-
ESPN workers
The NFL playoffs’ divisional-round schedule for the 2022 season is stacked with nice matchups, and we’ve you coated with what it’s essential to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters convey us the most important keys to each sport and a daring prediction for every matchup.
Moreover, ESPN Stats & Info supplies a giant stat to know and a betting nugget for every contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes contained in the numbers with a sport projection. Matt Bowen picks out a key game-planning matchup to observe in each sport, and Kevin Seifert tells us what to know concerning the officiating. Lastly, Seth Walder and Eric Moody give us closing rating picks for each sport. All the pieces you wish to know is right here in a single spot that will help you prepare for a loaded weekend of NFL playoff football.
Let’s get into the complete divisional slate, together with Trevor Lawrence vs. Patrick Mahomes in Kansas Metropolis, an NFC East battle in Philadelphia, two high-octane offenses going through off in Buffalo and a pair of elite pass-rushers getting after the QB in San Francisco.
Word: New for this season’s playoffs, every staff shall be guaranteed a possession if a sport goes to additional time.
Bounce to a matchup:
JAX-KC | NYG-PHI
CIN-BUF | DAL-SF
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | NBC | Spread: KC -8.5 (52.5)
What to observe for: The Chiefs had practically 500 yards towards the Jaguars when the teams met in November, and that is with Kansas Metropolis committing three turnovers and shedding a possession when the Jaguars recovered an onside kick. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes stated he was anticipating a a lot totally different model of the Jaguars this time round, and there is good purpose for that. Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell was on the workers of the Bucs in 2020 when Tampa Bay allowed greater than 500 yards to the Chiefs throughout a late-season sport after which shut down Kansas Metropolis a number of weeks later in Tremendous Bowl LV with a totally totally different sport plan. — Adam Teicher
Daring prediction: Mahomes and Trevor Lawrence will mix to throw 10 landing passes. Mahomes had 4 of their earlier assembly in Week 10 and has thrown 11 TD passes in his previous three playoff video games. Lawrence is coming off a four-interception, four-TD efficiency within the wild-card victory over the Chargers. It’d take 40 factors to win this sport. — Mike DiRocco
Stat to know: Producing strain was one of many keys to Jacksonville’s late-season surge. The Jaguars had a 38.6% strain price throughout their five-game win streak to finish the common season, which was second finest within the NFL over that span, they usually sacked Justin Herbert 3 times within the wild-card spherical. However the Chiefs led the NFL in cross block win price (74.7%), and Mahomes is No. 1 within the league in QBR (84.7) and completion proportion (77.2%) when he would not face strain.
Bowen’s game-plan key: The Jaguars must discover a strategy to isolate receiver Christian Kirk towards man protection, which the Chiefs threw at Lawrence 66.7% of the time in these groups’ regular-season assembly. Kirk has the agility to shake protection and get open on high-percentage throws. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: Referee Shawn Hochuli’s regular-season crew threw the second-most flags within the league (14.6 per sport). That included 10 flags for roughing the passer, tied for second most within the NFL. The Chiefs have been particularly delicate about roughing calls since a Week 5 name towards defensive sort out Chris Jones overturned a fumble restoration. — Seifert
Betting nugget: Jacksonville is 8-5 outright and towards the unfold as an underdog this season, tied for probably the most underdog wins in a single season within the Tremendous Bowl period. And coach Doug Pederson is 6-0 ATS and 5-1 outright as a playoff underdog. No different coach has as many playoff video games as an underdog with out an ATS loss within the Tremendous Bowl period. Read more.
Moody’s decide: Chiefs 37, Jaguars 27
Walder’s decide: Chiefs 34, Jaguars 27
FPI prediction: KC, 78.5% (by a median of 9.2 factors)
Matchup must-reads: Why Doug Pederson is the perfect coach for the Jaguars … How Andy Reid saved the Kansas City Chiefs … Pederson unsure Jags are ‘cockroaches,’ but they ‘keep fighting’
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: PHI -7.5 (48)
What to observe for: The Giants are available using the momentum of a 31-24 upset win over the Vikings within the wild-card spherical, whereas the Eagles try to get again to dominant type after going 1-2 to complete the common season. All eyes are on the appropriate shoulder of Jalen Hurts and the way it will reply to contact. He was not listed on the harm report this week however is just not believed to be 100% wholesome but. Good good friend A.J. Brown stated the vibe round Hurts is “he is able to go, able to do no matter it takes to get it carried out.” With the advantage of a pair weeks’ relaxation, anticipate extra designed runs for Hurts after the coaches stayed largely away from them within the regular-season finale. — Tim McManus
Daring prediction: The Giants will rating a particular groups return landing. It is solely proper on this season of surprises that they get one now. They have not had one but this season — or since 2015 for that matter. Now appears pretty much as good a time as any for no purpose apart from they’re due. — Jordan Raanan
Stat to know: Hurts (760) and Daniel Jones (708) mixed for 1,468 speeding yards within the common season, offering probably the most ever in a QB playoff matchup. It is also the primary playoff matchup by which each quarterbacks had 700-plus speeding yards within the common season. Jones bought the vast majority of his speeding yards by way of scrambles (402, third most), whereas Hurts relied on designed rushes (434, third most).
2:18
Why Stephen A. thinks the Giants are ‘taking place’ vs. the Eagles
Stephen A. Smith explains why the Giants will not beat Jalen Hurts and the Eagles on Saturday.
Bowen’s game-plan key: Searching for an X issue who may play a job within the Giants’ upset bid? Receiver Richie James has seen a minimum of six targets in every of his previous three video games, and New York ought to attempt to get him unfastened off the ball towards man protection and let him use his catch-and-run traits to make performs in massive spots. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: Referee Clete Blakeman’s regular-season crew tied for the fourth-most flags within the NFL at 14.4 per sport. Nevertheless it threw solely 30 flags for offensive holding, tied for the fifth fewest. That may very well be of word for the Eagles, who dedicated the NFL’s fourth-most holding fouls (30), as they attempt to decelerate the Giants’ lively defensive entrance. The Giants drew the NFL’s fourth-most offensive holding calls in the course of the common season (24). — Seifert
Betting nugget: New York is 17-5 towards the unfold and 14-8 outright as a playoff underdog within the Tremendous Bowl period. That is probably the most wins, the very best profitable proportion and the very best cowl proportion by any staff as a playoff underdog within the Tremendous Bowl period. Read more.
Moody’s decide: Eagles 33, Giants 31
Walder’s decide: Eagles 34, Giants 10
FPI prediction: PHI, 80.1% (by a median of 9.9 factors)
Matchup must-reads: Respect for Giants QB Jones is ‘going up’ around the NFL … How GM Howie Roseman built the best roster in the league … ‘We have an elite quarterback’: Giants laud Jones after victory … Sanders is having the breakout year he always knew he could … Hurts: ‘Got a bounty on me every week’
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: BUF -5.5 (49)
What to observe for: The Payments and Bengals will meet in Orchard Park, New York, after the regular-season assembly between the 2 groups in Cincinnati was initially postponed after which canceled as a consequence of Payments security Damar Hamlin struggling a cardiac arrest on the sector within the first quarter. Each groups come into this sport using lengthy win streaks (9 for the Bengals and eight for the Payments), making this the seventh-ever playoff assembly between groups on profitable streaks of a minimum of eight video games, and the primary earlier than the convention championship spherical. The Payments are 4-0 in house playoff video games below coach Sean McDermott, whereas the Bengals gained their two playoff street video games in 2021. — Alaina Getzenberg
Daring prediction: The Bengals will pressure three turnovers. They’ve pressured 11 turnovers within the postseason in 5 video games relationship to final 12 months’s wild-card win over the Raiders. With Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen turning over the ball at a excessive price, Cincinnati’s opportunistic protection shall be seeking to bait Allen into dangerous performs. Allen turned the ball over 3 times within the wild-card spherical after main the NFL in turnovers in the course of the common season (19). Per Elias Sports activities Bureau, solely two gamers have led the league in turnovers and nonetheless reached the convention championship spherical over the previous 45 seasons (Eli Manning in 2007, Jim Kelly in 1992). If Cincinnati can efficiently create some turnovers, the Bengals may have a great probability of returning to the AFC title sport. — Ben Child
Stat to know: Cincinnati receiver Ja’Marr Chase has 9 straight video games with a minimum of seven receptions, the fifth-longest streak because the 1970 merger (together with playoffs). And Buffalo receiver Stefon Diggs now has three 100-yard receiving video games within the playoffs with the Payments — the second most in Buffalo historical past behind Andre Reed’s 5 — after going for 114 yards within the staff’s wild-card win.
Bowen’s game-plan key: The Bengals ought to look to blitz slot cornerback Mike Hilton to generate some strain on Allen. Cincinnati blitzed defensive backs at a price of 10.7% this season, tenth most within the league, and Hilton is usually a disruptor in these spots. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: Referee Carl Cheffers’ regular-season crew tied for the fourth-most flags within the NFL at 14.4 per sport. The Bengals dedicated the NFL’s third-fewest penalties in the course of the common season (95) however had been flagged for seven in their win over the Ravens within the wild-card spherical. The Payments, who ranked No. 19 within the NFL in the course of the common season with 115 flags, bought out of the wild-card spherical with solely three penalties. — Seifert
Betting nugget: Cincinnati is 15-4 towards the unfold on the street because the begin of final season, together with 7-2 ATS this season, 7-1 ATS in its previous eight video games and 4-0 ATS in its previous 4 video games on the street. And the Payments are 3-7-1 ATS of their previous 11 video games. Read more.
Moody’s decide: Payments 27, Bengals 24
Walder’s decide: Payments 31, Bengals 20
FPI prediction: BUF, 65.2% (by a median of 4.5 factors)
Matchup must-reads: Bengals say LT Williams has dislocated kneecap … Miller brings Super Bowl trophy to motivate Bills … Bengals owner wants to keep Burrow for long haul … Untold tales on the making of Bills star Allen … Bengals, Burrow not buying underdog tag vs. Bills … Hamlin at Bills facility almost daily as he recovers
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: SF -4 (46.5)
What to observe for: Niners quarterback Brock Purdy has handed each take a look at positioned earlier than him thus far, however the Cowboys’ protection represents the most important problem Purdy and the 49ers’ offense have confronted thus far. The Cowboys led the NFL in strain proportion (39%) and completed second in sacks per dropback (8.6%) in the course of the season. Purdy has dealt with strain properly in a smaller pattern, with 4 landing passes and no interceptions when below duress since turning into the starter in Week 14. How he handles what Dallas throws at him will go a great distance in figuring out a winner on this traditional playoff rivalry. — Nick Wagoner
Daring prediction: Brett Maher will make a 47-yard discipline aim to win the sport towards the 49ers to ship the Cowboys to their first NFC Championship Sport because the 1995 season. After lacking 4 point-after makes an attempt within the wild-card win against the Buccaneers, all eyes shall be on Maher. And he’ll present the type of the kicker who set the Cowboys’ document for factors in a season and missed simply three discipline aim makes an attempt and three PATs in the course of the common season. Now that’s daring. — Todd Archer
Stat to know: Dallas’ Micah Parsons and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa know a factor or two about getting after the quarterback. Parsons led all defenders in the course of the common season with 74 pressures, whereas Bosa ranked third with 58. And Parsons led all edge defenders in cross rush win price this season (30.4%), whereas Bosa ranked ninth (21.5%). Bosa topped the NFL in sacks with 18.5, whereas Parsons was seventh (13.5).
1:30
Woody downplays additional relaxation for 49ers: ‘No one cares!’
Damien Woody and Bart Scott assume that the remaining disparity between the Cowboys and 49ers will not play a job of their divisional matchup.
Bowen’s game-plan key: Can Dallas get quarterback Dak Prescott to the sides? I actually like the thought of Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore scheming extra play-action and boot ideas. This season, together with last week’s wild-card game, San Francisco has allowed 8.1 yard per try on play-action throws and seven.9 yards per try on boot play-action. Each rank twenty second within the league. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: Referee Invoice Vinovich’s regular-season crew continued its lengthy streak of throwing the fewest flags within the NFL this season, averaging 10.9 per sport. That development has usually prolonged into the postseason as properly. It is going to be examined on this sport, although. The Cowboys dedicated the NFL’s sixth-most penalties this season (125), whereas the 49ers had been shut behind with 120 flags. Vinovich threw 4 flags for roughing the passer, and just one referee (John Hussey) threw fewer. — Seifert
Betting nugget: Dallas has misplaced seven straight playoff video games as an underdog (2-5 ATS). Its final playoff upset was within the 1992 convention championship sport towards San Francisco (+4). And whereas Dallas is 13-5 ATS on the street because the begin of final season, San Francisco is 8-1 ATS as a house favourite this season (8-2 ATS total at house) with six straight covers. Read more.
Moody’s decide: 49ers 34, Cowboys 27
Walder’s decide: 49ers 30, Cowboys 28
FPI prediction: DAL, 53.2% (by a median of 0.9 factors)
Matchup must-reads: Prescott rebounds with ‘statement game’ in Cowboys’ wild-card win … 49ers’ Purdy would join rare club with win over Cowboys … Jerry Jones draws comparison to ’90s dynasty after Cowboys end road playoff skid … How DeMeco Ryans of 49ers became prime NFL head-coach candidate … Cowboys sign kicker Vizcaino amid Maher’s woes