The NFL defending champions were dethroned last weekend. Sorry, not sorry, Eagles fans.
Half of the division winners got knocked out.
The only team of the four to make last year’s conference championship games to make it back in 2025 are the Buffalo Bills.
Having fresh faces playing for a chance to win the Super Bowl isn’t a bad thing.
The Predictions
I managed a respectable 4-2 in the wildcard round. The Jaguars found out the hard way that experience matters in tight playoff games.
The Chargers learned they may not yet have their franchise quarterback after all.
I found out never to bet against the AFC East in the wildcard round.
Here’s how this weekend’s games should play out:
NFC
49ers at Seahawks
Saturday, 7 p.m., FOX
No matter what happens, the NFC West will have at least one team in the conference championship game next week. They could end up with two if the Rams bounce the Bears.
The 49ers got past the Eagles, a fact that brought great joy to Cowboys Nation indeed, but it was a costly victory.
A key cog in their offense, tight end George Kittle, left the game with a season-ending Achilles injury.
While the two teams split the season series, the Seahawks won the one that mattered. That one was at home, where this game will be played.
Seattle completely throttled the 49ers defense two weeks ago.
They’ll probably do it again this weekend.
Prediction: Seahawks 17, 49ers 10
Rams at Bears
Sunday, 5:30 p.m., NBC
Let’s be real here. The Bears made a historic comeback in beating Green Bay last week.
The Los Angeles Rams are not the Packers.
The likely MVP, Matthew Stafford, will carve the Bears defense up for all four quarters, instead of just the first two.
The Rams’ defense is also much better, especially in the secondary. Caleb Williams will not be mounting any rallies this weekend.
Prediction: Rams 35, Bears 24
AFC
Bills at Broncos
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS
Honestly, this one might be for the AFC Championship, no matter who advances from the other division round game.
Josh Allen and the Bills are finding ways to win.
It may not be pretty mind you. But a win, and you keep playing, so who cares how it happens?
However, the Broncos have been scary good this year.
They also have a head coach who knows how to get to, and win, the big games.
And that is where Denver has enough of an advantage to make the difference. It will be close, and it will come down to the final minute before it gets decided.
Prediction: Broncos 31, Bills 27
Texans at Patriots
Sunday, 2 p.m., ESPN
The Texans overcame a horrible night by quarterback C.J. Stroud to end the Steelers season, and maybe Aaron Rodgers’ career.
New England didn’t beat the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. The Chargers beat themselves.
Frankly, the Patriots look a lot like the 2024 Eagles.
A team winning games they have no business winning.
Philadelphia got away with it last year until their luck ran out on Sunday. The Patriots’ luck runs out this weekend.
Mainly because the Texans’ defense is going to shut down Drake Maye and keep him that way for all four quarters.
Prediction: Texans 20, Patriots 10
Cowboys Divisional History
In 66 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys advanced to 28 divisional round games. They hold a 15-13 record in those games.
Dallas is 11-5 when playing at home but only 4-8 when on the road.
You might note that the Cowboys have played in 16 NFC Conference championship games and wonder why they only have 15 wins in the divisional round.
Their first “NFC Conference Championship” appearance was in 1966. When it was called the NFL Championship and the first year the NFL and AFL Champions would meet for the Pro Football Championship – now called the Super Bowl.
In 1966, there were no wildcard, nor divisional rounds, in the playoffs.
The two division winners met for the NFL title and the right to play the AFL champion.
Dallas has lost the last seven divisional round games they have played in. The last divisional victory came in 1995 at Texas Stadium.
The Cowboys beat the Eagles, 30-11, to advance to the NFC Championship game before going on to win the franchise’s fifth championship.
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