Round two of the NFL Plaoffs start on Saturday
It is the middle of January, and as expected, it is cold. The NFL Playoffs should be exciting with the final four teams in both the AFC and NFC set to compete.
The divisional-round games on Saturday, Jan. 18, and Sunday, Jan. 19, featuring the No. 1 seeded Kansas City Chiefs and No. 1 seeded Detroit Lions making their NFL playoff debuts after their byes in the wild-card round.
RANT MUST READS
NFL Divisional Playoffs: Eckel picks the slate – RantSports
Does the NFL really care about safety?
Irish face the Buckeyes for the CFP Championship
Saturday’s Games
Houston (+9) at Kansas City
The Texans, and the combination of head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud, won for the second consecutive year in the opening round of the Playoffs.
And for the second consecutive year they face a much tougher game in the second round. Last year it was Baltimore and a 34-10 loss. This year it’s the going for the Three-Peat Chiefs.
These two met just about a month ago and KC won at home, 27-19. It was close for a while and the Chiefs put it away late. Expect a similar result, Saturday afternoon.
It’s going to be cold outside at Arrowhead Stadium, which is never good for visiting dome team. And what’s worse is facing a rested and healthy Patrick Mahomes.
Game time: 4:30 p.m. ET:
Network: ESPN/ABC and Streaming on ESP+
Radio: Westwood One – Click here to listen.
Weather: High of 25°F, feeling closer to 10°F due to wind
Washington (+10) at Detroit
This is a really bad spot for Washington. It will be making its third straight road trip (Dallas, Tampa Bay) and on a short week. Washington beat Tampa last Sunday night.
Over the past two seasons, 12 teams have gone on the road three straight weeks, only one managed to go 3-0. That was Minnesota with wins at Jacksonville, Tennessee and Chicago earlier this season. Note the Chicago game went to overtime. So it can be done, it’s just not probable.
Detroit is rested and starting to get some injured players back as well. It’s been a great season for Dan Quinn’s team and rookie QB Jayden Daniels. It just comes to an end in Motown as the Lions get ready for the NFC title game.
Game Time: 8 p.m. ET
Network: FOX
Radio: Westwood One – Click here to listen
Weather: Indoors
Sunday Game features the MVP Showdown
Los Angeles (+6) at Philadelphia
Earlier in the season the Eagles went out to L.A. and easily took care of the Rams, 37-20.
Los Angeles wasn’t playing very well then. It is now.
The Rams are 6-1 since that loss to Philly and the only loss was to Seattle the final week of the regular season when they rested their starters.
Weather could be a factor in this one, as snow is expected just before the start of the game. That doesn’t bode well for Rams QB Matthew Stafford and the team from Southern California.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts knocked off some rust last week in the win over Green Bay and should be ready to roll against a young, but talented Rams defense.
Game Time: 3 p.m.
Network: NBC/Peacock
Radio: Westwood One – Click here to listen.
Weather: 30 degrees with wind of 10 miles per hour
Baltimore (-1) at Buffalo
This is the game of the week in the Playoffs.
Two former Andy Reid assistants — John Harbaugh (Baltimore) and Sean McDermott (Buffalo) — will battle to see who will likely meet the old boss in the AFC title game.
Baltimore put a 35-10 beating on the Bills in Baltimore early in the season. It would be a surprise if that were to happen again.
It should come down to the fourth quarter, probably late fourth quarter. After Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry give the Ravens the lead, Josh Allen gets it back for Buffalo as time expires.
I have to come clean here: I picked Buffalo to win the Super Bowl before the season, so I can’t change now.
Game Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Network: CBS/Paramount+
Radio: Westwood One: Click here to listen
Weather: Temp 15 degrees with 15 mile per hour and snow
Conclusion
If you are a fine of snow and cold weather football then Kansas City, Philadelphia and Buffalo are ready for you. All of the games except the one on FOX can be streamed only with a NFL+ SUBSCRIPTION
