Jordan Love and the Packers astound the 49ers in the 2024 NFL divisional round, while Josh Allen went nuclear on the Chiefs.
Eight teams remain in the NFL postseason, and while the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills were all expected to be there, there are also some surprises.
The bracket comprises teams that have defied expectations, including the Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Detroit Lions, in addition to the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers, the youngest club in the NFL this season.
In light of the unexpected developments that transpired during the wild card round, the following are five audacious forecasts regarding the four games that span Saturday and Sunday.
In his NFL playoff debut, Green Bay Packers center Jordan Loving was nearly flawless, guiding the pack to a 48-32 rout over the Dallas Cowboys.
In the NFC Divisional round, against the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers, Love will have a considerably more formidable task at hand compared to his performance during Wild Card weekend in Dallas, where he threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns with a nearly flawless 157.3 passer rating.
Houston faces Baltimore following a 45-14 rout of AFC top seed Cleveland. Mark Andrews, a tight end, and Lamar Jackson, an odds-on NFL MVP candidate, both returned from injured reserve.
Should the Texans manage to pull off this comeback, Stroud’s rookie fantasy will be more than fulfilled.
Now that Love has guided the Packers to a 48-32 victory over Dallas, the team will resume its NFC blue-blood rivalry via San Francisco.
Aaron Rodgers has started all four contests, leading the Packers to victory in four consecutive playoff meetings against the 49ers.
Consider the profound impact that a triumph in this matter would have on the cause of love.
Likewise, the Sunday matchups will be spectacular. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is attempting to lead the team to its first NFC championship series since 1991–92 against Tampa Bay, and Patrick Mahomes II and Josh Allen will renew their quarterback rivalry between the Chiefs and Bills. In any weather condition, it arrives.
Stroud and Love established nearly identical passing percentages (157.2) in their inaugural postseason appearances, which propelled Houston as well as Green Bay to the NFL division playoff round with decisive victories. The real fun starts at this moment.
Renewed is the most frequent playoff matchup. The 49ers will present the Packers’ defense, which conceded 510 yards in a loss to the Cowboys (albeit predominantly when Dallas was in a significant deficit), a multidimensional challenge. The Packers must compel Brock Purdy to commit uncharacteristic turnovers.
Kyle Shanahan will patiently face a formidable running attack led by Christian McCaffrey. This will create space for George Kittle and the perimeter in the middle of the field.
San Francisco will play from the lead, increasing Jordan Love’s pressure to maintain pace. Aaron Jones must perform well for Green Bay, as the 49ers are 10-1 when allowing 100 yards on the ground or less.
Although Love has performed admirably thus far, San Francisco’s edge rushers will increase the pressure on third-and-long, particularly if the Giants take the early lead. We will remain in San Francisco. When favored by 10 points or more, the 49ers record 6-0 S/U and 4-2 ATS.
Mahomes will commence his first postseason road start. In Week 14, Buffalo defeated Kansas City 20-17.
Although the spotlight is currently on Mahomes and Allen, this could develop into a defensive struggle due to the close nature of the game.
In that opening contest, both teams were unable to mount a formidable running attack, with the Bills holding the advantage in time of possession.
Minimizing Mahomes’s time on the field is preferable. This season, the Bills were 7-1 S/U or 7-1 ATS as a home favorite.
Kansas City has a 6-2 S/U record and a 7-0-1 ATS record as a road underdog since Mahomes assumed the starting role in 2018.
Buffalo ought to be able to capitalize on the home crowd’s support in inclement weather if Allen remains free from game-changing interceptions.
Allen has performed admirably against the Chiefs in his last two playoff losses. By forcing a late turnover, the Bills’ defense this time dashes Kansas City’s hopes of a recurrence.