Now it’s time for serious football as the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs gets underway this weekend.
Last week’s wild card round saw only one “road” team win. Technically, both the Rams and Vikings had to hit the road and play in Arizona.
Only Tampa Bay failed to defend its home turf.
Although the Eagles and Rams both benefited from some, shall we say generous, decisions by the replay booth?
Neither of the two questionable calls directly resulted in the teams’ wins. But they certainly gave both teams an early boost.
But now comes the top seeds in each conference.
Both are well rested and neither should have much trouble dispatching their opponents this weekend.
The Eagles are going to have their hands full with the Rams. Especially as they seem to be mirroring the 2009 New Orleans Saints.
That team used the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina four years before as a rallying cry for a city coming back from a natural disaster.
The Rams may be doing the same in connection to the wildfires that plagued Southern California.
The NFL certainly seemed to be pushing that with the pre-game festivities and during every commercial break.
But, the game of the week will be in Buffalo. The Buffalo Bills will battle the Baltimore Ravens for a spot in next week’s AFC title game.
The team happiest to see the Bills and Ravens playing each other on Sunday?
The Kansas City Chiefs.
After dispatching the Houston Texans, and they will, they get the winner. That’s better than having to beat both in their bid for the NFL’s first three-peat.
Coming off my 4-2 effort in the wild card round – yeah, I’m looking at you replay booth officials – here’s my picks for the divisional round.
Texans at Chiefs
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ESPN/ABC
These two teams met as recently as a month ago. The Chiefs won the game 27-19 at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Texans led early in that game and kept it close most of the way.
But these aren’t the same two teams that will play this weekend.
Houston won’t have Tank Dell, putting more pressure on quarterback C.J. Stroud. Running back Joe Mixon will also need another game like he had last week.
That’s assuming he even plays after showing up on the injury report earlier this week.
Kansas City had a week off to rest, this after resting their starters in the regular season finale.
The only thing the Chiefs need to worry about is shaking off the rust.
The last time these teams met in the playoffs, Kansas City rolled to a 51-31 win at home. This game probably won’t be as close.
Chiefs 38, Texans 10
Commanders at Lions
Saturday, 7 p.m., FOX
Washington has had a good run this year. But let’s be real.
They were very lucky to fly home from Tampa with a win.
Their luck runs out on Saturday night.
Detroit is a very hungry team and nothing less than the Super Bowl this year will do. They are firing on all cylinders too.
Lions 42, Commanders 20
Rams at Eagles
Sunday, 2 p.m., NBC/Peacock
The Rams might just be playing their best football of the season and just the perfect time too.
Plus, they already know how to go to a Super Bowl and win it.
Something most of the current crop of Eagles don’t know how to accomplish.
If the Eagles can get Saquon Barkley going, they have a very good chance. If they don’t, Jalen Hurts is going to be in for a very long day.
Philadelphia was lucky the Packers completely melted down last week because the Eagles’ passing game was abysmal.
If Matt Stafford makes this a shootout, the Rams will be heading for Detroit next week. Wouldn’t that make for a very interesting NFC championship bout?
The two quarterbacks traded for one another looking to knock their former team out of the playoffs makes for good theater.
Rams 27, Eagles 17
Ravens at Bills
Sunday, 5:30 p.m., CBS/Paramount+
I’m tempted to say the winner of this game will be the AFC representative in the Super Bowl next month.
The only reason why I don’t is that, barring a miracle by the Texans, they have to get through the Chiefs and in Kansas City at that.
The two leading candidates for MVP will start at quarterback for the respective teams. Usually that means a shootout.
But don’t be surprised if it becomes a defensive struggle instead.
The last time these two teams met was back in September.
The Ravens won that one 35-10. But it was played in Baltimore and this game is being played in Buffalo.
Bills 17, Ravens 16
Cowboys Divisional Round History
Dallas is 15-13 all-time in Divisional round play. The Cowboys are 11-5 at-home and only 4-8 away in this round.
At one point, Dallas had won four-straight games in this round and held an impressive 15-6 mark overall.
The Cowboys have lost their last seven games in this round. That dismal effort has cost the last three head coaches their jobs.