2020 NFL Playoffs - Divisional round

All games are very hard to call for me.

The Ravens seem to have gotten over their slump, the Bills have been the hottest team over the closing weeks of the regular season and now have the monkey of a playoff win off their backs. It's extremely hard to predict which team wins it. I see this being a very high scoring game and I'm going to take Josh Allen to steer the Bills to the AFC Championship game.

The Chiefs have been impressive but have been just doing enough over the last few weeks. A week off is huge though and I have to fancy them despite the Browns basically freerolling here with zero pressure. If the Browns start like they did last week it could go to the wire though.

Packers versus Rams is an intriguing game. Green Bay have struggled mightily against some of the top defenses in the league this season. Jalen Ramsey on Devante Adams should be great to watch. I think Allen Lazard is a very important player in this one. He has not done much since coming back from injury but he needs to step up in this one. If he does then I think the Packers can sneak through in a low scoring affair. You don't know what you are going to get from Jared Goff from week to week, he looks average at best most often but sometimes he looks great and when he's like that the Rams are close to unbeatable. Fascintating game for me.

I have to pick the Saints because they've beaten the Buccaneers twice and convincingly both times. Still Brady looked pretty awesome last week and he does it in the playoffs better than any other player. Another great matchup. If the Saints win and face the Packers they lose, if the Buccaneers win they beat Green Bay.
If the Rams win it's a whole different ball game.

I haven't looked into the stats for this season, but the Chiefs have been vulnerable to the run over the last few years. Pats steamrolled them in 2018 for example. Browns have one of the best rushing tandems in the league. They have the potential to pose a challenge, can't wait.

Brady over Brees forever, but Bowles love if soft zone will probably deep six the Bucs.

Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers
Rams are better defensively. By a fair bit. But not by as big as the discrepancy in QB play. Packers by 7.

Baltimore Ravens @ Buffalo Bills
These two quarter backs make me realise how little I know about football. I really expect both of them to fall on their arses, but Allen has moxy and Lamar's wheels are unreal. I think the Bills have the marginally better supporting cast across both sides of the ball, and with home advantage, I will take them to squeak it. Bills by 3.

Cleveland Browns @ Kansas City Chiefs
Yeah the vibe here and elsewhere recently is that the Browns are on a roll. And that the Chiefs are not what they used to be. But every time I see Mahomes, Hill, Kelce need to get it done, they find a way. I think the Chiefs are a much better team, even defensively. Chiefs by 10, but I would love to be proven wrong.

Tampa Bay Bucanneers @ New Orleans Saints
The Saints have this machine-like quality. Every part seems to be well made, and it all links together well on both sides of the ball. That said, I think the Tampa Bay offense is absolute diamond, built on a very good OL with ridiculous playmakers. I think this is the hardest game to call. I will go with the Saints purely because they don't have a glaring weakness. NO by 1.

Stacked weekend of games.........I think it'll be:

- Bills
- Packers
- Chiefs
-Bucs

I dont think the Browns will trouble the Chiefs much but, the other 3 games should be close. I know the saints have bested the Bucs twice already this season(smashed them in the 2nd game) but I reckon the Bucs are peaking at just the right time and could do it on the third time of asking.
Ravens v Bills looks the most interesting game though.

3-3 last week

Rams @ Packers
Ravens @ Bills
Browns @ Chiefs
Buccaneers @ Saints

166-90 for the regular season
3-3 for the playoffs

Packers
Ravens @ Bills
Browns @ Chiefs
Buccaneers @ Saints

4-2 last weekend. As I noted in my explanation then, everything pointed me to a Rams win but I think my PTSD from facing Wilson twice a year made me go against it and pick the Seahawks. Steelers dug themselves into such a hole last week that they were never getting out of it.

Rams @ Packers
With their similar scheme and much better QB, the Packers to leverage some of the same tactics that the 49ers did in both games this season and get past the Rams.

Ravens @ Bills
Ravens strengths have been where the Bills have been the weakest - Running and attacking through TEs.

Browns @ Chiefs
Still think the Browns getting somewhat lucky at the start of the game last week helped them and they seemed to be enjoying the win too much (the old played their Super Bowl already saying). I don't see them getting that kind of luck again and even if they do Chief's offense is too explosive. For the second week running I'm calling a Baker meltdown when he is made to chase.

Buccaneers @ Saints
Not sure if it Brady love money or what but this is way more one-sided than what we're seeing in the bookies. The 'new Bucs' post bye week have been against mostly poor sides. Saints handled them twice already this season, I don't see it changing this third time.

Is this the first time there’s been fans in Lambeau all year ? The packers are impressive.

Masked Man wrote: »

I love McVay using the playsheet to cover his mouth while wearing a mask.

Probably habit.

Masked Man wrote: »

Oh definitely. I'm not slagging him or anything, I just find it funny.

I’m surprised this game is 3-3 after one quarter. The packers should have had a TD.

TD green bay.

Masked Man wrote: »

Great td. Not much Ramsey can do there

He should have gotten help though. Adams was always the favourite.