As we approach the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, we see the renewal of two interesting rivalries. The San Francisco 49ers will host the Dallas Cowboys, and the Philadelphia Eagles will host the New York Giants. The Cowboys knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as slight favorites, but few foresaw the beating that the Dallas defense brought in a 31-14 win that saw the last Tampa Bay touchdown come in garbage time. The 49ers and the Cowboys had some memorable postseason clashes in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and the 49ers also beat Dallas in the wild card round last year. The Giants and Eagles will square off for the third time this season; as NFC East rivals, they know each other very well. Read on to find our NFL betting predictions for each of these two matchups.
NFL News: NFC Divisional Round Betting Predictions
→ Saturday, January 21
N.Y. Giants (+7.5) at Philadelphia Eagles (O/U 48) (8:15 pm ET, FOX)
Daniel Jones has definitely come into his own – and just in time, as his rookie deal has come to an end, and since the Giants did not exercise their fifth-year option, he had this season to show that he belonged in the NFL – and he has. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300+ yards, throw at least two touchdown passes and run for at least 70 yards in a playoff game.
Those numbers came in a win over the Vikings, though, who have shown a defensive fragility at times that has been baffling. We saw it in huge losses to Dallas and Green Bay in the second half of the season, and we saw it again in the wild card loss to the Giants. The Eagles limited Jones to 169 passing yards in their first meeting this season (Jones did not play in their Week 18 clash). They also lead the league in fewest passing yards permitted per game (179.8). So I don’t think the Giants will have as much room to throw, but Saquon Barkley and Jones could both do well on the ground.
When the Eagles have the ball, Jalen Hurts will see two people that he didn’t see during the regular season: starting defensive backs Xavier McKinney and Adoree’ Jackson. Both did return for the Vikings game, and they clamped down on Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Hurts has had a week off to rest his injured shoulder, but if he is still limited in throwing the ball down the field, this could be a game where the Eagles have to rely on the running game – and with that shoulder less than 100%, Hurts may be less likely to take risks with his legs. Even so, he has Miles Sanders to hand the ball off to, and in the teams’ first meeting in November, Sanders and Hurts ran for 221 yards and three scores. For the season, the Giants were in the league’s bottom six in rushing yards permitted. Thanks to this weakness, the Eagles should be able to set the game’s rhythm and pull away. Eagles to win and cover.
→ Sunday, January 22
Dallas Cowboys (+3.5) at San Francisco 49ers (O/U 46.5) (6:00 pm ET, FOX)
The Cowboys and 49ers will meet in the playoffs for the ninth time – but just the second time since 1994. Until last week, though, the last team the Cowboys had beaten on the road in the playoffs was the 49ers, in the 1993 NFC Championship. The 49ers have won 11 in a row despite having to start a third-string quarterback down the stretch, thanks in large part to Christian McCaffrey. Since the 49ers traded with Carolina to bring him to town, he has run for 1,347 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 12 games. He ran for 119 yards in the 18-point win over Seattle last week. McCaffrey has also caught 54 passes in those games. In coverage, free safety Jayron Kearse did get an interception of Tom Brady last week – the first red zone pick that Brady had thrown in the 2020s. However, when targeted this season, he permitted a 68.3% pass completion rate. Linebackers Anthony Barr (83.3%) and Leighton Vander Esch (77.4%) were lit up as well, although Vander Esch had several defensed passes against Tampa Bay.
Joey Bosa is another player who will give Dallas fits, with rookie Tyler Smith starting at left tackle for Dallas. Bosa led the NFL in sacks (18 ½) and quarterback hits (48) this season, and he had a fumble recovery in last week’s victory. Dak Prescott was only sacked 20 times in his 12 starts, but he was pressured 71 times, and he only completed 35% of his passes in those situations. The 49ers’ defense was tops in the NFL in fewest rushing yards permitted (77.7 yards per game, 3.4 yards per attempt), and the defense held opponents to 10 or fewer points five times. Prescott led the NFL with 15 picks during the regular season despite missing five games, and the 49ers snagged 20 interceptions. With these trends, it’s hard to see Dallas going west and snagging a win. 49ers to win and cover.
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