A difficult decision awaits anyone who participates in daily fantasy football contests for the NFL divisional round. The quarterback position is loaded with superstars, but only one can make the final cut for Saturday and Sunday's contests...
NFL Playoffs 2022: Updated Divisional-Round Odds and Bracket Scenarios
Jan 19, 2022
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (1) celebrate during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New England Patriots in Orchard Park, N.Y., Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes)
There are big expectations for the divisional-round clash between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
The two AFC sides combined for 802 total yards and 62 points in last season's AFC Championship Game, and they each come into Sunday's game off 40-point performances in the Wild Card Round.
Buffalo and Kansas City appear primed to produce another high-scoring affair, which has led to the highest over/under on the board for the weekend slate.
The No. 1 seeds entering the fray on Saturday carry the largest point spreads in their favor. The Green Bay Packers are close to a touchdown favorite on a weekend when all of the other lines are around a field goal.
Green Bay defeated San Francisco early in the regular season, and it may be better suited to make a deep playoff run compared to last season because of its improved defense.
If Green Bay and the Tennessee Titans win Saturday, they will be the hosts of the two conference championship games.
If one of the No. 1 seeds lose, the winner of the Sunday game in that respective conference hosts next weekend.
Cincinnati at Tennessee (-3.5) (O/U: 47) (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
San Francisco at Green Bay (-6) (O/U: 47) (8:15 p.m. ET, Fox)
Sunday, January 23
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay (-3) (O/U: 48.5) (3 p.m. ET, NBC)
Buffalo at Kansas City (-1.5) (O/U: 54.5) (6:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
Buffalo at Kansas City (Over 54.5)
Buffalo and Kansas City set the standard for playoff offense in the Wild Card Round.
The Bills blasted through the New England Patriots defense for 47 points and 482 total yards, while the Chiefs torched the Pittsburgh Steelers for 42 points and 478 total yards.
Those two performances sent expectations through the roof for the AFC Championship Game rematch at Arrowhead Stadium.
Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes combined for 612 passing yards and five touchdowns in that clash. The Bills quarterback also had 88 rushing yards on seven carries.
Allen has an improved set of options around him thanks to the development of Devin Singletary and Dawson Knox at running back and tight end, respectively.
Buffalo has a more balanced rushing attack, and Knox gives Allen an extra red-zone target to pick out if Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis and others are covered.
Kansas City still has Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in place, but the depth pieces behind them have gotten better. Mecole Hardman and Byron Pringle had over 500 receiving yards in the regular season, and Demarcus Robinson had 76 yards in the win over Pittsburgh.
The Chiefs also added in Jerick McKinnon's pass-catching ability out of the backfield to complement Darrel Williams versus the Steelers.
It will be hard for either defense to slow down every facet of the opposing offense, and that sets the stage for a shootout.
Kansas City's defense gave up over 400 total yards on seven occasions. One of those was the 38-20 loss to the Bills in Week 5.
Buffalo's defense only had one 400-yard concession, but it did give up its second-highest total to Kansas City in the regular-season clash at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Week 5 showdown produced 58 points, and that's another sign pointing to the over being the best bet for the divisional-round finale.
San Francisco at Green Bay (-6)
Green Bay fixed some of the issues that plagued it during last season's playoff run.
The Packers were torched by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game. They responded by drafting Eric Stokes in the first round, and they found a gem in Rasul Douglas midway through the regular season.
Green Bay's secondary is better equipped to take on any postseason challenge, and that could help with covering Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk.
A shutdown in the defensive backfield could help the Packers deal with the 49ers rushing attack. Green Bay was one of the few teams that held San Francisco to under 100 rushing yards in the regular season.
The 49ers did not have Elijah Mitchell in the Week 3 contest, though, and that game happened well before Deebo Samuel was a major asset in the ground attack.
Green Bay needs to adapt its run-game defense to deal with Samuel around the edges and Mitchell through the middle.
The Packers do have familiarity with Kyle Shanahan's run-blocking scheme, which could help them shut down parts of the ground attack.
Aaron Rodgers achieved success in Week 3 by completing 23 of his 33 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns.
The combination of Adams, Cobb, Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be too much for the San Francisco defense to handle. Four of its highest passing-yard concessions came on the road, or against the Packers.
If Rodgers has the same level of success on Saturday as he did in Week 3, the Packers could cover the highest point spread of the weekend.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
The Buffalo Bills will see a familiar face in the divisional round of the 2022 NFL playoffs. Their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs is a rematch from their Sunday Night Football win in Week 5...
Patrick Mahomes and Other Playoff Superstars Take Over the 'Gridiron Heights' Casino
Jan 18, 2022
BR Video
Big Ben is definitely alive, Josh Allen keeps going all-in and Jerry Jones is melting.
The divisional round is set for the 2021-22 postseason. Four tremendous games are on tap for next weekend, one of which features perhaps the most compelling quarterback dual of the postseason...
Bills' Josh Allen Says 1st TD Pass to Dawson Knox in Win vs. Patriots Was an Accident
Jan 16, 2022
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills throws a pass against the New England Patriots during the second quarter in the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Highmark Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
On the Buffalo Bills' first drive of Saturday's 47-17 win over the New England Patriots in the AFC Wild Card Round at Highmark Stadium, Josh Allen hit tight end Dawson Knox for an eight-yard score to help take an early 7-0 lead.
Apparently, Allen didn't even realize he had just thrown a touchdown pass.
After the game, the 25-year-old told reporters he was trying to throw the ball away. After the play, he had no idea what happened and asked his teammates why they were celebrating.
Josh Allen says he was trying to throw the ball away on the first TD throw to Dawson Knox. He got up and started walking back to the huddle after the play with no idea what happened. Said he couldn’t figure out why people were celebrating and had to keep asking about the play.
Allen had one of the best playoff performances in recent memory Saturday, completing 21 of 25 passes for 308 yards and five touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 66 yards on six carries.
The Bills will now move on to the AFC Divisional Round. Their opponent has yet to be determined.
Josh Allen, Bills Rout Mac Jones, Patriots for Dominant Win in 2022 NFL Playoffs
Jan 16, 2022
Orchard Park, NY - January 15: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) lifts up Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26) after his rushing touchdown in the second quarter. The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots in a AFC wild-card game Saturday night January 15, 2022 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills defeated their archrival New England Patriots 47-17 in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday at Highmark Stadium to reach the divisional round for the second straight season.
It was the third meeting between the two teams over the last seven weeks. While the Patriots took the first meeting 14-10 on Dec. 6 in Buffalo, the Bills have now defeated New England in two straight and have won four of their last five against Bill Belichick's squad.
Star quarterback Josh Allen and tight end Dawson Knox paired perfectly to attack a depleted New England secondary, which was without Jalen Mills because of COVID-19 protocols. In addition, it was one of Buffalo's most balanced performances of the season, with the defense, running game and special teams all coming up big.
Notable Stats
Josh Allen, QB, BUF: 21/25 for 308 YDS, 5 TD and 6 CAR for 66 YDS
Mac Jones, QB, NE: 24/38 for 232 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT and 2 CAR for 18 YDS
Devin Singletary, RB, BUF: 16 CAR for 81 YDS, 2 TD and 3 REC for 13 YDS
Kendrick Bourne, WR, NE: 7 REC for 77 YDS, 2 TD and 1 CAR for 14 YDS
Stefon Diggs, WR, BUF: 3 REC for 60 YDS
Damien Harris, RB, NE: 9 CAR for 30 YDS
Dawson Knox, TE, BUF: 5 REC for 89 YDS, 2 TD
Bills Show Super Bowl Ceiling
The Bills reached the highest of highs and lowest of lows during the 2021 regular season. They obliterated the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins early in the season, but they also suffered an embarrassing 9-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, got blown out by the Indianapolis Colts and lost in a heartbreaker to the Tennessee Titans.
On Saturday, Buffalo proved what many believed to be true entering the 2021 season: They are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
The Bills asserted their dominance early and entered halftime up 27-3 on the Patriots thanks to four consecutive touchdown drives. It was the first time New England had allowed touchdowns on four straight drives in the Bill Belichick era.
This is the first time the Patriots have given up a touchdown on four consecutive drives in a game under Bill Belichick, per @ESPNStatsInfo.
The Bills' defense also got the job done in the first half, limiting rookie quarterback Mac Jones to just 106 passing yards. In addition, Micah Hyde picked off the Alabama product in what was one of the most impressive interceptions of the year.
Stop everything and watch this interception by Micah Hyde.
Micah Hyde covered 21.4 yards in 2.9 seconds to intercept Mac Jones' deep pass. Hyde was 14.4 yards away from Nelson Agholor when the pass was thrown, and 0.6 yards away at arrival.
The Bills kept up the pace in the second half, too. Allen led three more touchdown drives, and the defense forced another turnover. Their performance could arguably be one of the best of Wild Card Weekend.
Based on how inconsistent the Bills have been this year, many took the time to acknowledge that if the team can just stay persistent, they'll have a great chance to come out of the AFC and play in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993.
The Bills at their best can beat ANYONE! It’s just about being consistent. If they can ride this momentum, the AFC is going to be in trouble.
It should also be mentioned that Saturday's game was one of Buffalo's most balanced of the season. From the passing game, to the running game, defense and special teams, everything clicked for the Bills. It's something head coach Sean McDermott had been looking for all season long.
Patriots Have Bright Future Ahead With Mac Jones
Jones didn't have the best game on Saturday night, but things could have gone a lot worse for the rookie in his first career playoff game. Facing Josh Allen and the Bills in freezing temperatures was a tough task, and while Patriots fans are undoubtedly disappointed, they should be very excited for the future.
Sure, the Alabama product tossed two interceptions at Highmark Stadium. However, one was an unbelievable pick by Micah Hyde, and the other was tipped.
Jones' arm looked pretty good as he completed 24 of 38 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed the ability to get out of the pocket and make plays on the ground when necessary, rushing for 18 yards on two carries.
We haven't seen Jones run much this season. It's not something he's particularly good at, but the fact he recognized moments where he could run for a first down and move the chains is a great sign that he's adjusting and developing.
Mac Jones taking yards with his feet is a great sign for next year, carry that lesson over. Nothing to do with this game outcome obviously, but it’s great to see him be assertive that way, show that he’s capable of taking what’s given.
As the game went on, and the Patriots offense seemingly woke up a little bit, many took the time to remind everyone that Jones has been very good this year, and things can only improve for New England moving forward.
Mac Jones is really good. Will only get better. Don’t let that get lost in the debacle.
Looking to next season, if the Patriots can put a true No. 1 receiver with Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Henry, the passing attack should make some really big improvements. Mac Jones is for real, and so is the OL/RB group.
The #Patriots roster and Mac Jones will get better. The most disturbing thing about these last two games against the #Bills is that Josh Allen is only 25 and will be in your division for the next decade.
2021 autopsy: The Patriots were better on offense than I thought they'd be. Did a great job figuring out what Mac needed throughout the year. If they retain McDaniels and get a real WR1 in the building (easier said than done), they'll be for real next year.
Looking back on the regular season, Jones had one of the most impressive rookie seasons by a quarterback in recent memory. He completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.
Obviously the 2021 season didn't end how he would've hoped, but Jones is expected to improve next season and once again lead New England back to the playoffs. If Belichick can bring in some reinforcements on both offense, like a No. 1 receiver, and defense, the Patriots will be a difficult team to play against in 2022.
What's Next?
The Bills will move on to the divisional round, while the Patriots will go back to the drawing board and begin preparations for the 2022 season.
Buffalo's opponent has yet to be decided. The No. 1 seeded Tennessee Titans will face the lowest remaining seed in the AFC next weekend after this week’s games.
The first wins—and losses—of the 2022 NFL playoffs are coming Saturday. It's the first of a now three-day Wild Card Weekend, featuring two clashes Saturday, three more Sunday and a final one Monday...
The New England Patriots employed two different strategies in their attempts to beat the Buffalo Bills. New England got one similar outcome from the run-heavy Week 13 approach and ...
The New England Patriots achieved the most success against the Buffalo Bills in the regular season on the ground. Damien Harris produced two 100-yard performances in two different styles of games between the AFC East rivals...
