Tag: nfl divisional round

Video shows Bills fans incredibly cleared all the snow from Highmark Stadium ahead of Chiefs game

Bills Mafia crushed it.

Bills Mafia showed up for their team before the last week’s wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they did it again before this week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

We’re not talking about game day, though. While Buffalo Bills fans will undoubtedly show up in full force for their divisional round game Sunday, they also showed up in the days prior to help shovel snow inside of Highmark Stadium for a second week in a row.

The Bills offered $20 an hour to anyone who would help, and that was apparently more than enough for Bills fans because they crushed it, as this video shared by NFL Network’s James Palmer shows.

Compare how clear the stadium is now to what it looked like just a few days ago, and you’ll understand just how impressive this is.

Fantasy football injury report: Divisional Round

Latest status of fantasy football weapons who are on the mend entering the Divisional Round.

This is a team-by-team review of any key fantasy football player injury news after this week’s practice activity and team statements. Only those players listed on the team’s official injury report will be addressed, unless the situation warrants further attention.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFL releases its final official injury report each Friday (approximately 5:30 p.m. ET). West Coast teams often report their injuries late and may not be included in the initial publication.

Divisional Round fantasy football injury report

This week’s key game-time decisions: TE Mark Andrews, RB AJ Dillon

BALTIMORE RAVENS – Saturday
WR Zay Flowers (calf) fully practiced Wednesday and Thursday, avoiding an injury label. TE Mark Andrews (ankle) is questionable but is not expected to play. CB Marlon Humphrey (calf) has been ruled out.

BUFFALO BILLS – Sunday
WR Gabe Davis (knee) and S Taylor Rapp (calf) were ruled out once again, while LB Terrel Bernard (ankle), CB Taron Johnson (concussion), and CB Rasul Douglas (knee) are questionable. WR Stefon Diggs (foot) rested earlier in the week before being limited Friday. He doesn’t carry an injury label.

DETROIT LIONS – Sunday
WR Kalif Raymond (knee) remains out. LB James Houston (ankle) and TE Sam LaPorta (knee) are questionable and expected to play. C Frank Ragnow (knee, back, toe), LB Alex Anzalone (shoulder, ribs), S Brian Branch (knee), and S Kerby Joseph (knee) all fully practiced Friday, escaping injury labels.

GREEN BAY PACKERS – Saturday
RB AJ Dillon (thumb, neck) and CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder, ankle) are questionable. WR Christian Watson (hamstring), WR Jayden Reed (chest), and LB Rashan Gary (knee) were limited all week but avoided injury labels.

HOUSTON TEXANS – Saturday
WR Noah Brown (back) was placed on IR, and DE Jerry Hughes (ankle) has been ruled out. DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), DT Sheldon Rankins (shoulder), and WR Robert Woods (hip) are not on the injury report after being questionable last year.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – Sunday
WR Rashee Rice (hamstring), LT Donovan Smith (neck), LB Nick Bolton (wrist) fully practiced Friday and a free of injury labels. CB L’Jarius Sneed (calf) was limited but also doesn’t carry an injury designation. WR Skyy Moore (knee) is out, while WR Justyn Ross (hamstring) and WR Kadarius Toney (hip, ankle) are questionable.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – Saturday
RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) and TE George Kittle (back) fully practiced all week and aren’t on the injury report. LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) was limited Wednesday and Thursday; he’s questionable.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS – Sunday
QB Baker Mayfield (ankle, ribs) was not listed with an injury tag and will play. LB Shaquil Barrett (ankle) and RB Chase Edmonds (toe) are questionable after limited sessions on Friday. WR Chris Godwin (knee, personal matter) didn’t practice Friday but is expected to play.

Bucs Divisional Round Injury Report: Four players marked non-participants

It was just a walkthrough Wednesday for the Bucs, but there were a few players marked participants that may be worth watching.

It wasn’t a full practice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but if the injury report is to be believed, there are a few players to watch going forward.

It was just a walkthrough Wednesday for the Bucs, but if the estimations are anything to go by, there could be some significant injuries on both sides. The Bucs had two edge rushers in Shaquil Barrett and Yaya Diaby not participate, one with an ankle injury and the other with a shoulder injury, respectively. Running back Chase Edmonds has a toe injury that made him a non-participant and Chris Godwin did not participate with a lingering knee injury.

Here’s the full injury report for Wednesday:

Meanwhile, center Frank Ragnow took a rest day for the Lions and did not participate while wideout Kalif Raymond did not participate due to knee injury.

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NFL fans loved the beautiful symmetry of a Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff redemption playoff game

One of Baker Mayfield or Jared Goff will play for a spot in the Super Bowl. That’s not a typo.

Once upon a time, Baker Mayfield was a No. 1 overall pick. He was supposed to lead the Cleveland Browns to unmitigated glory. He lasted just four seasons in their uniform. Also, once upon a time, Jared Goff was a No. 1 overall. He was supposed to lead the Los Angeles Rams to tremendous success. He played just five years in L.A. (only four for Sean McVay).

Now, with Mayfield a catalyst of the rising Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Goff driving the Detroit Lions’ powerhouse, we get to see both square off for a spot in the NFC title game as mutual redemption stories.

How could you not be romantic about pro football?

The Browns didn’t want Mayfield. They blamed their rotten-to-the-core organizational issues on a quarterback they specifically failed to develop. Now he’s two steps away from a Super Bowl appearance. Similarly, the Rams didn’t think Goff was good enough to take them to a championship. When the opportunity presented itself, they traded him for Matthew Stafford without hesitation. Then he beat Stafford in a playoff game. Go figure.

It’s impossible to predict who will win next Sunday’s Divisional Round matchup in Detroit at this very moment. These playoffs have been anything but predictable. But with a spot in the NFL’s final four on the line, seeing Goff vs. Mayfield — two reclamation projects as former No. 1 picks — is one perfect example.

Fantasy football injury report: Divisional Round

Latest status of fantasy football weapons who are on the mend entering the Divisional Round.

This is a team-by-team review of any key fantasy football player injury news after this week’s practice activity and team statements. Only those players listed on the team’s official injury report will be addressed, unless the situation warrants further attention.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFL releases their final official injury report late on Friday (after 5:00 p.m. ET). Teams on the West Coast often report their injuries late and may not be included in the initial publication.

Divisional Round fantasy football injury report

This week’s key game-time decisions:

BUFFALO BILLS 
QB Josh Allen (elbow, ankle) and WR Isaiah McKenzie (hamstring) fully participated all week and are not on the final report.

CINCINNATI BENGALS 
OG Alex Cappa (ankle) has been ruled out again, and starting LT Jonah Williams (knee) will join him on the shelf.

DALLAS COWBOYS
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – Saturday
QB Trevor Lawrence (toe) is questionable again, but he’ll be on the field. OG Brandon Scherff (abdomen), C Luke Fortner (back) and WR Jamal Agnew (shoulder) are questionable after limited sessions Thursday.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – Saturday
WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) will not play after sitting out all week. DE Frank Clark (groin) escaped being slapped with an injury tag after three straight limited showings.

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NEW YORK GIANTS – Saturday
WR Isaiah Hodgins (ankle) was limited all week long but avoided an injury designation.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – Saturday
RT Lane Johnson (groin) received some rest time this week and was fully available in Thursday’s session, helping him avoid an injury label.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) didn’t practice all week and is out. WR Jauan Jennings (ankle) is not on the injury report after fully practicing Friday. 

The 5 best prop bets for the Divisional Round

The five best NFL player prop bets to make for the upcoming week.

As we reach the “Elite Eight” round of the NFL playoffs, we take at least one prop bet from each game and mix things up. This week we take the most dynamic young receiver left in the playoffs to score a touchdown, a pair of NFC East players to hit Under their Over/Under numbers and a pair of receivers hitting Over for logical reasons.

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook 

A third crack at the Eagles could be a charm for the Giants, who thrive off familiarity

These rivals know each other too well to expect a blowout.

Full disclosure: I very openly root for the New York Giants.

That’s important to note because I might be viewing their postseason through a glass half full perspective with the way things are rolling for the G-men.

I want them to keep winning, so if there’s a logical reason for why they can, I’ll find it. And this time, the reason is quite simple: familiarity. New York’s divisional playoff game Saturday will be the third time they play the Eagles in less than two months. If the Giants don’t win, they’ll cover the 7.5-point spread at the very least.

The Giants are road underdogs for the second week in a row, facing the same spread they failed to cover against Philly in Week 14. They were able to win outright as 3-point dogs in Minnesota, but that wasn’t nearly the upset a win this week would be. New York had similarly played the Vikings a previous time in recent weeks, and the first game provided a glimpse of how competitive the Giants could be in a rematch.

It’s a trend that’s worked out well for the Giants all season. They’ve played four teams multiple times this year and went 4-0 against the spread in the second games after going 2-2 in the first games. They also won outright twice in second games after going winless in the first games.

That undefeated record ATS in sequels includes New York’s season finale against the Eagles. The Giants opted to rest their starters while Philadelphia played its starters in a successful attempt to lock up the No. 1 seed. Yet, the Eagles only won by six after beating Giants starters by 26 points in their first meeting.

More than players getting accustomed to each other, that shows a coaching staff getting better acclimated to the other team, learning tendencies and making sure everyone is better prepared. Consider how the playoff games between division rivals went last week. The Dolphins and Ravens, playing with backup quarterbacks, very nearly knocked off huge favorites, giving the Bills and Bengals everything they could handle.

It goes deeper when you consider the interpersonal relationships and how those might inform a plan of attack. Giants head coach Brian Daboll was Jalen Hurts’ offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Alabama. Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was a Giants cornerback the last two seasons.

So, of course, that familiarity works both ways. The Giants aren’t likely to have an easy time themselves. But given the stakes and how often these teams have prepared for one another in recent weeks, it’s more likely this game ends within a few points than it is to end in a complete blowout.

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NFL picks against the spread, divisional round: Can the Bengals upset the Bills?

Our picks for the divisional playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys had been a better team than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all season, and yet the entire FTW crew picked them to lose Monday. That’s the tale of our Wild Card Weekend picks against the spread.

We hit a couple but got more wrong than right, because we wanted to stay consistent with the regular season, of course (and also because the Chargers decided a 27-point cushion wasn’t large enough). So, Charles Curtis (109-138-9 regular season), Caroline Darney (102-117-6 regular season) and I (112-135-9 regular season) each went 2-4.

Now we turn our sights towards the divisional round, and I smell a couple more upsets on the horizon.