It’s unfortunate that two teams have to lose in the Sunday Divisional Round games. All four teams won at least 12 times during the regular year and three of them claimed a division title. The NFC tilt between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers is the only playoff contest so far that isn’t a rematch from the regular season, though the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills never completed their Week 17 contest. Three teams carry lengthy winning streaks into Sunday with the Niners the hottest team in the NFL with 11 straight victories following their destruction of Seattle. And while they didn’t play the Cowboys during the season the teams hooked up last postseason with San Fran escaping with a 23-17 win.
Emotions will be high in the AFC game since the Week 17 clash was canceled after Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field. Both teams struggled facing a backup QB last week, but survived. Cincinnati won its ninth straight but failed to get a payout for the first time in that span. The Bengals edged Baltimore for the second time is many weeks, 24-17, as a 7.5-point favorite. Cincy has been a money maker, though, going 12-3-1 ATS during the regular season. The Bills haven’t lost a home playoff game since 1996 and are positioned as a 5-point favorite on the NFL betting line. The matchup gets underway from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY at 3 p.m. ET with television coverage provided by CBS.
The results for the Niners have been Purdy with Brock at the controls. Mr. Irrelevant has been anything but since taking over leading the Niners to six straight wins while scoring 37 points or more in each of their last four games. The Niners recorded their 11th straight victory overall beating Seattle, 41-23, last week. The Cowboys will unleash an aggressive defense looking to slow down the Niners, but Dak Prescott will have to crack the code on SF’s league leading stop unit. The game will air on FOX at 6:30 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.
Cincinnati Bengals ( +5 ) at Buffalo Bills ( -5 ) O/U 47.5
Everybody talks about the offensive playmakers on both teams and there are some of the best in the game. Joe Burrow and Josh Allen should be in the MVP discussion and they each have a go-to receiver at their disposal. However, with the Bengals struggling against Baltimore’s stingy defense and Allen having a case of the giveaways, it was the defense that rose to the occasion last week. The Bengals got a go-ahead score from Sam Hubbard on a 98-yard fumble return and the Bills overcame Allen’s three turnovers to edge the Dolphins. Both games were closer than expected with each team failing to cover the closing line.
The teams are fairly evenly matched so there’s a good chance we get another close encounter. However, the Bills have won their last four home games and I like their defense more than Cincy’s. The Bengals also allowed 44 sacks during the season and the line suffered a blow when Jonah Williams was injured last week. The Bengals managed just 234 total yards against the Ravens with Burrow throwing for 209 while getting sacked four times. Turnovers have been an issue all season for Allen, who tossed 14 picks during the season and two more last week while also losing a fumble. Buffalo’s ultimate goal of reaching the Super Bowl is still in play and I like the Bills to take another step in that direction.
Our Prediction: Buffalo Bills -5 and UNDER 47.5
Dallas Cowboys ( +4 ) at San Francisco 49ers ( -4 ) O/U 46.5
With all the weapons the Niners have all Purdy had to do was make good decisions and not turn the ball over. I think he’s done much more than that. But is he the real deal? It’s hard to say with a small sample size yet he continues to amaze. Purdy tossed 13 TD passes during the regular season and overcame a slow start last week with a trio of TD’s as the Niners overwhelmed Seattle 41-23. It’s hard not to talk about the defense, which led the NFL in yards and points allowed while finishing second against the run. Somehow, though, Purdy has taken the focus off that group going 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS since relieving Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13.
This might be the toughest assignment yet for Mr. Irrelevant against a Dallas group that led the NFL with 33 takeaways. One area where Dallas has an advantage is in the return game with Kavontae Turpin. The elusive returner can flip the field if given the chance leaving fewer yards for the offense to traverse. Don’t underestimate Dallas’ ability to move the football, though. They averaged 355 yards and 27.5 points during the year and bounced back from an awful performance against Washington in the finale to shred the Bucs for 425 yards with Dak throwing for 305 and four scores. The Boys also have revenge on their mind after losing last season’s wild card game at home when they failed to beat the clock for one final play.
Our Prediction: Dallas Cowboys +4 and OVER 46.5
