The NFL divisional round is the best weekend of football we get every year. This year is no different. There are four great, all-time classic type matchups. A quick look now at what makes each of them so compelling.
Rams at Buccaneers: Look, it doesn’t get much more intriguing than the greatest QB of all time verse a star-studded Rams team that has wholly mortgaged their future for a Super Bowl right now. Will a banged-up Bucs offensive line be able to contain the likes of Aaron Donald, at the height of his powers nonetheless, and Von Miller? What about the matchup between an improving Bucs secondary and all pro Cooper Kupp? Not to mention that Odell has emerged to start this playoff run in the best form he has been in since his Giants days. However, this is still Tom Brady we are talking about. I’ve made a rule for myself all these years watching football, don’t bet against Brady, because more often than not you’ll win. Bucs 27 Rams 21.
Bengals at Titans: Forget the Cowboys, the mantle of America’s team has fallen straight onto the crown of the Bengals head. Joe Burrow is a different level of cool, described by teammates as knowing the exact need of every person Burrow seems to be the perfect leader, his play is matching that as well. Zac Taylor must however get less conservative and do what allowed him to light up the league in the last month of the season, that of course being let Burrow cook. The Bengals offense has been most effective when they air it out. The Titans possess the antidote for that, a ball-control running defense with the return of Derrick Henry and occasional deep shots off play action with Ryan Tannehill. It’s a recipe that could ground the Bengals but I pick QB’s in the playoffs above all else, give me Burrow with momentum Bengals 28 Titans 24.
Niners at Packers: I can’t erase the Niners running all over the Packers in the title game two years ago out of my head. That said, there is a very clear weakness on this field and that is the Niners secondary. Aaron Rodgers is going to eventually exploit that. The Packers can’t play with their food here, they’ve got to pounce, then strangle the life out of the Niners early. Kill or be killed in January, I have a feeling the Packers are uniquely motivated this year. Going back and forth on this all week but here is the deal folks, Packers win big. Packers 42 Niners 24
Bills at Chiefs: Game of the year. Easily. The questions for each team, was the Chiefs explosion last week due to a middling Steelers secondary or has the verticality of this offense returned? For the Bills, which Josh Allen shows up? While the argument that we could see bad Josh Allen show up as he does about once every three weeks holds I cannot believe it here. This is a man coming off the most efficient offensive performance of all time. The last time the Bills played they had the possibility of getting 480 yards, they got them all. The most efficient game ever played by an offense, I don’t see the Chiefs getting stops, nor the Bills but the Bills have the defense to nab just one. Come on football gods, give us a classic! Bills 45 Chiefs 42
Utah State
The Aggies are currently going through a brutal stretch. The last four straight losses for the Aggies have never been over 10 points. The issue seems to be the Aggies lack the big-time names they have over the past few years. The team also makes abhorrently timed defensive decisions in clutch time. Three of these four losses are because the Aggies simply lost a three point shooter in rotation.
The schedule does not get any easier as the Aggies play San Diego State next Wednesday, the team that holds the most impressive conference win in a 30 point drubbing of Colorado State. Nevada, Air Force, and UNLV will provide solid bounce back opportunities before the schedule gets brutal again for the Aggies.
The Jazz
The facts are this, the Jazz have repeatedly lost and lost by a lot to the worst teams in the league. The defense is also slow. Those two things are not positive developments. There is still a lot of season left but the Jazz have to get back on track quickly here with a much harder February schedule ahead. This is where you hope your leaders, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, step up. The time for a down slump is mid January, the key is making sure it doesn’t follow you to March.