The NFL Playoffs kicked off in spectacular fashion with the Buffalo Bills playing the Indianapolis Colts, which was the Bills first home playoff game of the 2000’s. Josh Allen and the Bills were able to get things done against veteran Philip Rivers of the Colts. Bills defenders Matt Milano, Tremaine Edmunds and Micah Hyde were all over the field throughout the game, with 27 tackles, six passes defended, and 1 tackle for loss for the three players combined. Safety Jordan Poyer also had a great game, and had a controversial play in the fourth quarter where he and Milano tackled a Colts receiver on a fourth down, and it looked as if the receiver had fumbled, yet it was ruled that the player was down by contact. Star corner for the Bills Tre'davious White was able to keep his season going after helping to stop the Colts weapons in Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, T.Y. Hilton, and Michael Pittman. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs were of course the MVPs of the game for the Bills, with Allen having 324 passing yards along with 54 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Diggs has 128 yards on 6 receptions and a touchdown. The Bills have looked like Super Bowl contenders, and any team should be scared to go up against Buffalo. The BIlls face the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday at 8:15 PM.
The second game featured the LA Rams and the Seattle Seahawks, where Russell Wilson was no match for the Rams defense featuring superstar Aaron Donald, along with Leonard Floyd, both of whom had two sacks. Rams corner Jalen Ramsey had a fantastic game, though it was LA’s rookie running back Cam Akers who was able to help win the game with 179 total yards along with a touchdown. Jared Goff, who is recently coming off of thumb surgery, was forced into the game after initial starting QB John Wolford was taken out and sent to the hospital after a late hit from Seattle’s safety Jamal Adams. Goff looked to be okay despite playing with three pins in his thumb. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett were both held under 100 yards, showing that the Rams defense is most definitely one to look out for in the playoffs. The Rams will be playing the Green Bay Packers this Saturday at 4:35 PM.
The Saturday slate of games finished off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing off against the Washington Football Team. The Bucs offense looked unstoppable despite Mike Evans coming off a hyperextended knee injury that looked like it could have kept him out for the game, along with star linebacker Devin White being out for the game due to Covid. Brady looked like his old self, throwing four TDs and 381 yards. Even in the defeat, it was Washington’s QB Taylor Heinicke that was being talked about after his phenomenal performance in one of his first-ever full games played. He had 306 yards and one TD passing to go along with a dazzling rushing performance where he had 46 yards rushing and a TD on a play where he dove a few yards to hit the pylon and get into the endzone. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David had a tremendous first playoff game with nine tackles, one of which was for loss, one sack, one pass defended and a QB hit. Even in his ninth season, he is still showing up big time and is the leader of the Bucs defense. The Bucs take on their division rivals in the New Orleans Saints at 6:40 PM this Sunday.
The Baltimore Raven went head to head in a revenge game against the Tennessee Titans, who defeated them last year in the playoffs, and were able to get the win. Lamar Jackson did not have a great game passing, but was able to get it done rushing the football and picking up 136 yards and a TD on the ground. Ravens defenders Mathew Judon, Calais Campbell, and Brandon Williams were able to hold 2,000 yard rusher Derrick Henry to only 51 total yards in his worst performance of the season. Henry’s rushing game has been able to help open up the playbook for the Titans all season and without it, the Ravens defense was able to hold Tennessee to only 13 points. The Ravens have been red hot recently and have gotten on a streak at a time when it was desperately needed.
The Saints faced off against the Chicago Bears in a much slower game than the rest so far this postseason, as there were only 30 points scored in the game. The Saints ultimately won 21-9 with Alvin Kamara, Latavious Murray, and Michael Thomas all scoring TDs. Thomas was recently taken off the IR list, and has certainly taken a step back after his outstanding season last year. Brees and the Saints defense also looked to be playing much better than they had in recent weeks, which will be key if the Saints want to win next week when they take on Tampa.
In the final game of Wildcard Weekend, the Cleveland Browns dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers for their first playoff win in what seems like franchise history. The Browns took an early lead after getting a fumble six on the first play of the game to go up 7-0. It was only downhill from there for the Steelers as they were losing 28-0 at the end of the first. A late push from Ben Roethlisberger and Juju Smith-Shuster wasn’t enough to help the Steelers who lost 48-37. Big Ben had 68 pass attempts and 500 yards to go with 4 TDs and Interceptions. Even with those stats, it was still Baker Mayfield who won the game with 263 passing yards and two TDs. Nick Chubb was also a huge help with 76 rushing yards and 69 receiving yards, including one play where he took a screen pass 40 yards to the house. Kareem Hunt also had two TDs and over 50 total yards. The Browns dual running back threat and strong defense will be the only thing keeping hope alive as they play the Chiefs at 3:05 PM on Sunday.
Divisional Round Predictions:
Rams @ Packers: The Rams will be heading to Green Bay to face one of the best QBs of all time in Aaron Rodgers, but I am a believer in the LA Rams, and won’t be counting them out just yet. Packers Head Coach Matt Lafluer has coached under Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, which I think will give LA the upper hand in that they will be ready for what Green Bay brings on offense. The Packers run defense has looked very sloppy at times this season, and especially in last year's playoff game where they let San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert run wild for over 220 yards and 4 TDs. If Cam Akers is able to hit his holes, and the Rams will have a healthy Jared Goff and Cooper Kupp, I could see them winning the game. Despite all of this, I won’t count out Aaron Rodgers or Davante Adams, as they have been able to win games pretty much by themselves earlier this year. I am going to pick the Packers to narrowly edge out a win 35-31, with Aaron Rodgers going over 350 yards passing and 3 TDs. I think Cam Akers does have another fantastic game, but has Aaron Jones out rush him and score a TD. I don’t think Adams will have a great game, so it will be up to other Packers weapons like Robert Tonyan and Allen Lazard to step up and make big plays when they need to. In the end I think it will be the Packers secondary winning this close game for Green Bay and sending them to the Conference Championship.
Ravens @ Bills: After a shootout in the early window, I don’t see this game being very high scoring. While the Bills defense has looked horrendous at times this season I think that their team is built to stop the Ravens offense. Speedy linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will be able to help stop Lamar Jackson, and will be able to hold Lamar to under 50 total rushing yards. I also think that on the opposing side of the ball, Marlon Humpherey will be able to get the best of Stefon Diggs, and will hold him to under 100 receiving yards. I expect this game to come down to whichever team is able to establish the run, and I think that it will be Ravens. I predict that JK Dobbins will get over 125 total yards and score a TD, and will help to win Baltimore the game 24-17. The Ravens will then play the winner of the next game played.
Browns @ Chiefs: Despite how impressive the Browns looked against the Steelers, I don’t think that they have any hope of stopping Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, or Travis Kelce. At the end of the day, the Chiefs have far too many weapons for the Browns to stop, and I expect at least five total TDs out of the Chiefs offense, with Hill and Kelce having at least two each. I also believe that the Chiefs are smart enough to see the Browns rushing game and how it functions, and that they will be able to stop their former running back Kareem Hunt. They will not, however, be able to stop Nick Chubb, who will have a TD and over 100 yards on the ground. In the end, the Browns won’t be able to come back after being down by three scores at half, but will make a comeback similar to the Steelers and lose 38-21. The Chiefs will face off against the Ravens in the Conference Championship.
Buccaneers @ Saints: Much like the Ravens in recent weeks, the Bucs are heating up on both sides of the ball, and will head into New Orleans with much to prove after losing to them twice earlier in the year. While Saints Corner Marshon Lattimore has been getting the best of Bucs receiver Mike Evans in recent matchups, I expect Chris Godwin to rebound from last week and have 100 yards and a TD. I also expect Antonio Brown of the Bucs to score a TD, along with TE Rob Gronkowski. The Saints star player in Alvin Kamara will put the team on his back like he has all season, and will have three total TDs. Drew Brees’ connection to Michael Thomas will also keep the Saints in the game as they will have over 100 yards and a TD together. The Bucs' stout linebacker core in Devin White and Lavonte David is the reason that I will give the edge to the Bucs, and I predict at least one forced fumble, 20 combined tackles, and two sacks from the duo. This game will be the best of the weekend and will finish in a shootout, with the Bucs narrowingly defeating the Saints to move on and face the Packers, 42-38.