Divisional Playoff Predictions Pt. 2

Jan. 17th Divisional Playoff Predictions

#6 Cleveland Browns(11-5) vs. #1 Kansas City Chiefs(14-2)

Head to Head Comparisons:

Quarterback: Baker Mayfield(Cle) vs. Patrick Mahomes(KC)

Advantage: Kansas City Chiefs

Rushing Attack: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt(Cle) vs. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Le'Veon Bell(KC)

Advantage: Cleveland Browns

Aerial Attack: Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, etc.(Cle) vs. Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, etc.(KC)

Advantage: Kansas City Chiefs

Offensive Line: Wyatt Teller, JC Tretter, etc.(Cle) vs. Eric Fisher, Mike Remmers, etc.(KC)

Advantage: Cleveland Browns

Defensive Line: Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson, etc.(Cle) vs. Chris Jones, Frank Clark, etc.(KC)

Advantage: Cleveland Browns

Linebackers: B.J. Goodson, Malcolm Smith, etc.(Cle) vs. Anthony Hitchens, Damien Wilson, etc.(KC)

Advantage: Cleveland Browns

Secondary: Denzel Ward, M.J. Stewart Jr., etc.(Cle) vs. Tyrann Mathieu, Daniel Sorenson, etc.(KC)

Advantage: Kansas City Chiefs

X-Factors:

Cleveland Browns: Jarvis Landry(Offense), Denzel Ward(Defense)

Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Kelce(Offense), Chris Jones(Defense)

Analysis: 

This is a game made up of two big storylines: the Browns continuing their Playoff run after sitting on the sidelines for 18 years and the Chiefs starting their Playoff run for a second straight Super Bowl win. The Cleveland Browns are coming off an impressive shorthanded win against the Pittsburgh Steelers where they forced 5 turnovers and put up 48 points without their Head Coach, starting Left Guard, and two of their starting Cornerbacks. But in this game, the Browns will be back to full health and will look to take control of this game on the ground and in terms of controlling the clock with their two-headed monster made up of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Baker Mayfield, who is having the best season of his young career, will look to get the best of his opponent's Quarterback for a second straight time after beating Mahomes and Texas Tech in a 66-59 shootout thriller in 2016 while Mayfield was the Quarterback at Oklahoma. The Browns defense, who are led by Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, will need to step up big time in order to keep this game close because they are going up against one of the best offensive trios that we have seen in a long time: Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce. The Chiefs will look to take advantage of a questionable Browns secondary with their explosive aerial attack, and their defense will look to pump the brakes on a very good Browns run game in order for Patrick Mahomes to get the chance to play like the Patrick Mahomes we all know and love. Overall, I believe that the Browns run game in the first half will handicap Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense just enough to go into the locker room in a tight game, but this Chiefs offense is just too good to be stopped by a not-so-great defense for 60 minutes. Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs will get the better of Baker Mayfield and the Browns and move onto the AFC Championship for the third straight year while continuing their hunt for their second straight Lombardi Trophy. 

Score Prediction:

Kansas City Chiefs-37

Cleveland Browns-29

#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers(11-5) vs. #2 New Orleans Saints(12-4)

Head to Head Comparisons:

Quarterback: Tom Brady(TB) vs. Drew Brees, Taysom Hill(NO)

Advantage: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rushing Attack: Ronald Jones II, Leonard Fournette(TB) vs. Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray(NO)

Advantage: New Orleans Saints

Aerial Attack: Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, etc.(TB) vs. Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, etc.(NO)

Advantage: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Offensive Line: Tristan Wirfs, Ali Marpet, etc.(TB) vs. Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, etc.(NO)

Advantage: New Orleans Saints

Defensive Line: Ndamukong Suh, William Gholston, etc.(TB) vs. Cameron Jordan, Trey Hendrickson, etc.(NO)

Advantage: New Orleans Saints

Linebackers: Devin White, Jason Pierre-Paul, etc.(TB) vs. Demario Davis, Alex Anzalone, etc.(NO)

Advantage: Tamp Bay Buccaneers

Secondary: Carlton Davis, Antoine Winfield Jr., etc.(TB) vs. Marshon Lattimore, Malcolm Jenkins, etc.(NO)

Advantage: New Orleans Saints

X-Factors:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans(Offense), Devin White(Defense)

New Orleans Saints: Michael Thomas(Offense), Marshon Lattimore(Defense)

Analysis:

This game is an amazing gift to all sports fans because we get to watch the two best statistical Quarterbacks of all time, Tom Brady and Drew Brees, face off for what may be the last time considering that this could be Drew Brees' last hurrah in the Bayou. The Buccaneers are entering this game at a time where it seems like their newly-stacked offense is hitting its groove as Tom Brady has been able to successfully spread the wealth to his trio of Pro Bowl Receivers: Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Antonio Brown. The Buccaneers defense was able to survive the heroic effort by Washington's Taylor Heinicke, but now against this solid Saints offense, which is enhanced by their big-time weapons Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas, they will have to find a solution in order to take home the victory in these division rivals' third meeting of the season where the Saints have easily handled Tampa Bay in the first two. The Saints defense will be getting back their sack leader Trey Hendrickson in order to help out Cam Jordan and the rest of the New Orleans D-line up front, but in order for the Saints to advance to the NFC Championship, their Secondary, which is led by Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, must be able to not let the Buccaneers get behind them consistently. Overall, I expect this game to be an instant classic that will be remembered for a long time due to all of the drama surrounding its circumstances. The Buccaneers will be able to somewhat establish the passing game that they want, but in the end, the New Orleans Saints mix of running and passing will be too much for the Bucs defense to handle as the Saints hold off a late Buccaneers push so that Drew Brees may at least be guaranteed one more game in his illustrious career.

Score Prediction:

New Orleans Saints-33

Tampa Bay Buccaneers-28

Yesterday's Predictions: 2-0

Overall Playoff Predictions: 7-1