NFL Playoffs - Divisional Picks - Sunday
DTMagazine Home
NFL Playoffs - Divisional - Sunday
NCAA CFP National Championship
All times Eastern
Click here for CFP National Championship
Sunday, January 19
3:00 pm Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5, 43.5) (NBC, Peacock) - The Eagles really has trouble getting their offense going in last week's 22-10 win over Green Bay. The Packers played tight defense against Saquon Barkley's rushes and held the Eagles to under 100 yards passing in the first half. The difference, by the end of the second quarter was mostly a fumble by Green Bay on the opening kickoff that led to the only touchdown in the first two quarters and a 10-0 Philly lead.
Tight End Dallas Goedert stiff-armed his way into the end zone to make it 16-3 nearing the end of the third quarter, but the Packers struck pay dirt on a Josh Jacobs one-yard plunge to open the fourth quarter.
Packer QB Jordan Love's three interceptions proved too costly as Philly kicker Jake Elliott finished the job with a pair of fourth quarter field goals.
As far as the Rams are concerned, their home-away-from-home trouncing of Minnesota Monday night proved they're not to be easily dismissed. The Rams have experience in QB Matthew Stafford and a wealth of talent in wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Running back Karen Williams is a battering ram. They match up favorably with the Eagles' Jalen Hurts, wideouts DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. Barkley may prove a difference-maker in what appears will be a closely-contested affair.
While the Eagles' defense is top-shelf, the Rams have proved to be disruptive and turnover hunters. Philadelphia plowed through the regular season 14-3, easily taking the NFC East. The Rams took the NFC West with a 10-7 mark, working though early injuries that had them at 1-4, winning five straight before a meaningless 30-25 loss to Seattle in Week 18.
These two met in Week 12, with the Eagles pounding the Rams, 37-20, as Barkley rushed for a franchise record 255 yards. Expect the Rams to tighten up their run defense this time. That game was in Los Angeles, so it stands to reason the Eagles would be nearly a touchdown favorite. They'll likely win, but the Rams could prevail or at least keep it a one-score game.
Coin Flip: Philadelphia
Fearless Rick's Pick: Eagles 24 Rams 20
Getting down to knuckle time, the Bills will be up against the best rushing offense in the NFL. Baltimore will have to defend against a multi-pronged attack that includes dual-threat Allen, running back James Cook, and a cadre of wide receivers that seems to come in waves. During the regular season, eight different receivers - including TE Dawson Knox - were a single-game high yardage. Allen knows how to spread it around and his guys can make plays.
Defensively, it's pretty even. Baltimore allowed 21.2 points per game through the regular season. The Bills were close behind at 21.6.
Baltimore had the best run-stopping defense in the league, allowing just 80.1 yards per game, though part of that is because teams were often down a score or two or three and had to resort to a pure passing attack. Still, they were #1 by far. The next closest was Minnesota, allowing 93.4 rush yards per game. A lot of good that did them.
Buffalo was about mid-range defending against the run, allowing 115.5 yards per game. Expect that number to be around 210-230 by the time Jackson and battering ram, Derrick Henry, is done with them. Baltimore rushed for a league-high 187.6 yards per game. The Eagles were second-best at 179.6. Nobody was close after those two.
Baltimore will undoubtably move the ball and score. They were third in scoring, at 30.5 points per game. Buffalo was second (30.9). Both trailed #1 Detroit (33.2).
The Bills will score as well and probably outscore the Ravens. Home field is a huge plus as Buffalo crowds are loud and rabid. Don't dismiss the kicking game. Future Hall of Fame kicker Justin Tucker may have passed his "use by" date. He was 22-30 this season and just 11-for-19 40 yards or longer.
Kyle Bass was better, hitting 24 of 29 field goals and 4 of 4 from 50 yards or more.
Coin Flip: Buffalo
Fearless Rick's Pick: Bills 34 Ravens 27
All information relating to the content of magazines presented in the Collectible Magazine Back Issue Price Guide has been independently sourced from published works and is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. All pages on this web site, including descriptions and details are copyright 1999-2024 Downtown Magazine Inc., Collectible Magazine Back Issue Price Guide. All rights reserved.
Sports Home
NFL Playoffs - Divisional - Saturday
6:30 pm Baltimore Ravens (-1, 51.5) at Buffalo Bills (CBS, Paramount) - There's an added bonus to the final divisional game of the weekend. The league MVP will likely emerge from this contest. Buffalo's Josh Allen and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson have been running neck-and-neck through the latter part of the season. Though Jackson has a stronger statistical case, the player with the best performance in this game will likely decide it.
