NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview

By Jacob Sanders

It’s Divisional football time. Arguably, this is the best part of the season because we get to see the top 8 teams in the NFL go head to head and there’s a lot to look forward to for each team. Can KC finally break their home playoff curse? Will Rivers finally beat Tom Brady? Is St. Nick still delivering presents to Philadelphia way past christmas? There’s a lot more to ask going into this weekend but I’ll save you from the boredom of so many questions. So, let’s get right to it!

Sanders went 3-1 last week.

Indianapolis Colts vs Kansas City Chiefs

A case for the Colts:

Last week I had mentioned that the Colts offensive line would probably hold up pretty well against Houston’s pass rush and they did. They’ll need to do it again against KC’s pass rush. While Kansas City’s defense is pretty hum-ho, they’ve got some playmakers on the line and on the edge that will require discipline from the Colts O-line and Luck will also need to make sure he knows exactly where the pressure is coming from. If that’s done, then this offense may run like it did the entire first half of last week when it went up 21-0. The more important aspect of the Colts hopes in winning this game is if they can control Patrick Mahomes from making big plays. The Colts secondary has been great at eliminating the big plays and forces opponents to beat them with a dink and dunk offense which nobody has done in quite some time.

But if there’s any offense that knows how to adapt in this league…

A case for the Chiefs:

It’s hard to deny that the Chiefs have the NFL’s best offense and arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Patrick Mahomes. However, for the Chiefs to win this game, they’ll need to tailor this game heavily on both Kelce and Hill working the middle of the field. This Colt’s D won’t give up big plays easily and so Andy Reid’s offense will need to improvise on how they can get their playmakers home run plays without being obvious about it. As for the Chiefs defense, I would love if they could just NOT let Andrew Luck run them over. The matter of the fact is that this is one of the NFL’s worst defenses yet it’s not highly talked about because the Chiefs average 35.3 PPG so even if they’re letting opponents score 33 points, it didn’t matter because Mahomes and Co. scored 40 points. However, against this Colts D, the Chiefs can’t hope for a 40 point game. So yes, the Chiefs defense needs to show something or they might be the ones who get a 40 burger on the them.

Final Judgement:

Regardless of whether you think defense matters in the NFL, your friendly writer here knows it does. If you look at all the teams that one last week, but they put up great defensive plans to limit their opponents. I’m taking the team that actually has a defense, the Colts. I’m not worried about Luck being able to keep up with Mahomes. I’m worried about the Chiefs defense and it’s ability to limit Luck. I truly don’t think they can, or will. Look no further than the Chargers or Seahawks loss for evidence of this.

Colts 35 Chiefs 31

Dallas Cowboys vs LA Rams

A case for the Cowboys:

This Cowboys defense is tough. If you didn’t know that before last week’s Wild Card Weekend, you know it now. Vander Esch, Smith, and Lee are a mean LB group that will, again, control the middle of the field. Their job will be to stop Goff’s quick throws which they can do if they execute their game plan well. The secondary is probably the weakest part of the Cowboys defense but it hasn’t been a total mess which could be enough if the Dallas frontline can stop Todd Gurley.  The big question that needs to be answered though, is this: Can Dak Prescott make enough plays like he did last week to win another game? I’ve been a heavy critic of Dak Prescott for a while now. But he’s been on a bit of streak in the last few weeks. Whether it’s just a streak or actual growth, I do not know. For Cowboys fans though, let’s hope it’s growth and not just a product of Cooper showing up. Also, there’s a RB who likes to eat a lot on this team. Think his name is...Ezekiel Elliot? Don’t really remember. Heard he’s pretty good though.

Okay sure. But what about the other team?

A case for the Rams:

The Rams have some of the best coaching BAR NONE in the NFL. I’m sure people are tired of hearing about Sean McVay but not enough can be said about how much this guy prepares his gameplans for opposing defenses. While Jared Goff and Todd Gurley are individually great players, it really has been Sean McVay’s gameplans that have unlocked their potential. No great team comes without great gameplans. So, really, for this Ram’s offense, it’s going to come down to execution. If the O-line lands their blocks, Goff throws the ball accurately, and the receivers get open, they should be able to run their operation smoothly. This also banks on the fact that the Rams defense can stop Ezekiel Elliot. If the Rams defense can’t stay off the field, then the Rams offense won’t have time to execute their gameplan. Look for Aaron Donald to have a huge game.

Final Judgement:

In similar fashion of how the Eagles beat the Rams earlier this season, I think Dallas will do the same. To me, Dallas has the better defense and the better running game. When you really start to think about how this Dallas offense runs, it’s near impossible to stop once Elliot gets rolling. And he’ll get rolling.

Cowboys 20 Rams 17

Chargers vs Patriots

A case for the Chargers:

This Chargers team is the one of the most balanced teams in the NFL. They can throw the ball, they can run the ball, they can play defense, and they finally have a kicker who can nail kicks for them. This Chargers team has multiple ways to win and can adapt their gameplan through the course of 4 quarters. Do they need to air it out? Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen gotcha. Does there need to be more clock control? Gordon, your number is up. It’s hard to find a hole in this Chargers team and, what’s even bigger, is that they are undefeated outside the state of California. Huh? So what does that have to do with anything? Well, they’re playing on the road again in New England. The weather will be cold and the atmosphere won’t be in favor of LA. But this team has faced a lot of adversity without too much of anyone caring about them. They aren’t even the true stars in LA despite finishing 12-4. Hell, they didn’t even win their division at 12-4. They’ve been the underdog all season. And they’ve thrived in it and that’s the Chargers story this season. Label them the underdogs and they’ll thrive in it. Again, they walk into New England as underdogs. You think Anthony Lynn, Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon, Melvin Ingram, and Joey Bosa care? Nope. They know who they are. One of the best squads in the NFL that will punch you in the mouth with all the talent in the world.

But they’re opposing team has been in this ring quite a few times…

A case for the Patriots:

Many analysts and fans alike are trying to explain why the Patriots are having a down year. A down year? Are you $%&#@%$ me?! A down year?!?! They’re 11-5 people. That’s not a down year. Sure, they missed out on home field advantage but still managed to secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC. There’s nothing bad about that. What’s more, is the Patriots have now had two weeks of rest which was much needed with their roster being pretty banged up. Add in the fact that Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick are still the best game preppers in the business, and there is really no reason to profess this as a down year and immediately write off the Patriots in this game.. Sure, it’s not the most impressive year they’ve had, but they’ve done a lot with very little star power and they can do it again. How so? Well, Tom Brady and James White will need to carry this offense if they want to get anything done against the Chargers fast pass rush. And Bill Bellichick will have to come up with a creative game plan to limit Chargers offense just enough for Brady and Co. to stay ahead. If the Patriots D can’t control the Chargers though, they’re going to have a really long day.

Final Judgement:

Despite the fact I believe the Patriots can’t be written off, I don’t think they’re winning this game either. The Chargers are just a better team top to bottom. And it’s always hard to pick against the better team.

Chargers 24 Patriots 21

Philadelphia Eagles vs New Orleans Saints

A case for the Eagles:

Good ole St. Nick can’t stop and won’t stop in the post-season can he. Nick Foles has arguably been the most poised and most clutch quarterback ever in NFL history. His knack for big plays in big moments has kept this Eagles team in contention for the Super Bowl two years in a row now. A lot of people are wondering if last year’s magic can be replicated. If that’s to happen, it’s not all on Nick Foles shoulders. The offensive performance last weekend, to be honest, was not good. Nick Foles was not great despite raves of the Foles-Tate reception on 4th and goal. That’s an extremely thin line they barely stood on and survived last week. If not for excellent effort by the Eagles defense, we may not even be talking about the Eagles in the first place. So here’s what needs to happen. The Eagles offense has to perform way better than they did last week, and the Eagles defense needs to put up another monster performance against the Saints offense. If that can be done, well. Deja Vu.

Speaking of Deja Vu and other voodoo…

A case for the Saints:

This game will be played in the land of voodoo and tricks. But that’s certainly not how the Saints like to win. No, the Saints win through smart play-calling and a balanced attack. While Drew Brees could certainly air it out if he needed to, Sean Payton has a lot of toys he can mess with whether it’s sending Michael Thomas deep or letting Alvin Kamara do dirty work on the ground. Payton and Brees have a lot of options at their disposal and if something isn’t working, they have more than enough options to turn to. What will need to happen on the defensive side of the ball though, is limiting the big plays. Nick Foles, for whatever reason, just magically has occasional deep throws that change the course of a game. If the Saints defense can contain the Eagles receivers outside the numbers and force Foles to work the middle of the field, they can contain the Eagles offense.

Final Judgement:

Alright. I was wrong. The Eagles did beat the Bears even though they had zero business doing so. Well again, they have zero business beating the Saints. And you know what? They won’t. This Saint’s team is too good and they’ll be in front of the home crowd. All signs point to the Saints.

Saints 28 Eagles 20