2023 NFL Divisional Round Predictions
It’s time for more football action! Today we’ll see the Baltimore Ravens host the Houston Texans, and then the Packers in San Francisco to take on the 49ers, with two more games airing on Sunday. We’ll be predicting who moves on whether to the AFC or NFC Championship Game. Let’s look at what teams these members from EnforceTheSport picked!
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Houston Texans showed how special their team is now and can be in the future after they dominated the Cleveland Browns at home during a 45-14 win during the Wild Card Round. However, they’re facing the team with the best record this season at 13-4. Baltimore has dismantled teams all year long. In six of their games this season, Baltimore’s defense has held their opponents to ten points or less. When these two teams played early in the season on September 10th, Baltimore took a 25-9 win at home. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will most likely win his second league MVP Award this season, and with a well-rounded defense, this Baltimore Ravens team is all our pick to move on to the AFC Championship game.
Keith Jr. - Baltimore Ravens
Jackson - Baltimore Ravens
Mike - Baltimore Ravens
Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Let’s be honest most of us outside of Packer fans did not believe Green Bay would win last week in Dallas, but not only did they win, the Green Bay Packers absolutely cooked the Cowboys 48-32. This matchup may be even tougher than last week, as the Packers will be facing the most complete team in the National Football League. Green Bay has won five games on the road this season, including their Wild Card Round win last week. While the Niners have won five games at home this season, with many upsets at Levi Stadium including a Week 18 21-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and a crushing 31-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals before Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending injury. Two of us have the 49ers moving to the NFC Championship Game, while Mike is picking Green Bay to upset the Niners tonight!
Keith Jr. - San Francisco 49ers
Jackson - San Francisco 49ers
Mike - Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions
These two teams gave us two thrilling Wild Card Round matches. Detroit won their first home playoff game in 32 years against the Rams, while Tampa Bay's 32-9 win eliminated last year’s NFC Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams have something to prove this season. For the Lions, many thought they would win the division, but would have a quick exit come playoff time, and with the Bucs, that whole division was up for grabs until the final week of the regular season, if Tampa Bay didn’t pull out that 9-0 win against the Carolina Panthers, we would be talking about a different team. The Buccaneers want to prove last week’s win wasn’t a fluke. Jackson and I have the Detroit Lions moving to the NFC Championship Game, while Mike is rolling with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Keith Jr. - Detroit Lions
Jackson - Detroit Lions
Mike - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills
This will be Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' first road playoff game of his career. Buffalo will certainly be loud and energized on Sunday night to ensure the Bills have as much of an advantage as they can to eliminate last year’s Super Bowl champions. This certainly will be another great matchup between these two teams that have met in the playoffs three times in the last four years. The Chiefs have won the first two playoff matches against the Bills, eliminating Buffalo in the 2020 AFC Championship Game, and the 2021 Divisional Round. Both these teams squashed their opponents last week, and this one due to the amount of intensity, might be a completely different ball game. All three of us have the Kansas City Chiefs making the AFC Championship Game, which would be quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ seventh straight AFC Championship Game.
Keith Jr. - Kansas City Chiefs
Jackson - Kansas City Chiefs
Mike - Kansas City Chiefs
