NFL
Reviewing Every NFL Divisional Round Game
See the most entertaining highlights, best facts to know, and major takeaways from every NFL Divisional Round game!
After a thrilling Wild Card Weekend, the Divisional Round began with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers taking on the top-ranked Rams defense featuring Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, followed by young rising star QBs Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen going head-to-head as the Ravens visited the Bills. Then, Sunday showcased Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs facing off against a red-hot Browns team on a mission to make history, and finally concluded with a matchup between two future Hall of Fame QBs as Tom Brady’s Bucs visited Drew Brees’ Saints in what was speculated to be the last time these two legends would ever meet on the field again.
PSO’s Premium Review presents the most important facts, highlights, and takeaways for every NFL Divisional Round game:
KEY FACT: LAR’s #1 ranked defense gave up the most YDS (484), 1st downs (28), & 2nd most PTS (32) all season
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
BIG YARDS FOR ALLEN LAZARD!@Packers take a 14-points lead. #GoPackGo #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2021
📺: #LARvsGB on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/nMJSN7Rn8Z pic.twitter.com/YndFY5cyHU
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: As explosive as Green Bay’s offense is, controlling the clock is still a major factor in their success
In addition to having a high-powered offense and the likely 2020 MVP at QB, the Green Bay Packers will be hosting the NFC Championship game in large part due to their league-leading average time of possession, coming in at 32:31 minutes per game. Controlling the clock has been a major part of Matt LaFleur’s game-planning since he arrived in GB and is one of the biggest reasons he’s now 28-7 (including playoffs) in just his first two seasons as HC. If the Pack can continue to manage the clock well by converting 3rd downs, moving the chains, and avoiding turnovers, there’s not much that can stop this team from winning the whole thing.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): @GB (-360) d. LAR (+290) 32-18 [GB -7 | o45]
GB STOCK PRICE: $13.68 | LAR STOCK PRICE: $11.11
KEY FACT: Taron Johnson had the T-longest INT (101 YDS) for a TD in NFL playoff history
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
TARON JOHNSON 101-YARD PICK-SIX!#BILLSMAFIA #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2021
📺: #BALvsBUF on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/apCkRMWr6f pic.twitter.com/rgwIuVLNxE
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: Josh Allen is now solidified as the greatest Bills QB since Jim Kelly
For the last two and a half decades in Buffalo, the Bills have suffered from a slew of mediocre quarterbacks. If one happened to lead his team anywhere close to reaching the playoffs, he’d be revered by the entire Buffalo Bills fanbase. With that said, there’s no doubt that Josh Allen has made a name for himself in Bills Mafia; after leading his team to their first playoff win in 25 years and reaching the AFC Championship game, these accomplishments paired along with a career year in 2020 have made him the greatest Bills QB since Jim Kelly. Should Allen be fortunate enough to make it to Super Bowl LV, he’ll be the biggest Buffalo hero of this generation.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): @BUF (-136) d. BAL (+116) 17-3 [BUF -2.5 | u50]
BUF STOCK PRICE: $16.25 | BAL STOCK PRICE: $10.48
KEY FACT: Kansas City Chiefs are now the 1st AFC team ever to host 3 straight Championship games
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
ANDY REID WENT FOR IT. #RunItBack #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/0JSzsCYMvR
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2021
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: The ONLY thing stopping Patrick Mahomes from becoming the GOAT is injuries
Despite not playing for three weeks, Patrick Mahomes came out firing until he left Sunday’s game with a concussion in the third quarter. Many question how Kansas City would perform against a hot Browns team after seeming like they were on cruise control for a good part of the last few weeks of the season, but they silenced any doubters by taking down Cleveland even without their QB playing during a critical fourth quarter. Not much has been done by opposing defenses to slow down Mahomes up to this point, so it’s fair to say that injury is the only thing standing in the way of him lighting up the field.
As the Chiefs prepare to host the AFC Championship game for the third straight season, Mahomes’ status will certainly be the main story to keep track of heading into Championship Sunday. If he’s healthy, they’ll be the favorite to win another championship, giving Mahomes two titles in three years as a starting QB, putting him on track to be considered the GOAT. The only thing that’s standing in his way, isn’t any type of scheme, players, or inadequate performance. It’s only injuries.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): @KC (-390) d. CLE (+310) 22-17 [CLE +7.5 | u55.5]
KC STOCK PRICE: $12.17 | CLE STOCK PRICE: $13.75
KEY FACT: Tom Brady’s 32 career playoff wins are 2x the number of wins of the next QB on the all-time list (Joe Montana: 16)
BEST HIGHLIGHT:
JAMEIS WINSTON. 56-YARD TOUCHDOWN.#ForNOLA #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2021
📺: #TBvsNO on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/kJOiprK712 pic.twitter.com/lf8FVvOJib
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN TAKEAWAY: Jared Cook’s underwhelming playoff performance ended the Saints season early
It’s normal to drop a catch here and there, but to drop multiple critical passes and cause turnovers that cost a team points and the outcome of a game unfortunately fit the description of Saints TE Jared Cook in these playoffs. While his dropped TD against the Bears in the Wild Card round didn’t do much damage overall, his critical fumble and dropped pass that was intercepted (both in the fourth quarter) proved detrimental to NO as they ultimately fell to the Bucs.
New Orleans had several failed attempts at a comeback in the second half, largely due to Cook’s monumental mistakes. Normally a solid option at TE, Cook has proven to be more of an advantage than a disadvantage for NOLA, but the mistakes he committed could not have come at a worse time. Facing a team led by the winningest QB ever, it was an opportunistic Tampa defense that doubled their takeaways on Sunday because of Cook’s severely underwhelming performance that ruined any chance the Saints had in what will likely go down as the final game of Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame career.
FINAL RESULTS (ODDS): TB (+116) d. @NO (-136) 30-20 [TB +2.5 | u53.5]
TB STOCK PRICE: $14.67 | NO STOCK PRICE: $11.43
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