The playoffs have officially started and I will get right to my predictions for the first round.
AFC
Browns (10-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
Divisional matchups are not too common on wild card weekend, but we have four of them this year. I mean it will be more common with the extra wild card spot but four is still a lot. Both teams will know each other's strengths and weaknesses after playing twice during the regular season so I would expect all the divisional matchups to be very close. This game is no exception. The Brown and Ravens went 1-1 in the regular season, each winning their game at home. The Ravens are the much better team here and are much hungrier after an early playoff exit last year but I think this game will be closer than one expects. My final score prediction is 30-20 Ravens. The q0 point differential on the scoreboard may be a lot but the Browns will fight hard. Ultimately, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense is too much to contain.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) @ Buffalo Bills (11-5)
This game is certainly going to be a low scoring one just like their game in week 14 of the regular season was. The Bills won last time and I have them winning again here. Josh Allen is way more mature this year and he is ready to give Buffalo its first playoff victory since 1995. I also think the Bills defense is good for a pick-6 in this one. Bills win 20-16.
Houston Texans (10-6) @ Tennessee Titans (10-6)
This is our second divisional matchup of wildcard weekend. If you read my AFC Postseason outlook, you would know how close this game was to being in Houston than in Tennessee (.0125 difference in strength of victory that is). However, I don't think that will matter. The Texans grab the first upset so far (if you wan to even consider it an upset). Deshaun Watson will prove to the league why he is a top eight quarterback in the league and Derrick Henry will be contained. The Titans are not the same cinderalla team they were last year. Texans win 27-23. Don't be surprised to see the Texans go one and done as it seems they always do.
Divisional Round Matchups
Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs
Buffalo Bills @ Baltimore Ravens
NFC
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) @ New Orleans Saints (12-4)
Our third divisional matchup of the wildcard round comes between the two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever do it, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Both are getting up there in age but they still proved throughout the regular season that they are meant to be here. The Saints have had major playoff woes the last three seasons and unfortunately, I think they continue. The Goat shows flashes of goatness throughout the game as he upsets the Saints in the wild card round. Bucs win 34-30. P.S. The Saints will be lucky to obtain 12 wins with the divided locker room surrounding Drew Brees' comments on kneeling for the National Anthem.
Arizona Cardinals (11-5) @ Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
This is our fourth and final divisional matchup in the wildcard round of the playoffs. In the regular season, these teams went 1-1, each winning their home game. I think that theme will stay true to this game as well. Kyler Murray's first playoff game coming in Seattle against the twelfth man is absolutely brutal. Very few young quarterbacks make it far in the postseason their first go around so I think this will be only the first step in the right direction for the Cardinals but the Seahawks move on in this one. Hawks win 27-14.
San Francisco 49ers (11-5) @ Green Bay Packers (11-5)
This is a rematch of last year's NFC Conference Championship in which the 49ers easily won. In fact, the two teams met again in San Fran during the regular season and I have the 49ers winning again. This time will be different though. Many think this will be Aaron Rodgers last year in Green Bay as the team drafted Jordan Love in the first round. Rodgers may be the best to ever lead a comeback in the fourth quarter and I think he plays his last game in Lambeau in just that fashion. The cheese heads win 24-20 in Rodgers last game as the packers starting quarterback in the iconic Lambeau Field.
Divisional Round Matchups
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers @ Seattle Seahawks
Make sure to look out for tomorrow's blog which will cover the two divisional round matchups in each conference.
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