First predictions, initial lines and quick analysis of all NFL playoff games in 2021.
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Initial predictions of the NFL divisional round
– Baltimore in Buffalo
– Cleveland in Kansas City
– Tampa Bay in New Orleans
Well, that was fantastic.
The big expanded weekend of the NFL Wild Card was excellent from start to finish. Even when there was a bit of failure – (coughing) Chicago New Orleans (coughing) – it was still relatively fun in excess of all the games that matter.
And now we are even more fun.
Two games on Saturday, two games on Sunday, and they will be loaded.
Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen make the headline on Saturday night, when Baltimore goes to Buffalo, and we have the third round of Brady vs. Brees when Tampa Bay goes to New Orleans to finish Sunday night.
Oh yes, and the Rams going to Green Bay on Saturday and Cleveland taking their show to Kansas City on Sunday is also not bad.
So what will happen?
When we do this for the college side, we start with the first choices and then work from there. As they say in the third grade, always go with your first answer. I don’t look at the lines, I guess what they are and add them at the end.
By the way … it was 6-0 straight and 5-1 against the spread when doing this for the Wild Card round.
However, when our game previews are published – after the news of the week happens and there is yet another deep dive going on – that can and can change, but …
2021 NFL Playoff Divisional Round: Saturday
6 Los Angeles Rams in 1 Green Bay Packers
Saturday, January 16
FOX, 4:35 ET
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Instant Knee-Jerk Analysis: The Rams were able to beat a Seattle team that – for some bizarre reason – thought the answer to not being able to hit a third move was to keep playing deep. Green Bay will be clearer all the way around.
That LA D – No. 1 in the NFL – is obviously incredible, but Aaron Donald is hurt, and however good the performance against the Seahawks was, it won’t be enough to overcome Jared Goff still injured.
Green Bay doesn’t turn the ball enough to make a difference here, but there is a bigger problem … Green Bay.
It’s still almost a week away, but it should be around 20 degrees at the time of the game.
Knee-Jerk without research forecast: Green Bay 26, Los Angeles 16
Starting line estimate without appearance: Green Bay -7.5
Real BetMGM Line: Green Bay -7, o / u: 46
Initial predictions of the NFL divisional round
– Baltimore in Buffalo
– Cleveland in Kansas City
– Tampa Bay in New Orleans