Reply
Honored Contributor
Posts: 25,813
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

We start out this week with the Texans at the Chiefs on Saturday afternoon. Not a great matchup for the Texans. The Chiefs are the proven playoff veterans who've been there and done that. Add in a frenzied home crowd, and things don't look great for the Texans. Can they win? Yes, but it won't be easy. CJ Stroud needs the game of his career and the Chiefs need to be off their game a bit. Both teams at their best favors the Chiefs. If the Texans can catch a few breaks, a Chief's receiver slipping, a tipped pass, a blocked field goal, etc. they can eke out the win. They're just not the better team. But sometimes the lesser team wins. I'll take the Chiefs and hope for a close, exciting game.

 

Then on Saturday night, the Commanders head into the Lions' den. Another mismatch on paper, only maybe not as big. The Lions have been bitten hard by the injury bug. That eventually catches up with a team. You can only plug in a backup so many times before the quality on the field suffers a bit. The Commanders are relatively healthy. Jayden Daniels is something of a magician and dangerous. Ertz and McLaurin give him two good weapons. I think the Lions still get the win, but it could be a pretty close game. The Commanders need to get ahead early and hang on for dear life.

 

Sunday kicks off with the Rams coming to Philly to take on the Eagles. The Eagles will be short one rabid fan who earned a lifetime ejection for harassing a female Packers fan (calling her a "dumb, ugly, c-word") while her boyfriend filmed the encounter. (I'm not sure he should still be her boyfriend for just filming things and not intervening, but whatever.) Eagles' captain and middle linebacker Nakobe Dean will be out, but Oren Burks and rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr will be filling in for him. Maybe more Trotter given how Vic Fangio talked yesterday. The Rams run defense isn't the best (22nd in the league) and they gave up 255 yards to Saquon in the earlier matchup this year. The Eagles' o-line created huge holes in that game with Rams players flying backward on every snap. That's not an easy thing to fix mid-season. A smaller, lighter defensive line against a bigger, heavier offensive line isn't something where you can have the guys gain fifty pounds mid-season. The Rams will have worked a lot on block-shedding techniques to try and get off the blocks, but there's only so much they can do. I expect the Eagles to put up some pretty big numbers on the ground. If the Rams cheat up the safeties to try and stop the run then that opens up the field for the Eagles' receivers. Jalen Hurts didn't have a great game last week but he tends to rebound from a bad game with a good game. Jalen Carter has destroyed the Rams' offensive line each time they've faced one another. Matthew Stafford will be very aware of his presence. Puka Nacua will be a problem, but I suspect the Eagles will have a plan to handle him, I've got the Birds winning this one.

 

And we end the week with the Ravens at the Bills. Two magical QBs, and MVP candidates, going head-to-head. Neither QB is blessed with exceptional help at RB or WR, so the game is more or less up to the QB willing/dragging the team to win, which both can do. On paper, the best game of the week. I'll give a slight edge to the Bills solely because they're at home.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,255
Registered: ‎10-04-2010

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

@gardenman    Thanks,   I will be glued to the TV this weekend.   I am a true Chiefs fan but in spite of their record they have not exactly shined this season but they do seem to know how to win.

 

im rooting for the Eagles and Lions, even though I;ve been i,pressed with the Commabders.   The Bills/Ravens is the match of the week.  If the Chiefs win, I don't know who I'd rather see us play - both the Ravens and Bills could do the job.   

p.s.  Minnesota fell apart Monday night.  That was brutal.  I was hoping they'd best thevRams.  Now it's up to the Eagles to finish them off.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,179
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

I don't expect Saquon Barkley to have another 200 yard game. He'll probably get high numbers, but the Rams will learn from the last game and make corrections. The Eagles' O-line is talented and they must seen the tape from the Vikings game so they know how to protect Jalen Hurts better than the Vikings protected Sam Darnold. 

 

I wonder if the MVP will be determined by the winner of the Ravens-Bills game. How about both Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen getting MVP? If I recall, Peyton Manning and Steve McNair shared MVP honor the same year. 

"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."

Mark Twain
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,959
Registered: ‎11-24-2011

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

@gardenman   Go Bills !!!!!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,031
Registered: ‎01-02-2015

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

 

 

I also will be glued to the TV .. Hubby has already been

warned there will be no cooking !!!!

 

GO BILLS ...PLEASE  !!!!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 25,813
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

Myles Garrett thinks the Browns are close to turning things around. Uh, okay. Sure. They're already $29+ million over the cap for 2025, so they've got to create $30 million in cap space just to break even. Then they'll need another ten or so million to sign their draft picks. All before adding any new players in free agency, or even keeping their old players in free agency. And they've got 28 free agents of their own. Yeah. I'm not sure what he's seeing, but they need a miracle. Playing in the same division as the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals doesn't help matters any. Those three teams are stable or on the upswing. Two of them made the playoffs and the third just missed. 

 

An optimistic forecast would have the Browns maybe being competitive in three years. A more realistic forecast would be five years. They aren't good now. They can't sign a ton of good free agents. Maybe not even one. They'll likely lose a number of their own free agents. They're saddled with DeShaun Watson through 2026. They have no choice but to get younger, and likely a lot younger. 

 

The Browns and Giants are likely vying for that first overall pick again in 2025/2026. If anything, the Browns are in worse shape than the Giants. They can get a kid QB with the second overall pick, but will he have any help around him? I'm not optimistic about the Browns. 

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
Honored Contributor
Posts: 35,068
Registered: ‎03-20-2010

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

[ Edited ]

To quote Dak....YEH, HERE WE GO!!!! PLAYOFFS WEEK 2 

 

Texans VS Chiefs----Well the weather, although chilly, will be a balmy 26 with no snow or rain....The Chiefs could be rusty, but healthier than they were.....You can't count out Mahomes on offense nor Chris Jones on defense. Then there's the "good luck charm", Taylor Swift, who should certainly be on hand......can't forget their 12th man, not just the fans, but many say the refs as well..Woman Wink..The Texans have a very good defense and a good QB in CJ Stoud....but their oline is nothing to write home about and CJ will certainly be pressured. I'll take the CHIEFS at home for the WIN!

 

Washington VS Lions---What a "reward" for winning your first playoff game Jayden ....you get to face the best NFC team, the Lions!  Yes, its another Daniels in the Lions den, but this retelling of the tale, may have a different ending....While Jayden's talents gives the Washington offense unpredictability for the Lions, BUT their offensive line gives them some problems.....Wylie needs to be replaced, Coleman is a rookie, Allegretti has problems from time to time....Cosmi, Biadsz, are solid....The running game has struggled lately, leaving Daniels to pick up the slack on rushing plays. WR Terry McLaurin is their best weapon, and TE Ertz is a nice safety valve, Dyami Brown has been an effective option lately, the veteran Ekeler has had his moments.  The defense is an issue, especially with the Lions explosive offense.....Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner have come up with key plays. Armstrong and Chinn have stepped up....but Payne and Allen have been disappointing. CB Lattimore didn't look all that great in his debut, but he just came back from injury, and hopefully he will improve.  Neither team punts much and the tendency is to go for it on 4th down. Kicker, Zane Gonzalez, Mr. Doink himself, is listed with a limited practice with a hip issue...not good. Our backup Kicker is on IR...YIKES, NOT GOOD!!! Meanwhile, the Lions offense is rolling, a solid QB in Goff, their weapons include--Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown and more. And despite losing defensive stars, their replacements have played pretty decent lately.....The Lions are at home, I just think Washington has less talent and am giving the VICTORY to the LIONS!  But the future looks bright for Washington with a good regime now in charge!!!

 

Rams VS Eagles ---The Rams dominated the Vikings, despite having the mental distraction of the wildfires and whether some will even have a home when they return to California.  Veteran QB Matt Stafford leads the offensive charge and Williams, Cuppa, Nakua are his outstanding weapons. They have a crafty coach in McVay. Their defense isn't bad either... their defense recorded nine sacks - tying  the NFL postseason record - along with 12 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss and two takeaways. The Eagle's offense struggled against the Packers, and they will most likely feed the beast, RB Saquon Barkley behind their stellar oline.  AJ Brown will bring the reading literature, afterall reading is fundamental!  The Eagles defense is good, very good especially on 3rd downs. It looks like there is a 60% chance of afternoon rain or snow which may impact the game.  I'm taking THE EAGLES in a close one at home.

 

Ravens VS Bills---It's a battle of the MVP candidates in Lamar Jackson VS Josh Allen.  It will be a brisk 21 degrees as the Ravens shuffle off to Buffalo. The Ravens defense has steadily improved and some rank them as #1 in the playoffs.  They have the versatile QB Lamar, and the sledgehammer, RB Derrick Henry. In addition to the their all Pro QB Allen, the Bills also have multiple options when Allen doesn’t run the ball – James Cook, WR Ty Johnson, and their tight-ends.  The Bills have a strong run defense.  I'm going with THE BILLS at home!

 

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Animals are reliable, full of love, true in their affections, grateful. Difficult standards for people to live up to.”
Honored Contributor
Posts: 35,068
Registered: ‎03-20-2010

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

[ Edited ]

@hayseed00 wrote:

@gardenman   Go Bills !!!!!


@hayseed00 @Big Joanie 

 

GO BILLS!.....My dream Super Bowl is Bills/Lions!

Animals are reliable, full of love, true in their affections, grateful. Difficult standards for people to live up to.”
Honored Contributor
Posts: 25,813
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!

The Eagles moved Nakobe Dean to IR, signed Parris Campbell back to the active roster, signed last year's linebacker Nick Morrow to the practice squad. Parris Campbell has been bouncing around the roster all year. Nick likes Parris and he's a competent run blocker. We're getting a bit heavy at WR though.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,031
Registered: ‎01-02-2015

Re: Week Two of the NFL Playoffs! The Divisional Round!


@Spurt wrote:

@hayseed00 wrote:

@gardenman   Go Bills !!!!!


@hayseed00 @Big Joanie 

 

GO BILLS!.....My dream Super Bowl is Bills/Lions!


My Dream is the Bills win that Super Bowl.. Hope always

springs eternal ....!!