Divisional Round Primer

01/20/2023 Divisional Round Primer

By: Matthew Cahill

Previewing All 4 Games to Determine the Conference Championships

The NFL Playoffs are ready to kickoff weekend number two: The Divisional Round. The 1-seeds are touchdown favorites on Saturday with all the pressure on the Eagles and Chiefs welcoming underdogs. The Sunday matchups could be tighter. Expect Damar Hamlin in attendance for Bills-Bengals on Sunday in an emotional game, and we’ll answer major questions about Dak Prescott’s ability to get the Cowboys over the hump. Let’s prime the Divisional Round…

 

AFC: Jaguars (10-8) at Chiefs (14-3)

The Jags head into Arrowhead sporting a six-game win streak and hot off last week’s epic 27-point comeback, but the Chiefs are the biggest favorites in the Divisional Round. Kansas City won the regular season meeting (27-17) in a game where Patrick Mahomes carved up Jacksonville for 331 yards and 4 TDs. It’s Andy Reid against his Philadelphia quarterback from two decades ago with the AFC title game on the line.

 

Schedule: Saturday (4:30 pm ET, NBC)

Odds: Chiefs (-8.5 points)

 

NFC: Giants (10-7-1) at Eagles (14-3)

For the third time in a little more than a month, the Eagles and Giants will face off in an NFC East battle. Philly won both of the previous meetings, including a road win where they hung 48 (48-22) before Week 18’s narrow escape (22-16). Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley looked tough in their Round 1 win against the Vikings, but Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders combined for 5 TDs in their “healthy” matchup in December. It’s hard to beat a team three times, but Philly fans will have the Linc rocking.

 

Schedule: Saturday (8:15 pm ET, FOX)

Odds: Eagles (-7.5 points)

 

AFC: Bengals (13-4) at Bills (14-3)

It’s the rematch of the Damar Hamlin game. The Bengals and Bills were cut short in Week 17 when Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and the game was called. Now, the two hottest teams in the AFC get to run it back in Buffalo. The Bills haven’t lost since Nov. 13 and the Bengals haven’t lost since Oct. 31. Expect a shootout between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen in 30-degree weather with a chance of snow.

 

Schedule: Sunday (3:00 pm ET, CBS)

Odds: Bills (-5 points)

 

NFC: Cowboys (13-5) at 49ers (14-4)

The most intriguing matchup of the Divisional Round might be the renewed rivalry between the Cowboys and the 49ers. Dallas and San Francisco have faced off eight times in playoff history, including three straight years from 1970-1972 and 1992-1994 with the Cowboys leading the postseason series (5-3). Six of those eight meetings have been in the NFC Championship. The Niners enter Sunday with an 11-game win streak, but Dallas had a blowout win in the Wild Card round. It’s the oldest remaining QB (Dak Prescott, 29) against the youngest remaining QB (Brock Purdy, 23) in the game with the closest spread of the weekend.

 

Schedule: Sunday (6:30 pm ET, FOX)

Odds: 49ers (-3.5 points)

 

From eight to four, let the quest for Super Bowl LVII continue…

 

Additional Storylines

SI: NFL Divisional Round Odds, Lines & Spreads

CBS Sports: NFL Divisional Round Injury Reports

NFL: Biggest Vulnerability for 8 Remaining Playoff Teams, Plus Updated Super Bowl Probabilities

 

Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images