Crowe: NFL Playoffs Predictions: 6-0 Last Week, See This Week's Picks
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
Crowe: NFL Playoffs Predictions: 6-0 Last Week, See This Week's Picks
Now, with only one road team winning in round one, most of the favorites did advance into round two. So, along with the six winners from last weekend, we add the top seeds, Tennessee and Green Bay, into the mix for arguably the best weekend of football of the season. We get tasty matchups like the 49ers vs. Packers, Rams vs. Buccaneers, and Bills vs. Chiefs to go along with the opener of the Bengals vs. Titans.
Unlike last weekend, where the average margin of victory was 17 points, these four games should give us exciting endings deep into the fourth quarter and maybe beyond if we’re lucky. Yet, as much as we like the upsets, the last time we had more than one lower-seeded team win in the Divisional Round was the 2010-11 season. Since then, it’s been all chalk or one upset.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBelieve me, this is probably the hardest rankings of the season so far. A season that could lead us into a weekend full of football that will be wilder than Super Wild Card Weekend ever was. Perhaps we’ll even make it a perfect 10, 10-0 that is.
Divisional Round Power Rankings
8. Tennessee Titans (12-5) – I know what you’re thinking. The AFC’s #1 seed at the bottom of the rankings. You’ll see why.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (11-7) – Last week’s win over the Raiders shouldn’t have been that close.
6. Los Angeles Rams (13-5) – Like the Bills, LA looked more impressive due to the lack of resistance from its opponent.
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-7) – The Niners could go as far as Jimmy G’s injured right shoulder/thumb can take them.
4. Buffalo Bills (12-6) – Yes, the Bills looked impressive but it’s not like the Patriots really ever showed up Saturday night.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-4) - Big injury concerns along Tampa’s offensive line loom large against LA’s alarming pass rush.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (13-5) – Imagine what the Chiefs could’ve done if they didn’t sleepwalk through the first quarter against Pittsburgh.
1. Green Bay Packers (13-4) – This one is there for the Packers to take.
Saturday 4:30 pm Bengals at Titans (CBS)
The Titans, fresh off the first-round bye, are hoping running back Derrick Henry can play for the first time since hurting his foot on Halloween. If he can, there’s no doubt Tennessee is better when you add him into the mix with a healthy wide receiver tandem of Julio Jones and A.J. Brown. Bengals defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (foot), injured against the Raiders, will be missed in trying to stop Henry. As for the Bengals, the only thing that slowed them down last Saturday against Las Vegas was their red-zone efficiency. Four times, Cincy had to settle for field goals, a pattern that continues from the regular season where they only scored on 59% of their red-zone trips. After their first playoff victory in 31 years, the Bengals could be ready to double down against a Titans team that was 25th against the pass.
Winner: Bengals
Saturday 8:15 pm 49ers at Packers (FOX)
The Packers are rested, getting healthier with center David Bakhtiari (questionable) back on the offensive line for his second game after a torn ACL and they’re at home after the first-round bye. The Niners, on the other hand, survived a last-second scare in Dallas last Sunday, have a banged-up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (shoulder/thumb) and are playing their third straight game on the road. The Packers rallied for a last-second 30-28 win at San Francisco in week 3 as Mason Crosby’s 51-yard field goal spoiled a brilliant Garoppolo go-ahead touchdown drive. WR Randall Cobb returns for the Packers while Marquez Valdes-Scantling is doubtful with a back injury.
Winner: Packers
Sunday 3 pm Rams at Buccaneers (NBC)
Suddenly, there are whispers that this could be quarterback Tom Brady’s last game if the Bucs lose. After all, he did say he would play until he was 45 and that birthday is coming up in August. Brady faced little challenge against the Eagles in the Wild Card game. That will change against Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and Leonard Floyd this week. The Rams held Brady to just one touchdown while sacking him three times in September’s 34-24 win, giving them two straight wins against TB12. Matthew Stafford, who got his first playoff win Monday night against Arizona, threw for four scores in that victory. Leonard Fournette (hamstring) could return for the Bucs while Tristan Whirfs and center Ryan Jensen are concerns with ankle injuries along the Bucs offensive line as they both have missed practices earlier this week.
Winner: Rams
Sunday 6:30 pm Bills at Chiefs (CBS)
After the annihilation of the Patriots Saturday night, it seems everyone wants to anoint the Bills THE choice to win it all. I saw hold on folks. Josh Allen (21-25, 308 yards, 5 TDs) did look awesome against the no-show Pats defense, but that’ll be a different story this week in Kansas City. The Chiefs are looking for payback for week 5’s 38-20 pasting by the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. In that game, Allen outshined Patrick Mahomes 4 touchdowns to 2 with Mahomes throwing two interceptions to boot. Plus, don’t forget, a lot of mainstream media wrote KC off after starting 3-4. That chip is hanging heavily on the Chiefs’ collective shoulders. This could be the week that the Bills miss cornerback Tre’Davious White (torn ACL) while trying to cover the likes of Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Mecole Hardman.
Winner: Chiefs