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The NFL playoffs are finally here, and it’s time to find out who is the best of the best. The journey begins on Saturday with what we affectionately call “Super Wild Card Weekend.” C.J. Stroud takes on Joe Flacco, Tyreek Hill returns to Kansas City, Mike McCarthy hosts his former team while Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff face off against their former clubs in what is sure to be a memorable Motor City showdown.
Let’s get ahead of ourselves before any postseason football is actually played and attempt to predict the entire NFL playoff bracket. Are the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers destined to meet in Vegas as the NFL script writers foretold in their color scheme? Could Patrick Mahomes lead a Kansas City Chiefs rebound and get back to the Big Game? Maybe the Buffalo Bills shock the world and get to Vegas. Let’s explore.
Odds courtesy of SportsLine consensus
Super Wild Card Weekend
(5) Cleveland Browns (-2.5) at (4) Houston Texans
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC, fubo try for free)
Shoutout to the Texans, who completed a worst-to-first turnaround by winning the AFC South after finishing in last place in 2022. Stroud, who will win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, led the league in passing yards per game (273.9), and is first in EPA/dropback vs. zone coverage this season. Sounds great, except the Browns play man coverage at the highest rate in the NFL (41%).
The Browns defense could help Cleveland make a legitimate run. They allowed the fewest yards per game (270.0) since the 2014 Seattle Seahawks, who made the Super Bowl. Cleveland had the highest three-and-out percentage (48.6%) since the 2005 Tennessee Titans, the fewest yards per drive allowed (20.7) since the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers and the fewest first downs allowed per game (14.9) since the 2009 New York Jets. This defense can contain Stroud and Nico Collins.
As for the Browns offense, Texans fans likely still…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-playoff-bracket-projection-49ers-edge-ravens-in-super-bowl-lviii-predictions-for-every-game/
Author : Jordan Dajani
Publish date : 2024-01-13 17:51:40
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