The Divisional round of the NFL playoffs begin on Sunday with just eight teams left standing on the road to Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay.
Here's our breakdown and predictions for this week's four divisional round matchups.
Sunday
Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers
8:30am
The Rams, equipped with the league's number one ranked defence, head from the sunny confines of LA out to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to take on Green Bay and its league best offence.
The banged up Rams have three important players expected to suit up despite being under injury clouds, including stud defensive tackle Aaron Donald and quarterback Jarrod Goff, who is only 18 days removed from surgery on a broken thumb.
Green Bay are well rested after earning the bye last week as the NFC’s number one seed.
The matchup to watch in this one will be Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, who led the league with 18 receiving touchdowns this season and is the main protagonist for a Packers team that has lost at home only twice in the past two seasons.
The Rams have a recipe to beat the Packers, but expect Green Bay to be too strong and win through to its first home NFC Championship game since 1996.
Prediction: Packers 24-20 Rams
Baltimore @ Buffalo
12pm AEST
A championship calibre team will be eliminated in this clash between two of the form teams in the league.
It’s a sensational matchup between two of the best young quarterbacks in the league right now who can make off-kilter plays in spite of whatever defensive plan comes their way, which could mean fireworks.
This is a bad matchup for Buffalo. Baltimore’s defence is rolling after keeping Titans running back Derrick Henry to just 40 rushing yards last week, while its own rushing game that finished the season as the leagues best could cause Buffalo’s defense - which struggled with Indianapolis’ far less potent attack last week - some real concerns.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen will be the most important player on the field in this one.
The young quarterback may have to play quarterback and running back if the Bills are to advance to their first AFC championship game since 1993.
Prediction: Ravens 38-35 Bills
Monday
Cleveland @ Kansas City
7:00am
The reward for the Browns after securing the franchises biggest victory in 60 years is a road matchup with Patrick Mahomes and the reigning champion Chiefs.
What could make this matchup interesting is the fact we have the two worst defences remaining in the playoffs against two highly capably offences.
This might be bad news for the Chiefs who generate little quarterback disruption outside of defensive tackle Chris Jones. If the Steelers pass rush couldn’t affect Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield last week, the Chiefs won’t get anywhere near him.
The Browns will do what most teams do when going head-to-head with the Chiefs: run the ball, shorten the game and keep Mahomes on the sideline watching.
Cleveland, with running back Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and a dominant offensive line, is good enough to do just that.
The Browns season is already a success, and the combination of no pressure and offensive capability is a dangerous mix for Kansas City.
If they’re not nervous, they should be.
Prediction: Chiefs 40-37 Browns (in overtime)
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans
10:30am
The final game of the Divisional Round will also be the final matchup between two of the all-time great quarterbacks to have played in the league: Drew Brees and Tom Brady.
Saints coach Sean Peyton would be pretty happy the Saints have got their division foe in the divisional round, a team they’ve handled comfortably twice this season – 34-23 in week one and a 38-3 belting in week nine.
Truth be told, Tom Brady has looked much the better quarterback in this clash down the stretch this season, even at the age of 43. The key for the Bucs will likely be keeping Brady clean, allowing him to find the Bucs myriad of weapons.
For the Saints, their defence has morphed into one of the league’s best units this season, but the offence struggled for a long time against Chicago last week even with a healthy Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas.
The divisional round draws to a close with a coin flip contest.
Prediction: Saints 31-Bucs 28
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