JARRETT JENNINGS

1:05 PM EST Kickoff | Matchup: Baltimore Ravens (11-5) @ Tennessee Titans (11-5)

Players To Watch: Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson and Titans’ RB Derrick Henry

Season Stats: 

Jackson | 242-of-376 [64.4%] (27)* | 2,757 Passing Yards (22) | 26 Passing Touchdowns (T-12) | 9 Interceptions (T-19) | 159 Carries (22) | 1,005 Rushing Yards (9) | 7 Rushing Touchdowns (T-19)

Henry | 378 Carries (1) | 2,027 Yards (1) | 17 Touchdowns (1) 

*() denotes league ranking

2020 Ravens Team Rankings: 19th in Total Offense** | 7th in Total Defense**

2020 Titans Team Rankings: 3rd in Total Offense | 28th in Total Defense

**based on yards per game

NOTES: This should shape up to be one of the better Wildcard weekend showdowns. Essentially, this game is going to come down to the playmakers on the defensive side of the ball for Baltimore versus the playmakers on offense for Tennessee. 

The Ravens did not have quite the season they were expecting. Despite winning 11 games during the regular season, they backed into the Playoffs, with the deciding game coming in Week 17. Of course, Covid-19 played a big role in the Ravens’ early-season woes, but Lamar Jackson also didn’t take many steps forward as a passer in his third season behind center. The reigning MVP still flashed brilliance with his legs, however, becoming the first quarterback to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons (likely beyond replication), and finishing as a Top-10 rusher in the league. With Alex Collins gone, and Mark Ingram suffering through an injury-plagued season, the run game for the Ravens wasn’t quite spectacular outside of Jackson, but JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards kept things rolling in the backfield, combining for 1,528 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Hollywood Brown finished the season with a team-high 769 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, while, in a down year, Mark Andrews tallied just 701 yards and seven touchdowns this season. While scoring just two touchdowns on the season, former Cowboys star Dez Bryant provided a spark to the team in the final stretch, giving the Ravens an energy boost as they battled their way to a Playoff bid.

On the defensive side of the ball, it was more of the same excellence we have come to expect from Baltimore. Rookie Patrick Queen filled the middle linebacker role well, notching 106 total tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, and if it hadn’t been for Chase Young, he might’ve had a shot at defensive rookie of the year. The Ravens allowed an average of just 18.9 points per game, which was second to the Rams, who allowed 18.5 points per game during the regular season. The secondary of the Ravens is going to have a tough matchup against Ryan Tannehill and company, but Chuck Clark and Marlon Humphrey should be up to the task.

Speaking of Tannehill, 2019’s comeback player of the year, he put together another solid season behind center for the Titans, completing 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,819 yards and 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He was helped by a top-notch receiving corps, led by AJ Brown (1,075 yards and 11 touchdowns) and Corey Davis (984 yards and five touchdowns). But the real brilliance came, once again, from RB Derrick Henry, who had one of the quietest 2,000 yard seasons in recent memory.

Tennessee’s defense really doesn’t have much to write home about, aside from Kevin Byard (111 total tackles) and Malcolm Butler (86 solo tackles, four picks and 14 passes defensed).

Bottom line, in a tale of two high flying offenses, only one will be moving on. Lamar Jackson has to change his playoff narrative, and Baltimore’s top-ten defense needs to step up and stop Tennessee’s third-ranked offense for the Ravens to have a chance to knock off the AFC South division winners. If the Titans want to win, they will have to give the Ravens a healthy dose of Derrick Henry. 

Projected Score: 31-24 Titans Win

---

JACK JENNINGS

4:40 PM EST Kickoff | Matchup: Chicago Bears (8-8) @ New Orleans Saints (12-4)

Players To Watch: Saints’ RB Alvin Kamara and Bears’ RB David Montgomery

Season Stats: 

Kamara | 187 Carries (T-15) | 932 Rushing Yards (T-14) | 16 Rushing Touchdowns (T-2) | 187 Catches (T-19) | 756 Receiving Yards (T-44) | 5 Receiving Touchdowns (T-44)

Montgomery | 247 Carries (4)* | 1,070 Rushing Yards (T-5) | 8 Rushing Touchdowns (T-15) | 54 Catches (T-62) | 438 Receiving Yards (T-104) | 2 Receiving Touchdowns (T-124)

*() denotes league ranking

2020 Saints Team Rankings: 12th in Total Offense** | 4th in Total Defense**

2020 Bears Team Rankings: 26th in Total Offense** | 11th in Total Defense**

**based on yards per game

NOTES: It’s a Battle of the ‘Backs in the Bayou today. Kamara has been one of the premiere players at the running back position since entering the league in 2017. He’s a lethal weapon as a runner and a receiver and his six (should have been seven) touchdown game in the Saints’ Week 16 win over Minnesota further proved his status as one of the league’s best. His talent is mind-blowing, but his presence alone is game-changing. Kamara draws so much focus from opposing defenses, it opens up opportunities for his teammates to make plays themselves, and it buys time for a 41-year old Drew Brees to work through his progressions, make his throws, and helps keep him safe, an especially important point with Khalil Mack coming to town.

On the other side, the Bears will feature a talented running back of their own. Second-year star David Montgomery broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time this season, and his efforts over the last five games carried his team to the playoffs. During that time, Montgomery scored seven of his eight rushing touchdowns this season, and has become the true focal point of an offense that struggled to find an identity through the first half of the season. Montgomery isn’t at the level that Kamara is as a pass catcher, but he finished the year with just under 500 receiving yards and could be a major factor in the passing game as well, especially as a safety net for embattled quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Expect Montgomery to be as much of a focus for this offense, as Kamara is for the Saints.

Both defenses have played exceptionally well this season. Cameron Jordan and Alex Anzalone are the leaders of the dominating fourth-ranked Saints defense, while Khalil Mack and Eddie Jackson headline the star-studded defense of the Bears. Both teams will be missing key pieces as pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson is out for New Orleans and Chicago linebacker Roquan Smith has been ruled out as well. The team moving on could depend on who is better-equipped to handle the loss of their defensive star. That being said, the Saints have been the more consistent team all season, and can rely heavily on the players and game plan that has gotten them this far. The Bears will be forced to rely on big plays, turnovers, and forcing the Saints to make mistakes. It’s possible that the Bears win this game, but it seems far more likely that the Saints roll into the next round.

Projected Score: 31-21 Saints Win

---

DYLAN ANGELO

8:15 PM EST Kickoff | Matchup: Cleveland Browns (11-5) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Players To Watch: Browns’ WR Jarvis Landry and Steelers’ RB James Conner

Season Stats: 

Landry | 72 Receptions (T-29)* | 840 Yards (36) | 3 Touchdowns (T-87) 

Conner | 169 Carries (19) | 721 Yards (22) | 6 Touchdowns (T-25)

*() denotes league ranking

2020 Steelers Rankings: 25th in Total Offense** | 3rd in Total Defense**

2020 Browns Team Rankings: 16th in Total Offense | 17th in Total Defense

**based on yards per game

NOTES: Tough game here as far as expectations go. We all wrote the Steelers off at the end of the season as almost a sure fire wild card loser. Then week 17 happened and we all started to think Cleveland did not have a shot given how they played against the Steelers C squad. Now Covid takes away Kevin Stefanski for the game tonight. I find myself torn. So with that being said I believe Pittsburgh wins the game but I like the Browns to stay within the 6 point spread. At the end of the day I am siding with the team that should be able to run the ball better from a gamblng standpoint. Just for fun Pittsburgh wins this on a game winning field goal after Big Ben converts a 4th and 8 on the final drive. 

Projected Score: 24-23 Pittsburgh Wins