NFL Divisional Round

What a way to kick off the NFL Postseason!!! Last weekend's games did not disappoint. There was no shortage of excitement for that Monday Night matchup between "America's Team" and the ageless Tom Brady. More than 30 million viewers were glued to their TV sets to watch the Cowboys dominate 31-14 and advance to the Divisional Round. The most-viewed NFL playoff game since 1999. 

As for Alex and Oz, we fared better than most with our predictions. Alex did a little better than Oz. Alex missed on the Vikings and Bengals game. Cincy didn't cover but won and the G-Men upset the Vikings to face their division rival for a third time this season. Oz picked the Giants but also thought Buffalo and Cincinnati would cover, like everyone else with a right mind, except, well, Alex!  He went 4-2 while Oz went 4-3,  saved only by betting the under (45.5) on Cowboys/Bucs and he squeaked one out there. 

This week is filled with even more drama, an NFC rivalry renewed and we'll get another shot at seeing Cincy and the Bills in a battle of AFC heavyweights. 

Let's take a look at our picks for this weekend's matchups. 

Jags @ Chiefs KC -9

Alex - This one is going to be more interesting than people think. This Jaguars team is playing poised and with purpose. Trevor Lawrence is playing with the confidence he had in college and their defense has made the plays when they've needed to. They're of course big underdogs headed to Arrowhead. The Chiefs are well rested, coming off that first-round bye and we know better than to doubt that offense and what Andy Reid gets out of ALL his players. It's going to be close, the Jaguars and their offense will hang around as Engram will continue to make plays. He's going to secure the bag this offseason for sure. I think the Jacksonville pass rush will force Mahomes into some silly throws that he's been known to make but he bounces back and KC survives a scare. Pacheco and Kelce lead the offensive charge for the Chiefs. Jags cover and lose.

Oz - This game, to me was the easiest to pick. Jacksonville has reached their peak while outperforming the expectations of their season. But keep your heads up Jags fans as you have brighter days ahead. This team reminds me very much of the 1991 Cowboys, the JJ's first dip in the playoff pool before reeling off three of the next four Super Bowls. Now I'm not making they kind of prediction for the Jags just yet, but they have the foundation to a very solid future and it starts with Lawrence, who by the way has done nothing but win since he was a freshman in high school. 

All that said, this game is all about KC, powered by Mahomes, with the Arrowhead fans at their back and a week extra to prepare. Speaking of Mahomes, do you realize that in the five years since Mahomes became the Chiefs full-time starter, he's never played a road playoff game. But I digress. I look at this game as a high-scoring affair. Expect Mahomes and Lawrence to combine for 10 touchdowns but the Chiefs pull away late to cover. Chiefs cover and win 

Giants @ Philly Eagles -7.5

Alex - Another one of these divisional matchups where you've seen each other two times and each time the Eagles have come out on top. Most recently, in the last week of the regular season where the Giants didn't play most of their starters and lost a close one, 22-16. It's tough to go against the Eagles here if Jalen Hurts' shoulder is close to 100% or even at 85%. They're at the Link, they got two great backs, the best OL in the league and a QB that can hurt you with his legs if something breaks down PLUS a freakishly fast and strong WR in AJ Brown. Danny Dimes will have to be perfect and get career games from several of his guys for the Giants to have a chance in this one. We're not giving Nick Sirianni enough credit. Eagles cover and win. Sorry Cowboys fans! 

Oz - Did anyone have the Giants in the playoffs? How about all the NFC East haters out there? Must be tough seeing that three of the last four remaining NFC teams, hailing from the East. Well at least one has to go now and like the Jags, the Giants are playing with house money. I agree with Alex, the Eagles at home are a challenge. Many have underrated Hurts, myself among them, but if fully healthy,  he could prove too much for the Giants. As hard as it is for me to go against one of my firm beliefs that beating a team three times in a season is one of the hardest things to do in football, but Philly does it this year and wins. However, New York scores a trash-time touchdown to cover the spread. Giants cover but lose

Bengals @ Bills BUF -5.5 

Alex - We're finally getting to see this long-awaited matchup! This time the stakes are higher and the lights not as bright, but still a matchup between two of the league's best young quarterbacks. Let's not forget that the defending AFC champs are the Bengals and NOT the Bills. Thank goodness I don't have a dog in this fight because it's going to be just that, a DOG fight. The Bengals OL is banged up and that doesn't bode well for Joe Cool. Burrow might be running for his life Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park. Greg Rousseau (btw I spelled that right the first time), Ed Oliver and Matt Milano are going to feast. Burrow and Chase connect a few times but I don't think Mixon and Perine can get going and because of that I'm giving the edge to Josh Allen and the Bills. James Cook showed me something last week, he was running hard and finishing runs. I feel that's ultimately the difference in this one. Allen will continue to find his guys, Diggs and Davis, but Beasley will be a big factor on 3rd down again. Bills cover and win.

Oz - Yup, the matchup we all have eagerly awaited is finally upon us. As I said last week, Cincinnati is probably the only team this side of...Buffalo, that nobody wants to play. And then last week happened and the Bengals escaped, barely sliding past Baltimore who rolled out a lame second-stringer and an inexperienced third-stringer at QB. But that was last week. 

Both teams come in streaking, nine for the Bengals and eight for Buffalo, so something's gotta give. The Bengals are 15-4 against the spread on the road since the beginning of last season, including 7-2 ATS this season, 7-1 ATS in its past eight games and 4-0 ATS in its past four games on the road. On the other hand, Buffalo is 3-7-1 ATS in their past 11 games. I think Buffalo is the better team, especially at home, but with these aforementioned trends it completely spells out: Cincinnati covers but loses

Cowboys @ SF  Niners -4

Alex - Hang on to your belt buckles and hold the brim of your Tecovas hat. We have an NFC Playoff rematch from last season when America's Team goes into Santa Clara to take on the Niners. The teams will meet for a record-tying ninth time in the postseason. Their last matchup was a 23-17 49ers victory that ended the season for the Cowboys last January. A heavy dose of Elijah Mitchell and Deebo Samuel on the ground ultimately did the Cowboys in. You can bet the Niners will run the ball some more with Deebo and mix in Christian McCaffrey. There's no shortage of offensive firepower to assist Brock Purdy and they'll be on full display Sunday evening. Dallas had success throwing the ball against TB and will certainly look to get Dalton Schultz and Ceedee Lamb plenty of targets against a Niners defense that ranked 20th in the league in Passing Yards Against. The flip side to that; their defense also led the league in interceptions, which has been a problem for Prescott. Dan Quinn will bring pressure and force Purdy to beat them and they have the weapons to do just that. This game will come down to play-calling, and the Niners have the edge there, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. SF has way too many weapons and Dallas can't keep up. San Francisco covers and wins. 

Oz - Boy does this game take me back. A lot of football memories tied up in this pairing  and it truly a matchup of NFL bluebloods. It's also the matchup I was hoping for. While San Fran is the hottest team in the league, reeling off 11-straight wins in the process, quarterback Brock Purdy has everyone singing his praises. I think everyone needs a reality check. Let's not forget that Purdy is a rookie. And seventh rounder at that. Yeah, I'm familiar with Tom Brady, but Purdy is no Tom Brady. If you look at the Niners 11-game streak, they only played three teams with winning records over that span. And the defenses Purdy has faced over the streak? Do any of them strike fear in you? This Cowboys defense will be the best, BY FAR, that Purdy has ever seen, possibly in his lifetime. I expect Dallas to being pressure from all over the place and make the rookie, do rookie things. The Cowboys will still need to score points and last week against, they showed they could against one of the better defenses in the league. If the Cowboys can commit to the run and do so successfully, while also being able to slow down, if not stop San Francisco's rushing attack led by Christian McCaffrey- as they did against the Bucs - this should be the Cowboys game to win. My prediction: Cowboys kicker Brett Maher bounces back from last week's debacle and kicks the game-winner and the Cowboys win by one. Cowboys cover and win.

Check back with us next week to see how we did and get our picks for the Conference Championships.