Gridiron Great Top 8 (Divisional Round)
WildCard Weekend is in the books and we’ve lost a top-five team already. Let’s rank the remaining eight teams as we close in on Championship Weekend!
Gridiron Great Top 8 (Divisional Round)
#8. Tampa Bay 10-8 (+950/+2800) - The Bucs looked locked in against the Eagles and ran them over. The question is, was that more of a product of the Bucs’ stellar play or the Eagles quitting on their coach? We may find that out this week when they travel to Detroit.
#7. Houston Texans 11-7 (+1100/+2800) - This team has no business being here but, here they are. Stroud has poise beyond his years and the Texans’ defense has been sneaky-good against the run, the Ravens’ strong suit.
#6. Green Bay Packers 10-8 (+950/+2500) - Before anyone dismisses the Packers after they dismantled the Cowboys, just know that Jordan Love has been an elite quarterback in the second half of the season. And Aaron Jones has spring in his step after missing a big chunk of the season.
#5. Detroit Lions 13-5 (+330/+900) - Detroit fans have wiped away the tears and now can focus on the business at hand. One more win and the Lions, yes the Lions, are in the NFC Championship!
#6. Kansas City Chiefs 13-5 (+320/+700) - The Chiefs took care of business in the cold against the Dolphins. Can they do the same on the road in the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes Era?
#3. Buffalo Bills 12-6 (+235/+500) - Is there any team you’d want to play less than this Bills team right now? They are banged up at linebacker which is a concern against the Chiefs this week. But the Bills also possess arguably the best safety pair in the NFL. Oh and Josh Allen is pretty good too.
#2. Baltimore Ravens 13-4 (+115/+290) - Baltimore may get TE Marc Andrews back before the playoffs are out. They are the clear favorites in the AFC to make the Super Bowl but, Lamar Jackson still has just one playoff win on his resume. The same number as his counterpart this week, CJ Stroud.
#1. SF 49ers 12-5 (+185/+175) - Weeks ago we all thought the 49ers’ road to the Super Bowl would be through games with either the Eagles or Cowboys. Now, neither team remains. The Niners get upstart Green Bay as a 10-point favorite this week and their road to the Super Bowl seems relatively clean.
Upset Alert for Divisional Round: The Dolphins couldn’t handle the cold or the Chiefs and that game was likely over after the Chiefs’ opening drive. Try, try again this week for an upset special.
#1. Houston (+9) at Baltimore: I’m not saying the Texans are winning this week but the Ravens better be on alert. Houston played this same team tough in week one before fading late and that was Stroud’s first NFL start. The team also didn’t have Singletary in that game and he’s averaged over 4.5 yards per carry down the stretch. If Houston can contain the run, which they have this season, this one could be a dicey one for the Ravens.
*Odds in parenthesis are to win the conference and then the Super Bowl. All odds courtesy of Draftkings.com
By Mark Ruelle