NFL playoffs: Guess who’s back, back again

January 21, 2022
The GIST: After last week’s thrilling Super Wild Card slate, it’s been a long four days without football. Pause the Super Bowl halftime show trailer, and get ready for this weekend’s Divisional Round games, starting with the AFC matchups.
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NFL playoffs: Guess who’s back, back again
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The GIST: After last week’s thrilling Super Wild Card slate, it’s been a long four days without football. Pause the Super Bowl halftime show trailer, and get ready for this weekend’s Divisional Round games, starting with the AFC matchups.

No. 1 Tennessee Titans vs. No. 4 Cincinnati Bengals — Tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. ET

  • Fresh off a bye week, the top-seeded Titans will gain a huge boost with the (likely) return of star running back (RB) Derrick Henry. But don’t count out the Bengals, who are riding high after their first playoff win since 1991, before texts were even invented.

No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 3 Buffalo Bills — Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET

  • Expect a lot of scoring with two elite quarterbacks (QBs) —Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo's Josh Allen — set to square off. If KC’s stadium runs out again, these two squads will provide more than enough fireworks.

No. 1 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 6 San Francisco 49ers — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET

  • Transitioning to the NFC, the Aaron Rodgers–led Packers face a 49ers team that only squeaked into the next round because of their opponent’s terrible decision-making. San Francisco star wide receiver (WR) Deebo Samuel will help keep things close, but Green Bay should send the Niners packing.

No. 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. No. 4 LA Rams — Sunday at 3 p.m. ET

  • GOAT QB Tom Brady and the defending champion Bucs vs. reigning Defensive Player of the Year defensive tackle Aaron Donald and the Rams. If you can watch only one game this weekend, make it this one.