Previewing the NFL Divisional Round

The GIST: The four-game slate kicks off with the AFC No. 1 seed Broncos welcoming in quarterback (QB) Josh Allen and the Bills. The last time Denver played host in the postseason? The 2015 season, when a little someone named Peyton Manning was under center…but plenty has changed since then.

🐴 Are the Broncos ready for revenge?: QB Bo Nix’s playoff debut last season was an outing to forget as the Broncos fell 31–7 to these very same Bills. This year feels different thanks to Nix’s growth in the pocket and their first-round bye. Plus, Denver boasts one of the best offensive lines in football, a concern for a Bills defense who struggled against the run all season.

• Unlike Buffalo, the Broncos’ bread and butter is their D: They’re one of the most feared units in the NFL, led by All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II. The “Orange Rush” tallied 68 total sacks in the regular season, 11 more than any other team in the league.

🦬 How far can Allen carry the Bills?: Buffalo snapped their streak of eight road playoff games without a win, the longest road playoff losing streak in the NFL, with a nailbiting 27–24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend. And that W came courtesy of the modern-day marvel that was Allen’s 10-yard tush push.

• It’s no secret Allen is that guy for the Bills, and while running back (RB) James Cook (who led all RBs with 1,621 yards during the regular season) offers a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield, Buffalo will go as far as this dad-to-be can take ’em.

📍 The bottom line: This game will likely come down to Denver’s stifling defense vs. Allen. If the Broncos limit the reigning MVP’s production — on the ground and in the air — they should be able to put up enough points on the Bills’ defense to snag the win. Easier said than done.

The GIST: A divisional showdown will grace screens next as the NFC West’s 49ers and Seahawks battle for the third and final time this season. And now, the stakes are even higher than their Week 18 matchup that decided the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

💚 Which QB Sam Darnold will show up for the Seahawks?: A fair question since Darnold spent the first half of the season in MVP talks and the second half seeing ghosts leading the league in turnovers. But we can’t forget about the weapons he has at his disposal, namely All-Pro wide receiver (WR) Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

• Whether it’s Jekyll or Hyde tossing the pigskin, one thing’s for sure: The Seahawks defense will cause a ruckus. Seattle held SF to just three points in their Week 18 win. Locking it down.

❤️ Who’s still playing for the injured 49ers?: The Niners’ superstars have been dropping like flies, from linebacker Fred Warner’s ankle (though a miraculous recovery could be in the cards) to tight end George Kittle’s Achilles tear in their Wild Card win. But this team is as resilient as they come, led by RB Christian McCaffrey (CMC) and QB Brock Purdy.

• Speaking of the inimitable CMC, the four-time All-Pro is a postseason game changer, averaging nearly 120 all-purpose yards (rushing and receiving) over his playoff career. SF will need a vintage performance from their star to take down the NFC top dog.

📍 The bottom line: Creativity could be key. The Seahawks are the healthier team, but Niners HC Kyle Shanahan is known for his innovative playcalling. That extra flair could keep the undermanned Niners in the mix.

The GIST: Some say the AFC juggernaut Patriots have returned, but others aren’t quite sure just yet. Wherever you fall in the debate, the third matchup of the weekend should provide a little more clarity as New England hosts the stingiest defense in the game: the Texans.

🔵 Are the Patriots really back?: The Pats had one of the easiest schedules in recent memory, but that shouldn’t detract from their success. QB Drake Maye is an MVP candidate in just his second season in the league, and it’s because he throws dimes: He’s the most accurate passer in the NFL and loves tossing the deep ball.

• New England outperformed expectations despite their youth: Patriot rookies took the second-most snaps in the NFL during the regular season, led by breakout RB TreVeyon Henderson and offensive lineman Will Campbell.

🔴 Can the Texans defense get the job done?: The short answer is yes. Houston’s defense is just that good: They’re the second team in NFL playoff history to score multiple defensive touchdowns (TDs) without allowing one themselves, a feat they accomplished in Monday’s 30–6 Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. QBs hate to see this defensive unit coming.

• The offense has been an entirely different story though. They’ve been inconsistent at best, and star WR Nico Collins is in concussion protocol. Plus, QB C.J. Stroud has historically struggled in Divisional Round games, throwing zero TDs in two losses.

📍 The bottom line: The Patriots boast the better overall team, but the Texans have a far superior defense. Just like New England’s 16–3 Wild Card win over the LA Chargers, settle in for a low-scoring defensive battle.

The GIST: If ticket prices are any indication, the Divisional Round finale between the Bears and Rams might be the best game on the docket. No one would spend an average of $975 on a dud, after all.

🐻 Will the Bears’ late-game magic run out?: All signs point to no because these comeback kids have been doing it all season. Their most recent masterpiece was a 25-point, fourth-quarter comeback in their 31–27 Wild Card stunner over the Green Bay Packers, making them just the fourth team in league history to win a playoff game after trailing by at least 15 points in the final frame.

• QB Caleb Williams has seven game-winning drives this season, but da Bears will need a stronger start against this star-studded Rams squad. One way to do that? Capitalize on their defense, who forced a league-high 33 turnovers in the regular season.

🐏 Can the Rams handle the cold?: Temperatures at Chicago’s Soldier Field are expected to dip to 14°F (-10°C) tomorrow with gusty winds adding to the frigid environment, a far cry from sunny LA. The Rams haven’t played a postseason game with freezing temperatures at kickoff since 1983, and they’re just 2-2 in cold regular-season games under HC Sean McVay.

• But don’t let the chill distract you from the Rams’ absolutely loaded roster, from All-Pro WR Puka Nacua to their rock-solid offensive line — oh, and MVP candidate QB Matthew Stafford, who has the second-most game-winning drives in the playoffs since 2021.

📍 The bottom line: The Rams have the most complete roster in football but barely survived a thriller over the eight-win Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card Round. And if this season’s taught us anything, it’s to never count the Bears out. This is going to be good.