Inferno’s NFL Divisional Round Picks
Saturday Games:
LA Rams 24 vs. 28 Green Bay Packers - Inferno’s Pick: Packers
The freezing Green Bay weather favors the Packers as quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 5-1 with an amazing 63.9% completion rate in playoff games below thirty degrees, per CBS Sports. However, the Rams defense is resilient and the Packers will be missing All-Pro left tackle, David Bakhtari.
Key Notes: 1) Green Bay is looking to clinch its third NFC Championship berth in five seasons. 2) Rams will turn to Jared Goff at quarterback— who just had thumb surgery two weeks ago 3) Davante Adams vs. Jalen Ramsey matchup will play a huge factor in game’s outcome.
Baltimore Ravens 31 vs. 24 Buffalo Bills - Inferno’s Pick: Ravens
The Bills’ defense won’t be able to contain Baltimore’s running game. The less passes Lamar Jackson throws, the better. Plus, the NFL audience is craving for a Mahomes-Jackson rematch in the AFC Championship next week.
Key Notes: 1) Buffalo will be without running back Zack Moss (ankle) 2) Ravens are only team in NFL history with three players with 700 rushing yards in a season (Jackson, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards) 3) The Bills’ defense has allowed 150 rushing yards five times this season
Sunday Games:
Cleveland Browns 24 vs. 35 Kansas City Chiefs - Inferno’s Pick: Chiefs
Baker Mayfield and the Browns had a great run, but Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense are just too much for the Cleveland defense to handle. Needless to say, Kansas City will become the first AFC team to host three straight conference championships.
Key Notes: 1) Browns’ running back Kareem Hunt will face old team for first time since being released back in 2018 2) Mayfield has yet to throw an interception in 5 games, per ESPN 3) In four playoff starts, Mahomes hasn’t thrown an interception at home and has also thrown at least two touchdown passes in four straight playoff games
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31 vs. 27 New Orleans Saints - Inferno’s Pick: Bucs
It’s difficult to beat a team three times in one season and we don’t think the Saints can beat Tom Brady and the Bucs thrice. The Saints tend to have bad luck with the officiating crew in the playoffs, and something tells us this matchup might be decided by a controversial ending because of the referees. Needless to say, a Brady-Rodgers matchup in the NFC Championship wouldn’t be too bad.
Key Notes: 1) Both teams’ defenses rank in the top-10 overall according to ESPN 2) Old Man Battle at quarterback as Brady is 43 and Brees is 42 years old respectively 3) Brady will make his NFL-leading 43rd career playoff start (2nd with Bucs)