There could be more upsets in the offing.
After an outstanding Wild Card Round in which all but two of the games were decided by one score, the NFL playoffs move on to the Divisional Round.
Having enjoyed a week off, the top seeds in each conference, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, enter the postseason picture.
Both have the benefit of home games, however, they each face tricky matchups, with the Seahawks meeting a division rival whom they faced for the one seed just two weeks ago.
With a chance to play for the conference titles on the line, the Divisional Round is viewed by many as the best weekend on the NFL calendar, and we expect the matchups to live up to the hype.
AFC
Buffalo Bills (6) @ Denver Broncos (1) (Saturday 4.35pm ET, 1:35pm PT, 9:35pm GMT)
A rematch of last season’s Wild Card game that the Bills dominated, it is the Broncos who are expected to prevail this time around after a superb second season under head coach Sean Payton behind an impressive defense and a largely encouraging sophomore year from quarterback Bo Nix.
Yet the Bills’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round served as a reminder of why they are so dangerous with last season’s NFL MVP Josh Allen under center. With momentum and Allen coming off an excellent performance, there’s plenty of reason to believe the Bills can pull off another upset.
The Broncos will surely look to target Buffalo’s highly vulnerable run defense, however, if the Bills can turn the contest into a duel between Nix and Allen, Denver will be in big trouble.
Prediction: Bills 27-24 Broncos
Houston Texans (5) @ New England Patriots (2) (Sunday 3:05pm ET, 12:05pm PT, 8:05pm GMT)
While the Patriots defense feasted on the Los Angeles Chargers’ banged-up offensive line, it was a hugely unconvincing performance from quarterback Drake Maye and the offense in a 16-3 win.,
New England cannot afford a repeat against the Texans’ ferocious defense, which dominated in Houston’s rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game that may have been the last of Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career.
Maye’s mobility is a huge asset for the Patriots as they look to avoid their offense being derailed by the Texans’ defensive front. Yet it’s difficult to see New England avoiding turnovers against the Texans, who have a quarterback in C.J. Stroud who can take full advantage and end their hopes.
Prediction: Texans 20-16 Patriots
NFC
San Francisco 49ers (6) @ Seattle Seahawks (1) (Saturday 8:15pm ET, 5:15pm PT, 1:15am GMT)
The 49ers produced a stunning upset in the Wild Card Round as they ended the Philadelphia Eagles reign as champions despite their injury-ravaged team losing tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles in the first half.
San Francisco now faces an even more formidable challenge on the road against their division rivals the Seahawks, who earned the first-round bye with a 13-3 win over the 49ers in Week 18.
Though the 49ers are now without Kittle, star left tackle Trent Williams made a huge difference in returning from injury against Philadelphia and, with nothing to lose, the circumstances set up better for San Francisco to produce a more competitive display.
The Seahawks boast a dominant defense and an offense that, when quarterback Sam Darnold fires on all cylinders, can rival anyone in the NFL. Still, there’s something a little magical about a 49ers team that has not lost in Seattle since 2021. Belief in their unlikely run will reach new heights if they pull this one off.
Prediction: 49ers 19-17 Seahawks
Los Angeles Rams (5) @ Chicago Bears (2) (Sunday 6:40pm ET, 3:40pm PT, 11:40pm GMT)
The Rams were given all they could handle last week by the upstart Carolina Panthers, but MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford get them over the line in a thriller, putting Los Angeles a win away from an NFC Championship Game with one of their division rivals.
Yet this ultra-resilient Bears team will be anything but pushovers, as their remarkable comeback against the Green Bay Packers last week demonstrated.
Chicago did not force any turnovers last week against the Packers but somehow still managed to turn around an 18-point deficit. For as imperious as he often is, Stafford can have spells where his rhythm completely disappears, and he will put the ball in harm’s way. He has thrown seven interceptions in his last seven games.
If a Bears defense that led the NFL in turnovers in the regular season can take advantage, Chicago could find themselves a game away from the Super Bowl.
Prediction: Rams 30-34 Bears