Saturday open thread: NFL Divisional Round playoff picks, predictions

Not to bring down the mood right at the top of an article, but there are only seven games remaining in this NFL season. Over half of those will take place this weekend, as the 2020 NFL Divisional Round kicks off Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately for Detroit Lions fans, two of the remaining eight teams in the playoffs come from the all-too-familiar NFC North—as the Packers and the Vikings could be headed for a potential NFC Championship between the two.

In the AFC, we have a bunch of new faces. There are no Steelers or Patriots teams to worry about this year, but rather the Texans and Titans.

If these set of games are anything like last week’s Wild Card games, we’re in for some highly-entertaining football this weekend. So today’s Question of the Day is:

What are your predictions for all four NFL Divisional Round playoff games?

My answer:

Vikings vs. 49ers

I think a lot of people—myself included—underestimated the Vikings and just how good that defense can be. They woke up a lot of people after beating the Saints last week, but their overall play is just a little too inconsistent for me. In a lot of ways, I view the 49ers as the better version of them. Their offense is a little better and their defense is just as good, if not better. 49ers 20, Vikings 13.

Titans vs. Ravens

I’ll be honest, I haven’t watched a ton of AFC football this year, but the one thing I’m sure of is that the Baltimore Ravens are the real deal. The Titans make a good story, but there’s a reason they are 10-point dogs. Ravens 27, Titans 10.

Texans vs. Chiefs

Even though they ended up winning the game, I didn’t come away all that impressed with the Texans in the opening round of the playoffs. I hate this cliche, but it really felt like the Bills lost that game more than the Texans won it. Still, the Chiefs are beatable, I just don’t think it happens on their turf. Chiefs 27, Texans 17.

Seahawks at Packers

As much as I hate to admit it, the Packers are the real deal. I know it may not seem like it since the Lions nearly beat them twice, but Detroit actually presented a tough matchup against the Packers, because they could defend the run and actually run the ball fairly well against them.

The Seahawks can’t do that, however, as they’ve struggled to run the ball recently and have one of the worst run defenses in the league. I’d never completely count out Russell Wilson, though, so this should be the tightest game of the weekend. Packers 24, Seahawks 21.