Now that the NFL playoffs is down to eight teams, the number of possible Super Bowl matchups has dropped. The big surprises came in Pittsburgh, where the Cleveland Browns hung 48 points on the defense with the best pass rush in the NFL, and in Seattle, where the Rams started with a backup quarterback but ended up beating Seattle with Jared Goff, despite the fact that his throwing hand thumb had three pins in it. The Ravens got revenge in Tennessee, and Tampa Bay held off the Washington Football Team.
Check out the divisional round schedule as well as our thoughts on some of the remaining possible Super Bowl matchups.
NFL News: Updated Possible Super Bowl Matchups
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)
Green Bay Packers vs Kansas City Chiefs
This is the likeliest matchup. After all, both teams got the bye in the first round, both host games all the way to the Super Bowl, and both stadiums are open-air and in cold weather. That’s not good news for warm-weather teams like Tampa Bay and the RAms, and for dome teams like the Saints. The Chiefs have the Browns up next, and while that might seem like an easy win (the Browns, after all, give up tons of yards down the field in the passing game).
However, the Browns can pound the ball behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and they roll into Arrowhead Stadium with tons of confidence. That’s not saying that they will jump out to a huge early lead again this week, but the Chiefs aren’t exactly the strongest starters when it comes to games.
The Packers, on the other hand, have the Rams at home, and then they would host the winner of New Orleans and Tampa Bay. It’s hard to see either Drew Brees or Tom Brady leading their team to victory, at the age of 43, on a snowy Sunday at Lambeau.
Buffalo Bills vs Green Bay Packers
The Bills are actually hotter than the Chiefs right now, in terms of their play on both sides of the ball. Buffalo hosts Baltimore, which might be the toughest team in the AFC right now, if you combine physicality and motivation. The Ravens took the Titans to the woodshed a week ago, shutting down Derrick Henry. If the Bills can beat Baltimore, with the roll the Ravens are on right now, that would give them all the confidence in the world going into Arrowhead Stadium for an AFC Championship matchup. The key is the play of Josh Allen, who has become wiser in terms of his running and devastating in terms of accuracy with passes down the field. Stefon Diggs has taken new strides in the receiving game this season, as has Cole Beasley. If the Bills’ defense can keep Lamar Jackson from running all over the field, the Bills definitely have a chance.
New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs
We’re hearing that Drew Brees will retire after this Saints playoff run. Alvin Kamara is as hot on offense as he’s ever been, and the Saints’ defense has some teeth to it this year. Can they beat the Buccaneers three times in one season? That’s the first question, and then it’s likely they would have to go to Lambeau and win. That’s a tall order, and the Saints have had issues in terms of clutch postseason play the last few seasons. Can they get over the hump?
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