After an exciting Wild Card round, only eight teams remain alive in the quest to win an NFL title. That includes the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns, who got to celebrate their first playoff wins since the 1990s. The Bills’ win over the Indianapolis Colts was expected, but the Browns were not expected to do what they did in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, storming out to a 28-0 first-quarter lead on the way to a stunning 48-37 upset of the third-seeded Steelers. Elsewhere in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens got their playoff revenge against fourth-seeded Tennessee, overcoming an early 10-0 hole in Nashville and holding Derrick Henry to only 40 yards on 18 carries.
In the NFC, the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds were also bounced. Led by their defense and a big day from rookie running back Cam Akers, the Los Angeles Rams knocked off Seattle 30-20. That was an upset, but Tampa Bay’s 31-23 win at Washington was not. However, Washington made a valiant upset bid as Taylor Heinicke put in a heroic performance.
Divisional round matchups are now set, and so are the betting lines. In the AFC, the top-seeded Chiefs start their repeat run against the Browns, while the Bills host the Ravens. In the NFC, No. 1 seeded Green Bay hosts the Rams, while the New Orleans Saints, who sawed off Chicago 21-9 Sunday, face the Bucs.
All odds in this article are via Bovada as of Monday, January 11 (3:15 pm ET).
(No. 6) Los Angeles Rams at (No. 1) Green Bay Packers (4:35 pm ET Saturday, FOX)
- Spread: Rams +7 (-110) | Packers -7 (-110)
- Moneyline: Rams +280 | Packers -360
- Total: OVER 46 (-105), UNDER 46 (-115)
- Super Bowl Odds: Rams +2000 | Packers +400
The Rams were stellar in Seattle, sacking Russell Wilson five times in one of his worst postseason performances. Can they do the same to Aaron Rodgers? The Rams will have the services of their own star quarterback, as Jared Goff returned from recent thumb surgery in a relief effort. Goff came in after John Wolford suffered a scary hit in the first quarter and was 9 of 19 for 155 yards and a touchdown.
The Packers, who won their last six regular-season games, were 7-1 at home in the regular season, losing only to Minnesota in Week 8. This will only be Rodgers’ seventh home playoff start, who is 4-2 at home and 10-8 overall in the postseason. He is 4-3 in the divisional round, but only three of those games were at Lambeau Field. With a win, the Packers would host the NFC title game for the first time in the Rodgers era.
(No. 5) Baltimore Ravens at (No. 2) Buffalo Bills (8:15 pm ET Saturday, NBC)
- Spread: Ravens +2.5 (-115) | Bills -2.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Ravens +110 | Bills -130
- Total: OVER 50.0 (-110) | UNDER 50.0 (-110)
- Super Bowl Odds: Ravens +750 | Bills +550
The Bills got their first playoff win since 1995, holding off the Colts’ late rally to move on behind 324 yards and two touchdowns from Josh Allen. Can they move on to the AFC Championship game for the first time since the 1993 season? They are hungry, but the Ravens are as well. This matchup features two of the hottest teams left. The Bills have not lost since Week 10, and the Ravens have not lost since Week 12.
Lamar Jackson continued his late-season form against the Titans, combining for 314 total yards (178 passing, 136 rushing) in his first playoff win. Baltimore held Tennessee to only 209 total yards thanks to their run defense, but that will factor less against the pass-happy Bills. Buffalo is 4-1 at home against teams who made the playoffs, with their lone loss coming against the Chiefs.
(No. 6) Cleveland Browns at (No. 1) Kansas City Chiefs (3:05 pm ET/2:05 pm CT Sunday, CBS)
- Spread: Browns +10 (-110) | Chiefs -10 (-110)
- Moneyline: Browns +350 | Chiefs -500
- Total: OVER 56.0 (-110) | UNDER 56.0 (-110)
- Super Bowl Odds: Browns +2800 | Chiefs +200
Now that the Browns have broken their playoff drought, can they reach the AFC title game for the first time since 1989? Their early demolition of the Steelers was nothing short of amazing, as they forced four turnovers on Pittsburgh’s first six drives. The odds are against them vs the Chiefs, who are aiming to be the first team to repeat since the New England Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
The AFC West having no other playoff teams means that the Chiefs had few games against top teams, but they were 4-0 against playoff teams. All four wins were on the road, against Baltimore, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, and New Orleans.
(No. 5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (No. 2) New Orleans (6:40 pm ET/5:40 pm CT Sunday, FOX)
- Spread: Buccaneers +3 (-105) | Saints -3 (-115)
- Moneyline: Buccaneers +140 | Saints -160
- Total: OVER 52.0 (-110) | UNDER 52.0 (-110)
- Super Bowl Odds: Buccaneers +700 | Saints +600
Going 3-0 against one team is never easy, but that is the task that faces the Saints on Sunday against Tom Brady and the Bucs. Brady threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns at Washington, his 17th 300+ yard performance in 42 career postseason games. The Bucs seem to be hot at the right time, as they have not lost since a Week 13 loss to the Chiefs.
The Saints had two convincing regular-season wins over the Bucs, a 34-23 Week 1 win in New Orleans and a 38-3 Week 9 rout in Tampa. Brady struggled in both games, throwing five interceptions and only two touchdown passes. He will head into this one on fire. In his last five games, Brady has thrown for 1,714 yards, with 14 touchdowns and only one pick.
While the Saints face a tough task, they will do it with one of the league’s top defenses. The Saints held the Bears to 239 yards, with 99 coming on the Bears’ final drive. They will also have history on their side. Drew Brees is only 9-7 in playoff starts with the Saints, but he is 7-2 at home.
