Probably the best play in the NFL in a divisional round was the Immaculate Reception by the Steelers versus the Raiders in 1972. Where Steelers running back Franco Harris catches the ricochet right before it hits the turf and runs it a far distance for a big Pittsburgh touchdown. Round two of this current post-season could have some diabolical play like that. Can the the Iceman turn into Superman & pull off another epic outcome? In this divisional round some defense will make their stand. Last week we did a very poor job at picking the winners as we went (2-4) in the wild card round. We are looking for that Immaculate Reception in the second round to redeem ourselves as we served up only jokers in the wild card round. We crunched the numbers. We drank a few shots. Followed that hard work up with some chasers to come up with 4 solid winners for the Divisional round.

ROUND 2 NFL PLAYOFFS

NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND

SATURDAY GAMES

AFC

#6.BUFFALO BILLS (13-5) AT #1.DENVER BRONCOS (14-3)

REGULAR SEASON HEAD TO HEAD: Did not play each other this season.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Bills (2-0) Broncos

1992 AFC Championship: Bills 10-7 Broncos

2025 AFC Wild Card round: Bills 31-7 Broncos

This game between the visiting Bills and Broncos is a rematch of the first round wild card game from last post-season. That game was played in Buffalo and the Bills won it. The key to a Denver Broncos win is how Bo Nix does. Will Bo be Bo or will he be Nixed by the Bills defense? Will Bo have his old green Oregon University jersey on under the orange Broncos representing the color of kryptonite? Josh Allen last week put on the cape and took his Bills on the road to win his first ever playoff game on the road in Jacksonville. Kryptonite may be needed. The Broncos are well rested being the number one seed as they had a bye last week. Allen will face a tough defense by the Broncos. The Broncos can get to the quarterback as they are one of the top units in the league at sacking the quarterback. They are the best defensive unit in red zone efficiency in the league. The Bills weakness on defense is their run defense. Will the Bills defense make RJ Harvey look like a Hall of Fame running back? I liked how the Bills defense has played the last few weeks. Look for Joey Bosa to have a big game for the Bills. The Broncos are familiar with Joey playing all those years with the Chargers. Sean Payton will have tricks under his sleeve as he has pulled off plenty in post-season games as a head coach. Can the Bills head coach Sean McDermott unravel Payton’s evil genius plot?

The Broncos have a problem finishing drives and settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. In two of the 3 games the Broncos lost this season, the opponents rushed over 100 yards. The Bills are one of the best running teams in the league. James Cook won the rushing title. I think the Bills will have a better day at running the ball unlike last weekend versus the Jaguars who are a top run defense in the league. This game will be close. The Broncos have racked up the most NFL defensive pass interference penalties in the league. That can come into play in this match up. I think the Bills can hang with the Broncos most of the game until Allen puts the cape on. It will be cold. Being from the Fortress of Solitude, Allen and the Bills will get back to the AFC championship game stealing another road win from another top seed in the AFC.

OUR PICK: BILLS

NFC

#6.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-5) AT #1.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (14-3)

REGULAR SEASON HEAD TO HEAD: Both teams split the 2 game series.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Each team has won 1 meeting against each other in post-season.

2014 NFC Championship: Seahawks 23-17 49ers

2023 NFC Wild Card round: 49ers 41-23 Seahawks

In the last meeting between these two division rivals, it was all about the DARKSIDE!!! The Seattle defense held the 49ers to three points and 173 total yards in week 18. It was the last game of the season between both teams, but everything was on the line which included the NFC West title and the number 1 seed. Seattle won that 13-3. The Seahawks are rested having a bye last weekend. Their quarterback Sam Darnold injured his oblique in practice but is expected to play. The 49ers went on the road last week and knocked off the defending champs from last year. The 49ers lost their star tight end George Kittle in that win in Philadelphia. The 49ers will have their star offensive line back for this game Trent Williams who missed week 18 vs Seattle. Can the 49ers get another road victory with all the injuries they are dealing with against another top team in the NFC? The Darkside defense will limit Christian McCaffrey and that 49ers run game. It will be up to Brock Purdy to slay the Seahawks dragon here. Purdy usually has a clean game as Seattle is a top scoring defense. I think Darnold is lucky not facing this 49ers defense full strength with his injury. The 49ers injuries consist of the important pass rushers that get after the quarterback. Seattle’s running game will eat the clock up putting pressure on Purdy to throw the ball more which is not good as he needs a running game behind him. This will be a close game. The battle will be won in the trenches which goes to the Darkside. I like Seattle defending their home turf to move on to the NFC Championship game.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

SUNDAY GAMES

AFC

#5.HOUSTON TEXANS (12-5) AT #2.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (15-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: Did not play each other this season.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Patriots (2-0) Texans

2013 AFC Divisional: Patriots 41-28 Texans

2017 AFC Divisional: Patriots 34-17

I feel like it’s hard to believe that we are still talking about the New England Patriots. They won the AFC East. They come into post-season as the number two seed in the AFC. They win their first game versus the LA Chargers and Justin Herbert in the wild card round.

Drake Maye if you’re following the Evil Empire is Kylo Ren as Tom Brady was Darth Vader. Maye like Vader and every evil dictator or villain out there or in the past, gets the easy kill in their first go round which was the Chargers. The Chargers only gave up 16 points versus the Patriots. I think the challenge now is how does Kylo Maye take on an actual Jedi which is not CJ Stroud? Will Anderson Jr. be unleashed on Ren and the Patriots offense? They were not very kind to Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers last week. I would say this will be a defensive game in cold weather which did not bother the Texans last week. The Patriots defense should be able to keep Stroud in check most of the game. Stroud has 5 playoff games under his belt. He will not have his number one weapon in this match up, Nico Collins, who suffered a concussion last week versus the Steelers. The Patriots have one of the top aerial games of teams left in the tournament. The Texans defense has been very good at shutting down the passing game.

Ole Chucky Gruden said weeks ago he liked the Texans and Seahawks in the Superbowl because of the talent they have on the defensive side of the ball. This Texans defense is a different animal than Maye has ever seen this season. The Texans are red hot which will melt the cold and snow away. They will score more points than the Patriots in a low scoring affair and come away with a crucial road victory.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

NFC

#5.LA RAMS (13-5) AT #2.CHICAGO BEARS (12-6)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: Did not play each other this season.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Both teams have won 1 meeting against each other.

1950 NFL Divisional: Rams 24-14 Bears

1985 NFC Championship: Bears 24-0 Rams

I think the only thing in Chicago to bring people together is the DA Bears!! Caleb Williams may have played his college ball on the west coast painting his fingernails in warm weather at USC. They call him the Ice Man because he has ice in his veins as he led another epic comeback as he slayed the Packers last week in the wild card round. Meanwhile the LA Rams who have not played outdoors much this season are coming to a ice cold environment in Soldier Field where it will be cold as ice at game time. Matthew Stafford has had an incredible season as he has been in the MVP conversation all year. Stafford used to play in Detroit, but the Lions played in a dome all those years. He is familiar playing in Chicago coming to Soldier Field once a year with Detroit. The Rams had a difficult time getting past the Panthers. The Bears were a no show in the first half with the visiting Packers. Both defenses are very vulnerable. Especially in the secondary. The Bears defense needs to get takeaways to thrive. While the Rams defense thrives when they get pressure on the quarterback. Both teams can run the ball well. This is a well-balanced offense squaring off in this match up. Will the cold temps effect the passing game? The Bears will have the advantage on special teams with the kicking game. Bears kicker Cairo Santos has been masterful kicking using the winds like he’s playing golf. The Rams encounter Harrison Mevis who grew up in cold weather in Northern Iowa. Kicking in Chicago is a different animal for first timers. Which offensive genius will have the better game plan? Ben Johnson of the Bears or Sean McVay? They are two young brilliant football minds playing chess against each other’s defenses. Most of the league is playing checkers while they are playing chess.

In a cold game I think the scoreboard will be lit up. Stafford has never played a game under 20 degrees. Coming to these conditions after being in 80 degree weather is a shocker to your system. I think the first half will start off slow since Williams is a slow starter. Stafford will need a half to adjust. In the end the Ice Man Sub Zero being played by Williams freezes out Scorpion who is being played by Stafford in a mortal ice sculpting thriller. The Rams have not been playing well for weeks now. I think it catches up to them here.

OUR PICK: BEARS