Friday, January 21, 2022

NFL Division Round Preview

We're now down to eight. Division Weekend has arrived in the NFL and boy do we have some big stories coming into this weekend. Can the best running back in the NFL still be that after missing so much time this weekend. Can the champs take on their toughest defensive front to this point? Can Buffalo get over the hump against the defending conference champions? We got four good games on the weekend, lets get right into it. Here's how divisional weekend goes down in the NFL

Saturday 4:30PM Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans
This is a big game for the Titans for two reasons, other than the obvious of course. First its can they live up to the hype of being the top team in the AFC, despite not having their best running back in the lineup for a little over half the season. Then there's said running back, Derrick Henry. With him and AJ Brown back on the field together, its going to make for an even tougher matchup for the Bengals defense. And this Titans defense isn't a pushover. When the do rush the QB, they usually do a pretty good job of generating pressure on him and causing him to be thrown off his game.

They going up against a Bengals team that has just as good an attack on offense, led of course by Joe Burrow. He's loaded with help as well. Mix can come close to matching Henry on the ground. Through the air, Chase and Higgins are the go to guys for Burrow and have been all year, and again last week in the win over the Raiders. This is a team that for a long time has struggled to find its footing, and now that they have it, they're really something to watch.

This is going to be a tight football team, and I know that Tannehill hasn't turned the ball over as of late, but going against this Cincy team is way different. How well Derrick Henry rushing the ball is still a great unknown at this point.

Pick: Bengals 31, Titans 27

Saturday 8:15PM San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers
The weather for this game is going to favor Green Bay without question. Single digits by the time kickoff rolls around on Saturday night, going to reek some kind of havok on Jimmy G and the 49ers. As a matter of fact, Jimmy G has never played in a game where the temperature was below 40 degrees, so this is going to be a first for him. Oh and to make matters even harder for the 49ers, Garopollo is dealing with shoulder and hand issues. The only thing that saved the 49ers last week against Dallas was not only the Cowboys penalties but their horrible clock management as time was running down.

Green Bay is no push over. They were the best team in the NFC this season and for good reason. With all the weapons Aaron Rogers has at his disposal, this team can be very dangerous. Oh and lets not forget they are a fully healthy football team as well.

Pick: Packers 30, 49ers 14

Sunday 3PM Los Angeles Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sure to be the game of the weekend. Two outstanding defenses going head to head. Rams D has one of the best front sevens in all of foot5ball, which this week is going to be a big help. The secondary is kind of banged up for the Rams, which could be a factor for this ball game. They still have Jalen Ramsey back there, which is going to be key in keeping an eye on Mike Evans on the day. To match up the Bucs defense is pretty good as well, very well balanced when healthy. They can keep pace on that side of the ball with the Rams, who know how to spread the ball around.

Both offenses can fly and make big plays, there's no doubt about that, and it's all been well documented. Matthew Stafford finally got his first ever win in the playoffs last week, which is going to be a huge confidence builder coming into this week. He got weapons all over the place, Kupp and Beckham are the two biggest ones in the pass game. Tampa has to rely on Leonard Fornette to be effective running the football, because the pass game looks a little beat up as of late. Godwin hurt and we all know what happened with Antonio Brown. Brady still has Evans and Gronk to throw too but this is where it gest interesting if the Rams secondary can key in, what's Brady going to be able to do?

Pick: Rams 27, Bucs 24

Sunday 6:15PM Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs
The rematch most of us AFC fans have been waiting for since last season. Rematch of last years title game between the Chiefs and the Bills. This will be the biggest QB battle of the weekend between Mahomes and Allen and both guys have plenty of talent to work with. Hill and Kelce are still bigtime threats for Mahomes. Allen can throw the ball well and when he has a guy like Diggs catching passes, he'll be fine. Plus, last time we checked, Allen was a pretty good runner as well.

Defense is going to be good for both. Biggest threat on that side of the ball is Micah Hyde, who's one of if not the best shutdown corner in all of football. That's going to be a key factor in this football game. Both teams know how to pressure the opposing QB and that's going to be another thing to focus on with this one as well. This will be the toughest game of the entire weekend to try and predict but we going to give it a go now.

Pick: Chiefs 31, Bills 30

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