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Wild Card
Indianapolis Colts (6)
Houston Texans (3)
Game Recap
The Colts opened the 2019 NFL playoffs with an upset of the Texans. The Colts entered the game as 1.5-point underdogs, and walked out of Houston with a 21-7 win. The final score came in easily under the 48 point total.
This game came down to the Indianapolis defense imposing its will on the Texans. While Houston’s defense gets more publicity, the Colts defense had quietly put together a solid 2018 campaign. The Colts jumped out to a 21-0 lead, and once the Texans had to abandon the run, things went south in a hurry. The Colts kept pressure on DeShaun Watson, and while they “only” had three sacks, they had Watson skipping throws left and right in the fourth quarter.
Andrew Luck had a solid performance, but Marlon Mack carried the offense in this one. He finished the game with 148 yards on 24 carries, with only a 29-yard carry as his long. The Colts advance to face the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the divisional round, and considering the Chiefs run defense ranks dead last in efficiency, Mack could be the key in that matchup.
Injuries
IND
Out
- Ryan Grant, WR
- Tyquan Lewis, DL
Doubtful
- J.J. Wilcox, S,
Questionable
- Clayton Geathers, S
- T.Y. Hilton, WR
- Dontrelle Inman, WR
- Zach Pascal, WR
- Jabaal Sheard, DE
HOU
Questionable
- Keke Coutee, WR
- Gregory Howell, RB
Los Angeles Chargers (5)
Baltimore Ravens (4)
Game Recap
We almost had a stunning comeback, but it was not meant to be. The Ravens could not overcome three quarters of atrocious offensive play, and the Chargers held off a furious fourth quarter comeback for the win. The Chargers swung the second AFC upset, winning outright as three-point underdogs. The under seemed a lock at halftime in a defensive affair, but Lamar Jackson gave under bettors a sweat with a big fourth quarter. It was not enough to get the win or the over, but it kept bettors a lot more interested than Ravens fans in attendance at the game. The Ravens scored two late touchdowns and the game came in just shy of the pre-game 43-point total. The Chargers advance to face the New England Patriots in the divisional round, opening as five point underdogs.
Injuries
LAC
Out
- Jatavis Brown, LB
Doubtful
- Brandon Mebane, DT
Questionable
- Austin Ekeler, RB
BAL
Questionable
- Tavon Young, CB
- Alex Lewis, OG
- Chris Moore, WR
Wild Card
Philadelphia Eagles (6)
Chicago Bears (3)
Game Recap
The Eagles’ chance at a second magical playoff run is alive! Philadelphia walked away from Soldier Field winning outright as 6.5-pt underdogs. The defensive battle saw the point total come in under 42.
The Eagles led much of the day, but a wild fourth quarter saw them just escape with a win. The Bears kicked a field goal to cut the Eagles lead to 10-9 at the start of the fourth quarter, and then took a 15-10 lead on an Allen Robinson touchdown reception with 9:04 to go. After trading punts, the Eagles drove 60 yards on 12 plays and scored a touchdown on 4th and goal at the Bears 2-yard line with 56 seconds remaining. Tarik Cohen returned the ensuing kickoff out to the 42 yard line, and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky got the Bears down to the Eagles 25 with ten seconds remaining. However, Cody Parkey booted the field goal try off the upright and the Eagles held on.
Philly travels to face the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round and has opened as an eight point underdog.
Injuries
PHI
Out
- D.J. Alexander, LB
- Sidney Jones, CB
- Mike Wallace, WR
- Carson Wentz, QB
Questionable
- Michael Bennett, DE
- Avonte Maddox, CB
- Jason Peters, OT
- Isaac Seumalo, OG
CHI
Out
- Aaron Lynch, LB
Questionable
- DeAndre Houston-Carson, S
- Eddie Jackson, S
- Bilal Nichols, DT
Seattle Seahawks (5)
Dallas Cowboys (4)
Game Recap
The Cowboys edged out the Seahawks 24-22, but god forbid those (including me) who got the Cowboys as a 2.5 point favorite. The Cowboys appeared to have the cover in place, and if you had the under, you were in good shape. Instead, a late Russell Wilson touchdown pass to J.D. McKissic resulted in the Seahawks cover.
Kicker Sebastian Janikowski suffered an ugly hamstring injury at the end of the second quarter that removed him from the game. Rather than kick the extra point on McKissic’s late touchdown, the Seahawks went for two and converted. They did not recover the ensuing onside kick, but the 24-22 final score cost under bettors and Cowboys bettors.
Injuries
SEA
Doubtful
- Tre Madden, RB
Questionable
- J.R. Sweezy, OG
DAL
Out
- David Irving, DE
Doubtful
- Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG
Questionable
- Tavon Austin, WR
- S Darian Thompson
Divisional Round
Indianapolis Colts (6)
Kansas City Chiefs (1)
Game Recap
Well, so much for the Colts and the over. The Chiefs ran the Colts out of the building in the first quarter, and even though Kansas City tried to let them back in the game, it was to no avail. Patrick Mahomes looked like a savvy veteran, guiding the Chiefs to a 17-0 lead in what looked like it would turn into a blowout. The Chiefs won with relative ease, but they gave the Colts some opportunities. Indianapolis blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone to cut the lead to 17-7. The Chiefs responded with a 75-yard drive to take a 24-7 lead with 1:40 to go. Andrew Luck closed out the half with his best drive of the game, but Adam Vinatieri missed a 23-yard field goal as time expired, and it felt like that would sum up the night.
The Colts shut down the Chiefs in the third quarter and for most of the fourth quarter, but they just could not get their own offense going. They finally scored a touchdown with 5:37 remaining in the game, but their defense promptly gave up a 61-yard touchdown drive. A late score cut into the lead but didn’t matter. The Chiefs covered the five point spread and the game in under the 57 point total. The total came down to as low as 53 right before kickoff due to the snow, but it didn’t even hit that. The Chiefs advance to host the winner of the Chargers-Patriots game in the AFC Championship Game.
Injuries
IND
Out
- Ryan Grant, WR
Doubtful
- Tyquan Lewis, DE
Questionable
- Denico Autry, DT
- Malik Hooker, S
KC
Doubtful
- Dorian O’Daniel, LB
Questionable
- Eric Berry, S
- Spencer Ware, RB
- Sammy Watkins, WR
Read More
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New England Patriots (2)
Game Recap
The Patriots were not messing around in the divisional round. They came out swinging and the Chargers had no answer after their own opening drive. The Patriots covered the four point spread with ease, and almost surpassed the point total (48) by themselves.
The two sides exchanged touchdowns to open the game, and it felt like the game would be a shootout. While we got plenty of points, it was primarily because of the Patriots. After the Chargers tied the game at seven, the Patriots ran off 31 unanswered points over the next two quarters. The Chargers scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half, but it was too little too late — unless you bet the Chargers team total over 20.5 points!
The Chargers lost an interception and a fumble, but even when they were avoiding turnovers, LA simply could not move the ball against New England. Melvin Gordon had 15 rushing yards and Philip Rivers only completed 45 percent of his passes. The Patriots defense played arguably its best game of the year, and now they’re headed to Kansas City to face the Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
Injuries
LAC
Questionable
- Brandon Facyson, CB
- Derek Watt, RB
- Kyle Wilson, LB
- Hunter Henry, TE
NE
Limited
- Deatrich Wise, DE
Read More
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Philadelphia Eagles (6)
New Orleans Saints (1)
Game Recap
Nick Foles’ magic has come to an end. After a spectacular run to Super Bowl MVP a year ago, the clock struck midnight as Foles threw a game-ending interception with two minutes left. The Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead, but the Saints stormed back with 20 unanswered points. The Eagles offense fell apart after they took their lead and could not get any kind of consistency the rest of the day.
The Philadelphia defense put up a strong effort, which allowed the Eagles to cover the eight point spread and keep the game under the point total of 51. The Saints advance to host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
Injuries
PHI
Out
- Carson Wentz, QB
Questionable
- D.J. Alexander, LB
- Michael Bennett, DE
- Shelton Gibson, WR
- Sidney Jones, CB
- Jason Peters, OT
- Mike Wallace, WR
NO
Out
- Simmie Cobbs, WR
Read More
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Los Angeles Rams (2)
Game Recap
The Cowboys gave the Rams a tough time in the first and fourth quarter, but LA rolled over them in the middle quarters to hold on for the cover. C.J. Anderson and Todd Gurley combined for 238 rushing yards, becoming the first teammates to each rush for more than 100 yards in a playoff game since Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore in the 2013 divisional round.
The Cowboys actually had a chance to get the push when they scored their final touchdown. Trailing 30-21, they elected to kick the extra point rather than go for two. Strategy suggests they should have gone for two, but Rams backers are happy they didn’t. That final Cowboys score also pushed the game over the 48.5 point total.
Injuries
DAL
Out
- David Irving, DE
Questionable
- Cole Beasley, WR
- Blake Jarwin, TE
- Maliek Collins, DT
- Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG
- Darian Thompson, S
LAR
Questionable
- Ethan Westbrooks, DT
Read More
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New England Patriots (2)
Kansas City Chiefs (1)
Game Recap
What a game! The Patriots won the game outright after entering as a field goal underdog. The game also went over the point total (56.5) thanks to a wild fourth quarter. The Patriots won 37-31 in overtime, and advance to face the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53.
The Patriots were rolling early, taking a 14-0 lead into the half. They shut down the Chiefs dynamic passing attack, but as one would expect, the Chiefs woke up in the second half. After the two teams combined for ten points in the third quarter, things were lit in the fourth quarter. The Patriots and Chiefs combined for 38 points and the game blew past the over before overtime wrapped it up.
Injuries
NE
No injuries
- No injuries
KC
Out
- Dorian O’Daniel, LB
Read More
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Los Angeles Rams (2)
New Orleans Saints (1)
Game Recap
The Rams entered the game as a field goal underdog, but covered in an outright win over the Saints. The point total closed at 56 points, which means the under hit. The Rams advance to face the winner of the Chiefs-Patriots AFC Championship game. Prior to the conference championship games, the Rams were projected as a 1.5-point favorite against the Patriots and a pick ‘em with the Chiefs.
The Saints looked like they were going to win this game handily, taking a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. However, the Rams defense did just enough to give the offense time to get back on track. They clawed their way back before forcing overtime. The Rams won on a 57-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein, but this game might be remembered most for the missed defensive pass interference call in the final two minutes. If the flag is thrown, the Saints would have been able to run the clock down to the end and kick the game-winning field goal. That would have resulted in a push.
Injuries
LAR
No injuries
- No injuries
NO
Out
- Keith Kirkwood, WR
Questionable
- Benjamin Watson, TE
Super Bowl
New England Patriots (2)
Los Angeles Rams (2)
Game Recap
We have a new lowest scoring Super Bowl! The Patriots defense and an inept Rams offense combined for 16 total points, surpassing the Miami Dolphins 14-7 victory over Washington in Super Bowl 7. It brought this game in well under the point total. The game opened with a point total of 57.5 before settling in at 56 the week of the game, and it would not have made a different to even cut it in half. The Patriots won what turned into an inevitability, covering the 2.5 point spread.
Injuries
NE
No injuries
- No injuries
LAR
No injuries
- No injuries