Divisional Playoff Predictions Pt. 1

 Jan. 16th Divisional Playoff Predictions

#6 Los Angeles Rams(10-6) vs. #1 Green Bay Packers(13-3)

Head to Head Comparisons:

Quarterback: Jared Goff(LAR) vs. Aaron Rodgers(GB)

Advantage: Green Bay Packers

Rushing Attack: Cam Akers, Malcolm Brown(LAR) vs. Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams(GB)

Advantage: Green Bay Packers

Aerial Attack: Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, etc.(LAR) vs. Davante Adams, Robert Tonyan, etc.(GB)

Advantage: Green Bay Packers

Offensive Line: Andrew Whitworth, Austin Blythe, etc.(LAR) vs. Corey Linsley, Elgton Jenkins, etc.(GB)

Advantage: Los Angeles Rams

Defensive Line: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, etc.(LAR) vs. Dean Lowry, Kenny Clark, etc.(GB)

Advantage: Los Angeles Rams

Linebackers: Leonard Floyd, Samson Ebukam, etc.(LAR) vs. Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, etc.(GB)

Advantage: Green Bay Packers

Secondary: Jalen Ramsey, John Johnson III, etc.(LAR) vs. Jaire Alexander, Darnell Savage, etc.(GB)

Advantage: Los Angeles Rams

X-Factors:

Los Angeles Rams: Cam Akers(Offense), Jalen Ramsey(Defense)

Green Bay Packers: Aaron Jones(Offense), Jaire Alexander(Defense)

Analysis:

This is an interesting matchup for the first game of the Divisional Playoff Round where one of the top defenses in the NFL, the Los Angeles Rams, take on one of the top offenses, the Green Bay Packers. With the game being played at Lambeau Field where the conditions are more favorable to the home team than the away team coming from LA, the Packers offense should have a major advantage over the Rams who are currently trying to regain their rhythm with Jared Goff under center. The Rams will look to continue giving the ball to their rookie Running Back Cam Akers as he tries to build off his fantastic postseason debut against the Seahawks while also getting Jared Goff back into his past form that led the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2019. The Packers will be led by the MVP frontrunner Aaron Rodgers who will look to continue building on one of the best seasons of his career against the Rams defense who flat out overpowered Russell Wilson in the Super Wild Card Round. The Packers will look to continue getting the ball to Davante Adams, who has been arguably the best Receiver this season, in his probable matchup with lockdown Corner Jalen Ramsey. Overall, I expect the Rams defense to keep the game within reach in the first half, but the Packers' home-field advantage and their Aaron Rodgers led offense will end up being too much to handle while the Rams offense will struggle to get back on track in order to advance to the NFC title game.

Score Prediction:

Green Bay Packers-30

Los Angeles Rams-16

#5 Baltimore Ravens(11-5) vs. #2 Buffalo Bills(13-3)

Head to Head Comparisons:

Quarterback: Lamar Jackson(Bal) vs. Josh Allen(Buf)

Advantage: Buffalo Bills

Rushing Attack: J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards(Bal) vs. Devin Singletary(Buf)

Advantage: Baltimore Ravens

Aerial Attack: Marquise Brown, Mark Andrews, etc.(Bal) vs. Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, etc.(Buf)

Advantage: Buffalo Bills

Offensive Line: Orlando Brown Jr., Bradley Bozeman, etc.(Bal) vs. Mitch Morse, Dion Dawkins, etc.(Buf)

Advantage: Baltimore Ravens

Defensive Line: Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, etc.(Bal) vs. Ed Oliver, Jerry Hughes, etc. (Buf)

Advantage: Baltimore Ravens

Linebackers: Matthew Judon, Patrick Queen, etc.(Bal) vs. Tremaine Edmunds, A.J. Klein, etc.(Buf)

Advantage: Baltimore Ravens

Secondary: Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, etc.(Bal) vs. Tre'Davious White, Jordan Poyer, etc.(Buf)

Advantage: Baltimore Ravens

X-Factors:

Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown(Offense), Marlon Humphrey(Defense)

Buffalo Bills: Stefon Diggs(Offense), Tremaine Edmunds(Defense)

Analysis:

This could easily be the best matchup of the Divisional Round as two of the hottest teams in the NFL, who are both on 6+ game win streaks, face off in Buffalo. The Baltimore Ravens will look to continue to ride on the back of their reigning MVP Quarterback Lamar Jackson as Jackson looks to build off his incredible duel threat performance against the Titans, tallying over 175 yards passing and over 130 yards rushing while getting that very important first career Playoff win. On the other side of the ball, the Ravens defense will look to deliver another shutdown performance after holding the league leader in rushing, Derrick Henry, to just 40 yards rushing and holding Ryan Tannehill to 165 passing yards. But the Ravens will have a much harder time stopping this explosive Bills offense led by one of the best QB-WR duos in Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, who together were able to put up impressive numbers in their first season together and in their opening-round win against the Colts. The key to the Bills defensive effort will be controlling Lamar Jackson and the Ravens Running Back group on the ground so that the Ravens will be forced to make Jackson beat them in the air where the Ravens aren't as comfortable as Josh Allen and the Bills. Overall, this will be a high excitement and highly competitive matchup which will come down to which Quarterback is able to take control and which defense is able to bend but not break first. Look for this game to come down to the very end, but with the Bills hosting fans at their stadium for this very important Playoff game, look for the Bills to come out narrowly on top when it is all said and done. 

Score Prediction:

Buffalo Bills-24

Baltimore Ravens-23

Super Wild Card Prediction Record: 5-1