NFL ROUND TWO PLAYOFFS (DIVISIONAL)

LAST WEEK’S PREDICTIONS RECORD(6-0) WILD CARD ROUND

THE SATURDAY GAMES

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

Last time the Bengals and Titans met, was week 8 of 2020. In Joe Burrow’s rookie season, Bengals won that regular season affair 31-20. Titans quarterback is 2-2 behind center during the post-season.

OFFENSE: BENGALS

Let’s face the facts, I see this game as a shoot-out. Quarterback play, Joe Burrow is a better option than a Ryan Tannehill behind center. Tannehill needs the running game to set up the play action pass to be effective. Burrow has a slew of play makers with which he can pick opposing defenses apart.

The return of Derrick Henry makes the Titan offense “clicky clack” like a runaway train. The Bengals have Joe Mixon, one of the best backs in the league. These offenses should be able to exchange jabs all day long. It depends who has the ball last.

DEFENSE: TITANS

I like the Titans’ experience in the playoffs over the wounded Bengal defense limping into Nashville after their game versus the Raiders. Trey Hendrickson is the top pass rusher in this contest, but he got banged up against the Raiders last week. The Bengals will be without Larry Ogunjobi, a key big man of the defensive line. The Titans defense is a type of usually “bends without breaking” but has broken a few times as teams can score on them. The Titans unit gets small victories by forcing you to kick field goals in the red zone. The Titans defense is known for creating turnovers as well in big moments.

Not sure how much gasoline Derrick Henry has in the tank. Titans’ back up running backs have gotten playing time when Henry went down. Look for the Titans to take advantage of the 4.4 yards per carry that the Bengals defense has given up this season. The game will be a shoot-out. Bengals will make one mistake that the Titans will take advantage of and win this game.

OUR PICK: TITANS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

Last time the 49ers and the Packers met, was during regular season and the Packers won that game. In 2019, both the Packers and 49ers met in the NFC Championship. Jimmy Garoppolo got the better end of Aaron Rodgers that year. The playoff series between the Packers and 49ers is tied 4-4 in eight total games. Aaron Rodgers is 0-3 life time versus the 49ers in the playoffs.

OFFENSE: PACKERS

I’m expecting Aaron Rodgers’ revenge tour to be put in overdrive this weekend. Rodgers does not do very well in post-season as his stats will tell you he throws too many interceptions. Jimmy Garoppolo just wins, baby. The 49ers rely more on their run game than Jimmy’s arm. Jimmy is prone to make mistakes at wrong times late in games. Evidence includes Dallas last weekend. Both teams can run the ball. Packers actually have two good backs if they have to run the ball a lot. Rodgers has more weapons at his disposal than Jimmy, who keys in on a few guys.

DEFENSE: 49ERS

Joey Bosa is a beast on the San Francisco defense. Bosa will be the best defender on the field this weekend between the Packers and 49ers defensive units. The Packers defense did not do well versus a bad Lions team to close out the season. The 49ers defense had some of their guys banged up in the Wild Card round versus Dallas. Packers defense has that switch at times. When Rodgers was out with Covid, the Packers defense had a strong performance versus the Chiefs offense. Packers should be well rested and may get some guys back that were banged up. The 49ers defense is the better unit between both these teams.

I have to play the cold card in this one. A West coast team flying into Green Bay in the dead of winter in frigid condition goes well for the green and gold. It’s hard for any road team to win in these kind of conditions at Lambeau Field. No way Aaron Rodgers will be one and done in these playoffs, which is the key to this game. Rodgers’ revenge tour is a thing. Rodgers wants to get to the Superbowl and win it just to heighten his ego. Thoughts of him failing in his first post-season action of this tournament would not help his ego in the off-season.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

THE SUNDAY GAMES

LA RAMS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The Rams and Buccaneers faced off last September. That contest went to the Rams. Rams and Buccaneers have played each other 27 times. Rams lead the all-time series 18-9. Matthew Stafford finally won his first playoff game behind center in a Rams uniform. Stafford was 0-3 in a Lions uniform during the post-season.

OFFENSE: BUCCANEERS

Tom Brady is down to the bottom of the box, with the crumbs that he has to throw to. The Buccaneers offense is still clicking even with the laundry list of injuries they have. Matthew Stafford played well last week in the win over Arizona. Stafford has all his weapons intact with a healthy choice of running backs at his disposal. Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. are legit threats in the passing game. Even though the Rams on paper have all their weapons on offense, Tom Brady is healthy and can throw to the beer guy and be the better offense.

DEFENSE: RAMS

Defense-wise the Rams have an all-star team assembled. The Buccaneers defense has a lot of big names as well, but many of them are on their last legs and all-stars from the past. Aaron Donald is the best defensive player in the league. Look for Von Miller to come up big in this contest. Miller in the past with the Broncos was a difference-maker for Denver in their last Superbowl.

It’s Miller time & my gut feeling is telling me Von will have a big day. Buccaneers are the best at stopping the run. Buccaneers are banged up in the secondary and can be exposed there by the Rams’ play makers.

Rams are on a short week and flying across the country for this one. Tampa Tom Brady can have yet another game of his life. The man will be out there being productive at the age 60. Every quarterback’s nightmare is pressure and Brady can get rid of the ball fast. My key is, Tom Brady’s Berlin Wall is crumbling around him. I know Brady can pass it to anybody he will make look good. Timing, timing, timing. I think the Rams defense will take advantage of the Buccaneers offensive line and make plays through the cracks.

OUR PICK: RAMS

BUFFALO BILLS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Bills and Chiefs in Kansas City is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game. Chiefs won that & then went on to lose to Tampa Tom and his Buccaneers. This past regular season, Bills went on the road to Kansas City and beat up on the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes is 7-2 all-time behind center in the playoffs. Take out the Superbowls & Mahomes is 6-1 in the AFC playoffs.

OFFENSE: EVEN

The Chiefs and Bills offenses put up 40 points last week on their opponents. Both offenses are two of the best in the entire league. Both quarterbacks, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, can make things happen in a jiff if a play breaks down. Both quarterbacks can pass and make plays with their legs. The Chiefs can run the ball better than the Bills. Both teams have that number one receiver. The Chiefs have the best tight end in the league with Travis Kelce. Bills tight end, Dawson Know, is no slouch. I think the Bills have more play makers in their receiving core than the Chiefs. Both lines provide excellent protection as well.

DEFENSE: BILLS

Bills have the better defensive unit overall as they were tops in the entire league all season long. The Chiefs defense seems to ignite by a simple on switch. Chiefs defense looked horrible early in the season and then played better as the season went on. Chiefs defense is notorious for getting better as the post-season goes on. The Bills’ weakness is stopping the run. Their strength is pass defense. Teams can run or pass on the Chiefs defense. That switch in the playoffs comes on, and the Chiefs can tighten up and play solid all around defense on that Sunday. Bills find ways to get turnovers. The Bills defense are tops in the league forcing offenses to make mistakes. Bills also have the best scoring defense in the league.

In the off-season, both teams went out to fix problems they had last post-season. The Chiefs went out and landed more protection for Patrick Mahomes. While the Bills went after guys to chase down quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes. Both teams have been up and down like a roller coaster this season. Chiefs have the home field advantage. The Bills have played very well on the road this season. The Bills lost to the Patriots that first time and had a bad second half versus the Buccaneers. The comeback versus the Buccaneers came up short in overtime. Since that second half of the Buccaneer game, the Bills have played their best football. Bills went on the road in a prime time game and beat the snot out of the Chiefs in that one. It can be done. Josh Allen has done well in prime time spots his entire career. Look for this game to be a closer match-up than the regular season affair. In the end, Bills pull one out and move on.

OUR PICK: BILLS