There are two great NFC Divisional Round playoff games this weekend, and we have predictions and previews for both:
WAS @ DET
The 6th seed Commanders head to Detroit to take on the 1st seed Lions in one of two NFC Divisional round matchups. Here are previews and a prediction for how this game will turn out:
When Washington has the ball:
The Commanders want to try to establish the run through Brian Robinson Jr from the start. However, Detroit is very solid against the run, and it might force the Commanders to throw a lot of short passes like they did against the Buccaneers. Jayden Daniels seems to thrive with those very quick short passes, which allow for his receivers to make big plays, especially on 1st and 2nd down.
Commanders Pass Catchers:
The two biggest downfield threats for Washington are Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown. Both have exceptional speed and can take the top off an opposing defense. Where the Lions suffer is their secondary doesn’t always cover very well against those types of big-play receivers. Daniels is going to have to take some shots downfield and hope to get a couple of catches or pass interference calls. If the Commanders insist on running the ball, it may be a long day as the Lions will stop Robinson. Another key player for Washington will be Zach Ertz. Ertz only had two receptions in the game against Tamp,a but he is a huge red-zone threat and also has a presence in the middle of the field. He will need to have 5+ catches for Washington to win.
When Detroit has the ball:
Detroit is expecting to have David Montgomery return from his knee injury. Montgomery’s return allows the Lions to feature both running backs (Montgomery and Gibbs) which makes them even more difficult to stop. Montgomery is the bruising running back who runs in between the tackles, and Gibbs is the running back who runs outside and tries to pull off the explosive plays. Look for Detroit to try to wear down Washington’s defensive line as they run the ball at least 25 to 30 times in this game.
Lions Pass Catchers:
What makes Detroit so difficult to stop on offense is that they’re able to throw short passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, but also, at the same time, they’re able to challenge defenses deep downfield with the speed of Jameson Williams. If Detroit is running the ball well, they’ll be able to use their play action to their advantage and find Williams on a couple of deep passes, which could really blow the game wide open. If Williams has 5 or 6 catches for over 100 yards, Detroit may win this game by double digits.
Prediction:
Jayden Daniels is a terrific young quarterback who has a very bright future in the NFL, but Washington seems to be a little light on offense. If given time to throw, Jared Goff should be able to pick apart the Commanders secondary.
LAR @ PHI
The 4th seed Rams head to Philadelphia to take on the 2nd seed Eagles in one of two NFC Divisional round matchups. Here are previews and a prediction for how this game will turn out:
When Los Angeles has the ball:
The Rams played one of their best games of the season this past Monday against Minnesota. They dominated on defense and sacked Sam Darnold 9 times. Moreover, Matthew Stafford was able to stick in the pocket and make big throws when he needed to. The Rams offense revolves around Kyren Williams, who should get about 20 carries in this game. Philadelphia was able to hold Josh Jacobs to 81 yards, but Los Angeles is very stubborn and will continually give the ball to Williams, hoping that he can get three and four yards a carry.
Puka and Kupp:
The Eagles secondary has been top-notch this season but they’re playing Matthew Stafford who is one of the most fearless quarterbacks in the pocket. He’s willing to take the big hit to make a play, and he’s got a very large cadre of receivers to throw to. Puka Nakua is one of the best zone coverage receivers in the league, and it is time for Cooper Kupp to re-emerge after being relatively unused for the past six weeks. Tyler Higbee left the game against Minnesota with a chest contusion, so it’s uncertain if he will play again. If he is out, expect, Colby Parkinson to regain the starting job and to have a role against Philadelphia.
When Philadelphia has the ball:
Philadelphia knows its identity on offense: they are clearly a running team. They ran the ball 34 times against Green Bay for 169 yards for a 5.0 YPC. The Eagles want to give Saquon Barkley the ball at least 25 times to establish their offense. The last time these two teams played, Barkley ran for 255 yards and two touchdowns and dominated the game. He’s going to have to do similarly this week for the Eagles to advance.
Eagles Pass Game:
What Jalen Hurts does so well is that when he’s feeling the pressure, he’s able to run and escape the pass rush and use his mobility to keep plays alive. He’s going to need to do that against a very active young Rams pass rush. What is concerning is that Philadelphia’s passing attack is quickly becoming their biggest weakness. Hurts has a huge arm but offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has done everything possible to limit him from throwing the ball too much during games. Against Green Bay, he only had 13 completions for 131 yards. A.J. Brown only had one reception on three targets, and DeVonta Smith had four receptions on 4 targets. The Rams are a pass funnel defense, and they allow a lot of yards to opposing wide receivers on the outside. Philadelphia is going to have to take advantage of that, even though they might be uncomfortable doing so. The last time these teams played earlier in the season, A.J. Brown had 6 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown; he’s going to need to have a similar game in order for the Eagles to win.
Prediction:
This is a very tough matchup for Philadelphia, as the Rams are a balanced team with a strong pass rush. However, if Philadelphia opens up their offense just a little and finds AJ Brown with regularity, they should have just enough to pull out a close game.
