NFL Divisional Round: Tips and previews of all four games

The NFL season has (finally) reached the Divisional Round, and the remaining teams are now just two victories away from reaching the Super Bowl. This means that the two conference winners, Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, enters the playoffs after sitting over in last weekend’s Wild Card Round, and we have four exciting matches ahead of us.

In this article, I’ll preview the matches and give you the best early NFL bets for each of the four games to, hopefully, make the weekend more lucrative for you.

Kansas City Chiefs – Houston Texans

The main event Saturday evening is in Kansas City, where the two-time reigning champions Chiefs take on Houston Texans. The home team is trying to become the first team ever to win the Super Bowl three times in a row, but first they must get through this fixture. Chiefs has been one of the strongest teams in the league this season, and this is visible on the NFL winner odds from Bet365.

It’s an advantage for the Chiefs to get to this match with fresh bodies, as they were rested last weekend due to them earning the bye week as conference winners.

I expect a low scoring match here. Houston have struggled offensively all season, and didn’t show much last weekend either against a terrible Los Angeles Chargers team. That they scored 32 points is, in my opinion, more down to Justin Herbert throwing four interceptions than their own offensive strength.

Meanwhile, Chiefs boast one of the stronger defences in the league, and an offence capable of killing matches with long methodical drives. This will take points off the scoreboard, and I expect Chiefs to be protecting a lead for most of the game.

To make things even worse for Texans, cold temperatures and noteworthy winds are expected for the match. Stroud is famously play significantly worse in these conditions than in warmer weather.

Betting tip: Under 41,5 points @1.90 at Bet365

Detroit Lions – Washington Commanders

Just like the Chiefs, Lions sat over last weekend and have used the week to get fully rested and prepare for this match. They enter the game as firm favourites at the bookmakers, currently priced around odds 1.20.

I expect Lions to take care of business here against an inexperienced and overperforming Commanders team.

Lions have been an elite team all season, and for this match they are likely to get star running back David Montgomery back from injury, which boosts the rushing attack significantly. Commanders, meanwhile, have one of the weakest rushing defences in the NFL. With Montgomery and his RB colleague Jahmyr Gibbs back together in the backfield, Lions should run all over Commanders and take advantage of this matchup.

Commanders have already impressed everybody this season by making it this far, but this is likely to be the end. They have gone far based on the back of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and heroic fighting, but Lions are a completely different size than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and I think this will be the end of their season.

Betting tip: Lions (-9.5) to win @1,90 at Bet365

Philadelphia Eagles – Los Angeles Rams

The Eagles are huge favourites at home against the Rams after last weekend’s victory against the Packers. However, the victory wasn’t as convincing as the score suggested as the Eagles had a tough time moving the ball and were frequently bailed out by the defence.

Rams on the other hand delivered a stellar performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they delivered the biggest upset of the Wild Card round. One of the best players in that match was running back Kyren Williams who finished the game with 76 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards as well as two touchdowns.

Williams has been involved more as a passer in recent weeks, catching at least three passes in four of the last five matches, and I expect that trend to continue. Quarterback Matthew Stafford funnels the offence through his star players, and Williams is one of them. Furthermore, the presence of wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp means that there should be room on the shorter routes for Williams, while he’ll also work as an important emergency option for Stafford when the Eagles’ fierce pass rush blitz him.

Furthermore, Williams has been over the line in six of the previous nine matches.

Betting tip: Kyren Williams over 12.5 receiving yards @1.90 at Bet365

Buffalo Bills – Baltimore Ravens

The highlight of the weekend is the Sunday night match between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. The winner earns the right to, probably, take on Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City next weekend.

Ravens are small favourites at the time of writing, but the bookmakers are expecting a shootout with the current line being 51,5 points at N1Bet. If the match is to reach that level, Buffalo will need a big game from running back James Cook.

The young star has been excellent this season, and he delivered 120 rushing yards and a touchdown against Denver Broncos last weekend.

His receiving line is currently 13,5 and I expect him to beat that comfortably. He didn’t record a single target against the Broncos, but the Bills were also playing from ahead for most of the match and didn’t need to do much offensively.

This match will be much harder for them, and against a highly skilled Ravens defence with elite defensive backs, short throws to James Cook are an excellent option.

Cook went above this line in six of the last eight regular season games.

Betting tip: James Cook above 13.5 receiving yards @1.90 at Bet365