Welcome to the divisional spherical of the NFL playoffs! After a jam-packed Tremendous Wild Card Weekend, simply eight groups are left standing and every of them is attempting to claw their approach into the convention championships. The notable wrinkle for this week is that the No. 1 seeds are rising from their first-round bye. They’re well-rested and able to resume what has been a stellar season so far and each the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens stay the betting favorites to win Super Bowl LVIII.
That stated, every of them has an interesting matchup this weekend as they will face younger quarterbacks who had been in a position to orchestrate upsets within the opening spherical. In the meantime, we even have the newest chapter within the rivalry between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen on deck as nicely. As we get nearer to kickoff this weekend, we have determined to gather each recreation and rank them, together with providing you with the whole lot it’s worthwhile to know to observe them.
All NFL odds through SportsLine consensus odds.
Date: Sunday, Jan. 21 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Ford Discipline (Detroit)
TV: NBC | Stream: fubo (try for free)
Comply with: CBS Sports activities App
Odds: Lions -6, O/U 48.5
Reality be advised, there actually isn’t any dangerous recreation on this divisional spherical slate. So whereas Buccaneers-Lions could sit on the backside of those rankings, it must be a implausible recreation to observe unfold. Detroit is recent off its first playoff victory since 1991 and will probably be internet hosting its second straight dwelling playoff recreation after not having one for 3 many years. In the meantime, the Buccaneers simply blew out the defending NFC champion Eagles on Monday to advance. This recreation does function two quarterbacks presently amid redemption arcs. Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield have beforehand been castoffs by different franchises solely to steer their present groups into the second spherical of the playoffs. This matchup additionally has the potential for being a tightly contested matchup. This season, the Buccaneers had been an NFL-best 8-1 ATS on the highway, so this recreation might keep inside this six-point unfold. There’s additionally a little bit of a revenge narrative right here as nicely with the Lions blowing out the Bucs again in Week 6, 20-6. It is a a lot completely different Tampa Bay staff than earlier within the yr, so we must always have a back-and-forth affair.
3. Texans at Ravens
Date: Saturday, Jan. 20 | Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: M&T Financial institution Stadium (Baltimore)
TV: ABC/ESPN | Stream: fubo (try for free)
Comply with: CBS Sports activities App
Odds: Ravens -9, O/U 45
That is an “A+” quarterback matchup. On one aspect you might have the presumptive league MVP in Lamar Jackson whereas C.J. Stroud, the Offensive Rookie of the 12 months favourite, stands on the opposite. Each have been box-office hits this season, and I am fascinated to see how Stroud — who threw for 3 touchdowns in opposition to the Browns final week — can handle in opposition to this stout Baltimore protection. In the meantime, Jackson is seeking to bolster his playoff résumé and rid himself of a story that he withers on this setting. In his profession, Jackson is 1-3 as a starter within the playoffs and has only a 68.3 passer score. He is by no means been to the convention championship, so a win right here would flip the arrow in a optimistic route of his playoff résumé and inch the Ravens a step nearer to the Tremendous Bowl. If he falters, it solely provides extra gas to his playoff troubles and would elevate Stroud’s rookie season to all-time standing if he pulls off one other upset.
Date: Saturday, Jan. 20 | Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
TV: Fox | Stream: fubo (try for free)
Comply with: CBS Sports activities App
Odds: 49ers -10, O/U 50
In a slate that’s stuffed with a ton of nice quarterbacks, the one I am most excited to observe is Jordan Love. The Packers signal-caller had shades of prime Aaron Rodgers in that upset win in Dallas final weekend, throwing for 272 and three touchdowns. He was making off-platform throws, becoming the ball into tight home windows, and by no means appeared rattled. Now, he’ll must repeat that effort in opposition to the 49ers in Santa Clara. May he presumably do it once more in what can be the most important upset of the season? Whereas the arrow is already pointing up for Inexperienced Bay’s future with Love underneath middle, an upset right here would elevate this rebuild to new heights. As for the Niners, they’ve been the betting favourite to win the Tremendous Bowl for many of the second half of the season, so seeing what they appear to be popping out of the bye week may also be fascinating.
In fact, there’s additionally the teaching matchup that can loom giant on this recreation. When 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Washington from 2010-2013, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was his quarterbacks coach. In addition they had that very same dynamic once they had been in Atlanta with the Falcons from 2015-2016, so that they have loads of historical past with each other.
Date: Sunday, Jan. 21 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, New York)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (try for free)
Comply with: CBS Sports activities App
Odds: Payments -2.5, O/U 46
I imply, there isn’t any approach this recreation wasn’t going to be No. 1. Anytime Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen sq. off in opposition to each other, it is a must-see occasion. The final time these quarterbacks went toe to toe in a playoff recreation was that notorious divisional spherical recreation in the course of the 2021 playoffs the place Kansas Metropolis tied the sport with 13 seconds left in regulation and in the end received in additional time. Earlier this season, Buffalo was in a position to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium after receiver Kadarius Toney lined up offsides, which erased what would’ve been a go-ahead landing. Once more, there’s drama each time these groups play each other, and we should not anticipate this recreation to be any completely different.
This would be the seventh time that Mahomes and Allen confronted each other the present head-to-head report is 3-3. Nevertheless, Mahomes has received each playoff matchups, so Allen will probably be seeking to notch his first postseason victory in opposition to his rival and can accomplish that at Highmark Stadium. That is the primary time in Mahomes’ playoff profession that he’ll be on the highway, including one other wrinkle.
