NFL Playoffs Predictions – Syndication Server

NFL Playoff Divisional Round First Thought Predictions, Lines

NFL Playoff Divisional Round early predictions, guessed lines, and quick thoughts on the four big upcoming games.

The first predictions, early lines, and quick analysis of the next batch of NFL Playoff Divisional round games.

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NFL Playoff Divisional Round First Thought Predictions
– New York at Philadelphia
– Cincinnati at Buffalo
– Dallas at San Francisco
– 2023 First Mock Draft: Post Wild Card

Well that was fun, but holy (bleep) does this next round of the NFL Playoffs look amazing

Even the blowouts – San Francisco over Seattle and Dallas over Tampa Bay – were entertaining in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs.

It would’ve been interesting to see what the Minnesota offense could’ve done at San Francisco, but getting Giants and Eagles with an NFC Championship appearance on the line is special. Dallas at San Francisco? For people of a certain age, that just sounds massive.

Bengals and Bills? This HAD to happen, and let’s go Jaguars – let’s see that attack against Kansas City (and help me with my belief that Jacksonville might be this year’s Cincinnati).

When our game previews come out – after the news of the week happens and there’s even more of a deep dive – these can and might change, but …

2023 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round: Saturday

Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs

Saturday, January 21
NBC, 4:30 ET
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

First Thought Instant Analysis: We can’t have another No. 1 AFC seed go out right away, can we?

Kansas City is rested, it’s got the weapons that last year’s No. 1 AFC Tennessee didn’t have, and it should be able to take what Justin Herbert and the Chargers did against Jacksonville to another level.

But the Chief defense doesn’t really take the ball away.

That shouldn’t matter since Trevor Lawrence should be good for at least one big mistake on his own, but it really comes down to this …

How fast can Lawrence settle in?

He’s been so hyped and so amped and so off the last few games that he just needs to get off to a decent start and not try to do a gajillion things at once on each play. That, and he needs to read the Chief defense far, far, far better than he did early against the Chargers.

Lawrence will be good, the Jaguar offense will be great, and … Brandon Staley isn’t coaching the Chiefs.

It’ll be a back-and-forth fight with a ton of scoring and a whole lot of big plays, but this week the Jaguars aren’t going to be able to get over the big run from Patrick Mahomes and company coming in the second quarter.

First Thought No Research Prediction: Kansas City 34, Jacksonville 23
Early Line No-Look Guess: Kansas City -7.5
Actual Line: Kansas City -8.5, o/u: 51.5

NFL Playoff Divisional Round First Thought Predictions
– New York at Philadelphia
– Cincinnati at Buffalo
– Dallas at San Francisco

NEXT: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles Divisional Round

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NFL Playoff Divisional Round First Thought Predictions, Lines

NFL Playoff Divisional Round early predictions, guessed lines, and quick thoughts on the four big games.

The first predictions, early lines, and quick analysis of all the 2022 NFL playoff games.

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

NFL Playoff Divisional Round First Thought Predictions
– San Francisco at Green Bay
– Buffalo at Kansas City
– Los Angeles or Arizona at Tampa Bay

Let’s just hope that all of that will bring us something wonderful.

Oh sure, Las Vegas made things interesting against Cincinnati at the end, and the world is still waiting for Dallas to finally wake up and start playing against San Francisco, but Tampa Bay over Philadelphia was a dud.

Kansas City over Pittsburgh turned into breathtaking dud. Buffalo over New England became a shocking dud.

Fortunately, here come the killer matchups that should be a whole lot more fun. So what’s going to happen?

As we do for the college side, we go with the first-guess picks and then work from there. Like they tell you in third grade, always go with your first answer.

I don’t look at the lines, guess at what they are, and then add them at the end.

Last year I totally rocked the Wild Card round – 6-0 straight up and 5-1 against the spread – but this time around? Uhhhhh, as the man said, it’s on to Cincinnati – or, Cincinnati vs Tennessee – going 3-2 both straight up and against the spread with the Rams-Arizona game pending.

When our game previews come out – after the news of the week happens and there’s even more of a deep dive happening – these can and might change, but …

2022 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round: Saturday

4 Cincinnati at 1 Tennessee

Saturday, January 22
CBS, 4:30 ET
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Just how healthy is Derrick Henry?

That’s it. That’s everything.

D’Onta Foreman has done a nice job over the back half of the season for the Titans, and the defense has been terrific, but this comes down to whether or not the offense can control the tempo of the game and take the will away from the Cincinnati defense.

The Bengals were great against Las Vegas. Joe Burrow was sharp, Joe Mixon ran well, and the offense popped for over 300 yards in the 26-19 win.

However, there was a stretch in the second half when the Raider offensive line took over and Josh Jacobs was effective enough to change the overall energy of the game. That’s what Henry has to do, and if he can’t get rolling, then it’ll be Foreman.

Originally, the call was that New England was going to roll on into Nashville and grind its way to a win … oops. Cincinnati will get the offense going, but the rested Titans will come back in the second half with the ground game and fantastic run defense getting this done.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Tennessee 26, Cincinnati 20
Early Line No-Look Guess: Tennessee -3.5
Actual Line: Tennessee -3.5, o/u: 47

NFL Playoff Divisional Round First Thought Predictions
– San Francisco at Green Bay
– Buffalo at Kansas City
– Los Angeles or Arizona at Tampa Bay

NEXT: San Francisco at Green Bay Divisional Round

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NFL Playoff First Thought Predictions, Lines, Bracket, Super Bowl Pick

2022 NFL Playoff first predictions, early lines, and picks for every game through the bracket

The first predictions, early lines, and quick analysis on all of the 2022 NFL playoff games from the Wild Card through the Super Bowl.

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

We’re here after a wild and fun regular season – and an all-timer of a finish – with the most wide open NFL playoffs in a long, long time.

Who’s going to win, how will the bracket go, and who’ll win the Super Bowl?

As we do for the college side, we go with the first-guess picks and then work from there. The idea is to go with the first answer, and then adjust from there once we do the game previews and predictions.

– 2022 NFL Draft First 16 Picks Mock Draft

2022 NFL Playoffs Wild Card Round: Saturday

AFC: 5 Las Vegas Raiders at 4 Cincinnati Bengals

Saturday, January 15
NBC/Peacock, 4:30 pm
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Really? You’re going to go against this Las Vegas team that keeps on fighting through the adversity to play with the ultimate Raider swagger?

Yeah, and not just because Cincinnati rolled 32-13 when the two played in Week 11.

The Bengal star power got a week off to get everyone as right as can be, and Las Vegas had the emotional Sunday night game – that extra time will matter just enough. It won’t be the wipeout of earlier in the season, and the Bengals will press way too much, but Joe Burrow will get his first NFL playoff win.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Cincinnati 30, Las Vegas 23
Early Line No-Look Guess: Cincinnati -7.5
Actual Line: COMING, o/u: COMING

AFC: 6 New England Patriots at 3 Buffalo Bills

Saturday, January 15
CBS/Paramount+, 8:15 pm
Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: It stinks that these two are playing in the Wild Card round. Either one could go on a run and either one would do some damage if they didn’t have to play each other.

Can New England get everything back up to speed? They’ve now lost three of their last four game after the problems against Miami, and before that was the crazy weather game against Buffalo.

You never want to go against Bill Belichick – especially since this is the third time they’ve played in seven weeks – but at home, in front of that crowd, the Buffalo team that’s past the midseason doldrums will rise up against the run. The Patriot defense, placekicking, and coaching will be better.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: New England 19, Buffalo 17
Early Line No-Look Guess: Buffalo -3.5
Actual Line: COMING, o/u: COMING

NFL Playoff First Thought Predictions
– Wild Card: Saturday | Wild Card: Sunday
– Divisional Round: NFC | AFC
– Conference Championships
– Super Bowl Prediction

NEXT: 2022 NFL Playoffs Wild Card Round: Sunday, Monday

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5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Conference Championships

What appear to be the 5 best bets and the best picks against the spread going into the NFL Conference Championships?

What appear to be the 5 best bets and the best picks against the spread going into the NFL Conference Championships?

NFL Playoffs Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
– CFN Expert Picks: NFL Playoffs

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Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

It’s argued that this is the best Sunday of the season. Conference Championship Sunday has two Super Bowl-level matchups, it’s all about the anticipation of what’s next, and this time around, we get two special games with four amazing quarterbacks.

What are the five best-looking bets on the board? It’s all about finding the potential value, so when it comes to these – as opposed to our Picks Against The Spread pieces which just looks at the games themselves – it’s all about confirming or denying something you already believe, or maybe sparking an idea for something that just might work.

Again, value, value, value. It might be a long shot, but let’s start with …

5. Tampa Bay at Green Bay

LOWEST SCORING TEAM: Packers +400, Chiefs +325, Chiefs +325, Bills +200
PICK: Packers +400
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

As a warning, this pick goes against a whole lot of personal beliefs.

I believe Green Bay will win. I also believe that – and it’ll be a theme later in this – that the key to making these special types of investments is to take the most likely outcome that gives you value.

The most likely of the two outcomes in the two games is for the Bills to lose to the Chiefs. Tampa Bay vs. Green Bay is a wee bit more of a toss-up – even though the lines are close to the same for both home teams – assuming Patrick Mahomes really is okay.

So the smart call here for the lowest scoring team of the four is Bills +200. There’s good value even if it’s the worst among the four teams.

Yes, Green Bay has been an offensive powerhouse and yes, it just hung up 32 on – statistically – the best defense in the NFL in the win over the Rams. However, maybe there’s a shot that Tampa Bay just has this Packer thing figured out.

It seems like it was a million years ago, but in Week 6 the Buccaneers held Green Bay to its lowest scoring game of the season in the 38-10 win. The Packers couldn’t keep the Tampa Bay D line from hitting Aaron Rodgers, with the high-powered O only coming up with 201 yards.

Tampa Bay is No. 1 in the NFL against the run, eighth in scoring defense, and it’s coming off a brilliant performance against the Saints in the 30-20 win.

Remember, this bet isn’t necessarily about one side shutting down another. It’s about winning first, and then hoping the other game is bit more of a shootout.

You can’t go wrong with believing that any of the four teams make sense for this, but the world is offering you a shot at +400 ….

NEXT: Two running backs hitting 40 yards

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NFL Playoff Conference Championship First Thought Predictions, Lines

The first predictions, early lines, and quick analysis of all the 2021 NFL playoff games – the conference championship version.

The first predictions, early lines, and quick analysis of all the 2021 NFL playoff games – conference championship version.

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

It makes sense that the best quarterbacks and the best teams are in conference championships, but assuming – and really, really hoping – Patrick Mahomes is okay and ready to roll for the AFC Championship, the star power coming up on Sunday is as good as it gets.

This isn’t Tom Brady vs. a Drew Brees who’s on his last ride before hitting the TV booth. This is Tom Brady vs. soon-to-be-MVP Aaron Rodgers in what’s expected to be the snow and cold of Green Bay.

It’s Mahomes – again, fingers crossed – vs. Josh Allen in a battle of superstars who’ll be a big part of our NFL lives for the next decade.

Throw in the fun of a Buffalo Mafia fan base that’s losing its mind, the defending Super Bowl champs, Rodgers in his first home NFC Championship game, and Tom freaking Brady being a game away from another Super Bowl appearance, and …

Yeah. The NFL Playoffs are awesome.

As always, without doing any research or giving it a whole lot of deep-dive thought, we give our knee-jerk, always-go-with-your-first-answer thoughts and predictions along with a first guess line on each game. Then we go back and add the actual lines.

When our game previews come out – after the news of the week happens and we make the call for real – these can and might change, but …

NFL Playoff Conference Championship First Thought Predictions
– Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers
– Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

NEXT: 2021 NFL Playoffs NFC Championship: Tampa Bay vs. Green Bay

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Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction, Game Preview

Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams prediction, NFL Playoff NFC Divisional game preview.

Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams prediction, NFL Playoff NFC Divisional game preview.

Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams Broadcast

Date: Saturday, January 16
Game Time: 4:35 ET
Venue: Lanbeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Network: FOX

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Green Bay Packers (0-0) vs Los Angeles Rams (0-0) NFL Playoffs Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM

Why Los Angeles Rams Will Win

The defense pitched a gem against Seattle.

The Rams were able to score in the 30-20 win, and they gave up one big pass play to DK Metcalf, but the defense was brilliant as it took over the game early and never let Russell Wilson or the Seahawks ever get comfortable.

They generated pressure, but the biggest key was a secondary that didn’t allow anything short to midrange, and time kept running out. Seattle couldn’t move the chains, were awful on third downs, and only had the ball for just over 26 minutes.

Aaron Donald is expected to be okay after hurting his ribs, and the rest of the line should once again be a killer after coming up with five sacks and ten hits on Wilson.

Aaron Rodgers has to get popped, too.

No one makes quicker reads or is more of a master of his craft, but he’s also getting way too much time to work.

How did Tampa Bay dominate Rodgers and the Packers in the 38-10 Week 6 win? Five sacks, eight tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits. Rodgers never, ever had time to let the offense work.

That was an anomaly – Green Bay’s O line was great against everyone else. The Rams have to reach that level Buccaneer level.

– Why Green Bay Will Win
– What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win

NEXT: Why Los Angeles Rams Will Win

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5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: NFL Playoffs Divisional Round

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread – and more – going into the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round?

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread – and more – going into the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round?

NFL Playoffs Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
– CFN Expert Picks: NFL Playoffs
– Divisional Round Weekend Schedule, Predictions

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Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. Los Angeles at Green Bay

LINE: Green Bay -4 (LA +250 ML)
MONEY LINE PICK: Los Angeles Money Line
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

We’re going to start out the fun with two contradictory picks.

Why? Value.

If – and it’s a giant IF considering No. 4 on this list – you believe in the Rams to hold up and pull off the upset against Green Bay, the +250 on the Money Line might be the best value shot for the stars this weekend.

Cleveland is a +365 against Kansas City, but that’s a much, much riskier play considering the Browns don’t do any one thing at a high enough level to take the shot.

The Rams can really, really play defense.

Again, this is only if you’re a believer in Los Angeles in the first place. If you like it to make a push at +6.5, then perhaps you’re ready to go one step further.

The Browns needed the Steelers to melt down to get to the KC game, but the Rams just played better than Seattle to make the trip to Green Bay.

Of course there are a whole lot of things to worry about – more on that in a moment – but this is the No. 1 defense in the NFL, it’s No. 1 in fewest points allowed, and it’s No. 1 against the pass after not allowing more than 200 yards in each of the last six games.

There’s a chance this Ram D is about to rise up and be just that good against a Green Bay offense that’s been a machine all year, but had problems against Tampa Bay when Aaron Rodgers got bounced around in Week 6.

However, with ALL that said …

NEXT: Los Angeles at Green Bay

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints Prediction, Game Preview

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints prediction, NFL Playoff NFC Divisional game preview.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints prediction, NFL Playoff NFC Divisional game preview.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints Broadcast

Date: Sunday, January 17
Game Time: 6:40 ET
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Network: FOX

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5) vs New Orleans Saints (13-4) NFL Playoffs Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM

Why Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Win

Have the Buccaneers been able to figure out the problem?

It’s a cliché, but it’s sort of real – it’s hard to beat a team three times, especially if they’re both good.

Tampa Bay had a few down moments here and there, but the losses to the Bears, Rams and Chiefs were all close – all by a combined seven points – but it got drilled in the two losses to the Saints.

What can be fixed? It started with pass protection.

Tom Brady was knocked around too much in the first two games. That lead to nothing happening on enough third downs to matter, Brady threw five interceptions, and the defense wasn’t able to pick up the slack.

A few big Taylor Heinicke dashes aside, the Tampa Bay run defense that leads the NFL has been able to lock down. The Bucs allowed over 100 rushing yards just four times – once was against the Saints – and they should be able to get enough from the front to not only contain Alvin Kamara, but also generate a little bit of pressure.

New Orleans has put up some nice numbers offensively over the second half of the season, but it helped to face a whole slew of mediocre defenses. The Saints only generated 285 yards against Kansas City and

– Why New Orleans Saints Will Win
– What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win

NEXT: Why New Orleans Saints Will Win

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Cleveland Browns vs Kansas City Chiefs Prediction, Game Preview

Cleveland Browns vs Kansas City Chiefs prediction, NFL Playoff AFC Divisional game preview.

Cleveland Browns vs Kansas City Chiefs prediction, NFL Playoff AFC Divisional game preview.

Cleveland Browns vs Kansas City Chiefs Broadcast

Date: Sunday, January 17
Game Time: 3:05 ET
Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Network: CBS

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Cleveland Browns (12-5) vs Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM

Why The Cleveland Browns Will Win

Yeah, the Browns got off to a hot start and carried the momentum to a massive lead they were able to hang on to, but they also showed they could weather the storm.

Pittsburgh was charging. It was never to make that one big push in the second half to get past the Browns, but Ben Roethlisberger kept throwing and throwing and throwing some more on the way to a 501-yard day.

And Cleveland still won because the offense kept working late.

The Browns only came up with 390 yards for the game, but Baker Mayfield threw three touchdowns with no interceptions, The running game was effective enough and there weren’t any turnovers.

They can’t count on five takeaways like they got against the Steelers, and the defense hasn’t been consistent at forcing mistakes, but they’re 7-0 when generating multiple takeaways. Kansas City has turned it over two times or more in two of the last three games with Patrick Mahomes starting.

The Browns need KC mistakes, and they need to mix it up with the running game early on. They’re not going to be able to keep the Chief offense from rolling, but they have to keep up, generate a good balance, and run for 140 yards.

They’re 5-0 when they hit 140 yards on the ground. KC has allowed that many rushing yards six times.

However …

– Why Kansas City Chiefs Will Win
– What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win

NEXT: Why The Kansas City Chiefs Will Win

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Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Prediction, Game Preview

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens prediction, NFL Playoff AFC Divisional game preview.

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens prediction, NFL Playoff AFC Divisional game preview.

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Broadcast

Date: Saturday, January 16
Game Time: 8:15 ET
Venue: Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Network: NBC

[jwplayer kZARIsBJ]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Buffalo Bills (14-3) vs Baltimore Ravens (12-5) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM

Why The Baltimore Ravens Will Win

Lamar Jackson continues to be magnificent.

There’s this notion that he wasn’t the same MVP Lamar Jackson over the first part of the season, but that’s sort of wrong. He was throwing a bit more and running a whole lot less, but now it’s just a bit more noticeable – especially when he’s tearing off brilliant 48-yard touchdown runs like he did in the 20-13 Wild Card win over Tennessee.

Jackson on the move is one of the most devastating weapons in football, and after running for fewer than ten times five of the first six games, he’s carrying it ten times or more in nine of the last ten games.

The mistakes aren’t happening – the Ravens haven’t turned it over more than once in their last six games – and to go along with the boost in Jackson’s production, the defensive side has taken things to another level.

It bottled up Derrick Henry for just 40 yards lsat week, didn’t allow too many third down conversions, and it all worked. Get the D off the field, get Jackson moving, and control the game.

Baltimore held the ball for almost 34 minutes last week – almost seven more minutes. Indianapolis held the ball for over 34 minutes last week in the loss to Buffalo, but failed a bit too often when it had its chances in the 27-24 loss.

Control the clock and score every time in the red zone, and it should work, but …

– Why Buffalo Bills Will Win
– What’s Going To Happen, Who’ll Win

NEXT: Why The Buffalo Bills Will Win

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