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NFL Playoffs Preview
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Joe Toscano – @joeybagovdonuts
Victor Arocho – @varocho
Aaron Bernstein – @VetCloudGaming
Raiders at Bengals – Sat. Jan. 15th 4:30pm ET
The Las Vegas Raiders will try to end an almost two-decade-long playoff victory drought when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the first game of the NFL’s 2022 Super Wild Card Weekend on Saturday.
Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase already is one of the top receivers in the NFL. The rookie from LSU had 1,455 receiving yards this season, which ranked fourth in the league.
Bengals face a Las Vegas offense that struggled scoring toward the end of the season. Over their last six games, the Raiders averaged just 19.2 points per game, which ranked 23rd in the NFL over that time. The 35 points last Sunday against the Chargers marked Las Vegas’ first game with more than 23 points since Nov. 25.
Raiders’ Josh Jacobs
Patriots at Bills – Sat. Jan. 15th, 8:15pm ET
These two split the season games 1-1, and the impact of the weather was telling
Patriots had the edge when the weather dictated the game.
Can New England get everything back up to speed? They’ve now lost three of their last four game after the problems against Miami, and before that was the crazy weather game against Buffalo.
the Buffalo team that’s past the midseason doldrums will rise up against the run. The Patriot defense, placekicking, and coaching will be better.
Allen has thrown for two touchdowns and three interceptions in his last two games against the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets, which raises some concerns, but he’ll break out of his funk against the Patriots, who yielded 5.7 yards per play in the previous matchup between these teams.
Eagles at Bucs – Sunday, Jan. 16th, 1pm ET
The Eagles keep it close through three quarters, and it comes down to Tom Brady against Philadelphia’s defense in the last two minutes. The Buccaneers get up by 10 or more points in the first quarter and end up winning by 20 or more. Either way, the Buccaneers winning feels like the right play, but the Eagles should be able to keep it close after resting a lot of key players in Week 18.
Bucs to easily handle business against the Eagles, who will start fast but won’t be able to stay with Brady & Co.
how healthy is Tampa Bay?
Philadelphia has to run to win, it was held to 100 yards in the 28-22 home loss back in Week 6, and it’s not about to go off against the best run D in the NFL. That, and Tom Brady isn’t getting bounced out in the first round.
49ers at Cowboys – Sunday, Jan. 16th, 4:30pm ET
Dallas rolled to a 12-5 record and an NFC East title to earn the No. 3 seed in the NFL playoff bracket. Kyle Shanahan’s squad, meanwhile, had an up-and-down 10-7 campaign, but ultimately surged late to grab the No. 6 seed.
Dallas is favored by three points in the latest Cowboys vs. 49ers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, and the over-under is 51
Steelers at Chiefs – Sunday Jan. 16th, 8:15pm ET
The Kansas City Chiefs will try to return to their dominating ways of the past two seasons when they battle the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL Wild Card Weekend 2022 matchup on Sunday Night Football.
The Kansas City Chiefs will try to return to their dominating ways of the past two seasons when they battle the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL Wild Card Weekend 2022 matchup on Sunday Night Football.
Kansas City has won three consecutive opening-round playoff games and six of its last eight postseason games. The Steelers (9-7-1), who are making their 14th playoff appearance in the past 21 seasons, are looking to advance past the first round for the first time since 2016, when Pittsburgh lost at New England in the AFC Championship Game.
Kansas City is a 12.5-point favorite
Cardinals at Rams – Monday Jan. 17th, 8:15pm ET
Both Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford have been prone to mistakes this season, so all eyes will be on them. In this type of matchup, give me the underdog, especially if they are getting more than 3 points in an essentially neutral-site game.”
the Rams. They are better coached and have more game-wreckers. Cooper Kupp can’t be stopped. Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey can take over games. Give me the Rams by a touchdown
Rams vs. Cardinals spread: Los Angeles -4
Rams vs. Cardinals over-under: 49.5 points
Rams vs. Cardinals money line: Los Angeles -200, Arizona +170
AZ: Cardinals are 18-6-3 against the spread in their last 27 games as road underdogs
LAR: Favorite is 8-2-1 against the spread in their last 11 meetings
Predictions
Saturday
LV-CIN
JT: 21-41
VAR: 17-28
AB: 21-21
NE-BUF
JT: 17-21
VAR: 14-24
AB: 17-14
SUNDAY
PHI-TB
JT: 14-28
VAR: 14-34
AB: 17-38
SF-DAL
JT: 26-28
VAR: 28-24
AB: 31-28
PIT-KC
JT: 2-99
VAR: 21-38
AB: 10-25
MONDAY
AZ-LAR
JT: 33-29
VAR: 21-31
AB: 31-41
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.