NFC Divisional Round Playoff Previews & Predictions

By Ha Kung Wong

Twitter/X: @FBGarbageTime

Don’t forget to check out this week’s podcast to get a full breakdown of every Divisional Round Playoff game from Ryan Whitfield and me!

Green Bay Packers (9-8) @ San Francisco 49ers (12-5)

Saturday, January 20, 2024 – 8:15 PM ET

  • Spread: 49ers by 9.5
  • Over/Under: 50.5
Green Bay Packers Stats

Offense per Game

  • Passing – 12th (233.4)
  • Rushing – 15th (112.1)
  • Points – 12th (22.5)

Defense per Game Allowed

  • Passing – 9th (206.8)
  • Rushing – 28th (128.3)
  • Points – 10th (20.6)
  • Turnover Differential – (0) (Tied for 16th Best)
San Francisco 49ers Stats

Offense per Game

  • Passing – 4th (257.9)
  • Rushing – 3rd (140.5)
  • Points – 3rd (28.9)

Defense per Game Allowed

  • Passing – 14th (214.2)
  • Rushing – 3rd (89.7)
  • Points – 3rd (17.5)
  • Turnover Differential – (+10) (Tied for 5th Best)

Preview & Prediction

No doubt that Jordan Love put himself on the map in the same conversation as his predecessors in Green Bay with his big-time performance against the Cowboys in Dallas.  Part of it was a complete implosion but the Cowboys defense, but give credit where credit is due, Love was able to find games in the Cowboys zone defense under pressure all night long.  And the real threat with respect to the Packers is that there’s so many targets, any one of which can go off on any given game.  Whether it was a now healthy Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, Tucker Kraft of Luke Musgrave, it’s impossible to predict who will lead the team in receptions or end up catching TDs.  Case in point, Doubs broke out with 6 receptions for 151 yards in the Wild Card game, but previous to that he had only one game this season with 6 receptions or more and exactly zero games at even 100 yards.

That being said, the 49ers have been one of the most balanced teams on both offense and defense in the league.  The 49ers have the 4th best passing and 3rd best rushing offense and the defense allows the 3rd leagues points per game to opposing teams.  The key will be Christian McCaffrey, who led the league in rushing yards (1,459) and scrimmage yards (2,023) during the regular season against a Packers defense that allowed the 5th most rushing yards per game to opposing teams during the regular season.  As much as the Packers can literally surprise any team, the 49ers are just too well rounded to give way.  Perhaps the Packers beat the spread, but the 49ers offense should be too much for the Packers.

49ers Win

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) @ Detroit Lions (12-5)

Sunday, January 21, 2024 – 3 PM ET

  • Spread: Detroit by 6.5
  • Over/Under: 48.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stats

Offense per Game

  • Passing – 17th (224.2)
  • Rushing – 32nd (88.8)
  • Points – 20th (20.5)

Defense per Game Allowed

  • Passing – 29th (248.9)
  • Rushing – 5th (95.3)
  • Points – 7th (19.1)
  • Turnover Differential – (+8) (9th Best)
Detroit Lions Stats

Offense per Game

  • Passing – 2nd (258.9)
  • Rushing – 5th (135.9)
  • Points – 5th (27.1)

Defense per Game Allowed

  • Passing – 27th (247.4)
  • Rushing – 2nd (88.8)
  • Points – 23rd (23.2)
  • Turnover Differential – (0) (Tied for 16th Best)

Preview & Prediction

The Lions vs. Rams was the most watched Wild Card weekend game of the weekend, and with the narratives and incredibly close matchup, was probably the most entertaining as well with Lions ending a 32-year playoff win draught.  But it’s on to the Divisional Round and the Lions will host the Buccaneers who upended the once thought to be unbeatable Eagles.  Of course, the Eagles have completely fallen apart at the end regular season which clearly carried through to the playoffs, particularly on defense, but Bucs absolutely dominated.

The Lions previously beat the Buccaneers 20-6 in Week 6 in Tampa with Jared Goff throwing for a season-high 353 yards and 2 TDs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown having 12 receptions for 124 yards and a TD.  Baker Mayfield, on the other hand, was held to 206 yards and an interception.  The Bucs definitely seem improved, but they’re hardly consistent, having beaten the cellar dwelling Panthers by a score of just 9 to 0 prior to Wild Card Weekend.

If Mayfield from Wild Card Weekend shows up, perhaps they have a chance against a Lions defense that ranked just 27th against the pass.  But it’s hard to imagine the Lions not keeping it rolling against the Bucs after taking care of the Rams, which arguably was a better team with Matt Stafford, Cooper Kupp and breakout rookie Puka Nacua.

Lions Win

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