LAST WEEK’S RECORD IN WILD CARD ROUND: (2-4)

STRAIGHT PICK-EM

ROUND TWO NFL PLAYOFFS DIVISIONAL

SATURDAY GAMES

AFC

#4.HOUSTON TEXANS (11-7) AT #1.BALTIMORE RAVENS (13-4)

CJ Stroud won his first playoff start last week for the Texans in a game that convinced me Houston has something special here. Lamar Jackson negotiated his own deal in the off-season. The Ravens are back in the playoffs this time with Jackson being healthy. The Texans and Ravens met last time in week 1 of the regular season. The Ravens won that game over the Texans, 25-9. The Texans are 0-4 all-time in divisional playoff games. Lamar Jackson is 0-2 all-time in divisional games.

All the pressure is on Lamar Jackson’s shoulders as he is 1-3 all time in the playoffs while CJ Stroud has a nothing to lose mentality with the Ravens. Jackson is a different animal than Joe Flacco and gives the Texans defense lots to process regarding how to contain a duel threat quarterback. The Ravens defense is a stout unit and should contain the Texans running game. Stroud has proven he can still throw the rock against the best defenses in the league as he torched Cleveland’s last week. The cold will face some challenges for Houston, who play in a dome. I just think it’s Jackson’s turn and he will exploit the Texans defense with play action pass all day long which is Houston’s Kryptonite.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

NFC

#7.GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-8) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-5)

The Packers versus the 49ers meeting in the playoffs have the NFL record for two teams squaring off for the 10th time. The 49ers has the edge 5-4 in the first nine meetings. With the Packers winning last week, they are now tied with the Patriots for the most playoff wins with 37. If the Packers prevail, they will be number one in playoff wins by themselves. If the 49ers win this meeting, they will have 37 playoff victories and then it would be a three way tie for most playoff wins with the Patriots and the Packers. Brock Purdy and Jordan Love are two quarterbacks who are not flashy but get the job done almost every week for their team. The Packers are the youngest team in the tournament. The 49ers right now are happy to have another chance with Brock Purdy for this playoff run. They are hoping he does not get hurt like he did last year in the loss that doomed San Francisco, who ran out of quarterbacks.

Since the trade deadline, the 49ers defense added teeth to that unit with Chase Young. The key for the 49ers to win this game is stop the Packers running game and that means Aaron Jones. Jordan Love needs the running game. I don’t see him beating the 49ers by throwing the ball 40 times. This goes the same way for the 49ers because they won’t win if Brock Purdy is chucking the ball around 40 times. I like the 49ers experience in this one. I like the 49ers history which will be hard to break as they have won their last 5 playoff games at home. The 49ers also have won six straight divisional round play-off games, which is an NFL record. The Packers had to win their last game in regular season just to qualify and had help from others getting in. They blew the doors off that Dallas team, and Dak Prescott and company are known for their collapses in the post-season. Packers became the first 7th seed in this new format in the NFL playoffs to win a post-season game. The 49ers have another road game. The number one seed rested is just asking too much for this young team who will be special for years to come.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

SUNDAY GAMES

NFC

#4.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-8) AT #3.DETROIT LIONS (13-5)

The Detroit Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years, last weekend. The Buccaneers won the worst division in football as they beat up on a struggling Eagles team coming into the playoffs with crushed spirits. For the Lions, this is the first NFC Divisional round they are hosting since the 1991 playoffs. Jared Goff of the Lions is battling Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers. Both quarterbacks were drafted number one overall. The Lions and Buccaneers played during regular season as Detroit won in Tampa Bay, 20-6.

The Buccaneers defense has the 3rd highest blitz rate in the NFL this season. Both teams like to go after the opposing team’s quarterback. Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, one of the best in the league, has a 3 game multi-sack streak going for himself. Last time Todd Bowles, the head coach of the Buccaneers, beat Goff he was defensive coordinator at the time for the Buccaneers back in 2019. Goff was on the Rams then. Last week, Lions had the home field crowd buzzing in that game. The Lions and Buccaneers tickets this weekend are the hottest and most expensive out of the 4 games slated for the weekend. I went against both these teams last week as it took a bite out of my rear showing me up. This game will be close. The Buccaneers defense to me has the edge over the Lions defense. The way Baker Mayfield is playing with those talented receivers the Buccaneers have, I can see them escaping Detroit in a close affair. Goff looked sharp last week, but the Buccaneers defense blitz will be too much for him to handle.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

AFC

#3.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-6) AT #2.BUFFALO BILLS (12-6)

Everyone remembers the Tom & Brady Peyton Manning showdowns year after year in the AFC playoffs. In present day, Patrick Mahomes versus Josh Allen is the Manning/Brady showdown. This will be the third time Allen and Mahomes will square off in the post-season. Both games were won by Mahomes and the Chiefs in 2020 and 2021. Mahomes and Allen met during the regular season 4 times and Bills have won three including the win over the Chiefs several weeks ago in Kansas City. The new development in this arch rivalry this time is the playoff game is being played in Buffalo. This rivalry met once in Buffalo back in 2020 during regular season play when no fans were allowed in the stands due to the pandemic. This is the first ever playoff game Mahomes will play on the road which does not count neutral sites like Superbowls.

Patrick Mahomes is 12-3 all-time in the playoffs. Josh Allen is 5-4 all-time in the playoffs. The Chiefs defense has always been notorious for playing better in the playoffs and at the end of regular season. This Chiefs defense has played well all season long including the playoffs so far. The Bills defense is number two in the NFL forcing turnovers as they have a total of 30 for the season. The Chiefs in the forcing turnovers department rank 27th with only 17. The Bills defense is known for playing well during regular season & then in the playoffs they stumble. Last week the Bills defense played well versus the Steelers. This is easy to say to always bet on number 15, Mahomes, because he hardly loses in post-season as he make miracles happen. The Bills secondary is a walking MASH unit right now so Mahomes should be able to pick them apart. The Bills since they were 6-6 have won every game playing them like they are a playoff game. I don’t like the Chiefs receivers. Travis Kelce is not the same guy from last season or seasons in the past. Since Bills fire their offensive coordinator and now have Joe Brady calling the plays, this Bills offense is the one that teams have a hard time containing. I like Bills Mafia on hand in this one. The Bills will knock out the Chiefs with a decisive blow to their egos and send Kansas City home for the season.

OUR PICK: BILLS