Rodgers had his worst outing of the season against the Bucs Tampa Bay +3.5 @ Green Bay – Death and taxes, the only things more certain than Brady making it to the Championship game. He’s the guy who has made seven of the last nine AFC Championship games and now has made the NFC championship game in his first try (Lions fans are shaking their heads). History will be made if he reaches an unprecedented 10th Super Bowl, yet the real history could be made if he wins this game. It will be the first time a team will play in its own crib for the Big Game.
To get there, the Bucs will need to defeat another HOF QB and this year’s likely MVP Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers would like nothing better than to beat the GOAT and try to lay claim to the title. But for all his superb play, a win would put him in the Super Bowl for only the 2nd time.
He will also be looking for revenge. Rodgers had his worst game of the year in week 6 when the Bucs beat him 38-10. He had a season low 160 yards passing and 35.4 passer rating.
Rodgers carved up the #1 Rams defense last week like a nice filet, a defense that featured All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey on the backend and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald up front. None of it mattered as the Pack racked up 484 yards of total offense in an easy 32-18 win.
He should have success against the Bucs as they have issues in the back end, finishing 21st in pass defense. Still, they were able to pressure Drew Brees into 3 picks last week.
To get there, the Bucs will need to defeat another HOF QB and this year’s likely MVP Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers would like nothing better than to beat the GOAT and try to lay claim to the title. But for all his superb play, a win would put him in the Super Bowl for only the 2nd time.
He will also be looking for revenge. Rodgers had his worst game of the year in week 6 when the Bucs beat him 38-10. He had a season low 160 yards passing and 35.4 passer rating.
Rodgers carved up the #1 Rams defense last week like a nice filet, a defense that featured All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey on the backend and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald up front. None of it mattered as the Pack racked up 484 yards of total offense in an easy 32-18 win.
He should have success against the Bucs as they have issues in the back end, finishing 21st in pass defense. Still, they were able to pressure Drew Brees into 3 picks last week.
Looks like Tampa Bay has the run game going again Rodgers will need to get the other Aaron going, RB Aaron Jones, if they are going to beat a rejuvenated Bucs defense. Jones was held to 15 yards in the previous match up. Keep in mind, the Bucs rush defense was the best in the NFL and OT David Bakhtiari is out for the game. And the Bucs get back DL Vita Vea too.
Tampa Bay has been improving on offense as he steadily been developing a rapport with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and midseason addition Antonio Brown. Teams have been putting their best DBs on Evans and playing a lot of two deep. So Brady has been looking to his TEs, the Gronk and Brate to move the sticks. Expect more of the same, especially with Brown being listed as out.
The run game did the Saints in last week. Fournette looked like his old self as he and RoJo reeled off 127 yards rushing against a pretty good Saints rush defense. They will need to do that again so the Packers don’t just pin their ears back and get after Brady.
3.5 is a bit much to give Brasy and a Buc defense capable of making the Pack one dimensional. But, I’m taking the Pack on the money line in this one. It’s a hedge bet. I took a prop bet for TB to win the NFC at 4/1. By taking the Pack I pay for the prop bet ticket if TB loses. But I’ll be rooting for TB to win and collect big time on the prop bet.
Tampa Bay has been improving on offense as he steadily been developing a rapport with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and midseason addition Antonio Brown. Teams have been putting their best DBs on Evans and playing a lot of two deep. So Brady has been looking to his TEs, the Gronk and Brate to move the sticks. Expect more of the same, especially with Brown being listed as out.
The run game did the Saints in last week. Fournette looked like his old self as he and RoJo reeled off 127 yards rushing against a pretty good Saints rush defense. They will need to do that again so the Packers don’t just pin their ears back and get after Brady.
3.5 is a bit much to give Brasy and a Buc defense capable of making the Pack one dimensional. But, I’m taking the Pack on the money line in this one. It’s a hedge bet. I took a prop bet for TB to win the NFC at 4/1. By taking the Pack I pay for the prop bet ticket if TB loses. But I’ll be rooting for TB to win and collect big time on the prop bet.
KC will find a doctor to allow Mahomes to play Buffalo +3.0 @ Kansas City - Buffalo has been on a roll. They have won nine of ten with the lone loss, the Hail Murray 32-30 loss at Arizona. But they are struggling just a bit. They opened the playoffs with a narrow 27-24 win over Indianapolis and then picked up a 17-3 win over Baltimore last week. The 17 points last week tied their mark for second-fewest points this season, with seven of those points coming on a pick-six.
The run game has gone bye bye for the Bills as they gained only one first down on the ground and 32 yards rushing overall. Zack Moss is out for the playoffs, so Devin Singletary is the lone Bills back with any experience.
The defense won the game for the Bills last week. they were able to contain Baltimore’s rushing attack and knock Lamar Jackson out of the game. The red zone defense has been the key. Buffalo has allowed touchdowns on just two of eight red-zone situations so far in the playoffs. As a side note - Kansas City, ranked last in the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing a touchdown rate of 76.6 percent.
The run game has gone bye bye for the Bills as they gained only one first down on the ground and 32 yards rushing overall. Zack Moss is out for the playoffs, so Devin Singletary is the lone Bills back with any experience.
The defense won the game for the Bills last week. they were able to contain Baltimore’s rushing attack and knock Lamar Jackson out of the game. The red zone defense has been the key. Buffalo has allowed touchdowns on just two of eight red-zone situations so far in the playoffs. As a side note - Kansas City, ranked last in the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing a touchdown rate of 76.6 percent.
7 of Buffalo's 17 points came via a pick 6 Buffalo is not the only team struggling. In KC’s last two games playing starters they have been shaky, a 17-14 squeaker against the bottom feeding Atlanta Falcons, then a 22-17 nail-biter against the Cleveland Browns in last week's AFC Divisional Round. It took a Browns fumble out of the end zone and a fourth down pass by the incompetent backup QB Chad Henne to avoid the upset. Henne has thrown for more interceptions (63) than touchdowns (60) in a career that didn't include any playoff experience until last week.
The biggest questions of the playoffs is will Mahomes play? His bell was rung last week and needs to clear the concussion protocol. Even before the hit that knocked him out of the game, he was hobbling with what looked like turf toe. The Chiefs will find an “independent” neurologist to clear him but the toe injury won’t go away so quickly.
And while all the injury news has focused on Mahomes, the real news is that star rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire and WR Sammy Watkins have been upgraded to questionable vs out. As if Mahomes needs even more weapons.
But I’m still taking the Bills and the points. This should be a surprisingly low scoring game with the Bills playing the better defense right now. Put me down for a quatloo.
I’m also taking a money line parlay on Tampa Bay and Buffalo at 4.8/1. Go underdogs!
The biggest questions of the playoffs is will Mahomes play? His bell was rung last week and needs to clear the concussion protocol. Even before the hit that knocked him out of the game, he was hobbling with what looked like turf toe. The Chiefs will find an “independent” neurologist to clear him but the toe injury won’t go away so quickly.
And while all the injury news has focused on Mahomes, the real news is that star rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire and WR Sammy Watkins have been upgraded to questionable vs out. As if Mahomes needs even more weapons.
But I’m still taking the Bills and the points. This should be a surprisingly low scoring game with the Bills playing the better defense right now. Put me down for a quatloo.
I’m also taking a money line parlay on Tampa Bay and Buffalo at 4.8/1. Go underdogs!
