4 Things We Learned from NFL Divisional Round (Sports Betting)
After a wild-card weekend that lived up to its name, the NFL rewarded us with chalk: Two No. 1s and two No. 2s emerging from the divisional round to meet on championship weekend. But it sure didnât feel that simple.
Here are four things that stood out from the weekendâs four games.
Chiefs put on show in snowy Arrowhead
Inexperience, playoff demons, and a wintry mix werenât enough to halt Patrick Mahomes from his usual brilliance in leading Kansas City to a long-awaited home playoff win in Saturdayâs 31-13 drubbing of Indianapolis, which couldnât record a first down until the game was well decided late in the first half.
As dominant as the Chiefs looked, the result raised questions about the Colts, who had won 10 of their past 11 â albeit against the easiest schedule in the league. Their once-exalted defense was also gashed by emergent star Damien Williams, whose career-high 25 carries for 129 yards and a score entrenched him firmly into starter status and future prop consideration.
The Chiefsâ defense held up, too, against a red-hot Indy offense that had scored at least 21 points in all but two games this season. Itâll be a Herculean test to shut down Tom Brady and co. next week, but Kansas Cityâs offense doesnât show any signs of slowing, either.
Rams run all over Dallas D
If it looked like the Ramsâ offense was toying with Dallasâ front in Saturdayâs 30-22 win, thatâs because it was â reading cues and exploiting them to the tune of 273 rushing yards.
The bye helped, sure, but this Los Angeles team is resembling the explosive one we saw for much of the regular season. Much of that came from the offensive line, which paved the way for both Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson to crack the century mark, the first duo to do so in a playoff game this century.
That likely wonât be the case against a Saints defense that allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the regular season. Jared Goff was, unsurprisingly, quiet in Saturdayâs win, so his play will likely determine the Ramsâ Super Bowl fate.
The Pats are good again?
They do this every year. They rope us in. They make us believe theyâre mortal. And then, like a recurring nightmare, they do what they did on Sunday, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions and demolishing the Chargers in a 41-28 win that never felt close.
It was especially surprising given that Los Angeles, which entered the game as a heavy public favorite, had the better record and seemingly the better roster. But Tom Brady was the best player on the field, and the dynastic Patriots were clearly motivated on Saturday â as evidenced by Bill Belichickâs rare decision to receive the opening kickoff and Bradyâs snarky postgame comments about the doubters.
Those doubts remain, as New England remains the underdog in next weekâs championship tilt with Kansas City. A word to the wise: This ISNâT the same Pats team as years past, and the preponderance of evidence from the regular season canât be dismissed by one impressive Sunday. But man, was it impressive, and I pity anyone who bets against either Brady or Mahomes in next weekâs heavyweight matchup.
Saints march on, end Foles mania
So the Saints are mortal, after all. The Super Bowl favorites escaped on Sunday with a 20-14 win over the defending champion Eagles despite not leading until late in the third quarter â after a punishing 18-play, 92-yard drive ate 11:29 of the clock and gave enough of a cushion to survive Saint Nick Folesâ late surge.
The Eagles were an Alshon Jeffery heartbreaking drop away from possibly extending their magical run. Phillyâs success wasnât a fluke, as Iâve been saying for weeks, and it could have legitimately run the table had the final minutes gone differently.
But so too can New Orleans, which boasts arguably the best offensive weapons in the league â Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas â behind an offensive line that played every snap on Sunday. This is what a juggernaut looks like, and an overlooked defense could give L.A. fits next week in a rematch of Week 9âs thrilling Saints win.
Jackson Cowart is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Jackson, check out his archive and follow him @CJacksonCowart.