By Elliott Gomes ’28, Yisen Gu ’28, Charles Scott ’29, and Connor Foley ’29
The NFL is as broad open as ever with each crew having a practical shot to make the massive recreation. Right here is how each crew can win their divisional spherical recreation.
Buffalo Payments
Regardless of going through the primary seed, sportsbooks solely have the Payments at a 1.5 level deficit in opposition to the Broncos. Josh Allen performed a near-perfect recreation in opposition to the Jaguars to progress to the Divisional spherical, and he’s going to wish one other to upset the Broncos at Mile Excessive. The Payments offense has struggled in opposition to top-ranked defenses this season, notably solely placing up 12 factors in opposition to the Eagles, and 19 factors in opposition to the Texans. Whereas the 4th ranked Broncos Protection poses a robust risk in opposition to the Payments, they’re an unbeatable crew when Josh Allen is scorching, which he so typically is. A clear recreation with minimal turnovers, and methodical manufacturing from Josh Allen and the Payments offense, ought to see them to the AFC championship.
Denver Broncos
The important thing to Broncos Victory is profitable the primary half. The Broncos have notoriously been a slow-starting crew this season, counting on seven 4th quarter comebacks to make them the playoffs and the one seed. Regardless of their capability to ‘clutch video games out’, they can not go away issues till late in opposition to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Payments. The Payments have the thirty first ranked dashing protection, yielding 5.2 yards per try. If the Broncos can management time of possession early by R.J. Harvey on the bottom and fast throws across the line of scrimmage from Bo Nix, and carry a lead into halftime, they are going to be effectively positioned to advance to the AFC Championship.
Prediction: 23 – 19 Broncos win
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers shouldn’t be on this place. Simply two weeks in the past, the Niners had been battling to win the NFC’s first seed, and residential video games right through Tremendous Bowl weekend in February. This crew has been by the ringer: shedding Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Ji’Ayir Brown, and Fred Warner on the protection, and Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall (presently listed as Questionable for Saturday’s recreation), and George Kittle on the offense. But regardless of this infinite checklist of accidents, the Niners beat the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles off of the legs of Christian McCaffrey, the choice making of Brock Purdy, the palms (and throwing arm) of Jauan Jennings, and the thoughts of Kyle Shanahan. If Christian McCaffery retains performing on the degree that he’s, there may be at all times an opportunity that the 49ers can pull off an upset this weekend. Regardless of the horrific field rating from the Week 18 matchup, the Niners weren’t too far out of that recreation. An unlucky interception that bounced off the palms of McCaffery on the 5-yard line and a porous run protection had been errors that the undermanned San Francisco crew couldn’t afford. Nevertheless, with Coach of the 12 months candidate Kyle Shanahan on the helm, nothing is unimaginable. Shanahan has by no means misplaced within the playoffs earlier than the NFC Championship recreation, and Brock Purdy’s solely two losses had been in opposition to the Eagles when his UCL was torn by Haason Reddick within the first quarter, and the second was in opposition to Mahomes and the Chiefs within the Tremendous Bowl, the place Purdy took the Chiefs to time beyond regulation, earlier than Mahomes took over and scored a landing to win. Between Purdy, McCaffery, and Shanahan, the 49ers can completely win this recreation, even when they’re counting on the facility of friendship to do it with their depleted roster. To win, the Niners have to cease the run, put strain on Sam Darnold, keep away from turnovers, and belief Kyle Shanahan to dial up some playcalls. Whereas it is unlikely that the Niners win, it will be unwise to rely them out, particularly given their efficiency on the highway in Philadelphia final week. Even though the chances are stacked in opposition to them, this 49ers crew has a particular really feel and momentum to them, and it appears like they’ve what it takes to make a deep playoff run this yr.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks ought to win this recreation. They’ve the benefit in each main metric. The Seahawks protection has been impenetrable, Sam Darnold has proven that he can run the offense successfully, and the crew has gained various large video games this season (Week 16 vs. Rams, Week 18 at 49ers). But, some questions stay. Sam Darnold, regardless of his total stable efficiency this season, has by no means been a real worldbeater. He doesn’t take over video games the best way that Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson do on the common. He struggles underneath strain, and has by no means gained a playoff recreation. Nevertheless, Darnold has the posh of getting probably the NFL’s finest broad receiver in Jaxon Smith Njigba. Whereas JSN struggled in opposition to Deomodore Lenoir within the Week 18 matchup, he repeatedly beat the Niners CB2 Renardo Inexperienced for giant achieve after large achieve. To win this recreation, all of the Seahawks have to do is to stay to the sport plan: run the ball in opposition to the 49ers’ depleted protection (Seattle ran for 180 yards of their earlier matchup with San Francisco), and discover Njigba for greater positive factors. Most significantly, present Sam Darnold the assist he must succeed, and don’t put Darnold able the place he must put the crew on his again. If Seattle does all of this, they need to win this recreation.
Prediction: 24-22 Niners pull off the upset
Buffalo Payments
Regardless of going through the #1 seed, sportsbooks solely have the Payments at a 1.5 level deficit in opposition to the Broncos. Josh Allen performed a near-perfect recreation in opposition to the Jaguars to progress to the Divisional spherical, and he’s going to wish one other to upset the Broncos at Mile Excessive. The Payments offense has struggled in opposition to top-ranked defenses this season, notably solely placing up 12 factors in opposition to the Eagles, and 19 factors in opposition to the Texans. Whereas the 4th ranked Broncos Protection poses a robust risk in opposition to the Payments, they’re an unbeatable crew when Josh Allen is scorching, which he so typically is. A clear recreation with minimal turnovers, and methodical manufacturing from Josh Allen and the Payments offense, ought to see them to the AFC championship.
Denver Broncos
The important thing to Broncos Victory is profitable the primary half. The Broncos have notoriously been a slow-starting crew this season, counting on seven 4th quarter comebacks to make them the playoffs and the one seed. Regardless of their capability to ‘clutch video games out’, they can not go away issues till late in opposition to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Payments. The Payments have the thirty first ranked dashing protection, yielding 5.2 yards per try. If the Broncos can management time of possession early by R.J. Harvey on the bottom and fast throws across the line of scrimmage from Bo Nix, and carry a lead into halftime, they are going to be effectively positioned to advance to the AFC Championship.
Prediction: 23 – 19 Broncos
Houston Texans
Let’s face it: Drake Maye is sweet, however will probably be his second playoff recreation ever coming off a shaky efficiency. The daunting Texans protection that has shut down league tremendous stars like Josh Allen will give it their all on this essential recreation. The elite cross rush protection may simply restrict the Patriots to the bottom, which has been productive, but in addition inconsistent.
New England Patriots
Frankly, the Texans offense seemed atrocious final week. Having Christian Kirk as their high receiver is definitely a nasty look contemplating how he has performed this season. One other recreation with out Nico Collins, particularly given the strain that the patriots can apply with Drake Maye on the helm, could be fairly difficult for the Stroud-led Texans. Even when the Patriots battle a bit in opposition to the admittedly stable protection, their O-Line gained’t permit for the freebie factors the Texans relied on final week.
Now let’s speak in regards to the Patriots. New England has already discovered their subsequent Tom Brady, Drake “Drake Maye” Maye can simply pop off this week. With Diggs displaying his youthful self as soon as once more and the underrated twin risk within the types of Henderson and Stevenson, the Texans may have a troublesome time defending themselves from each angle. In fact, everyone knows that protection wins championships. And will probably be embarrassing what the Pats do to CJ Stroud and his inexperienced squad. Stroud’s sophomore droop has prolonged to the third yr, and it undoubtedly doesn’t assist that lots of his key teammates are younger and inexperienced.
Prediction: Patriots Win 24 – 6
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford has essentially the most passing yards and touchdowns (12 greater than the second-highest!) within the NFL this yr whereas main the Rams to an NFL-highest 34 factors per recreation. His MVP-favorite season has continued into the playoffs; he threw for 3 touchdowns and over 300 yards final week in opposition to the Panthers. Extensive receiver Puka Nacua completed the season second in receiving yards, and fellow wideout Davante Adams garnered essentially the most receiving touchdowns. The Rams’ tight finish trio of Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, and Tyler Higbee has been a continuing pressure all through the season. The Rams don’t have any holes of their passing offense, so look to Matt Stafford to guide a high-octane offense that powers the Rams to victory.
Chicago Bears
In some video games, the Rams have seemed unbeatable. However in opposition to the Panthers and Falcons, two sub-.500 groups, Matthew Stafford had two and three respective interceptions. The Rams barely misplaced each contests with the pricey turnovers looming giant. The Bears are uniquely poised to press their benefit on this weak point, having each essentially the most turnovers (33) and finest turnover differential (+22) within the NFL. If Stafford and the Rams have one other sloppy day, the Bears will punish them. Stafford threw an interception within the Wild Card spherical, and if he does so once more, anticipate the Bears to capitalize greater than the Panthers may.
Prediction: Rams 34, Bears 23
