2022 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Early Predictions: AFC
6 New England Patriots at 1 Tennessee Titans
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Tennessee painfully flamed out of the 2020 playoffs with a 20-13 loss to Baltimore, and this time around it’s going to be rested and potentially a whole lot more dangerous if Derrick Henry can go.
This will be more about the Titan defense. The offense will sputter on the ground against the New England defensive front, but other side will slow down the Patriot running game and force Mac Jones to try to pull this off – and he’ll do it.
The pressure will be intense on the Titans after last year, and dealing with this as the No. 1 seed will make this even more stressful. It won’t be the 36-13 Patriot win of Week 12, but …
Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: New England 20, Tennessee 17
Early Line Guess (if this matchup happens): Tennessee -4
4 Cincinnati Bengals at 2 Kansas City Chiefs
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: You just knew in that Week 17 classic that we’d see these two again.
That was the JaMarr Chase playoff winner for every fantasy team that had him – hand raised – and Kansas City was still in the 34-31 loss even after allowing over 400 Joe Burrow passing yards.
We’re about to get Round Two of the firefight, but Patrick Mahomes and his guys will be on the right side of this one. Burrow will get his yards and the playmakers will show up, but one late Chief burst will get it done.
Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Kansas City 36, Cincinnati 30
Early Line Guess (if this matchup happens): Kansas City -3.5
NFL Playoff First Thought Predictions
– Wild Card: Saturday | Wild Card: Sunday
– Divisional Round: NFC | AFC
– Conference Championships
– Super Bowl Prediction