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NFL Divisional Playoffs talking points: Seahawks-Niners renew rivalry, Bills visit Broncos at Mile High
Eight teams remain as we enter the NFL Divisional Playoffs, headlined by the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks hosting the No. 6 San Francisco 49ers after the NFC West rivals split their regular-season series.
Meanwhile, Josh Allen and the sixth-seeded Buffalo Bills will try to get past the No. 1 Denver Broncos at Mile High.
All that and more as DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla tackles the talking points for all the Divisional Playoff matchups.
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Can Josh Allen beat the Broncos on his feet at Mile High?
Megan Briggs/Getty Images
It is a good thing that Allen is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in football, able to beat teams through the air and on the ground.
He may need every bit of that versatility to carry the No. 6 Buffalo Bills (13–5) past the top-seeded Denver Broncos (14–3) at Mile High on Saturday.
The Broncos led the league in sacks this season with 68 and ranked second in rushing defense (just 91.1 yards per game allowed).
Let’s see how Allen fares against that imposing unit, as the reigning league MVP has the most rushing yards (701) and is second with rushing touchdowns (nine) amongst quarterbacks in NFL postseason history.
More than anything, Allen’s ability to stretch plays on the feet should be vital.
San Francisco 49ers visit No. 1 Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field
It took the final week of the regular season for the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) to claim the NFC West and the top seed in the conference, and they clinched both with a win over the San Francisco 49ers (13-5).
Therefore, it is only right for the division rivals to meet in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs Saturday night. After splitting the regular season series, the teams will clash once more at Lumen Field in Seattle, with the winner punching their ticket to the NFC Conference Championship next weekend.
In Week 18 in San Francisco earlier this month, the Seahawks edged the 49ers, 13-3, and flexed their defensive muscle by keeping the home team out of the end zone. That defensive performance was arguably one of San Fran's best, even when we consider that the unit allowed an average of only 17.2 points per game.
Star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba had eight catches for 84 yards in the contest, and the OPOY frontrunner will undoubtedly be a major part of Seattle's gameplan to overcome the 49ers again on Sunday.
Back in Week 1, the Niners defeated the Seahawks in Seattle, 17-13, behind 277 yards and two touchdowns from Brock Purdy, who also tossed two interceptions in the game. Christian McCaffrey was the dual threat that Niners Nation has become accustomed to as he produced 69 yards rushing and 73 more receiving out of the backfield.
What will give when these heated rivals meet for a third time? We are about to find out this weekend.
Drake Maye, Patriots try to figure out Texans' defense at Gillette Stadium
Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Houston Texans’ vaunted defense made life rough for Aaron Rodgers last weekend, intercepting him once and sacking him four times, including a strip-sack fumble. Most importantly, they kept the quarterback out of the end zone in their 30-6 blasting of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now, the fifth-seeded Texans (13-5) visit the No. 2 New England Patriots (15-3) at Gillette Stadium, looking to put Drake Maye through a similar treatment Sunday.
Maye finished fourth among quarterbacks in passing yards this season with 4,394 and tossed 31 touchdowns for good measure.
Despite only throwing for one touchdown while being sacked five times last week, Maye still led the Patriots to a 16-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Can Maye figure out a Texans’ defense which only allowed an average of 17.4 points per game during the regular season? Sack masters in Texans' defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. will be waiting.
Bears host Stafford and Rams on Soldier Field
Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
The Chicago Bears put the wild in Wild Card last weekend, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter to rally from an 18-point deficit and defeat their rivals, the Green Bay Packers.
After Jordan Love shredded them for 323 yards and four touchdowns, the second-seeded Bears (12-6) will have to now deal with Matthew Stafford and the No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (13-5) on Sunday night.
At 37, Stafford led the NFL this season with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. In guiding the Rams to a 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers last weekend, Stafford aired it out for 304 yards and three touchdowns, with star wideout Puka Nacua recording 10 receptions for 111 yards and one TD.
Will Stafford reign supreme once again? Or can Caleb Williams and the Bears pull off another memorable day at Soldier Field?
