The NFL has gone through 256 games, no matter how small, to complete the regular season. An extensive field of 14 teams enters the playoffs with a chance to qualify for Super Bowl LV, which will be held on February 7 in Tampa, Fla. The format is meant to address the pandemic-related issues of the season, leading to six games selected this weekend, rather than the usual four. It also left just two teams with the first round, which was terrible news for the Buffalo Bills and the New Orleans Saints, who could both put out this round in a typical season.
Here’s a look at the game map round. Unlike in the regular season, these selections are not made against the distribution.
Saturday’s Games
Indianapolis Colts by Buffalo Bills, 13:05, CBS
Rule: Bills -6.5 | Total: 51
One of those teams ended up in the offense and defense in the NFL’s top 10, and that was not the Bills (13-3). The Colts (11-5) were very contradictory, barely qualified for the playoffs (Buffalo’s win over Miami in Week 17 helped significantly) and had a bad habit of weakening as the games went on. Nevertheless, they end up with the stats of a solid contender and the best record of the franchise since 2014.
It could quickly fall apart against Buffalo.
The Bills’ success began with quarterback Josh Allen, who progressed from a wrong swing to a legitimate candidate for the Most Valuable Player Award, leading Buffalo to its first division since 1995. A significant part of the improvement should be attributed to the arrival of wide receiver Stefon Diggs, whose presence opened the field for Cole Beasley and John Brown. Buffalo finished second in the NFL in the points table, concluding the season with a six-game victory in which the team averaged 38.2 points per game.
The Bills’ defense was statistically not nearly as high, but cornerback Tre’Davious White and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds led a unit that was tied for the third most takeaways in the NFL. After a rocky start to the year, Buffalo’s defense was particularly impressive. in the late season victories over the Chargers and the Steelers.
The biggest factor in this game is probably the weather. It is expected to be about 30 degrees in Orchard Park, NY on Saturday, and Indianapolis quarterback Philip Rivers has not won since Week 12 of the 2013 season with a kick-off temperature of less than 35 degrees. A cracking 39-year-old quarterback, who has played in hot weather or domes for nearly his entire career, is not a recipe for January’s success in western New York. Choose: Bills
Los Angeles Frame by Seattle Seahawks, 16:40, Fox
Line: Seahawks -4 | Total: 42.5
That we discuss whether quarterback Jared Goff can play is proof of medical progress or his toughness, or both. Goff was operated on on the thumb of his throwing hand on December 28 – this would only allow 11 days of recovery and rehabilitation. Coach Sean McVay said Goff was training and ‘preparing himself to play’, but should he be ruled out, the Rams (10-6) would turn to John Wolford again, the pride and joy of the Alliance of American Football and the surprise winner of his first NFL start, which took place in Week 17.
Whether it’s Wolford or a limited version of Goff, the Rams must be up against the Seahawks (12-4). Seattle’s offense was never mentioned – Russell Wilson is a threat to throw an attack on Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf in almost every play – but after a rough start to the season, the Seahawks’ defense has improved significantly. The only consolation for Los Angeles is that Seattle could be without safety Jamal Adams and defensive tackle Jarran Reed, which would significantly weaken the Seahawks’ passion rush.
At full strength, it would probably have been a great match between NFC West heavyweights. And you can not count the Rams, as long as the defensive attack Aaron Donald – one of the best players in the NFL anywhere – is there. But if adopted in its diminished form, this game tilts in the direction of Seattle. Choose: Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the Washington Football Team, 20:15, NBC
Line: Buccaneers -8 | Total: 45
It is important to win your division. The soccer players (7-9) have the worst record of any playoff game – they tied the 2010 Seattle Seahawks for the worst record for a playoff team in NFL history – but they get a game against the Buccaneers ( 11-5) by way of Tampa Bay being a game card contestant. It may seem unfair, but it was not Washington’s fault that the Buccaneers lost both of their games to rival New Orleans (with a combined score of 72-26).
Home field advantage should not be ignored, and Washington’s defense should give it a bright future, but Tampa Bay is expected to win easily. Tom Brady and the Bucs’ attack came in a groove and ended the season with a series of four games in which they scored 37 points per game. And the Tampa Bay defense, which specializes in the quarterback, should have a field day thanks to the limited mobility of Alex Smith, who is not 100 percent after a calf injury to the same leg that nearly ended his career.
If there is a path to victory for the footballers, it will start with the turnover caused by Chase Young and Washington’s defense. Young, a rookie’s defensive end, apparently shifted right from promising player to superstar. His day for playoffs will probably come, but not this week. Choose: Buccaneers
Baltimore Ravens by Tennessee Titans, 13:05, ABC and ESPN
Lightning: Ravens -3 | Total: 55
Only two road teams are benefiting this weekend, and although Tampa Bay got that distinction thanks to Washington’s disability, the Ravens (11-5) got there by looking almost unbeatable in the last five weeks.
Baltimore used a soft schedule to put things right and won five consecutive games with a total score of 186-89. The formula was familiar, with the Ravens chasing more than 230 yards in four of the five games, but it was clear a fire had been lit under quarterback Lamar Jackson, giving him the form that made him the NFL’s most valuable player in 2019. .
Tennessee’s offense is just as intimidating thanks to a formula that is not entirely different from that of Baltimore. Running Derrick Henry back is an almost unstoppable force – he just became the eighth NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season – and quarterback Ryan Tannehill makes teams pay for piling the box with deep attacks on wide receiver AJ Brown.
The Titans (11-5) are not nearly as capable as Baltimore on defense, but when they make their home underdogs, ignore the fact that the Ravens have had nothing since Week 9 that looks like a dominant win over a good do not span. It is possible that Baltimore would have had a similar success in the late season against any opponent, but achieving the score against teams like Jacksonville and Cincinnati is not enough to support such a brave choice. Choose: Titans
Chicago Bears by New Orleans Saints, 16:40, CBS, Nickelodeon and Prime Video
Line: Saints -10 | Total: 47
The most interesting part of this game is that Nickelodeon is going to do a broadcast of it for kids. There will be animated graphics, guest reporters, on-screen filters and of course slime.
They could not have chosen a better game to give a little distraction, as the Bears (8-8) have little business in the playoffs, let alone the Saints (12-4), who are among the five best of the NFL were teams this season.
Chicago started the season with a 5-1 record, and then in a losing streak of six games looked so bad that the work of Coach Matt Nagy was apparently underway, surprising everyone with three wins to get back into the playoffs. to come. On the final day of the season, the Bears were knocked out by Green Bay, but fell back into the playoffs due to Arizona’s loss to the Rams.
It’s hard to imagine Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky winning a playoff game, but the Saints, who can dominate on both sides of the ball, have repeatedly reminded us that absolutely anything can happen in the playoffs. The Vikings shocked New Orleans in the division round of the 2017 season with a catch shot from Stefon Diggs that will live on forever. The Rams got away with an undeserved win in the NFC Championship game of the 2018 season thanks to one of the cruelest cases of unrestrained passing distractions. And Minnesota ruined the Saints season again last year, with Kirk Cousins playing his team at nine at nine in overtime, and throwing a discount for Kyle Rudolph before Drew Brees could even touch the ball. Choose: Saints
Cleveland Browns by Pittsburgh Steelers, 20:15, NBC
Line: Steelers -6 | Total: 47.5
Only 11 teams in the 16-game era started an 11-0 season, and none of the others ended up with a bad record like the Steelers (12-4) of this season, which was 1-4 . Several factors contributed to the collapse of Pittsburgh, including the team that played the season without a true bee week, injuries to key defenders and the decision to rest eighth man Ben Roethlisberger and several defensive starters in Week 17. But it is also worth wondering if the Steelers would do it. never as well as their best franchise startup suggested.
It’s a rematch with the teams’ game in Week 17, which the Browns (11-5) won 24-22. But the narrow result had to be upsetting for Cleveland, as Mason Rudolph started for Pittsburgh in place of Roethlisberger. Cleveland’s defensive struggles can be attributed primarily to three of the team’s four defensive backs who were due to coronavirus protocols, but the game was still far more competitive than it should have been.
Pittsburgh will have players like TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward and Roethlisberger back at the weekend, and although the Browns will have to recover from their secondary recovery, they will be significantly weakened by postponing their head coach, Kevin Stefanski, after testing positive for the coronavirus. Defensive finisher Olivier Vernon will also be out after suffering an injury last week in last week’s win. Of all the games this weekend, it seems to be the most unpredictable, but a close win in Pittsburgh is the most likely outcome. Choose: Steelers.
All times are Oriental.