2020 NFL Playoffs | Sunday Divisional Round
Kickoff: 3:05 PM EST
Matchup: Cleveland Browns (11-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
Players To Watch: Browns’ RBs and Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes
Season Stats:
Hunt + Chubb (Last Week) | 26 Carries | 124 Rushing Yards | 5 Receptions | 82 Receiving Yards | 3 Total Touchdowns
Mahomes | 390-of-588 [66.3%] (16)* | 4,740 Passing Yards (2) | 38 Passing Touchdowns (4) | 6 Interceptions (T-86)
*() denotes league ranking
2020 Browns’ Team Rankings: 16th in Total Offense** (377.0 YPG) | 17th in Total Defense** (369.6 YPG)
2020 Chiefs’ Team Rankings: 1st in Total Offense (415.8 YPG) | 16th in Total Defense (358.3 YPG)
**based on yards per game
Jarrett’s Notes: The Browns are coming off a somewhat surprising victory over the Steelers, where they got off to an incredibly hot start and essentially never looked back. The Cleveland running back tandem of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb has launched the Browns into another category. Football Gods are smiling down at Cleveland right now, but the smiles have been raining down on the Chiefs all season long. Patrick Mahomes was close to earning his second MVP (had it not been for that baaaad man Aaron Rodgers) and he and Tyreek Hill continue to be a match made in QB-WR heaven.
This game, I believe, is going to come down to the run game. Can Kareem Hunt take his former team down, or will newly acquired Le’Veon Bell finally break out as the star the Chiefs have been hoping for, as rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire will miss the game with an injury?
We shall see. After two games that failed to live up to the hype yesterday, hopefully this matchup will give us a much-needed offensive firefight.
Projected Score: 33-31 Browns Win
Jack’s Notes: Baker Mayfield and company spent the better of four quarters dismantling the third-ranked regular season defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. They put up 48 points on a team that had held opponents to under 20 throughout the season. After racking up a league-leading 56 sacks, the Steelers didn’t record a single sack in their Wildcard loss to Cleveland. The Browns offense also had a lot of help from an opportunistic defense which came away with five total turnovers. Equally impressive were the circumstances of the win. The Browns were missing key players like star offensive guard Joel Bitonio and cornerback Denzel as well as their head coach and play caller Kevin Stefanski among other major contributors. The Browns are expected to have most of these players back and their return is a massive boost for a soaring Browns team.
As for their opponents, the Chiefs are the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes II is a transcendent quarterback talent leading an offensive attack with weapons like future Hall-of-Fame tight end Travis Kelce and speedster Tyreek Hill, but they’ll be without the services of rookie standout running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The Chiefs defense is vastly improved this season with an arsenal of its own headlined by star safety Tyrann Matheiu and defensive tackle Chris Jones.
The Chiefs are a Super Bowl caliber team, as evidenced by their 31-20 win over the 49ers in the last one. It’s likely that Mahomes and the rest of the Kansas City squad will roll right over the Browns, but there’s a possibility that the Browns can flip the script. The Chiefs will be fresh off their Bye Week, but could lack energy after not playing a game for almost two weeks. On the other hand, the Browns have momentum, reinforcements, and a strong will to win. No matter who wins, it should be more interesting than the Bills win over the Ravens.
Projected Score: 35-28 Browns Win
Dylan’s Notes: Cleveland and Kansas City. Anyone can look at this and say KC automatic right? Gotta be right? Like one of my favorite ESPN personalities Lee Corso likes to say “not so fast sweetheart”. That is right, I am on Cleveland. I think they have a legit chance to pull the upset. Here is why; Cleveland can run the ball, control the pace, and get after the passer. Now, I am well aware of the fire breathing dragon Pat Mahomes on the other side but this Browns team is not the same as the Titans or Texans of last year. Going back to November 8th through December 27th, the Chiefs played two playoff teams out of seven opponents. Of the 5 non playoff teams KC faced; they found themselves losing in the 4th quarter at one point to the likes of Atlanta, Carolina, Las Vegas, Denver, and Miami. Another nugget to throw your way is teams to score 40 or more points this season in a game. Cleveland 4 times, KC 1. Now that I have laid most of the groundwork for my reasoning here is how I see today’s game playing out. I think Cleveland runs the ball effectively against a KC defense that is suspect; and keeps Pat off the field. Ultimately, I do not think the Browns will be able to fend off the inevitable push from the chiefs. I do think KC wins the game but I love the Browns getting 10 points with the spread. I have a nice feeling on the over as well. But if Cleveland finds a way to win this ball game I will not be surprised.
Projected Score: 32-28 Chiefs win
Kickoff: 6:40 PM EST
Matchup: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) @ New Orleans Saints (12-4)
Players To Watch: Bucs’ QB Tom Brady and Saints’ QB Drew Brees
Season Stats:
Brady (Last Week) | 22-of-40 [55.0%] | 381 Passing Yards | 2 Touchdowns
Brees (Last Week) | 28-of-39 [71.8%] | 265 Passing Yards | 2 Touchdowns
2020 Bucs’ Team Rankings: 7th in Total Offense** (384.1 YPG) | 6th in Total Defense** (327.1 YPG)
2020 Saints’ Team Rankings: 12th in Total Offense** (376.4 YPG) | 4th in Total Defense** (310.9 YPG)
**based on yards per game
Jarrett’s Notes: This is a sad day for football, as it will likely be the final time we see these two sure-HOFers go head-to-head. It will be the third time this season these two gunslingers do battle, with Brees taking the first two duels handedly. But, this is not the same Bucs team from Week 9, they’re better, stronger and healthier than they have been all season long, and things finally seem to be clicking offensively, but the same is true for the Saints, who have the added benefit of boasting one of the leagues’ premier defenses.
This should be a fun one.
Projected Score: 27-23 Saints Win
Jack’s Notes: It’s hard to beat a team twice in one season. It’s even harder to beat a team three times, but the odds favor the Saints. The Saints outscored the Buccaneers 72-26 in their first two matchups including a 38-3 trouncing in Week 8. Both teams have improved as the season has progressed and it’s always hard to bet against Tom Brady, but the Saints are entering the game with a healthy Drew Brees and Michael Thomas, and they just seem to have the Buccaneers’ number this year. In what will likely be the final battle between these two future first ballot Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks, expect to see the Saints go marching into Lambeau Field next week.
Projected Score: 35-24 Saints Win
Dylan’s Notes: This is another game for me that I believe to be extremely close. I know the Saints have dominated the Bucs in two games thus far. But I believe that this one is personal for the Bucs. It is cliche to say that it is hard to beat a team 3 times. But I believe it is hard to beat a GOOD team 3 times in one year because I think it is much easier to get up to give a punch rather than take a punch. I think you will have a motivated group of Bucs players who will want to show and prove to everyone that they are a different team than the last two meetings this year. I think Brady and company are playing better offense and have the potential to win this game easily. I will play the game and say it stays close however. Give me the Bucs +3, Bucs Moneyline and Over 53. Good luck to all!
Projected Score: 31-30 Buccaneers win
