After six games on Saturday and Sunday, the NFL has pared down the postseason field from 14 to 8. Some of the games went as we expected, as in the Ravens getting revenge against the Titans and the Bills getting past the Colts. There were some surprises, too, such as the Rams going to Seattle and ending the Seahawks’ season, and the Browns getting their first road playoff win since 1969.
Now we move to the divisional round, so check out the schedule and our latest power rankings as you plot out your NFL betting.
NFL News: Divisional Round Power Rankings
Divisional Playoff Schedule
Saturday, January 16
L.A. Rams at Green Bay Packers (4:35 pm ET, FOX)
Baltimore at Buffalo (8:15 pm ET, NBC)
Sunday, January 17
Cleveland at Kansas City (3:05 pm ET, CBS)
Tampa Bay at New Orleans (6:40 pm ET, FOX)
#1 Kansas City Chiefs
14-2, AFC West Champions, #1 AFC Seed
Andy Reid-coached teams have posted a 5-2 record in the NFL playoffs when they have earned a first-round bye. Patrick Mahomes and many of the other starters rested in Week 17, so they should have fresh legs with the Cleveland Browns coming to town on Sunday. We haven’t really seen the Chiefs playing their best in a while, so will they come out firing against the Browns, or will they sputter?
#2 Green Bay Packers
13-3, NFC North Champions, #1 NFC Seed
When the Rams beat Seattle, things got a lot easier for Green Bay. Now they can either prepare for Jared Goff, just a few weeks after he broke his passing thumb. Imagine how difficult it will be for him even to grip the ball in the icy cold of Lambeau Field.
#3 Buffalo Bills
13-3, AFC East Champions, #2 AFC Seed
The Bills had a hard time dispatching the seventh-seed Indianapolis Colts in the wild card round. They are the hottest team in the league in terms of wins and losses, but the Buffalo defense struggled against Indianapolis at times. Philip Rivers was able to find open receivers against the Buffalo zone defense, and Jonathan Taylor was harder than I expected for the Bills to bring down. The Bills also didn’t move the ball all that well, on a consistent basis, against the Colts? Can they keep up with the physical Ravens?
#4 New Orleans Saints
12-4, NFC South Champions, #2 NFC Seed
The Saints delivered a 21-9 thumping of the Chicago Bears that was even more of a rout than the score indicates, as the Bears scored a touchdown as time expired at the end of regulation. The Bears only posted 11 first downs and 239 total yards of offense. The Saints struggled early against the Chicago defense but had two touchdown drives in the second half to pull away. Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara combined for 189 yards from scrimmage and look to find plenty of room to operate against Tampa Bay.
#5 Baltimore Ravens
11-5, AFC Wild Card, #5 AFC Seed
The Ravens found themselves in a 10-0 hole in the early going against Tennessee in the wild card round, but then they flipped a switch. Baltimore got a 48-yard touchdown run out of Lamar Jackson, who ended up accounting for 315 yards combined on the day. The Ravens also held Derrick Henry to just 40 yards on 18 carries. With that sort of defense, Baltimore has an excellent shot against the Bills.
#6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11-5, NFC Wild Card, #5 NFC Seed
The most impressive part of Tampa Bay’s win over Washington was how clean the Buccaneers’ O-line kept the pocket for Tom Brady. He was able to put the game away when it counted, after Washington got a courageous game out of fourth-string quarterback Taylor Heinicke. But if the Buccaneers struggled that badly against Washington’s offense, how easily will the Saints be able to score on them? New Orleans won the two regular-season meetings between the two teams this year.
#7 Cleveland Browns
11-5, AFC Wild Card, #6 AFC Seed
No head coach? No Pro Bowl left guard? No problem. Cleveland jumped all over Pittsburgh, leading 28-0 after the first quarter, and held on for a 12-point win. Baker Mayfield met the reserve left guard who came in during the fourth quarter in the locker room before the wild card game for the first time, but it didn’t matter, as the Browns overcame the COVID-19 pandemic to beat Pittsburgh. But can they keep up with the Chiefs?
#8 Los Angeles Rams
10-6, NFC Wild Card, #6 NFC Seed
The Rams’ win over Seattle was costly. Aaron Donald had to leave the game with a rib injury, and Cooper Kupp (knee) could be on the shelf. Injuries like that are even more painful to play through in the Wisconsin cold. The Rams do have a stout defense, but will it be able to keep up with the Packers in the cold?
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