The NFL playoffs start Saturday, and I'm going to make picks for the postseason. I'll just start with the Saturday wild card games, since I'm also going to do a preview of Virginia's basketball game against North Carolina. So here we go:
Titans (9-7) at Chiefs (10-6), 4:35 p.m. ESPN/ABC
In the first AFC game, Tennessee travels to Arrowhead Stadium to face streaky Kansas City. The Chiefs won their first five games, then lost six of seven before winning their final four. Through it all, QB Alex Smith had one of if not his best pro season and led the league in passer rating. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt took the league by storm early in the season, and giving him the ball more helped the Chiefs get back on track late in the season. Speedster Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce can be dynamic in the pass game. The defense was inconsistent but seemed to improve. The Titans are in the playoffs in QB Marcus Mariota's third season. He had probably his worst year statistically, though, throwing 13 TDs and 15 picks. Tennessee struggled down the stretch, losing three close games in a row before defeating the Jaguars in a win-and-in situation in Week 17. The Titans' defense was a strength, especially late in the season. They rely on their run game, fueled by Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray, but Murray is out for this game with a knee injury. At Kansas City and on a roll, I like the Chiefs to eventually pull away from the Titans.
Chiefs 26, Titans 17
Falcons (10-6) at Rams (11-5), 8:15 p.m. NBC
In the first NFC contest, defending conference champion Atlanta travels to face the NFC's surprise team, Los Angeles. Sean McVay did an extremely good job in turning around the Rams in his first year, increasing their win total from four in 2016 and getting them to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. He completely lit a fire under QB Jared Goff, the former No. 1 draft pick who was not good in his rookie season. Running back Todd Gurley is dangerous rushing and catching the ball and is getting consideration for MVP. Their defense, led by lineman Aaron Donald, is coordinated by Wade Phillips, who has plenty of experience and won a Super Bowl with Denver. The Rams slowly began to turn heads throughout the year and then made a statement by destroying the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 15, 42-7. One thing Atlanta has on Los Angeles is playoff experience. Basically this same team reached the Super Bowl last year, and, infamously, led the Patriots 28-3 late in the third quarter before falling, 34-28, in overtime. Some analysts believe coach Dan Quinn should get credit for making sure that haunting loss didn't follow the Falcons into this season. Atlanta has not been as good this year as last, but they pretty much needed to beat the Panthers in Week 17 to get in, and they did. QB Matt Ryan took a step back from 2016, when he was MVP, but the offense is still quite potent with tailbacks Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and wide receivers Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu on the outside. The defense is patterned after Seattle's, with Quinn being the coordinator there before taking over the Falcons. Experience sometimes wins out in these games, but I really do like the Rams, who were just more consistent and explosive throughout the entire season.
Rams 30, Falcons 27
Titans (9-7) at Chiefs (10-6), 4:35 p.m. ESPN/ABC
In the first AFC game, Tennessee travels to Arrowhead Stadium to face streaky Kansas City. The Chiefs won their first five games, then lost six of seven before winning their final four. Through it all, QB Alex Smith had one of if not his best pro season and led the league in passer rating. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt took the league by storm early in the season, and giving him the ball more helped the Chiefs get back on track late in the season. Speedster Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce can be dynamic in the pass game. The defense was inconsistent but seemed to improve. The Titans are in the playoffs in QB Marcus Mariota's third season. He had probably his worst year statistically, though, throwing 13 TDs and 15 picks. Tennessee struggled down the stretch, losing three close games in a row before defeating the Jaguars in a win-and-in situation in Week 17. The Titans' defense was a strength, especially late in the season. They rely on their run game, fueled by Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray, but Murray is out for this game with a knee injury. At Kansas City and on a roll, I like the Chiefs to eventually pull away from the Titans.
Chiefs 26, Titans 17
Falcons (10-6) at Rams (11-5), 8:15 p.m. NBC
In the first NFC contest, defending conference champion Atlanta travels to face the NFC's surprise team, Los Angeles. Sean McVay did an extremely good job in turning around the Rams in his first year, increasing their win total from four in 2016 and getting them to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. He completely lit a fire under QB Jared Goff, the former No. 1 draft pick who was not good in his rookie season. Running back Todd Gurley is dangerous rushing and catching the ball and is getting consideration for MVP. Their defense, led by lineman Aaron Donald, is coordinated by Wade Phillips, who has plenty of experience and won a Super Bowl with Denver. The Rams slowly began to turn heads throughout the year and then made a statement by destroying the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 15, 42-7. One thing Atlanta has on Los Angeles is playoff experience. Basically this same team reached the Super Bowl last year, and, infamously, led the Patriots 28-3 late in the third quarter before falling, 34-28, in overtime. Some analysts believe coach Dan Quinn should get credit for making sure that haunting loss didn't follow the Falcons into this season. Atlanta has not been as good this year as last, but they pretty much needed to beat the Panthers in Week 17 to get in, and they did. QB Matt Ryan took a step back from 2016, when he was MVP, but the offense is still quite potent with tailbacks Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and wide receivers Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu on the outside. The defense is patterned after Seattle's, with Quinn being the coordinator there before taking over the Falcons. Experience sometimes wins out in these games, but I really do like the Rams, who were just more consistent and explosive throughout the entire season.
Rams 30, Falcons 27
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