Santiago Leon and Ryan Christa preview the 2024 NFL Divisional Playoffs Weekend.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Ryan Christa – @maddawgreport
Raptors send Pascal Siakam to Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are finalizing a deal to acquire Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors in return for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Pacers are sending their own 2024 and 2026 first-round picks to Toronto along with the worst 2024 pick from the Rockets, Thunder, Jazz, or Clippers, sources told Wojnarowski.
In a separate deal, the Pacers are acquiring New Orleans Pelicans guard Kira Lewis Jr. and a 2024 second-round pick for cash considerations, sources told ESPN’s Andrew Lopez. Lewis will then be sent to the Raptors as part of the Siakam trade.
The Pacers are expected to re-sign Siakam when he becomes a free agent this summer, reports ESPN’s Marc J. Spears.
Warriors coach Dejan Milojević dead at 46
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević has died after suffering a medical emergency at a team dinner in Salt Lake City, the team said. He was 46.
The Warriors said he suffered a heart attack.
Clippers set to host 2026 All-Star Game
The NBA is finalizing plans for the Los Angeles Clippers to host the 2026 All-Star Game, sources told The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
It’ll be the fifth time the city of Los Angeles hosts the annual midseason exhibition contest, but the first at the Intuit Dome. The Lakers and Clippers co-hosted the 2018 All-Star Game at Crypto.com Arena, formerly known as the Staples Center.
The Clippers’ new home venue is set to open for the 2024-25 campaign.
NFL PLAYOFFS PREVIEW
Texans (10-7) at Ravens (13-4)
The Houston Texans (11-7) flexed its young muscle in the wild card, but they’ll get the tall task of facing the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens (13-4) in the AFC divisional round.
There were no problems for Houston in the wild card round, routing the Cleveland Browns despite entering the game as underdogs. The defense brought Joe Flacco back down to Earth with two pick-6s in the second half to seal the dominating 45-14 win. The remarkable run for the Texans continues with C.J. Stroud showcasing why he is a contender in the rookie of the year race.
As the top seed in the AFC, the Ravens got the wild card round off and will play their first home playoff game since the 2019 season. Baltimore will also be looking for its first playoff home win since 2012.
As the top seed in the AFC, the Ravens got the wild card round off and will play their first home playoff game since the 2019 season. Baltimore will also be looking for its first playoff home win since 2012.
Texans (10-7) at Ravens (13-4)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Betting line: Ravens -9.5, total of 43.5
Super Bowl odds: Ravens +275, Texans +3000
RC: BAL
Packers at 49ers
Another week of the Green Bay Packers in the postseason creates another classic NFC playoff matchup. The seventh-seeded Packers became the youngest team (average age: 25 years, 214 days) to win a playoff game since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger following their 48-32 demolition of the second-seeded Dallas Cowboys.
The postseason win was Green Bay’s 37th all time, tied with the New England Patriots for the most in league history. On Saturday, the Packers will face the NFC’s top seed, the 12-5 San Francisco 49ers, marking an NFL-high 10th playoff showdown between the two franchises.
The Niners, 36 playoff wins all time and one behind the Packers, lead the all-time postseason series between these two historic heavyweights 5-4 with four consecutive postseason wins against Green Bay, all of which came against former Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now, the Packers have a new pilot at the controls of their offense in 2020 first-round pick and first-year starter Jordan Love. He threw the second-most passing touchdowns (32) in the NFL regular season and has helped power the Packers to wins in seven of their last nine games, including the playoffs, while throwing 21 touchdowns and only one interception in that span
Date: Saturday, Jan. 20 | Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
TV: Fox | Stream: fubo (try for free)
Odds: 49ers -9.5; O/U 50.5
RC: SF
Bucs at Lions (13-5)
The Detroit Lions (13-5) won their first playoff game in 32 years when they beat the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round.
They seek to keep the good juju going in the divisional round by hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-8) on Sunday at Ford Field. Baker Mayfield and company advanced by beating the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Lions won the Week 6 matchup against the Buccaneers 20-6 at Raymond James Stadium. Jared Goff threw for a season-high 353 yards and tossed two touchdowns. Amon-Ra St. Brown had 12 catches for 124 yards and one of the scores. Mayfield was held to 206 yards and he threw an interception to Detroit cornerback Will Harris.
Will the Lions be able to keep their magical season alive? Or will the Buccaneers make the carriage turn back into a pumpkin?
- Buccaneers vs. Lions spread: Lions -6.5
- Buccaneers vs. Lions over/under: 49 points
- Buccaneers vs. Lions money line: Lions -283, Buccaneers +228
- TB: Buccaneers are 8-1 against the spread in road games
- DET: Lions are 5-4 against the spread in home games
- Buccaneers vs. Lions picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Buccaneers vs. Lions live stream: fubo (try for free)
Game Date: Sunday, January 21, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Venue: Ford Field
Location: Detroit, Michigan
TV: Watch on NBC
RC: DET
Chiefs (12-6) at Bills (12-6)
Bills have ruled out WR Gabriel Davis
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills met in the playoffs, they gave us one of the greatest games in NFL history.
Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes went back and forth, matching scores in the final minutes. From the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter to the end of the game, there were five scoring plays. Four of them were touchdowns, and one was a dramatic field goal at the end of a nearly impossible 13-second drive by the Chiefs to tie the game at the end of regulation. The Chiefs won on a Travis Kelce touchdown in overtime. If you wanted to make an argument for that as the greatest NFL game ever, it’s not outrageous.
We can only hope Sunday night’s playoff rematch is close to that good.
Chiefs (12-6) at Bills (12-6)
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Betting line: Bills -2.5, total of 45.5
Super Bowl odds: Chiefs +700, Bills +500
RC: BUF
Poll Question
Favorite flavor/coating on #popcorn? #NationalPopcornDay
Caramel cover – 44.4%, Butter Salt – 11.1 %, Chocolate covered 11.1%, Cehdar 33.3%
RC: Caramel
https://twitter.com/thesportscast1/status/1748321144212423154
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.
