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Tright here was loads of pleasure throughout wild-card weekend, however not quite a lot of surprises. In truth, we accurately picked all six winners this time last week. Will that mojo proceed within the divisional spherical? We’ll discover out over the subsequent few days.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Saturday, 4.30pm EST/9.30pm GMT)
What the Jaguars must do to win: Trevor Lawrence has to have a superb first-half – or at the very least a not-terrible one. The Jaguars noticed the Los Angeles Chargers a 27-0 lead earlier than roaring again for a comeback victory final weekend. Lawrence has to show that his four-interception first half was playoff debut nerves.
What the Chiefs must do to win: Act as in the event that they’ve been right here earlier than, which they’ve. Final week, the Jaguars proved they are often their very own worst enemy, so the extra proficient Chiefs may benefit from a conservative method that emphasizes avoiding turnovers and prioritizing time of possession.
Key participant: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The final time these groups confronted one another, Kelce picked up 81 yards and scored a landing. Jacksonville’s protection struggled to contain tight ends in general throughout the common season and Kelce is considerably higher than “usually”.
Prediction: Chiefs over Jaguars. The Jaguars deserve nothing however credit score for making it this deep into the postseason, however this seems like the sport that exposes the hole between Lawrence and Patrick Mahomes.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (Saturday, 8.15pm EST/Sunday, 1.15am GMT)
What the Giants must do to win: Run the ball. The Giants have the NFC’s greatest operating again in Saquon Barkley, plus QB Daniel Jones is a menace to take the ball and run himself, having picked up 78 yards on the bottom in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings final week.
What the Eagles must do to win: If Philadelphia can forestall Jones and Barkley from creating chaos on the bottom – they gave up 121.6 rushing yards a game throughout the common season, in comparison with New York’s 144.2 – the Giants should air it out extra, which isn’t their power.
Key participant: Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles. How wholesome is Hurts’s shoulder? That could be what this sport comes right down to. Hurts went 20-for-35, throwing for 229 yards with one decide and no touchdowns when he returned to motion within the regular-season finale in opposition to the Giants. Philadelphia hope that the bye week helped him regain his type.
Prediction: Eagles over Giants. The Eagles have struggled with out Hurts, however assuming that he’s at the very least at 80%, the perfect group within the NFL’s common season shall be shifting on to the NFC championship sport.
Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Payments (Sunday, 3pm EST/8pm GMT)
What the Bengals must do to win: Welcome to the Ball Safety Bowl! Whichever group limits their turnovers will most probably win the sport. For the Bengals, this implies forcing Josh Allen into making the poor selections that just about doomed the Payments in opposition to the Miami Dolphins (he had two interceptions and was given “credit” for three fumbles).
What the Payments must do to win: In the meantime, the Payments’ job shall be to sack Joe Burrow. One of many worst-kept secrets and techniques of the league is that the Bengals QB has the propensity to carry on to the soccer too lengthy. It’s one thing he’s labored on enhancing however, particularly with a battered offensive line, the Payments’ move rushers may find yourself feasting on the opposing quarterback.
Key participant: Joe Mixon, RB, Bengals. Ought to Cincinnati’s passing sport begin to break down, they do have a high-quality operating again in Mixon, who may step in as Plan B.
Prediction: Payments over Bengals. Neither group actually proved themselves of their first-round sport, so this might find yourself being a high-scoring, free-for-all with a wild end. In case you’re simply going to take a look at one sport, that is it.
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 6.30pm EST/11.30pm GMT)
What the Cowboys must do to win: Can the Cowboys’ offensive line maintain up in opposition to the Niners’ league-best protection? It’s not the sexiest query however it might reply whether or not or not Dallas can pull off a highway victory on Sunday.
What the 49ers must do to win: In a method or one other, this San Francisco 49ers’ season, and maybe the whole NFL season, could come right down to Brock Purdy’s potential to postpone turning again into the proverbial pumpkin. The ultimate decide of final 12 months’s draft will in some way be making his second postseason begin on Sunday.
Key participant: Micah Parsons, linebacker, Cowboys. Parsons’s defensive effort against Tom Brady on Monday was a giant purpose why the quarterback is already taking a look at plans for subsequent season. Simply as San Francisco’s protection is centered round Nick Bosa, Parsons is the important thing to the Niners’ D.
Prediction: 49ers over Cowboys. At which level, Brock Purdy will formally be nicknamed Mr Extraordinarily Related.
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