RADIO
Following a fun Wild Card Weekend, we now head to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. A trip to respective Conference Championship games is on the line this weekend.
If you are a football fan this is about as good as it gets... two games on Saturday, two games on Sunday, unbelievably high stakes, and every team in action is an excellent squad. Who will earn their way into the Conference Championship games?
We'll answer these questions and more as we go through every Divisional Round matchup in this article, offering picks, predictions, and analysis for each and every one. Thanks for joining us here at RotoBaller; let's dive into the slate!
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Kansas City Chiefs 27, Houston Texans 20
In what can be considered one of Wild Card Weekend's few upsets, the Texans dismantled the Chargers by a score of 32-12. Houston's defense looked dominant, intercepting Justin Herbert four times, while also recording four sacks and nine QB hits.
Well-rested and arguably as healthy as they've been all season, the Chiefs' quest for a historic three-peat begins against a Texans team they recently dispatched 27-19 in Week 16.
Hollywood Brown getting better and better since returning and then switching from regular season to playoff mode with the Chiefs:
"It's real serious, it's accountability. I feel like everyone's ready for the moment. I like what I'm seeing." pic.twitter.com/bSkaQASwpS
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) January 14, 2025
For all the (well-deserved) hype that surrounds superstars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Kansas City defense is the true driver of this club's championship hopes. I look for the Chiefs' defensive front to wreak havoc on C.J. Stroud behind what's been one of the NFL's leakiest offensive lines.
Detroit Lions 31, Washington Commanders 27
Superstar-in-the-making Jayden Daniels didn't disappoint in the Wild Card round, leading the long-suffering Commanders to a win over the Tampa Bay Bucs. Equally impressive both through the air and on the ground, Daniels should continue to make some noise this week against the top-seeded Lions, who have been decimated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball.
.@Realrclark25 says Jayden Daniels will be "immortal" if he beats the Lions.
"It's the greatest rookie season of all time. ... There will never be one that equals it." pic.twitter.com/ZUL0UHEYWE
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 17, 2025
That banged-up Detroit defense showed serious heart against the Vikings in Week 18, holding Minnesota to nine points to help clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed. Following a week of rest, Dan Campbell's begins their Super Bowl quest behind a sizzling offense that's 31 or more points in four straight.
Look for the Lions to pound the rock with Jahmyr Gibbs - and possibly a returning David Montgomery - against a Commanders run defense that finished 30th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game this season. Expect plenty of offensive fireworks with Detroit successfully defending their home turf at Ford Field.
Philadelphia Eagles 27, Los Angeles Rams 17
The Eagles continued to roll in Wild Card Weekend with a 22-10 pounding of the Green Bay Packers. Philadelphia has lost just one game since their Week 5 bye. One of those many wins was a 37-20 blowout victory over the L.A. Rams back in Week 12 of the regular season, an outing in which Saquon Barkley set an Eagles franchise record with 255 rushing yards.
The last time Saquon faced the Rams:
30 Touches
302 Yards (!!!)
2 TouchdownsNow, he's got homefield advantage. pic.twitter.com/tl81pLyIUP
— StatMuse Football (@statmusefb) January 15, 2025
Sean McVay shouldn't be underestimated in the postseason, especially when considering the veteran offense and up-and-coming defense he'll bring to the Divisional Round. The Rams' young defensive front led by Jared Verse absolutely tormented Minnesota QB Sam Darnold in last week's Wild Card round. L.A. sacked Darnold a record-tying nine times in the 27-9 win.
Despite L.A.'s ability on both sides of the ball - and McVay's coaching savvy - the Eagles are perhaps the NFL's most talented roster from top to bottom. I look for Philadelphia to outlast the feisty Rams here with a steady dose of Barkley on the ground, coupled with some big plays from their talented pass-catching corps.
Buffalo Bills 28, Baltimore Ravens 27
This is the one we'll all be waiting for, right? The Divisional Round closes with the weekend's most intriguing matchup in a game that pits the NFL's top-two MVP candidates against each other. We can expect both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson to make superstar-caliber plays in this clash of the quarterback titans.
Lamar Jackson vs Josh Allen 😤
It's gonna be a movie 🍿
Sunday, 6:30 ET on CBS & Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/MY9fcDI4Y1
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 16, 2025
The status of Baltimore's top receiver, Zay Flowers, is something to keep an on. While the Ravens were able to overcome his absence last week against the Steelers, he would be sorely missed in this matchup against Buffalo. The Ravens will look to reenact their Week 4 beatdown of the Bills by leaning on Derrick Henry, though I suspect Sean McDermott will do everything in his power to contain Henry and force Jackson to beat his defense from the pocket. Easier said than done.
Buffalo will bring their own offensive firepower to the party, as Allen is capable of being a one-man wrecking crew. Though they haven't been tested of late, Baltimore's secondary ranked 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game in 2024. My advice would be to watch and enjoy this terrific matchup rather than trying to pick a side, but I'll give the slightest of edges to the Bills at home.
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