NFL Playoff Predictions for the Divisional Round in 2024.

Now that the Divisional Round has begun, the Super Bowl is just one step away! Let’s examine the Divisional Playoff matchups this coming weekend!

This weekend is the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs. In the Wild Card round last week, there were several blowouts and one close game. With any luck, the Divisional Round will provide us with some fun games. This weekend’s Divisional Playoff games are quite a few to look at!

Last week I went 3-3

As I said: “Bucs over Eagles!”

I am aware that Rams defeat Lions.

AFC Divisional Round: #1 Baltimore Ravens vs. #4 Houston Texans

ESPN, Saturday, January 20, 3:30 p.m. CST

Baltimore remains the favorite to not only make the Super Bowl, but to win it all, and for good reason. As usual, the Ravens have a standout defense, leading the NFL in fewest points allowed, total takeaways, and turnover differential. On offense, they have the odds-on favorite for NFL MVP in their dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson. They have seemed headed toward the Super Bowl since beating Detroit by 32-points, and certainly since beating the Niners by 19-points at San Francisco. Now, an underrated challenger emerges for their potential crown, in the Houston Texans. Houston, a team led by a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback, looked like stone-cold veterans in the Wild Card round last week, embarrassing Cleveland at home. The Texans won’t replicate that type of performance in Baltimore, but they will leave this game giving their fans plenty to be excited about for the coming seasons, and their own hopes to be a perennial Super Bowl favorite behind their coach and QB combination. Baltimore, despite all their success this season, has a chip on their shoulder going into these playoffs. Jackson has a number of accomplishments and accolades to his name, but playoff success has eluded him. Head coach John Harbaugh has a Super Bowl win on his resumé, but that came over a decade ago now, and they have not played in the AFC title game since that 2012 season. It’s been a while, but the time for the Ravens to play for the AFC title is here again. Baltimore wins 24-14.

Pick: Ravens

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NFC – #7 Green Bay Packers at #1 San Francisco 49ers

Saturday, January 20th – 7:15pm CST – FOX

49ers vs. Packers invokes many playoff memories and has some memorable playoff moments in its history, but this game will be another moment of Kyle Shanahan outcoaching Matt LaFleur. This Green Bay team proved itself in a big way at Dallas last week, but this San Francisco team has been poised for the Super Bowl since their brutal loss in Philly last January. Green Bay had clear advantages in the Wild Card round in coaching against Dallas, but that advantage erodes against San Francisco. This game will be decided by the better defense, that being San Francisco’s. The Niners’ relentless defense will not allow Jordan Love to do whatever he wants, like Dallas’ toothless defense did. San Francisco will clamp down on Green Bay’s playmakers and frustrate the Packers offense all game long. On offense, the Niners will take advantage of a Green Bay defense that may need to gamble in order to make some big plays, allowing Brock Purdy and company to make the big plays themselves. Green Bay may have taken out a consistently overrated Dak Prescott, but now they face a quarterback on a roll who is gaining more confidence and is doing more than just keeping the offense afloat. San Francisco is the most dangerous and well-balanced team in the NFC, and they will remind everyone of that fact again in this one. San Francisco wins 30-19.

Pick: 49ers

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#3 Detroit Lions vs. #4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC

NBC, Sunday, January 21, 2:00 p.m. CST

Against the Eagles on Monday night, the Bucs appeared more impressive than they have all season. Regretfully for the Bucs, since the start of December, five other teams have played Philly at their best. It may have been the easiest playoff selection ever to choose Tampa Bay over Philadelphia in the Wild Card round. Now that they have vanquished the curse of not having won a postseason game in more than thirty years, Tampa Bay must go to Motown to take on a Lions squad that is extremely well-prepared. The Detroit fans were electrifying last weekend, but they will up the ante here in the Divisional Round against the overmatched Bucs, as will the team. Even though Tampa won the game easily a week ago, the opposition lacked confidence, whereas this opponent is full of confidence, and the Lions will easily advance to face San Francisco for the NFC championship. Detroit triumphs 31–14.

Pick: Lions

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AFC – #2 Buffalo Bills at #3 Kansas City Chiefs

CBS, Sunday, January 21, at 5:30 p.m. CST

Of the four Divisional Round games, this one will undoubtedly be the most anticipated, but it will also be the most contested. The Chiefs have forced the Bills to play them in Kansas City five times in a row, including their thrilling Divisional Round match in January 2022, since Kansas City defeated Buffalo in the AFC title game in January 2021. Although Buffalo has won all three of their regular season meetings against Kansas City during this time, the Bills have actually prevailed 3-2 overall in their previous five meetings. Kansas City’s two playoff victories have been the main focus of those encounters. games. Finally, though, Josh Allen will host Patrick Mahomes in what will be Mahomes’ first-ever road playoff game, and the energy in Buffalo will undoubtedly be high. The Bills Mafia will be out in full form, wanting to see their tormentor fall from grace. Mahomes and Allen will both receive their share, but it will be up to their defenses to deliver the stops their offenses will require. In the end, Buffalo’s defensive strategy will be successful because it will disrupt KC’s run game and put the ball in the hands of the Chiefs’ receiving group, who will then unleash When Patrick Mahomes needs them most, they fall through. After much anticipation, Buffalo finally gets its wish and will find themselves one step away from the Bills Mafia’s intended destination—Vegas, the largest stage of all—on Super Sunday. However, we’ll wait to hear from Baltimore regarding those expectations. 26-24 to Buffalo.

Pick: Bills

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One week out from NFL Conference Championship Sunday—possibly the most thrilling day in sports—we are getting closer. Which team from this group will play in the NFL Final Four? All we can do is wait and see. Select, discuss, and share your thoughts with us below!