We’re down to eight teams remaining in the NFL postseason, and the top two seeds in each conference bounce into action this weekend. The divisional round of the playoffs has a history of memorable upsets, and this year’s slate offers plenty of intrigue.
The Minnesota Vikings, fresh off a surprising overtime win in New Orleans, face the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday in search of another upset win. Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is listed as questionable, while the 49ers hope to get pass-rusher Dee Ford back on the field.
The Tennessee Titans, having slain the dynastic New England Patriots, travel to Baltimore to face the AFC’s top seed. It’s a matchup of the NFL rushing champion, Derrick Henry, against the league’s top rushing offense in the Ravens.
The Houston Texans already beat the Kansas City Chiefs during the regular season. Now they will try to do it under the postseason spotlight in a duel between two quarterbacks selected two spots apart in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Finally, the Seattle Seahawks visit the Green Bay Packers, an unlikely No. 2 seed if ever there was one, in a game oddsmakers expect to be the closest of the weekend.
Without further ado, here are your NFL playoff game previews for Saturday, Jan. 11 and Sunday, Jan. 12:
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers
TV: 4:35 p.m. ET Saturday, NBC
Records: Vikings 10-6, 1-0; 49ers 13-3, 0-0
BetMGM line: 49ers by 7
Satellite radio: Vikings feed on Sirius 82 (streaming 819), 49ers feed on Sirius 83 (streaming 827)
Vikings’ keys: Getting RB Dalvin Cook going early opens up play action against an aggressive 49ers defense. A heavy dose of play action with WRs Adam Theilen and Stefon Diggs would help QB Kirk Cousins and the offense get rolling. On the defensive side, S Harrison Smith should see plenty of action against 49ers TE George Kittle, and shutting Kittle down is the quickest way to slow San Francisco’s passing game.
49ers’ keys: QB Jimmy Garoppolo can operate under pressure, but he’s at his best when he has time to let windows open down the field. The arrival of WR Emmanuel Sanders, the emergence of rookie WR Deebo Samuel and the continued excellence of Kittle have allowed the 49ers to shed some of their early-season limitations in the passing game. On defense, the 49ers live and die with their pass rush. Rookie DE Nick Bosa is the driver of a vicious defensive line, while LB Fred Warner helps shut down the middle of the field and CB Richard Sherman is as good as ever in the secondary.
Who wins? These are two evenly matched clubs. The 49ers having home-field advantage, and a more diverse group of playmakers on offense, should allow them to survive. 49ers 24, Vikings 23
— Kyle Madson