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The Divisional Round in the NFL Playoffs is upon us. With 2 games today January 22, and 2 more
tomorrow, the biggest season ever is almost at a close. We have been given some great
matchups and stories for this round. The Cincinnati Bengals, who no one had finishing better
then 3rd in their division, will face off against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans went big in the
offseason by signing wide receiver Julio Jones and strong side linebacker Bud Dupree. After
finishing the 2020 NFL season at 11-5, the Titans were bounced out of the Wild Card round by
the Baltimore Ravens. Surely the Titans are hungrier than ever as they locked up the number 1
seed in the AFC. Leaning on their number 2 ranked rushing defense and the best downhill
running back in the league in Derrick Henry. But Henry has not been available since week 8.
Suffering from a Jones fracture in his foot, the running back was knocked out of the lineup.
Henry was on pace for the best season from a running back ever. In just 8 games Henry had 937
yards and 10 touchdowns. He still finished top 10 in both categories. News broke that Henry
will be suiting up and is activated off the IR for their matchup today. The Titans do have an
Achilles heel, their pass defense. 25th in the league against the pass. Which is a very bad recipe
when going up against one of the best offensive attacks in the playoffs and maybe in the entire
NFL. The Cincinnati Bengals have fire power all over their offense. Running back Joe Mixon, who
finished 3 rd in rushing yards this season. Rookie phenom Ja’Marr Chase, who broke the rookie receiving record. Not to mention, 2 guys that could be number 1 and 2 on another team, Tyler
Boyd and Tee Higgins. C.J. Uzomah the tight end has started making a name for himself as of
late. Just like Tennessee the Bengals are not good in their secondary. They were the 26th ranked
unit in the league. Which leads me to believe this game is going to be won for either team
through the air. The caveat to this is also who can protect their QB the most. Both teams gave
up the most and 2nd most sacks all year. If you ask me which pass rush I trust more, it is the
Cincinnati Bengals. With defensive end stud Trey Hendrickson being cleared from concussion
protocols, he will be a go. Which means Tannehill will have to get rid of the ball and hope Henry
can have success against this Bills Defense. It isn’t a foregone conclusion Henry will have his
way with this Bengals defense. In Tennessee’s lone playoff game last year, he had 18 carries for
40 yards. There is one guy I have my eye on and I believe will get it done in this game. That man
is Joe Burrow. Probably the most even keel, cool, confident quarterback we have. Being a
number 1 overall draft pick in the 2020 draft, expectations were high. With his rookie season
cut short due to a knee injury, Burrow showed promise. Which led us to his breakout season
this year winning a division title and a wildcard victory. Completing 70% of his throws this year,
I feel that Burrow is the man of this matchup. I expect the Bengals to go into Nashville and
leave with the victory over the Tennessee Titans 31-27.
Now onto the night game with the San Francisco 49ers going against the Green Bay Packers at
Lambeau Field. 2 iconic franchises with 9 combined Super Bowl victories. On one side you have
arguably the best quarterback in the league. Perhaps the best quarterback ever in some
people’s eyes. Then you have Jimmy G, the million-dollar smile and all the confidence. Many
might say this is a one-sided matchup. I will beg to differ. As I have said all along when the 49ers
traded for Jimmy Garoppolo, this is a Super Bowl roster with him at the helm. When healthy
Jimmy G can compete with the best of them. With a 3-1 postseason career and a Super Bowl
appearance, he wins. With a lot of these players on the 49ers roster who were in that Super
Bowl loss vs the Chiefs, they can taste it again. How did the 49ers get to that Super Bowl? They
beat the Aaron Rodgers led Packers in the NFC Championship game. Garoppolo and the 49ers
are 3-1 against Rodgers and the Packers when he starts and plays. The Packers have been the
best team in the NFL all year. These 2 fought in week 3 in a nail biter. Jimmy led the offense to a
potential game winning touchdown drive. Only to be defeated by 2 Passes to Davante Adams
and a late Mason Crosby field goal as time expired. It is safe to say that these 2 teams are
better than what they were in that regular season matchup. After that loss the 49ers went on a
4-game losing streak. On the other side this was Green Bay’s second victory in a 7-game
winning streak. A lot has changed as I have mentioned. The 49ers defense has been relentless
against opposing teams. A deadly pass rush and great run defense catapulted the 49ers on a
run and a shot at the playoffs. Behind the incredible play of Deebo Samuels, who can kill you
when the ball gets in his hands. Green Bay is getting healthy at the right time, getting 3 stars
back for this game. Offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, Linebacker Za’Darius Smith, and
Cornerback Jaire Alexander. The biggest out of the 3 is David Bakhtiari. As we know the 49ers can get to the quarterback when only rushing 4 guys. This allows the weakness of the corners to
be covered up. But with an All-Pro tackle coming back, this can cause issues. As we see there
are so many playmakers and difference makers playing in this game. I think we need to look at
the sidelines instead. Kyle Shanahan head-to-head vs Matt Le’Fleur. Both young creative minds
that were brought into these organizations to change the culture of these franchises. This will
come down to who put together the best game plan. Sounds easy right? Although Le’Fleur has
managed to lose 3 games in each of his 1 st 3 seasons with the Packers, he still has not made it to the Super Bowl. Back-to-back NFC Championship losses to the 49ers and the Buccaneers. I have full faith in Kyle Shanahan to have the upper hand in this matchup. The mistake will not be
made this time around to give Aaron Rodgers the ball back with time on the clock. This will be
methodical, and I expect the 49ers to win in the tundra 26-21 vs the Pack. FTTB!
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