The Divisional Round is here, /r/NFL! We had some really great matchups, and a lot of the games we watched turned out the way we thought. There were some surprises, and some disappointments. I went an acceptable 4-2. Predictions will become quite a bit harder, as every team playing has a legit chance of going all the way. The weekend is split down the middle, with the #1 seeds playing Saturday. Here we go!
Saturday, January 18th
Matchup
Time/Network
Winner
Comments
Texans @ Chiefs
4:30p ET on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
Chiefs
Confidence: Medium - The Texans showed grit on defense in their wild-card win against the Chargers, with their edge rush creating problems and their corners stepping up. They’ll look to disrupt Mahomes, but the Chiefs’ offense will counter with a patient and methodical approach. Kelce and the TE group will exploit short-to-intermediate routes to sustain long drives, while Mahomes mixes in timely downfield shots after setting up the run game to keep the Texans’ defense guessing. With Mahomes fresh and poised to extend plays with his legs, the Chiefs have the upper hand. Meanwhile, the Texans may struggle offensively, as Stroud’s options are limited outside of Collins, and Mixon could find running lanes scarce against KC's defense.
Commanders @ Lions
8:00p ET on FOX
Lions
Confidence: Medium - The Lions’ defense has held its own despite injuries and is aiming to get healthier in time to face Daniels. His dual-threat ability—launching deep passes and escaping outside the pocket—makes this a challenging matchup for Detroit. Washington’s offense will need to stay aggressive, leaning more on Daniels’ playmaking rather than a traditional power run game. On the other side, the Lions are primed to capitalize on the Commanders’ struggles against the run, with Gibbs leading the ground game and St. Brown exploiting the slot. While Daniels will showcase flashes of brilliance, Goff and the Lions' balanced attack will prevail, securing their second consecutive NFCCG appearance.
Sunday, January 19th
Matchup
Time/Network
Winner
Comments
Rams @ Eagles
3:00p ET on NBC/Peacock
Eagles
Confidence: Medium - In their Week 12 meeting, the Eagles overpowered the Rams thanks to a dominant showing from Barkley, who rushed for 255 yards and two TDs, and Brown, who hauled in eight receptions for 109 yards and a TD. Despite the lopsided score, most team stats were relatively even—except on third down, where Philly thrived while the Rams were a dismal 0-for-8. The Rams’ young defense shined last week with a record-setting nine sacks against the Vikings, but facing Hurts and stopping Barkley presents a much tougher challenge, especially in cold road conditions.
Ravens @ Bills
6:30p ET on CBS/Paramount+
Bills
Confidence: Low - In their Week 4 matchup, the Ravens cruised to a win at home, taking advantage of an injury-depleted Bills defense. Baltimore shut down Cook and Allen's rushing attack while piling up yards on the ground with Henry and Jackson. This time around, the Bills are healthier and won't be dominated the same way, but vulnerabilities remain—especially against the run. Jackson's steadiness in downfield passing and his dual-threat ability give the Ravens the edge. Coming off a confidence-boosting win over the Steelers, Jackson has outperformed Allen in MVP-worthy metrics this season and looks ready for another big playoff performance, even on the road. This one is the hardest to predict, but I'm staying with the home team on this one.
Those are my predictions, let's hear yours. Keep it civil and fun. Best of luck!
