Here are my picks for the Divisional Round of the 2019-20 NFL Playoffs.
Saturday, January 11th
(N6) Minnesota Vikings vs (N1) San Francisco 49ers (13-3)- 4:35, NBC: The Vikings are coming off a sensational overtime road win in New Orleans against the Saints in the Wild Card round. The 49ers have had a phenomenal season and earned home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. Kirk Cousins was awesome last week and threw the game winning touchdown to Kyle Rudolph, which looked to be offensive interference on the play. Jimmy Garappolo has been solid all season long and this is his first career playoff start. The Vikings defense was very good last week getting big stops against Drew Brees and that offense, but Xavier Rhodes has been terrible in the secondary. The 49ers defense has been a tale of two units, the first half of the season it was pretty awesome and was vulnerable in the second half of the season when injuries started to hit. That said, with the Niners getting back a few key defensive players and Vikings receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are not a hundred percent, so give me the Niners to reach their first NFC Championship game in six seasons.
Prediction: San Francisco 27, Minnesota 16.
(A6) Tennessee Titans vs (A1) Baltimore Ravens (14-2)- 8:15, CBS: The Titans are coming off a great win in Foxboro to knock off Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Wild Card round. The Ravens have been the leagues best team in the regular season from a record standpoint due to the success of MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson. The Titans offense has been solid once Ryan Tannehill took over at quarterback and Derrick Henry has been the best running back in the sport this season and ran all over the Pats defense last weekend. The Ravens offense has been unstoppable when Jackson is on the field as well as guys like Mark Ingram, Marquise Brown, and Mark Andrews. The Titans defense got huge stops last week in their victory, but I'm not sold on their defense and it's success last week I feel had more to do with Brady trying to handle Father Time. The Ravens defense has been solid all season long and has a lot of Pro Bowlers on it. I expect the Ravens to come out and put the gas on the pedal and win this one easily as they go to their first AFC Championship game in seven years.
Prediction: Baltimore 38, Tennessee 17.
Sunday, January 12th
(A4) Houston Texans vs (A2) Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)- 3:05, CBS: The Texans are coming off a home win over the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round, coming back from a 16-0 deficit to do it. The Chiefs are awesome yet again and are flying somewhat under the radar due to the success of the Ravens and some of the NFC teams. The sexy thing about this game is the quarterback matchup of DeShaun Watson vs Patrick Mahomes, who (along with Lamar Jackson) will be the marquee big name quarterbacks within this new decade. Watson and the Texans offense started to find a rhythm in that comeback victory and I still feel this offense isn't great without Will Fuller. The Chiefs offense has been it's usual self once Patrick Mahomes got healthy after his scary knee cap injury in October. The Texans defense showed it's vulnerability before the remarkable comeback. The Chiefs defense has been lights out for a few weeks now and it's going to be tested this weekend. That said, the best unit on the field is the Chiefs offense led by Mahomes and Arrowhead is going to be rocking as they will go to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.
Prediction: Kansas City 30, Houston 23.
(N5) Seattle Seahawks vs (N2) Green Bay Packers (13-3)- 6:40, FOX: The Seahawks are coming off a road win in Philadelphia against the Eagles in which Carson Wentz got injured during the game and the Eagles had a laundry list of injuries as well. The Packers have had a great season earning this first round bye and is in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. The Seahawks have been carried by Russell Wilson all year long and last weekend DK Metcalf had some big catches. The Packers offense has been inconsistent throughout the year and Aaron Rodgers at times looked like his old self. The Seahawks defense was solid last week, but I think it was masked by the Esgles injuries. The Packers defense has carried them this season after all the additions they made whether it was in free agency or the draft. This should be a physical game and a game with some big catches every here and there, but I think Rodgers steps up and takes advantage of the Seahawks soft defense although Wilson can't be counted out here as the Packers get a big win to go to their first NFC Championship in three seasons.
Prediction: Green Bay 26, Seattle 19.
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