With the end of the NFL season on the horizon, we are now down to the last eight teams. After one of the highest scoring first rounds in recent memory, fans are excited to see what comes next on the path to the Super Bowl for each team.
AFC Playoffs
Buffalo Bills (#6) vs Denver Broncos (#1)
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. |CBS|
Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos will host the Buffalo Bills and their MVP caliber quarterback; Josh Allen. When looking at the Bills, you’ve got to look back at what Josh Allen did back in Jacksonville. Throwing for 273 passing yards going 28 for 35 with a touchdown pass and 2 rushing touchdowns, Allen has an incredible ability to play the ball and he’ll continue to be Buffalo’s key to the AFC championship if his O-line can lock down the Broncos defense. One major roadblock the Bills have faced in the playoffs is the inevitable meeting with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs; With that obstacle out of their way, who knows what the Bills can accomplish this off season?
Garrett’s pick: Bills, 35-20
Owen’s pick: Bills, 27-24
Houston Texans (#5) vs New England Patriots (#2)
Sunday, 2:00 p.m.|ESPN|
This will be the third year in a row that the Texans make an appearance in the division round, but this year their new-look defense shows possibilities of finally getting over the hump. This Texans team has an all-time defense boasting the best defense in the league, having one of the lowest points allowed per game just at 16.5 PPG. Headlined by Will Anderson Jr. controlling their pass rush defense. The defense was able to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers single handedly by scoring two defense touchdowns covering for a poor showing by Texans QB C.J. Stroud. On the other side of the matchup are the Patriots backed by MVP frontrunner Drake Maye in his sophomore season. This young blazing offense has shown they’re already capable of performing. There were doubts after the Patriots had one of the weakened schedules but after a win over the Los Angeles Charges in the Wild Card those concerns have been shut down. We think this will be a battle of two sides, but have the Texans had to go up against the MVP front runner this season?
Garrett’s pick: Texans, 28-17
Owen’s pick: Patriots win, 21-10
NFC Playoffs
Los Angeles Rams (#5) vs Chicago Bears (#2)
Sunday, 5:30 p.m. |NBC|
The Rams will venture out east this weekend to the Bear’s neck of the woods at Soldier Field. Last week we saw a phenomenal 18-point comeback from Ben Johnson’s Bears, and going into this match they really look like the underdogs as they’ll face Matthew Stafford, and Puka Nacua. Although there’s a question that is yet to be answered; The Rams are used to playing in a warm weather state, in a climate controlled stadium, so how will they do in the cold front that’s expected to hit Chicago this weekend? While he finished the night with a 50% completion rate and two interceptions, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams still was able to pull out the magic and grate the Packers down. Especially with the home advantage, we think the Bears will lock down the Rams.
Garrett’s Pick: Bears, 41-38
Owen’s Pick: Bears, 33-28
Seattle Seahawks (#1) vs San Francisco 49ers (#6)
Saturday, 7:00 p.m. |FOX|
The red-hot Seahawks are on a crash course to face their division rivals who just took down the reigning Super Bowl champions. Coming into this game, the Seahawks are possibly without their first string QB Sam Darnold who might be missing this game with problems with his oblique. While the 49ers aren’t without injury, their star tight end George Kittle went down in their Wild Card matchup against the Eagles with an achilles injury. Now with their remaining players, we see if Jaxon Smith-Njigba can bring his team to a NFC championship game, or if Christian McCaffrey can match that on the ground. In their last match the Seahawks won 13-3, showing their defense can get it down against the 49ers. We are split on if the one-seeded Seahawks will be able to get it done.
Garrett’s Pick: 49ers, 17-14
Owen’s Pick: Seahawks, 17-14
Regardless of who moves onto the AFC and NFC championship games, we are lined up for an amazing playoff run for each team.
