The NFL Playoffs get going this weekend with the Super Wild Card Round on Saturday and Sunday and this time around there will be six games in all as the playoff format allowed 14 teams into the playoffs for the 2020 season. That means there will be three games on each day.
The following will offer a look at the games and predictions on which teams will get the victory and advance to the Divisional Round next weekend. Only two teams have the "bye week" in the new format as the Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) had the top record in the AFC and the Green Bay Packers (13-3) finished atop the NFC this season. They will play the lowest remaining seeded team and they both have the home field advantage for as long as they are in the playoffs.
AFC PLAYOFFS
Saturday, January 9
Indianapolis Colts (11-5) at Buffalo Bills (13-3) - The Bills have been rolling the last six weeks as they won the AFC East division and enter the playoffs with a six-game wining streak. Bills quarterback Josh Allen had 37 touchdown passes and ten interceptions and threw for 4,544 yards this season and teams with his favorite target, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who had 127 receptions for 1,535 yards and eight touchdowns. Cole Beasley (82, 967, four TD) is another primary weapon in the Bills passing game. The Bills defense has allowed 18.3 points per game during the last six games.
Meanwhile, the Colts have won four of their last five games and have averaged just under 30 PPG during that span to end the season. Quarterback Philip Rivers has been steady (4,169 passing yards with 24 TD and 11 INT) and running back Jonathan Taylor has been on a mission since mid-season and wound up the year with 1,169 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns while also catching 36 passes for 299 yards and one score. The top receivers for Indy include RB Nyheim Hines (63 receptions with four TD) and T.Y. Hilton, who had 56 receptions for 762 yards and five touchdowns. The Colts defense is strong against the run and they can rush the passer, getting 40 sacks this past season.
Sunday, January 10
Baltimore Ravens (11-5) at Tennessee Titans (11-5) - The Ravens have won five straight games and have been crushing it on the ground, averaging 192 YPG rushing this season. Led by QB Lamar Jackson (1,005 rushing yards, seven TD and also 2,757 passing yards with 26 TD and nine INT) the Ravens have averaged 37.2 points a game during the last five this season. Running backs J.K. Dobbins (805 rush yards and nine TD) and Gus Edwards (723 yards, six TD) team with Jackson to form the solid run game. Tight end Mark Andrews and WR Marquise Brown each had 58 receptions to lead the team in that area. Baltimore's defense allows 108 yards on the ground and has been consistent in the red zone, allowing 17.8 PPG down the stretch in the 2020 season.
The Tennessee Titans offense revolves around super running back Derrick Henry, who gashed the opposition for 2,027 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill passed for 3,819 yards with 33 TD and just seven interceptions this year and also scored seven rushing touchdowns. His main targets include A.J. Brown (70, 1,075, 11 TD) and Corey Davis, who caught 65 passes for 984 yards and five touchdowns. The Titans defense has been a sore spot at times this year, especially against the pass as they gave up 289 YPG while only getting 19 quarterback sacks. Tennessee finished first in the AFC South race and has won five of their last seven games heading into the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns (11-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) - The Browns defeated the Steelers last week to get into the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season. The two teams split their games against one another and Pittsburgh won the AFC North division, starting out 11-0 before stumbling down the stretch while dealing with numerous injuries on both sides of the ball.
The Browns are led by QB Baker Mayfield, who had 3,563 passing yards with 26 TD and eight interceptions. Nick Chubb (1,067 rush yards and 12 TD) and Kareem Hunt (841 rush yards and six TD) form a solid one-two punch for Cleveland's run game and Jarvis Landry (72, 840, three TD) and tight end Austin Hooper (46, 435, four TD) are the top pass catchers. Myles Garrett led the Browns defense with 12 sacks and the team allowed just under 122 rushing yards per game. The Browns will be without at least six players (COVID-19/IR list) as well as Head Coach Kevin Stefanski for the same reason.
The Steelers have veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger in charge of things and he passed for 3,803 yards with 33 TD and ten interceptions this season. However, Big Ben put the ball in the air an astounding 608 times due to the lack of a running game. When healthy, running back James Conner rushed for 721 yards and six touchdowns while Benny Snell had 368 yards and four scores. The wideouts are led by JuJu Smith-Schuster (97, 831, nine TD) and Diontae Johnson, who made 88 grabs for 923 yards and seven touchdowns. Rookie WR Chase Claypool had 62 receptions for 873 yards and nine touchdowns while tight end Eric Ebron (56, 558, five TD) also added to the passing attack. The Steelers defense allowed 19.8 PPG and registered 56 sacks with T.J. Watt getting 15 of them and Stephon Tuitt adding eleven more sacks. Steelers DB Minkah Fitzpatrick had four interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
NFC PLAYOFFS
Saturday, January 9
Los Angeles Rams (10-6) at Seattle Seahawks (12-4) - These two division rivals split their two games with each win coming at home. The Rams have struggled down the stretch and QB Jared Goff (3,952 passing yards with 20 TD and 13 INT) might not play in this game after a broken thumb on his right hand kept him out of action in Week Seventeen. John Wolford is the backup quarterback. Cam Akers (625 rushing yards, two TD) and Darrell Henderson (624, five TD) are the top running backs and Robert Woods (90 receptions for 936 yards and six TD) and Cooper Kupp (92, 974, three TD) who is coming off the COVID-19 IR list, lead the way in receiving. The Rams defense is the strength of this team and Aaron Donald (13 1/2 sacks) and Leonard Floyd (10 1/2 sacks) lead the way along with cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Rams had 53 sacks and picked off 14 passes this season.
The Seahawks will go as far as QB Russell Wilson can bring them with the offense. Wilson passed for 4,212 yards with 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 513 yards and two scores. The top receivers for Seattle include Tyler Lockett (100, 1,054, ten TD) and DK Metcalf, who had 83 receptions for 1,303 yards and ten touchdowns. Running back Chris Carson was the leading rusher this year with 681 yards and five touchdowns. Seattle's defense has gotten better after a terrible start, especially against the pass. The Seahawks had 14 interceptions and 46 sacks while allowing 300 passing yards per game. The run defense fared much better, allowing 96 YPG this season. The Seahawks have won four straight games going into the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) at Washington (7-9) - The Buccaneers have Tom Brady at quarterback and all the 43-year old did was pass for 40 touchdowns (12 interceptions) and 4,633 yards this season while helping lead the team to their first playoff game since 2007. Ronald Jones led the team with 978 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Mike Evans (70, 1,006, 13 TD) and Chris Godwin (65, 840, seven TD) are the top receivers and Antonio Brown (45, 483, four TD) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (45, 623, seven TD) are two more options for Brady in the passing game. The Tampa Bay run defense is very stingy, giving up just 81 yards per game this season while also getting 48 sacks and 15 interceptions. The Bucs allowed 22 PPG this season and scored 30.7 points per game.
Washington finished strong in 2020, going 5-2 to win the NFC East division. Led by a solid defense, which includes rookie defensive end Chase Young (7 1/2 sacks) and Montez Sweat (nine sacks) they allowed just over 20 points per game this season, which included giving up only 15.8 PPG in the final seven games. They also intercepted 16 passes to bolster the defense. Quarterback Alex Smith has been a great story in the 2020 season, coming back from a severe leg injury in 2018 to pass for 1,582 yards and six touchdowns along with eight interceptions. If Smith isn't able to play (calf injury), then Taylor Heinicke will run the offense. Running back Antonio Gibson rushed for 795 yards and eleven touchdowns and J.D. McKissic gained 385 yards rushing and caught 80 passes, totaling three scores overall. Terry McLaurin is the top wide receiver for Washington, making 87 receptions for 1,118 yards and four touchdowns. Tight end Logan Thomas caught 72 balls for 670 yards and six touchdowns.
Sunday, January 10
Chicago Bears (8-8) at New Orleans Saints (12-4) - The Saints rate a big edge on paper, but when these two teams met in Chicago back on November 1, it was decided in overtime with a 26-23 win for the Saints. The Bears will go with much maligned quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who had 2,055 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games. David Montgomery led the team in rushing with 1,070 yards and scored eight touchdowns while making 54 receptions and two more scores. Allen Robinson is the bread and butter man for the passing game, leading Chicago with 102 receptions for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns. The Bears defense slumped in the second half of this season, allowing 25.5 points per game. The pass rush generated only 35 sacks and the Bears picked off ten passes.
Quarterback Drew Brees came back from broken ribs for the Saints and finished the season with 2,942 yards along with 24 TD passes and just six interceptions. Taysom Hill can also play quarterback, but is more relied upon as a running option, gaining 457 yards and scoring eight touchdowns. Running back Alvin Kamara should be ready to play after being on the COVID-19/IR list last weekend. Kamara scored 21 touchdowns this season, including a record tying six rushing TDs in one game on Christmas Day. Kamara had 932 rushing yards (16 TD) and hauled in 83 receptions for 756 yards and five more scores. Letavius Murray (656 rush yards and four TD) adds depth for the Saints. The wideouts are led by Emmanuel Sanders, who had 61 receptions for 726 yards and five touchdowns. Tight end Jared Cook made 37 receptions for 504 yards and seven touchdowns. Wide receiver Michael Thomas, who missed most of the regular season with ankle injuries, could be ready to play as well. The Saints defense is solid, giving up 21 points per game while allowing just 93 rushing yards a game. The Saints intercepted 18 passes this year and DE Trey Hendrickson had 13 1/2 sacks to lead the team, which totaled 45 sacks this season.
The Heftyinfo picks for the Super Wild Card Round . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold)
Saturday Games
Buffalo over Indianapolis
Seattle over L.A. Rams
Tampa Bay over Washington
Sunday Games
Baltimore over Tennessee
New Orleans over Chicago
Pittsburgh over Cleveland
FINAL SEASON RECORD - 181-74-1
Lock of the Week Record - 14-3
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