After some very exciting, compelling and at times controversial football over this past weekend, the 2018 NFL Wild Card round is in the books and now the Divisional Round is set. There are now eight teams who are still alive with a chance to play in the Super Bowl in Atlanta next month. Below is the Divisional Round schedule and predictions.
2018 NFL Divisional Round Schedule and Predictions
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs Saturday, Jan. 12 at 4:35 PM ET NBC
The Kansas City Chiefs, the top seed in the AFC, have never defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs. The Chiefs are 0-4 lifetime vs. the Colts in the postseason with the latest matchup between the two happening in 2014 where the Colts finished off a stunning come from behind victory, winning 45-44, after trailing by 28 points in the second half.
Both quarterbacks are playing at an elite level. Chiefs signal caller Patrick Mahomes lead the league with 50 touchdown passes this season, while Andrew Luck finished with the second most touchdowns, 39, for the season. Mahomes also threw for 5,097 yards and had only 12 interceptions while Luck had 4,593 yards on the season and only 15 interceptions.
Indy has won 10 of their last 11 games while Kansas City last two of their last three games to end the season, but the Chiefs secured the number one seed in the AFC for a reason. This will be one of the tougher games the Colts have played.
Arrowhead is a really difficult place to play and the smart money is on the Chiefs. But the Colts finally have an offensive line that can protect Luck and their defense surrendered only 21.5 points per game (ninth overall) while the Chiefs defense gave up 26.3 points per game (24th overall). Plus, the Colts have all of the momentum. This could easily be the most entertaining game of the weekend, but Indy just might pull off the upset and go to 5-0 lifetime against the Chiefs in the postseason.
Prediction: Colts 41 Chiefs 35
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Jan. 12 at 8:15 PM ET FOX
The Dallas Cowboys enter this contest as winners of eight of their last nine games, including a win over the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round. The Los Angeles Rams come into the Division Round off of a bye and winners of five of their last seven games (but did lose two of their last four).
A huge question for this game is the health of Rams running back Todd Gurley. The talented back missed the final two games of the regular season. Per reports Gurley is expected to play on Saturday, but how healthy he actually is is still a concern.
The Rams allowed 5.1 yards per rush in 2018 and the Cowboys happen to have the running back, Ezekiel Elliot, that lead the league in rushing this season. If Gurley is actually at full strength this could be a really close game, but the Cowboys have the league’s leading rusher, who is healthy, and a better defense (save for the Rams having Aaron Donald), particularly against the run. The Cowboys allowed only 94.6 rush yards per game (fifth), while the Rams allowed 122.3 (23rd).
As long as the Cowboys can get pressure on Jared Goff and Dak Prescott doesn’t turn the ball over, the Cowboys should move onto the NFC Championship game.
Prediction: Cowboys 27 Rams 20
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots, Jan. 13 at 1:05 PM ET CBS
This game will feature two quarterbacks whose collective age is about 200. Just kidding. But when the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers square off on Sunday Tom Brady and Philip Rivers will be under center for their respective teams and Brady is 41, while Rivers is 37. But, despite their age, both quarterbacks are still two of the best in the NFL and they will most likely both put on a pretty good show Sunday afternoon.
This will be the 10th straight season the Pats have opened the AFC postseason at home and they are coming off a bye week. Sometimes that week off can be detrimental, but for New England that bye week allowed them to get healthier (particularly Rob Gronkowski). In addition, Bill Belichick is great win one week to prepare, but if you give him two weeks he is near masterful.
But the Chargers have proven to be one of the hottest teams in the NFL as of late and they have won in four time zones, including London, this season. This team might be coming off a visit to Baltimore, but they are young (except for Rivers) and this team does not mind going on the road at all.
The Patriots, Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have to come up with a game plan to take advantage of what the Chargers defense gives them. That may mean going run heavy, having the backs catch the ball out of the backfield, running some quick slants with Julian Edelman, or some other scheme entirely. But New England is capable of being versatile and there’s no way for the Chargers to know exactly what the Patriots will do on Sunday.
While the Patriots may not look like the juggernaut of past seasons and they may not make it to their third straight Super Bowl, they just might be able to take advantage of the Chargers having to travel and do enough to make their eighth straight appearance in the AFC Championship game.
Prediction: Patriots 24 Chargers 21
Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints, Jan. 13 at 4:40 PM ET FOX
Nick Foles did it again and won another postseason game as he lead the Philadelphia Eagles to victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Now the Eagles will take on the top overall seed in the NFC, the New Orleans Saints. These two teams met in Week 11, also in New Orleans, and the Saints opened a can and defeated Phlly 48-7. While New Orleans may not be clicking exactly as they were in Week 11, they still have way too much fire power, Drew Brees is better than Foles, the Saints defense is playing really well and it’s really difficult for road teams to win at the Superdome.
This may not not end being the massacre the Week 11 matchup was, and Foles certainly has some postseason magic (4-0 with the Eagles in the last two seasons, including a Super Bowl MPV), but the Saints are the better overall team.
Prediction: Saints 38 Eagles 27
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