B/R
And then there were eight.
After the Los Angeles Rams’ victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, the NFL’s Divisional Round is set with the eight remaining teams with Super Bowl aspirations. The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions will enter the picture after their byes in the Wild Card Round, and the action will begin Saturday.
Here is a look at the full schedule for the Divisional Round.
NFL fans couldn’t have asked for better storylines and games in the next round.
It all starts with the Chiefs’ first playoff game as they attempt to become the first team in league history to win three straight Super Bowl titles. But the age-old question of rest vs. rust will take center stage considering it will be the first game for Patrick Mahomes and many other starters since their Christmas Day win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Houston Texans will also arrive with plenty of momentum and a stout defense that just picked off Justin Herbert four times in their Wild Card Round win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
If that defense can keep Mahomes and Co. in check, C.J. Stroud, Joe Mixon and Nico Collins may be able to make enough plays on the other side to get a win.
Saturday’s second game could feature plenty of points as likely Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders roll into Detroit to face the top-seeded Lions.
Look for plenty of fourth-down attempts and offensive fireworks, but the Lions seem to be on a mission to reach the Super Bowl after coming just short last season. They bring the league’s top-scoring offense and seventh-best scoring defense to the table, which means Daniels and Washington will have to play a perfect game to pull off the upset.
As for Sunday, it will be a day of superstars.
Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson square off in an MVP showdown and what may be the best game of the entire Divisional Round slate. They could look to one-up each other as MVP candidates under the playoff lights, and the victor may get a chance at Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
JOSH ALLEN TO CURTIS SAMUEL FOR THE 55-YARD TD 💨
Bills are running away with it 🔥
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/5WDMX2m3i5
There will also be no shortage of star power on the NFC’s side with Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown leading the Philadelphia Eagles against Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and the Los Angeles Rams.
The NFL schedule is at the point of the year when the top-notch teams and players have fully separated themselves from the pack, so there should be plenty of thrilling action as they battle for positioning in the race to the Lombardi Trophy.
Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterJan 19, 2025, 11:25 AM ETCloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching
Officials in the Kansas City Chiefs AFC divisional round win over the Houston Texans on Saturday night came under scrutiny over questionable calls throughout t
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