NFL Divisional Round Previews
Colts continue streak and head to face the Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is the future of the NFL is ready to defend his home field at any cost. Mahomes is a MVP candidate and when you look over his stats he should win it. The Chiefs’ defense is the worst in the playoffs and the Colts and Andrew Luck are good on both sides of the ball. This should be a great battle between these two young quarterbacks and will hopefully be a instant classic.
Game Time: 4:35 PM 1/12
TV: NBC
Location: Arrow Head Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Line: – 5.5 KC
ESPN FPI: 74.9% KC
Series History: These two teams have been playing since the Colts were still in Baltimore. The last time they played the Chiefs won 30 – 14 in Indianapolis.
Offense:
Chiefs – 1st overall
Passing – 3rd overall: 310 YPG
8.8 yards per play
Rushing – 16th overall : 115.9 YPG
4.3 yards per play
Colts – 7th overall
Passing – 6th overall : 279 YPG
7.1 yards per play
Rushing – 20th overall : 104.4 YPG
4.2 yards per play
Defense:
Chiefs – 31st overall
Pass yards against – 31st overall : 273 YPG
7.5 yards per play
Rush yards against – 27th overall : 132.1 YPG
5.0 yards per play
Colts – overall 11th
Pass yards against – overall 16th : 238 YPG
7.4 yards per play
Rush yards against – 8th overall : 101.6 YPG
3.9 yards per play
Leaders:
Texans
Passing: Patrick Mahomes – 5,097 Pass yards, 50 TDs, 12 INTs, 272 Rush yards, 2 Rush TDs, 82 QBR
Rushing: Patrick Mahomes – 5,097 Pass yards, 50 TDs, 12 INTs, 272 Rush yards, 2 Rush TDs, 82 QBR
Receiving: Tyreek Hill – 1,479 yards, 12 TDs, 489 YAC
Tackles: Anthony Hitchens – 135 TOT, 6.5 TFL, 1 FF
Sacks: Chris Jones – 15.5 sacks, 40 TOT, 21.5 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PD, 1 TD, 2 FF
Interceptions: Steven Nelson – 4 INTs, 15 PD, 2 TFL, 68 TOT
Colts
Passing: Andrew Luck – 4,593 yards, 39 TDs, 15 INT, 71.5 QBR
Rushing: Marlon Mack – 908 yards, 9 TDs, 1 FUM
Receiving: T.Y. Hilton – 1,270 yards, 6 TDs
Tackles: Darius Leonard – 163 TOT, 7 sacks, 4 FF, 2 int
Sacks: Denico Autry – 9 sacks, 37 TOT, 14 TFL, 2 FF
Interceptions: Kenny Moore II – 3 ints, 11 PD, 1 FF, 1.5 sack, 77 TOT
Cowboys travel to the west coast to face the red hot Rams
L.A. Rams are the cool team of the NFL and is in one of the most talked about cities in the world. Dallas is still the most popular NFL team though and when these two teams take the field during prime time in L.A. it will be glorious and it will be everything that we love about the NFL.
Game Time: 8:15 PM 1/12
TV: FOX
Location: LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Line: – 7 LAR
ESPN FPI: 78.7% LAR
Series History: Cowboys VS Rams is what a lot of people heard in the playoffs back in the day but these days it is rare. The series in the playoffs are 4-4 and last game was in 1984 when Eric Dickerson ran for an NFL record 248 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Offense:
Dallas – 22nd overall
Passing – 23rd overall: 221 YPG
7.4 yards per play
Rushing – 10th overall : 122.7 YPG
4.5 yards per play
L.A. Rams – 2nd overall
Passing – 5th overall : 282 YPG
8.3 yards per play
Rushing – 3rd overall : 139.4 YPG
4.9 yards per play
Defense:
Dallas – 7th overall
Pass yards against – 13th overall : 235 YPG
7.4 yards per play
Rush yards against – overall 5th : 94.6 YPG
3.8 yards per play
Seattle – 16th overall
Pass yards against – overall 17th : 240 YPG
7.5 yards per play
Rush yards against – 13th overall : 113.2 YPG
4.9 yards per play
Leaders:
Dallas
Passing: Dak Prescott – 3,885 passing yards, 305 rushing yards, 22 pass TDs, 8 INTS, 6 rush TDs, 58.6 QBR
Rushing: Ezekiel Elliot – 1,434 yards, 6 TDs, 6 FUM
Receiving: Amari Cooper – 725 yards(1,005 total including with Raiders), 6 TDs, 2 FUM, 309 YAC
Tackles: (R) Leighton Vander Esch – 140 TOT, 3 TFL, 7 PD, 2 INT
Sacks: DeMarcus Lawrence – 10.5 sacks, 21 TFL, 2 FF, 1 INT, 1 PD
Interceptions: (R) Leighton Vander Esch – 2 INTs, 140 TOT, 3 TFL, 7 PD
L.A. Rams
Passing: 4,688 yards, 32 TDs, 12 INTs, 65.4 QBR
Rushing: Todd Gurley II – 1,251 rush yards, 17 rush TDs, 580 rec yards, 4 rec TDs
Receiving: Robert Woods – 1,219 yards, 6 TDs, 417 YAC
Tackles: Cory Littleton – 125 TOT, 4 sacks, 9 TFL, 3 INTs, 13 PD, 1 TD
Sacks: Aaron Donald – 20.5 sacks, 59 TOT, 30 TFL, 4 FF, 1 PD
Interceptions: John Johnson III – 4 INTs, 119 TOT, 3.5 TFL, 11 PD, 1 FF
The “Old man game” is here between Brady and Rivers
Tom Brady is 41 years old and Phillip Rivers is 37 years old and these two guys are ready to go to battle before their AARP hits. Brady already has 4 Super bowl rings and Rivers is still chasing his first. This is the best team the Chargers have had since they had LaDainian Tomlinson.
Game Time: 1:05 PM 1/13
TV: CBS
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Line: – 4 NE
ESPN FPI: 65% NE
Series History: Even though both these teams are in the AFC they do not play against to each other much. The Patriots have won the last 4 straight meetings. Both QBs are veterans with Tom Brady being 41 and Philip Rivers 37. This should be good early 2000’s football fun.
Offense:
New England – 5thoverall
Passing – 8th overall: 266 YPG
7.7 yards per play
Rushing – 5th overall : 127.3 YPG
4.3 yards per play
L.A. Chargers – 11th overall
Passing – 10th overall : 256 YPG
8.4 yards per play
Rushing – 15th overall : 117.1 YPG
4.7 yards per play
Defense:
New England – 21st overall
Pass yards against – 22nd overall : 246 YPG
6.9 yards per play
Rush yards against – 11th overall : 112.7 YPG
4.9 yards per play
L.A. Chargers – 9th overall
Pass yards against – overall 9th : 228 YPG
7.1 yards per play
Rush yards against – 9th overall : 101.6 YPG
4.3 yards per play
Leaders:
New England
Passing: Tom Brady – 4,355 yards, 29 TDs, 11 INTs, 68.8 QBR
Rushing: Sony Michel – 931 yards, 6 TDs, 1 FUM
Receiving: Julian Edelman – 850 yards, 6 TDs, 334 YAC
Tackles: Kyle Van Noy – 92 TOT, 3.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PD, 1 FF, 2 FR, 1 FTD
Sacks: Trey Flowers – 7.5 sacks, 12 TFL, 57 TOT, 2 PD, 3 FF
Interceptions: Duron Harmon – 4 INTs, 4 PD, 38 TOT, 1 FR
L.A. Chargers
Passing: Phillip Rivers – 4,308 yards, 32 TDs, 12 INTs, 71.2 QBR
Rushing: Melvin Gordon – 885 Rush yards, 10 Rush TDs, 490 Rec Yards, 4 Rec TDs
Receiving: Keenan Allen – 1,196 yards, 6 TD, 1 FUM, 382 YAC
Tackles: (R) Derwin James – 105 TOT, 3.5 sacks, 4.5 TFL, 13 PD, 3 INTs
Sacks: Melvin Ingram – 7 sacks, 11.5 TFL, 43 TOT, 3 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF
Interceptions: (R) Derwin James – 3 INTs, 13PD, 105 TOT, 3.5 sacks, 4.5 TFL
Nick Foles and Eagles take their momentum to the Dome to face the Saints
The legend of Nick Foles continues and the Philadelphia Eagles are going down to the “Big Easy” to try and defeat another legend Drew Brees. Brees as a starter has only lost one game in the Dome this year and that was week 1 against the Bucs. The Saints did lose in week 17 at home but Brees did not start and most starters sat to be ready for the playoffs.
Game Time: 4:40 PM 1/13
TV: FOX
Location: Mercedes
Line: – 8 NO
ESPN FPI: 80.9% NO
Series History: These teams played in week 11 when Carson Wentz was the starter for the Eagles. The Saints won 48-7 with Drew Brees throwing for 363 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Offense:
New Orleans – 8th overall
Passing – 12th overall: 253 YPG
8.0 yards per play
Rushing – 6th overall : 126.6 YPG
4.3 yards per play
Philadelphia – 14th overall
Passing – 7th overall : 267 YPG
7.6 yards per play
Rushing – 28th overall : 98.1 YPG
3.9 yards per play
Defense:
New Orleans – 14th overall
Pass yards against – 29th overall : 269 YPG
8.1 yards per play
Rush yards against – overall 2nd : 80.2 YPG
3.6 yards per play
Philadelphia – 23rd overall
Pass yards against – overall 30th : 269 YPG
7.4 yards per play
Rush yards against – 7th overall : 96.9 YPG
4.7 yards per play
Leaders:
New Orleans
Passing: Drew Brees – 3,992 yards, 32 TDs, 5 INTs, 81.9 QBR
Rushing: Alvin Kamara – 883 Rush yards, 14 Rush TDs, 709 Rec yards, 4 Rec TDs
Receiving: Michael Thomas – 1,405 yards, 9 TDs, 2 FUM, 502 YAC
Tackles: Demario Davis – 110 TOT, 5 sacks, 12.5 TFL, 2 FF
Sacks: Cameron Jordon – 12 sacks, 19 TFL, 40 TOT
Interceptions: Marshon Lattimore – 2 INTs, 12 PD, 59 TOT, 4 FF
Philadelphia
Passing: Caron Wentz – 3,074 yards, 21 TDs, 7 INTs, 64.9 QBR
Rushing: (R) Josh Adams – 511 yards, 3 TDs, 1 FUM
Receiving: Zach Ertz – 1,163 yards, 8 TD, 1 FUM, 363 YAC
Tackles: Malcom Jenkins – 97 TOT, 1 sack, 5.5 TFL, 8 PD, 1 INT, 3 FF
Sacks: Fletcher Cox – 10.5 sacks, 14 TFL, 46 TOT, 1 FF, 1 PD
Interceptions: Rasul Douglas – 3 INTs, 4 PD, 6 TFL, 58 TOT