2018 NFL SEASON: DIVISIONAL ROUND

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Probably can guess which one I missed

So far, my AFC bracket remains intact while the missed field goal in Chicago has destroyed my NFC bracket

Such is life

So here are my brief thoughts on the upcoming playoff games

Every one of these games could see the home teams win as well as see the road teams win

The teams that had a first round bye – Chiefs, Rams, Patriots, and Saints – are on notice about a one-and-done given the results from last week.

The Colts made quick work of the Texans building a 3-touchdown lead within the first 23 minutes of the game. Running back Ezekiel Elliot rushed for 137 yards in the Cowboys win over the Seahawks that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. The Chargers appeared to have the Ravens grounded but survived a late fourth quarter surge by them to win their first playoff game in five years. The Nick Foles magic continues as the Eagles won their fourth straight game.

Kickoff times are MT

COLTS AT CHIEFS, SATURDAY 2:30PM NBC

I do think the Chiefs will win against the Colts in a matchup between the star of now – Patrick Mahomes – and the lock for NFL comeback player – Andrew Luck. It has been 25 years since the Chiefs last won a home playoff game, a 27-24 win over the Steelers in overtime in the 1993 Wild Card Round. It was also the last time the Chiefs won in the divisional round. Since then, the Chiefs have failed to advance out of the divisional round when seeded as either the 1 or 2 seed. Two of those instances were losses to the Colts in the 1995 and 2003 playoffs.

Eventually streaks do end.

CHIEFS 35, COLTS 28

COWBOYS AT RAMS, SATURDAY 6:15PM FOX

The stars will be out in Los Angeles

Dak Prescott, Jared Goff, Ezekiel Elliot, Todd Gurley

Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was the Rams head coach while Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was the Cowboys head coach.

Both teams met 8 times in the playoffs between 1973 to 1985 with the teams splitting the matchups 4-4

The Cowboys were 3-5 and headed towards a lost season but winning 6 of their last 7 that included wins over the Eagles (twice) and Saints as well as injuries taking their toll on Washington gave them the NFC East. The Rams looked like the road to the Super Bowl was going through Los Angeles but back-to-back losses on Sunday Night at Chicago followed by at home to the Eagles forced them into a tighter than expected race for the NFC-2 seed

I think the Cowboys will win this game based on their defense. If they duplicate their performance against the Saints, they have a chance at making their first NFC Championship Game appearance in 23 years.

COWBOYS 24, RAMS 17

CHARGERS AT PATRIOTS, SUNDAY 11AM CBS

Despite being the founders of the American Football League in 1960, these teams have only met in the playoffs four times with their most memorable matchups being in 2006 when the Chargers were in San Diego and the following season in the 2007 AFC Championship Game. Both games were won by the Patriots only to have their next game have their championship aspirations ended by a Manning – Peyton in Indianapolis in 2006 and Eli in Arizona in Super Bowl XLII the following season.

Something seems off with this Patriots team. Yes, they won the AFC East but back-to-back losses to the Dolphins and Steelers in December should be a concern.

This will probably be the last time Phillip Rivers and Tom Brady face each other in the playoffs. In their last playoff matchup in 2008, Rivers played with a torn ACL in 21-12 loss to then perfect Patriots. Rivers is healthy and the Chargers have their most complete team since their 2004-08 teams that made the playoffs in 4 of 5 seasons.

CHARGERS 28, PATRIOTS 24

EAGLES AT SAINTS, SUNDAY 2:30PM FOX

If it wasn’t for the Minneapolis Miracle, the Saints would have traveled to Philadelphia for the NFC Championship and likely would have put up a better fight than the Vikings. Maybe they would have won that game, made a return trip to Minneapolis, and won the Super Bowl.

With Nick Foles as quarterback in the playoffs the Eagles have won four straight playoff games

The last one playoff game the Eagles lost?

When Nick Foles was in his first stint as the Eagles quarterback in 2013

Against the Saints in their first road playoff game win in franchise history

The Saints got the NFC 1-seed for this very reason was to ensure that the only time that they leave New Orleans is for the Super Bowl in Atlanta.

Saints coach Sean Payton had an interesting way to motivate his team

From sources:

Yesterday, 4 armed guards entered the @saints locker room, with Coach @SeanPayton wheeling the Lombardi trophy on top of $225k in cash.

Coach then said: “Y’all want this???”

“Win 3 F’n games.”

The locker room erupted. $225k is each player’s SB bonus. #WHODAT

— Jon DeTrinis (@JonDeTrinis) January 9, 2019

SAINTS 31, EAGLES 20