NFL Divisional Round Tips & Preview

San Francisco is ready to roll for their first playoff appearance in six years and their first home postseason game in seven. If they manage to win two home games they will return to the Super Bowl, the franchise’s seventh and you have to like their chances against a Vikings team that is still yet to show its true colours. Despite losing three of their final five regular season contests, the Vikings pulled off an overtime upset of a Saints team many expected to be a Super Bowl contender themselves.

This game will come down to whether or not the 49ers let the occasion get to them. They needed that bye weekend having had their regular season weekend off in Week 4 and their defence started to run out of steam. I’m going to back a response from that unit here as they manage to stifle what should be a pretty potent Vikings offence as Kirk Cousins turns back into a pumpkin and gives up a couple of turnovers. With the 49ers having such an opportunistic defence, I’ll even put a bet on that unit to score a touchdown off an interception of fumble recovery.

Back San Francisco D/ST Anytime Touchdown Scorer

There is a legitimate chance this game could be finished in under two and a half hours considering both teams will be looking to run the ball right from the outset and keep the clock moving. It’s tough to overlook the Ravens here considering their 12 game winning streak and they have MVP-elect Lamar Jackson looking to continue his breakout season. The big question surrounding them though, is what that week off did to their momentum and whether or not it allowed some of the banged up players like running back Mark Ingram the opportunity to get healthy. Coaching is also a big question with the Ravens with John Harbaugh having a history of getting flustered in big moments when things don’t go exactly to script.

Tennessee will be full of confidence after beating New England in Foxborough last weekend but you have to wonder whether or not they will be able to bring that same level of intensity to this game. Titans coach Mike Vrabel had plenty of memorable battles with the Ravens as a player and his team will look to out-physical them here. He will also take solace in the fact the Ravens can be a little bit vulnerable to a strong rushing attack, in their two losses this year they gave up 140 and 193 rushing yards and their other close game saw the 49ers rush for 174 yards. That has me thinking they should be able to keep this close but the number of influential playmakers on the Ravens is stopping me from backing them outright. I am going to back the under as well since the number of possessions in this game should be quite low with both teams looking for long, sustained clock killing drives.

That’s not the only play I’ve got for this game though, I’ll take a pair of anytime touchdown scorers to look for a couple of extra plays. To start off with I have to back Jackson to score a touchdown, he is the most dynamic player left in the playoffs and the Titans will have a hard time containing him in the red zone. Then it’s worth backing the most in form player left in the playoffs, Derrick Henry, regardless of how short of a price he is at.

Back Lamar Jackson Anytime TD Scorer

Back Derrick Henry Anytime TD Scorer

In the Texans 18 year history, they have never advanced further than the NFL’s divisional round and it’s going to be a tough ask to get by the Chiefs here. They won in Arrowhead Stadium in October but January is a very different time of year, especially on the road and in the three previous times they have made it this far, they have lost in Baltimore by seven and New England by 13 and 18 points. The main reason the Texans even have a chance is the fact Deshaun Watson is capable of pulling out something special on just about any play and the likelihood goes up tenfold in the fourth quarter, just ask the Bills and their 16 point lead.

As strong of a case as you can build for the Texans, the Chiefs have the look of a “getting hot at the right time” team and Andy Reid off a bye is usually a pretty safe bet. After having their hearts broken in what was supposed to be their year 12 months ago, the Chiefs have to be thinking that with the Patriots out of the way, this is their time to stake their claim as the NFL’s next big thing. Their pass rush is deep enough to get after Watson and at least limit his magic which should allow the offence to stay balanced and move the ball on Houston. I do like the Texans to keep it close and I’ll take them with the points but it will probably be Kansas City getting over the line to reach the AFC Championship once again.

After a three season absence, the Packers are back in the playoffs and in all honesty, we have to have playoff football at Lambeau Field. Seattle, even moreso than Houston is almost solely reliant on their special quarterback to overcome the team’s flaws. He has had his share of special moments against the Packers including in the 2014 season when he engineered a phenomenal comeback to take the Seahawks to Super Bowl XLIX.

Green Bay might be winning uglier than they are used to this season but the important thing is they are winning. After getting blasted by the 49ers in Week 12, they responded with five straight wins to hold off Minnesota in the NFC North and wind up as the conference second seed. Having that week off should be a huge advantage as they take on a battered Seahawks side that by now has to be running on fumes. It’s hard to see Green Bay having the firepower to pull away and hold a comfortable lead at any point during this game but they should be able to get over the line here.