? That seems unlikely.
Prediction: KANSAS CITY (-2) over Buffalo: The Bills will give the Chiefs everything they can and this will be a very competitive game. I think this is definitely the best game of the weekend, and the one that is "Can't miss," but I just don't see the Chiefs losing here at home. KC advances to their fourth straight AFC Championship Game with Mahomes out-dueling Allen.
Final Score: Chiefs-31 Bills-24
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