NFL Divisional Round Picks
By: Hector Vazquez
REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 187–68–1
PLAYOFF RECORD: 4–2
The Super Wild Card weekend was just that… Super and Wild… For the first time, we have seen three matchups both Saturday and Sunday. We have witnessed the #5 and #6 seeds on both sides win their games, Lamar Jackson winning his first playoff game, Buffalo winning a playoff game for the first time since 1995, Tampa Bay winning a playoff game for the first time since 2002, and Cleveland winning a playoff game for the first time since the 1994–95 season. We also are going to see three first-time matchups and one rematch…So here are my questions… Did the Steelers underestimate the Browns? Will Tampa Bay be the first team to play the Superbowl in their home stadium? Can Buffalo get over the hump and win their first franchise Super Bowl title? Are the Kansas City Chief hungover from last year’s title or are they the real deal? That and every other question will be answered this weekend when the Divisional round takes place. so let’s get to it!!!!
LOS ANGELES RAMS (11–6) @ GREEN BAY PACKERS (13–3):
LAMBEAU FIELD SEEMS TO BE AN ACHILLES HEEL TO ALL NFL TEAMS WHO SHOWS UP AND PLAYS THERE… THE PACKER ARE 15–5 AT HOME IN THE PLAYOFFS SINCE THE SUPERBOWL MERGER. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME IN PLAYOFF HISTORY THESE TWO TEAMS HAVE MET. IN THE 1967–68 PLAYOFFS, THE PACKERS WON 28–7 WHILE IN THE 2001–02 PLAYOFFS THE RAMS WON 45–17…WHAT MAKE THIS GAME AWESOME IS THE FACT THAT THE RAMS HAVE THE #1 DEFENSE ENTERING THE GAME AND THE PACKERS JUST DOESN’T TURN THE BALL OVER MUCH AND ROGERS HAS PLENTY OF WEAPONS TO CHOOSE FROM STARTING WITH DAVANTE ADAMS. MY PICK: GREEN BAY PACKERS
BALTIMORE RAVENS (12–5) @ BUFFALO BILLS (14–3):
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST MEETING THIS YEAR BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS AND THE FIRST TIME SINCE 12/8/19 WHEN THE RAVENS WON 24–17…BALTIMORE LEADS THE ALL-TIME SERIES 6–3… TWO YOUNG AND HUNGRY QUARTERBACKS ARE GOING TO DO BATTLE HERE. ALTHOUGH THEIR WILD CARD GAME WASN’T AS DOMINANT, BUFFALO IS PROBABLY STILL THE MOST SCARIEST TEAM RIGHT NOW AND WITH BALTIMORE, THEIR PLAYING STYLE TO ME IS A BIT UNCERTAIN. SOME GAMES THEY CAN BE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS AND SOME GAMES THEY CAN FALL FLAT ON THEIR FACE IF JACKSON ISN’T ON HIS GAME. BALTIMORE IS RIDING ON A SIX GAME WINNING STREAK WHILE BUFFALO IS RIDING ON A SEVEN GAME WINNING STREAK. GREAT MATCHUP, BUT SOMEONE’s STREAK IS COMING TO AN END… MY PICK: BUFFALO BILLS
CLEVELAND BROWNS (12–5) @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (14–2):
ANOTHER FIRST TIME MEETING THIS YEAR. THE LAST MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO HAPPENED ON 11/4/18 WHEN THE CHIEFS WON 37–21…CHIEFS LEAD THE ALL-TIME SERIES 13–11–2…LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE BROWNS VICTORY WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE, HOWEVER, I’M GOING TO STOP RIGHT THERE. CLEVELAND’S SECONDARY IS WEAK AND PATRICK MAHOMES WILL EXPLOIT THAT. THOUGH THE BROWNS HAVE GREAT TALENT, THEY WILL SOON SEE HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS TO BE IN A SHOOTOUT WITH KANSAS CITY. NO LEAD IS SAFE FOR ANY TEAM WHEN UP ON THE CHIEFS… MY PICK: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (12–5) @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13–4):
ROUND THREE!!!!! FIGHT!!!! (IN MY MORTAL KOMBAT VOICE)… IT IS VERY HARD IN THE NFL TO BEAT A TEAM TWICE, LET ALONG THREE TIMES…(JUST ASK THE 2007–08 DALLAS COWBOYS)… THE FIRST TWO TIME THESE TEAMS FACED OFF, TOM BRADY THREW A COMBINED 5 INTERCEPTIONS AND EVEN THOUGH THE BUCS DEFENSE IS EXCEPTIONAL, THEY NEED BRADY TO DO HIS PART. THERE IS PLENTY OF OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER ON BOTH SIDE BUT IT IS BREES WHO HAS SHOWN SUPERIORITY OVER BRADY. DREW’S NUMBERS IN THE TWO GAMES COMBINED AGAINST THE BUCS ARE 44–62 382YDS 6TD… I BELIEVE THE BUCS WILL DO ENOUGH TO KEEP THIS GAME FROM BEING A DUMPSTER FIRE. MY PICK: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
