NFL Super Wild Card Weekend Recap and Divisional Round Game Picks

NEW YORK, NY. (Fish Sports) - With the first round of the 2020-21 NFL Playoffs complete, we recap each matchup, along with analyzing our picks we made last week for these games. 

The teams that had the home-field advantage this weekend went 2 and 6. With both the Bills and Saints winning at home. 

    - Starting in the AFC, 

In the first matchup of the weekend, we had the 7 seed Indianapolis Colts at the 2 seed Buffalo Bills. The Bills were victorious, winning 27 to 24. Buffalo picked up their first playoff win since 1995. Quarterback Josh Allen went 26 for 35 with 324 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. Allen also led his team in rushing with 11 carries and 54 yards, along with a rushing touchdown. It was Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs leading the receiving core with 6 receptions for 128 yards and 1 touchdown. 

Buffalo will stay at home next week to take on the Baltimore Ravens. 

Going into our next matchup, we had the 5 seed Baltimore Ravens at the 4 seed Tennessee Titans. Baltimore won 20 to 13. The Ravens are 6 and 0 in road Wild Card Games. Quarterback Lamar Jackson also won his first career playoff game. Jackson went 17 for 24 throwing, with 179 passing yards and an interception. Jackson also led his team in rushing with 16 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown. Wide Receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown led in receiving with 7 receptions for 109 yards. 

The Ravens will travel to Buffalo to play in the Divisional Round. 

Next, we have one of the best of the week, the 6 seed Cleveland Browns at the 3 seed Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns pulled off the upset, without their coach present (Covid-19). The final score was 48 to 37, Cleveland. Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went 47 for 68 on passing attempts with 501 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. The Browns won their first playoff game since 1994 with this win over Big Ben and the Steelers. Quarterback Baker Mayfield went 21 for 34 with 263 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Our key for the Browns last week was to play ahead and get out early, especially in the 1st Quarter. They were successful in that approach with 28 1st Quarter points. Running back Nick Chubb led the Browns in their rushing attack with 18 carries for 76 yards and a receiving touchdown. Running back Kareem Hunt scored two touchdowns on the ground. Leading the receiving core was Wide Receiver, Jarvis Landry who had 5 receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.

The Browns will face the Kansas City Chiefs next week at Arrowhead Stadium. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes last played each other in College (2016). Baker's Oklahoma Sooners won over Mahomes' Red Raiders 66-59 with Mayfield throwing 7 touchdowns.

    - Heading to the NFC,

Next up is the 7 seed Chicago Bears at the 2 seed New Orleans Saints, the Nickelodeon game. The Saints won the game 21-9. Tight End Jimmy Graham caught a last-second touchdown pass against his long time team. The Saints, in this game, allowed the fewest points in a playoff game in their team history. Quarterback Drew Brees went 28 for 39 with 265 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Alvin Kamara had 23 carries for 99 yards and 1 touchdown. Wide Receiver Deonte Harris led the receiving core of the Saints with 7 receptions for 83 yards.

New Orleans will stay at home in the Divisional Round to face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

*Nickelodeon Game*
Source: https://www.sbnation.com/2021/1/10/22223793/nickelodeon-playoff-game-bears-saints

The 5 seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers visited the 4 seed Washington Football Team, who had Quarterback Taylor Heinicke at the helm, making just his second NFL start. Heinicke finished with 306 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Tampa Bay was victorious with a final score of 31 to 23. Quarterback Tom Brady won his 31st career playoff game, the most by any Quarterback since 1950. Brady went 22 for 40 with 381 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Leonard Fournette led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 93 yards and 1 touchdown. A beat-up Mike Evans (WR) had 6 receptions for 119 yards.

The Bucs will head to New Orleans for the Divisional Round. Brady and Brees have played each other just six times in their careers.

In the last matchup of the week, we had the 6 seed Los Angeles Rams at the 3 seed Seattle Seahawks. The Rams best chance to win this matchup, as we stated last week, was for Quarterback Jared Goff to be active (thumb injury) and the Rams defense to play stellar. Goff came in after Quarterback John Wolford was injured and their defense, the top defense in the 2020-21 season allowed a total of 278 yards. The Rams won the game 30 to 20. This is Seattle's 3rd home playoff loss in team history, the 2nd versus the Rams. Quarterback Jared Goff went 9 for 19 with 155 passing yards and 1 touchdown after coming in relief, as well as fighting an injured thumb on his throwing hand. Running back Cam Akers led the team in rushing with 28 carries for 131 yards and 1 touchdown. Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp led the receiving core with 4 receptions for 78 yards.

The Rams will head to Lambeau Field to face Aaron Rodgers and the explosive Green Bay Packers.

Here are our Divisional Round Picks:

Playoff Picks: 

AFC 

5. Ravens at 2. Bills (Bills under 3) - Bills

6. Browns at 1. Chiefs (Chiefs under 10) - Chiefs 

NFC

6. Rams at 1. Packers (Packers under 7) - Packers 

5. Buccaneers at 2. Saints (Saints under 3) - Saints 

We look forward to seeing you next week where we'll recap the Divisional Round and highlight the upcoming Conference Championship matchups!