Big Ben Tuesday: NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview, Great Games on Tap

STAMFORD, CT – It was a fun Super Wild Card Weekend… all the way into Monday. There were some blowouts and a few fun ones that came down to the wire, setting up some intriguing match-ups. Let’s take an early look at the NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview… Great Games on Tap.

SATURDAY

Cincinnati at TennesseeThe Bengals are the sexier pick right now, with Burrow slinging it around, but I think some folks are sleeping on the Titans. They’ve had a bizarre season, featuring brutal losses against the likes of the Jets and Texans, but also some eye opening wins in holding the Chiefs to 3 points and crushing the Dolphins in Week 17, who hadn’t lost since October. It feels like the Bengals are a year away and the Titans are battle tested. The Titans will get by on experience and coaching. Oh, and getting the big man back won’t hurt either… The Pick: Titans – 3.5

San Francisco at Green Bay
The Packers weakness is their run defense, which so happens to be what the Niners do really well. Hmm. This is not the best draw for the Packers, Deebo Samuel is an absolute weapon.. But it’s damn near impossible to pick Jimmy G in Lambeau over the A-Rodg in January. The Niners had some big injuries on defense vs the Cowboys, including their best two pass rushers, Nick Bosa and Jordan Willis. They’ll need both of them to have a chance… The Pick: Packers – 5.5

SUNDAY

LA Rams at Tampa Bay

Ben Whitney

I don’t want to overreact to the Rams dominant Monday night performance, but this team is a threat. The unlikely return of Cam Akers is big, and Odell is settling in. Tbe Bucs’ stud RT Tristan Wirfs is in a walking boot and C Ryan Jensen injured his back as well. That’s not good. I’ll never learn my lesson, betting against TB12, but I have to pick at least one underdog. This one feels like the Bucs have had too many injuries to overcome… The Pick: Rams + 3

Who do you like to advance to Championship Sunday? Let us know in the comments.

Come back tomorrow for Angry Ward. Follow us on Twitter at @benwhit, @MeetTheMatts, @Matt_McCarthy00, Instagram @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.

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About Ben Whitney 400 Articles
Ben Whitney comes from journalistic stock. Aside from his brothers, rumor has that his great-great grandfather was the youngest brother of Eli Whitney and covered the earliest "rounders" games. Big Ben is also another New York Rugby Club player/pal of Different Matt, Short Matt and Junoir Blaber. He likes film noir discussions, has twin girls and took up ice hockey after retiring from rugby.