NFL 2022-2023 Divisionals Prequel
The Divisional Playoffs are set:
Saturday, January 21, 2023:
4:30pm: AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs (-8 1/2) on NBC — The Jaguars started 4-8 before winning 5 straight to make the playoffs. They fell behind the Chargers 27-0 before mounting a shocking comeback and winning 31-30 on the final play. Doug Pederson is a protege of Walrus Andy Reid. Pederson is basically little Andy. Yet this is the week where reality ends the dream Jaguars season. The Chiefs are 14-3. Patrick Mahomes is playing on another level. The Chiefs have so many weapons. They have too much speed, and speed kills. The Jaguars have a ton of heart, but this is the men against the boys. Throw in the home field and the week of rest from the bye week, and this could get ugly early and stay that way. Chiefs cover
8:00pm: NFC: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-7) on FOX — The Eagles are well-rested after a bye week but were shaky down the stretch after a 13-1 start. The Giants defense went on the road as a wildcard and stopped a pretty explosive Minnesota offense. The Eagles defeated the Giants 2 weeks ago in the regular season finale, but the Giants were playing their backups. The Eagles have the home field and the rest, but Jalen Hurts is not healthy. Hurts less than 100% is red meat for Big Blue’s defense and trouble for the green faithful. If Saquon Barkley can take the pressure off of Daniel Jones, the Giants could even win this game outright. If Hurts is healthy, he will get plenty of help from his defense, reducing what he needs to do. Eagles win but fail to cover
Sunday, January 22, 2023:
3:00pm: AFC: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills (-4) on CBS — Three weeks ago the world watched in horror as Bills defender Damar Hamlin nearly died on the field after making a routine tackle of Tee Higgins. Thank God Hamlin made a miraculous recovery and is at home recuperating. Thankfully, Higgins is psychologically ok and playing in this game. Emotions will be sky high, but ;et’s focus just on football. The game is in Buffalo rather than at a neutral site. The Bengals have a legitimate gripe about that. These teams have both beaten Kansas City and are legitimate contenders to win it all. The Bills finished 13-3 and the Bengals were 12-4. Yet both teams barely survived in the Wildcard round against weaker teams playing backup quarterbacks. They are evenly matched. This could come down to the final play. Given the dead-even nature of these teams from quarterback to defense, go with the home field and the emotion from their earlier canceled games. If the Bills win a close one, the Bengals for years may claim being robbed of home field. It would not change the score. Bills win but fail to cover
6:30pm: NFC: Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (-3 1/2) on FOX — These teams played epic playoff games throughout the decades. Yet plenty of the players were not born the last time these teams faced off with the stakes so high. The 12-5 Cowboys went on the road and obliterated Tampa. The 13-4 49ers grappled with an overachieving Seattle team before blowing the game open in the second half. The Cowboys have an explosive offense led by Dak Prescott while the 49ers have a nasty defense. The 49ers also have Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy, who is 6-0 since taking over. The 49ers counting their Wildcard win have won 11 straight games. The Cowboys may also have a kicker problem. Brett Maher was good all season before melting down last week and missing 4 consecutive extra points. The home field is less important in this game. The defense will be decisive. 49ers cover
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