Aaron Rodgers glides into the end zone after eluding the Rams D for a touchdown.
Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Last week we bet big on the Pack and Aaron Rodgers going off on the Rams D, and oh boy did it ever pay off.
Divisional Round Vibe Check (3-1)
Aaron Rodgers soared high above his over/under for yards, while easily slicing and dicing up the Los Angeles defenders. Aaron Donald was just below his usual, healthy, game-wrecking self, and it definitely makes you think this one would've been closer had he been 100%. It also has to make you wonder what's wrong with the Seattle Seahawks. How have they managed to waste Russell Wilson this badly? At least, they have their eyes on a bright future for him. Yikes.
The Bills came through in a big way against the Baltimore Ravens, but not how anyone had predicted. Defense was the name of the game when anyone with an All-22 subscription was calling for a shootout of epic proportions. Sure, I lost on a couple special overs that had this game getting into the sixties, but Josh Allen still brought me to the promised land of profits.
<p>Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Bucs joined the list of teams who managed to avoid a three game sweep on the season. After the game ended, and more information came out as to how injured Michael Thomas was all year, and Drew Brees was already looking towards his media career, it became clear they were never going to pull this one out. Heck, it's clear that one QB has a little more left in the tank even when the game isn't on the line.</p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c3f5db13bfea0485c06ab36f2beacef0" id="cab5b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1351016608559456258"><div style="margin:1em 0">Pretty cool moment with Tom Brady and Drew Brees and his family here https://t.co/EATa56aZOu</div> — James Palmer (@James Palmer)<a href="https://twitter.com/JamesPalmerTV/statuses/1351016608559456258">1610942434.0</a></blockquote></div><p><strong>Packers -4 over Buccaneers </strong></p><p>Yes, I am a gluten for punishment. I've been betting against the Bucs all year to middling results, at best. I never believed or bought in on the hype around this team from the jump, and even as they've managed to match the noise around them, I've remained unmoved. Have they proven to be the second best team in the NFC? I guess. Do I think they would've made it this far had they played the Rams on Wild Card weekend? Nope. </p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_3WA60N">
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</div><p>Consider this, Taylor Heinicke in his second career start with a busted up Washington offense managed to hang in against the Bucs pass D. Now imagine it's Aaron Rodgers. The Packers have been rolling all season, behind an offensive renaissance, and I don't imagine them becoming less potent in the championship game. Yes, the Bucs handed Green Bay <a href="https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2021/01/23/green-bay-packers-offense-getting-second-chance-vs-bucs-x-factor/6680978002/b'/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.packersnews.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2Fpackers%2F2021%2F01%2F23%2Fgreen-bay-packers-offense-getting-second-chance-vs-bucs-x-factor%2F6680978002%2F%27" target="_blank">a beat down in their previous meeting</a>. The only really impressive win on their schedule, as a matter of fact, but that game was in Tampa, the Packers weren't at 100%, and Aaron Rodgers didn't smell the Super Bowl just around the corner. This one might be high scoring, but I don't see it being particularly close.</p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_F2U468">
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</div><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0f24ffc23157b6dc1e735616706db4a8" id="b94c2"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1351999269683781640"><div style="margin:1em 0">Aaron Rodgers is feeling good ahead of his battle with the Bucs 🤣 @brgridiron
(via @WISN_Watson)
https://t.co/kTA2GQbWc1</div> — Bleacher Report (@Bleacher Report)<a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/statuses/1351999269683781640">1611176719.0</a></blockquote></div><p><strong></strong><strong>Packers vs. Buccaneers Over 59.5 (Alternate Total)</strong></p><p>Betting the over worked so well last week that I'm doubling down in a big way. I'm taking an extra seven points here at +230 because the Pack and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-tampa-bay-buccaneers-jacksonville-jaguars-football-green-bay-packers-4fa577ae25a168332cce407ae0b38c54" target="_blank">Bucs</a> have been firing on all cylinders as of late. They're averaging 35.7 and 35 over their last three games, respectively. While their defenses have flashed at times, they represent big weaknesses for the NFC's two strongest teams. They can bring pressure and have above average front sevens, but Rodgers and Brady should be able to go back and forth picking apart these secondaries, especially with their array of weapons. The odds are too good to pass up for that number.</p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_BCCLWF">
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</div><p><strong></strong><strong>Josh Allen Over 2.5 Touchdowns</strong><br/></p><p>The story of this weekend is shaping up to be offense, and how. If the Bills hope to stand any chance against Mahomes and the Chiefs, they'll have to be scoring regularly. Most likely, Allen will end up giving one of these away by scrambling it in for a score instead of passing, but without much else of a run game to speak for, I believe he gets to three passing. The Chiefs have been giving up 1.8 passing TDs a game, and even if they manage to get pressure on him up the middle, Allen excels on broken plays outside of the pocket. Gotta like Stefon Diggs to get, at least, one of those looks.</p><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="52bbed98e07a448487faaf5e516631f4" id="91013"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1350671561645240326"><div style="margin:1em 0">Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs officially have the NFL's best bromance https://t.co/9QZXCwLDzp</div> — Pick Six Podcast (@Pick Six Podcast)<a href="https://twitter.com/picksixpod/statuses/1350671561645240326">1610860169.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><p><strong>Bills over Packers in Super Bowl</strong><br/></p><p>This is a fun prop with some decent odds at +600. Sports books have deemed this the third most likely outcome two weeks from now and I have to agree. How do you talk yourself into this final? Well, the Packers should run through the Bucs, as I detailed above. That leaves it to the Bills topple the defending champs and slay the giant. It might not be that hard for them to survive in a barnburner against a <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nfl/news/patrick-mahomes-injury-update-concussion/gvlpzba2oruw1nbvizk9z3nkb" target="_blank">hobbled Mahomes</a>, which means we get a Green Bay and Buffalo matchup. If those two teams face off, I definitely prefer a Buffalo's D led by Sean McDermott, especially after they dismantled Lamar Jackson. Josh Allen comes into his own, outduels Rodgers to win a Super Bowl MVP, and Buffalo avenges four-losing efforts. </p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_DXJGET">
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Each Friday, FindBet will preview the week's DFS slate, highlighting players that are priced well on DFS sites, as well as some contrarian plays that can push your team to the top of the leader board.
Most NFL DFS games have you putting a team together with players from a certain slate of games. It could be just Sunday 1:00 PM games, or it could be every game that is slated for the week. Once the last game that has eligible players is over, the final payouts are made according to how many fantasy points each team scored. Each player is worth a certain dollar amount, and you have a cap of $60,000 to build your team with. You have to have 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 FLEX (RB, WR, or TE) and 1 DEF.
The general scoring rules include (6) points for each rushing and receiving touchdown, (4) points for each passing touchdown, (0.1) points for each rushing and receiving yard gained, (0.04) points for each passing yard, and also (0.5) points for each reception. There are other scoring opportunities for defenses. Let's take a look at players we like in the first round of the NFL playoffs this weekend.
<h2>Players to Target:</h2><p><strong>Josh Allen (QB) - $8500</strong><br/></p><p>Allen is coming into this game a completely different QB than he was in their Week 6 match up with Kansas City. I think he has the best match up of the 4 signal callers this weekend.</p><p><strong>Leonard Fournette (RB) - $7200</strong><br/></p><p>Ronald Jones II's status for Sunday is still up in the air so that could pave the way for Fournette to get a solid workload against a Green Bay defense that is near the bottom of the league in rush defense.</p><p><strong>Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) - $6200</strong></p><p>CEH looks to be on track to return this week (sorry about last week's recommendation!) If KC wants to replicate it's gameplan from Week 6 against the Bills, CEH will get plenty of carries.</p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_YAX54G">
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<!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="29734054b21297b18273390b33bc4124" id="88b7b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1352319760504119296"><div style="margin:1em 0">Video from Patrick Mahomes at #Chiefs practice today. Clyde Edwards-Helaire also at practice today. https://t.co/M2ijYZwUfX</div> — Harold R. Kuntz (@Harold R. Kuntz)<a href="https://twitter.com/HaroldRKuntz3/statuses/1352319760504119296">1611253130.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><p><strong>Cole Beasley (WR) - $5700 </strong><br/></p><p>I think this is the week we see a big game from Beasley. Indianapolis and Baltimore made it a point to shut him down the first two weeks of the playoffs. I don't think KC's defense has the ability to stop him.</p><p><strong>Allen Lazard (WR) - $5700</strong><br/></p><p>Lazard finally looks back to normal after his core muscle injury earlier in the year. The Packers will have to push the ball downfield against a stingy Tampa defense which should result into production for the Packers #2 WR.</p><p><strong>Davante Adams (WR) - $8900</strong><br/></p><p>Adams is basically match up proof. With the player pool the smallest it's been all year, throwing Adams in the lineup is a bit of an insurance to keep your team's scoring floor higher.</p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_LDSN1F">
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</div><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="eb424720aa53d2f6b3e88f9b87dde53b" id="c945c"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1350571920350130176"><div style="margin:1em 0">Davante Adams’ releases and route running >>>> https://t.co/sv1fnHpZ1V</div> — Field Yates (@Field Yates)<a href="https://twitter.com/FieldYates/statuses/1350571920350130176">1610836412.0</a></blockquote></div><p><strong>Robert Tonyan (TE) - $5700</strong><br/></p><p>I know we have a lot of Packers pass catchers this week, but Tonyan's scoring floor is really appealing at this price, so we are going to jump on it and hope for a big passing day.</p><p><strong>Stefon Diggs (WR) - $8300</strong><br/></p><p>Diggs leads all WRs in Targets, Catches and Yards in the post season. Just like he did in the regular season. KC's defense is the worst Buffalo will have faced to this point so Diggs is a solid play.</p><p><strong>Buffalo Bills (DEF) - $3700</strong><br/></p><p>Call me crazy, but a less than 100% Patrick Mahomes and a Bills defense playing its best football is a recipe for success.</p><p><script async="" src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
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</div><h2>FindBet Free Play for Championship Week:</h2><p><strong>Here's a team you can put right into any of your contests, just remember to buy us a beer when you win big!</strong></p><h2></h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
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Cleveland Browns defensive back Karl Joseph and teammates
Joe Sargent - Getty Images
Sunday's NFL Playoff action featured six teams who don't like each other at all.
All these games were played between teams who had played each other at least once during the regular season. If you thought those games in the regular season were intense, Sunday's playoff matchups upped the stakes even more.
The Chicago Bears even replicated a dubious feat from their regular season matchup, as one of their wide receiver Anthony Miller was ejected after throwing a punch at C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The New Orleans cornerback also got into the head of Chicago wide receiver Javon Wims in the November matchup, causing Wims to get ejected in that game after he threw a punch at Gardner-Johnson.
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<img alt="Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans" class="rm-shortcode" data-height="2738" data-rm-shortcode-id="c27b4aa34c94ef1045b89dac6df4c781" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQzNTU2Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2ODA2OTAzMH0.t1mw1jUx-RtCrIzKE67nasU8vfoC83SXgrT9vwDz_Wo/img.jpg?width=980" data-width="4176" id="ebf11" type="lazy-image"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Christopher Hanewinckel - USA TODAY Sports</small></p><p><strong>(5) <a href="https://www.baltimoreravens.com/" target="_blank">Baltimore</a> 20 - (4) <a href="https://www.tennesseetitans.com/" target="_blank">Tennessee</a> 13</strong><br/></p><h4>Game MVP: Lamar Jackson</h4><p>Early on in this game it looked like the Titans were going to run the Ravens out of the building in Nashville. Tennessee opened up a 10-0 lead in the first quarter after an A.J. Brown touchdown, followed by a Lamar Jackson interception that led to a Stephen Gostkowski field goal. There wouldn't be much more offense in the next three quarters from the Titans, as Baltimore put the clamps down on Derrick Henry, holding the 2,000 yard running back to just 40 yards on 18 carries in the game. </p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_L013RN">
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</div><p>After struggling to get any offense going in the first quarter, Baltimore started to find their rhythm in the second quarter. Not only did Lamar Jackson start to make some throws for the Ravens, but the dynamic quarterback added in some electric runs to keep the Tennessee defense on their heels. Baltimore was able to tie the game up on a 48-yard touchdown run from Jackson with just over two minutes left in the second quarter. The Ravens would take the lead for good early in the third quarter thanks to a four-yard J.K. Dobbins touchdown run.<br/></p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_JUA73W">
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</div><p>The most controversial play of the game came early in the fourth quarter when Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel opted to punt the football on 4th & 2 from the Baltimore 40-yard line instead of letting his team try to pickup the first down. The defense of the Titans was able to keep Baltimore out of the end zone on the ensuing drive, but Tennessee failed in their last shot to tie the game, as Ryan Tannehill was picked off by cornerback Marcus Peters.</p><p>Now Jackson and the Ravens hit the road again to take on the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night. With last year's disappointing playoff performance behind him, Jackson will look to upend Josh Allen, who was taken 25 picks before him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The lights will be shining on two of the bright, young quarterback stars in the NFL on Saturday night.</p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_L7QHJN">
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<img alt="New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees reacts after throwing a touchdown" class="rm-shortcode" data-height="441" data-rm-shortcode-id="c6918303555bbdee391fbac0556419a5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQzNTU2MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NzQ2MDY0OX0.o9zUuMF6CLuWs27mXYua1e9YjEiYPdoWj4-fp2DvjEM/img.jpg?width=980" data-width="660" id="8eda9" type="lazy-image"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Brett Duke - Associated Press</small></p><p><strong>(2) <a href="https://www.neworleanssaints.com/" target="_blank">New Orleans</a> 21 - (7) <a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/" target="_blank">Chicago</a> 9</strong><br/></p><h4>Game MVP: Drew Brees</h4><p>The only really interesting thing about this game was the Nickelodeon broadcast. Not only did the kids' channel add some SpongeBob SquarePants to the broadcast, but there was also a "slime zone" that was activated when touchdowns were scored. Unfortunately, only four touchdowns were scored in the game, so the fun animation wasn't used all that much.</p><p>New Orleans benefitted from the return of Michael Thomas after the wide receiver missed the previous three games due to injury, and the Saints had a full compliment of running backs after the unit was forced to miss the final game of the regular season due to COVID-19 protocols. Drew Brees wasted little time finding Thomas, with the pair hooking up on New Orleans' first drive of the game for an 11-yard touchdown. Latavius Murray and Alvin Kamara each added touchdowns in the second half to give the Saints a lead that put the game out of reach.</p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_QBD46P">
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</div><p>Chicago was listless all game, with Mitchell Trubisky not striking any fear in the New Orleans defense. Prior to the final drive of the game where he passed for 92 yards and a touchdown, Trubisky had only thrown for 107 yards in the game. The Bears couldn't run the ball with David Montgomery, which put even more pressure on Trubisky. Since Chicago couldn't drives together on offense, the defense of the Bears, which was missing leading tackler Roquan Smith, eventually wore down in the second half.</p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_N7GIOF">
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</div><p>Next up for the Saints is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who New Orleans has already beaten twice this year. While the Saints do have two wins under their belt against Tampa Bay, it is extremely tough to be the same team three times in a season. This could be the last time we see Drew Brees and Tom Brady go head-to-head on the football field, so expect both quarterbacks to leave it all out there on Sunday night.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img alt="Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrates" class="rm-shortcode" data-height="675" data-rm-shortcode-id="b1c20931745c10bdd84c5dcc537a64fd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQzNTU1Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MTAzNjkwNH0.CMOueJmCsaXq7tBS3pvZ3v2qEe-Wa5w6uvF6SaNVNnY/img.jpg?width=980" data-width="1200" id="9304e" type="lazy-image"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports</small></p><p><strong>(6) <a href="https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/" target="_blank">Cleveland</a> 48 - (3) <a href="https://www.steelers.com/" target="_blank">Pittsburgh</a> 37</strong><br/></p><h4>Game MVP: Baker Mayfield</h4><p>While it probably seems pretty lazy to pick the three quarterbacks who won on Sunday as Game MVPs, if any of the three quarterbacks truly deserved the honor, it is Baker Mayfield. Not only was Mayfield making his playoff start for a franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs in 18 years, the Cleveland quarterback was also doing so while his play-calling head coach was back at home in Cleveland after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The odds looked to be stacked against Cleveland, as they had just barely gotten by Pittsburgh's backups the week before to earn a playoff spot.</p><p>Cleveland's return to the playoffs got off to a dream start, as on the first play after an errant snap from Maurkice Pouncey sailed over Ben Roethlisberger's head, which allowed Karl Joseph to recover the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. The Browns poured on the points the rest of the third quarter, setting an NFL Playoff record by scoring 28 points in the first quarter. After Mayfield connected with Jarvis Landry for a 40-yard touchdown, Kareem Hunt scored two touchdowns in a three minute span.</p><p>Pittsburgh did make Cleveland fans sweat a little bit, cutting the deficit to 35-23 late in the third quarter. While many were wondering if this was going to be a patented Cleveland collapse, the Browns ease the nerves of their fans early in the fourth quarter when Mayfield tossed his third touchdown of the game, finding running back Nick Chubb to push the score to 42-23. Roethlisberger padded his own stats with a couple late touchdowns, finishing the game with 501 yards passing and four touchdowns to go along with four interceptions.</p><h3></h3><h3></h3><p>Cleveland will have an even tougher task in front of them this week when they meet the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The good news is the Browns will have head coach Kevin Stefanski back, and they could see the return of key players Denzel Ward and Joel Bitonio. While the Browns will be a heavy underdog against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Mayfield and company certainly won't backdown from the challenge of beating the AFC's top team.</p>
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Aaron Rodgers has his sights set on another Super Bowl appearance
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs has passed, and we're now down to the remaining four teams that are vying for a Super Bowl championship this season.
HOW ‘BOUT THOSE CHIEEEEFS?!?!? https://t.co/rWt2MIdoP2— Kansas City Chiefs (@Kansas City Chiefs)1610995798.0
<p>The reigning Super Bowl champion, Kansas City Chiefs, squeaked by with a win over the Cleveland Browns 22-17 even though starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes was knocked out for most of the second half with a concussion. The Chiefs backup QB, Chad Henne, was able to scramble for a first down late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for his squad. <br/></p><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph -->
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<!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --></p><p>Aaron Rodgers and the Packers took care of the Rams with relative ease 32-18, as Jared Goff seemed limited while still recovering from a broken thumb on his throwing hand. The league's top defense was unable to slow down the Packers dual threat offense as Rodgers threw for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns, and Aaron Jones ran for 99 yards and a touchdown.</p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_O33PMF">
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</div><p>The Bills were able to limit the Ravens rushing attack and ultimately Lamar Jackson's ability to keep the chains moving. The wind played a factor in this game, forcing both teams to miss out on big passing plays and causing missed field goals. The weather certainly forced this game to be a lower scoring affair than we expected, but the result would have been the same. Bills took this one in a defensive battle 17-3. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="85c1e600fd38c44a841545ab7d41d9ca" id="b9d9b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1350847398030024707"><div style="margin:1em 0">Bills fans started donating to Lamar Jackson’s favorite charity overnight after he left the AFC divisional game wit… https://t.co/Dd4wVt0a9N</div> — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)<a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/statuses/1350847398030024707">1610902091.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The Saints were not able to defeat Tom Brady's Buccaneers for the third time this season. Sweeping Tampa in their two regular season meetings, the Saints weren't able to get the passing game going in this one, which isn't something we're used to saying. Adding to their lackluster performance, the rumors of Drew Brees' imminent retirement makes this one even tougher to swallow if you're a fan of the Saints. New Orleans only lost 30-20, but they never really felt in the game. <br/></p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_SDD6JO">
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</div><h4>AFC Conference Championship Game<br/></h4><p><strong>Sunday 1/24/21 at 6:40 PM EST</strong></p><p><strong>(2) Buffalo Bills at (1) Kansas City Chiefs -3</strong></p><p>We are exactly where we should be at this point in the AFC, with the top two seeds in the conference fighting for the chance to head to the Super Bowl. This matchup is a tale of two very different organizations however. The Chiefs are the reigning, defending, undisputed Super Bowl champions with a super hero quarterback named Patrick Mahomes and an offense with more weapons than the Green Berets. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4e4bfc56b7d6c7bd7463eb355587ed0e" id="0707a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1351330281341521920"><div style="margin:1em 0">Everyone has that friend who always comes in way too hot... 😂
@Micah_Hyde | @Taronj11 https://t.co/N5D0ami2P7</div> — Buffalo Bills (@Buffalo Bills)<a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/statuses/1351330281341521920">1611017220.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Buffalo is a small market team with a grassroots fanbase that hadn't seen a playoff win since the Clinton administration. Their claim to fame is losing four consecutive Super Bowls during the Jim Kelly era, and most recently they have been a team that's always been just good enough to avoid a top draft pick but never good enough to reach the postseason.<br/></p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_TH9E1D">
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</div><p>Enter Josh Allen, Brandon Beane, and Sean McDermott. In a few short seasons the Bills have gone from lovable losers to upstart dynasty much in the same vein as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Allen, like Mahomes, put up numbers that should position him as an MVP front-runner. Allen, <em>unlike</em> Mahomes, had to disprove a lot of doubters that had built up over the beginning of his NFL career. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="97c1893747d3a99e65ed22cede2191ad" id="38e97"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1350666007958810625"><div style="margin:1em 0">Get you someone who looks at you the way Josh Allen looks at Stefon Diggs 😊 https://t.co/DzID71IYnD</div> — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)<a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/statuses/1350666007958810625">1610858845.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Mahomes came out with guns blazing from the start of his career and has never looked back. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that most think if Mahomes continues this level of play throughout his career, he may retire as the best to ever do it. But that's a long way from now, and right now Mahomes has a formidable opponent on his hands.<br/></p><div align="center" id="findbet_incontent_H3D0JF">
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</div><p>At this point, there's not telling what can happen. But the prospect of what can happen has us awaiting anxiously for Sunday night. As long as Patrick Mahomes is cleared to play after sustaining a concussion in the Divisional Round game against Cleveland, the Chiefs will feel confident going in to this one. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ffca1a71bc238e322c4a78ba9f00cc5c" id="9a14a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1351258055678316551"><div style="margin:1em 0">Josh Allen. Patrick Mahomes. A matchup we have all been waiting for… 👀
“If he flips the table and takes out the Ch… https://t.co/UOKDzBDOUh</div> — NFL Network (@NFL Network)<a href="https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/statuses/1351258055678316551">1611000000.0</a></blockquote></div><p>For Buffalo this is new and unexplored territory. We saw Josh Allen against the Texans last season fall on his face in his first playoff experience. Sure he's been great all year, and they just knocked off Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, but will the pressure of being one step away from the Super Bowl be too much for this untested group?<br/></p><p><strong>Prediction: Buffalo Bills 38 - Kansas City Chiefs 31</strong><br/></p><p><script async="" src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
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</div><h4>NFC Conference Championship Game</h4><p><strong>Sunday 1/24/2021 at 3:05 PM EST</strong></p><p><strong>(5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (1) Green Bay Packers -3.5</strong></p><p>Over the course of two decades, we have seen a lot of great quarterbacks, but possibly no two better than a couple of guys that wear number 12. Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers often feel forgotten about for large portions of their careers because other storylines pulled our attention away from the consistent elite-level of play we have gotten from both of them on an annual basis. </p><p>Like anything in our lives that seems so basic and intrinsic to the fabric of life, we take players like Brady and Rodgers for granted because we just expect them to be able to continue throwing 40 touchdowns per season into their 40s (Tom Brady passed for 40 touchdowns in the regular season at the age of 43).</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8d377c24d5742c696fb05dab6a340398" id="923b0"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1351189897114169354"><div style="margin:1em 0">Tom Brady now has more playoff wins than all but five franchises 🤯 https://t.co/4xCxNpOmIM</div> — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)<a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/statuses/1351189897114169354">1610983750.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The degree of difficulty to maintaining a level of excellence while teammates change, coaches change, systems change, and defenses constantly game plan to shut you down is unbelievably high. No two quarterbacks (in this writer's opinion) have ever done more with less in regard to weapons at their disposal. </p><p>If you look at that statement in a vacuum, then it doesn't make sense as both QBs are playing with possibly their most talented respective groups ever this season. But over the course of their careers, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have elevated their teams year after year and made a lot of players, coaches, and front offices look better than they really were (Bill Belichick NOT included). </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c1b9764744e39f4339f06ba6f32607db" id="8dd32"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1351255389275361280"><div style="margin:1em 0">The best player in the NFL right now.... @AaronRodgers12. https://t.co/FiyDd8N5tk</div> — Stephen A Smith (@Stephen A Smith)<a href="https://twitter.com/stephenasmith/statuses/1351255389275361280">1610999364.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The Buccaneers struggled with consistency during the regular season. While clearly one of the best teams in the NFC even while enduring some bad play, the Bucs took some bad L's including a 38-3 loss to the Saints in early November. When at their best however Tampa is an offense that can run the ball and play defense, allowing Tom Brady to make plays when necessary and manage the game when required.<br/></p><p>The Packers will need to focus on stopping the Buccaneer's running attack. Leonard Fournette has had over 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in both of Tampa's playoff games so far, and Ronald Jones (who is recovering from injury) chipped in 62 yards on the ground against the Saints last week. Considering how difficult it is to limit the Buccaneers' passing options, Matt LaFleur's best chance to slowing down this offensive attack is to take away the run. </p><p><strong>Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27 - Green Bay Packers 24</strong><br/></p><p><br/></p><h3></h3>
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