Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers enter Divisional Round as Super Bowl favorites : Sportsnaut

NFL energy rankings: The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Inexperienced Bay Packers sat at dwelling to observe the six NFL Wildcard playoff games this past weekend. They’re thought-about the odds-on favorites to satisfy in Tremendous Bowl LV. With that stated, groups just like the Buffalo Payments, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens made some noise. Right here, we provide you with our up to date NFL energy rankings for the eight groups remaining within the NFL Playoffs.

NFL Energy Rankings: Who will win Tremendous Bowl LV?

1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

Andy Reid boasts a 5-2 document within the NFL Playoffs coming off a first-round bye. The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have an excellent larger benefit, when it comes to relaxation, due to Reid sitting Mahomes and Co. for Week 17. Whereas a two-week down interval may look like of venture, factoring within the threat of rust, that point to relaxation and mentally put together is essential in a grueling NFL season. In brief, we’re not involved a couple of lengthy layoff for Kansas Metropolis.

Associated: Top 100 players in the NFL right now

What ought to concern different groups within the playoffs is that the Chiefs actually haven’t performed at their peak degree but. We’ve seen flashes of it, like once they took a 27-10 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after which eased their foot off the break. That is additionally the identical workforce that completed 14-1, earlier than dropping Week 17 with its backups. The NFL Playoffs are when Patrick Mahomes shines and we’re anticipating fireworks within the Divisional Spherical.

2. Inexperienced Bay Packers

Issues labored our slightly properly for the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Wild Card Weekend. As an alternative of staring down a possible matchup in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who crushed this workforce within the common season, the Packers averted Tom Brady and Co. Preparation for the Los Angeles Rams began Saturday night time. And whereas the matchup is way from a dream, issues look good for the Packers.

Associated: If you’re a fan of the Packers, check out #GoPackGo rumors, rankings, and news here.

For one, Jared Goff is a a lot simpler quarterback to organize for than Tom Brady. Goff, just some weeks faraway from breaking his right thumb, is already flawed as a passer. Now, he’ll be taking part in with pins in his thumb in Inexperienced Bay’s frigid temperatures. Aaron Donald will trigger issues for the Packers, there’s no approach round that. However, there’s additionally a distinction between the best pass-blocking offensive line in the NFL and Seattle’s cross safety (14th). This might be a reasonably low-scoring recreation, however the Packers ought to really feel a bit extra snug with the huge benefit at quarterback. It’s why they rank forward of the Rams in our newest NFL energy rankings.

NFL Energy Rankings: Greatest groups in NFL Playoffs

3. Buffalo Payments

Biggest winners and losers from Saturday’s 2021 NFL Wild Card Weekend action

After a tough debut within the NFL Playoffs final yr, Josh Allen delivered an announcement to kick-off 2021. There’s a motive the Buffalo Payments are preparing a massive contract offer; this 24-year-old quarterback is turning into an NFL MVP candidate in entrance of our eyes. Within the Wild Card spherical, we noticed that when he scored three whole touchdowns and racked up 324 passing yards.

Fairly frankly, the Payments are the most well liked workforce within the NFL proper now. Buffalo’s protection is taking part in at a considerably greater degree than we noticed earlier within the season and this offense exhibits no indicators of slowing down. Plus, it’s all the time good to have a bit home-field benefit and Payments Stadium might be rocking within the Divisional Spherical with a visit to the AFC Championship Sport on the road.

4. New Orleans Saints

New Orleans’ win over Chicago within the wildcard spherical was about as convincing as it gets from a defensive perspective. The Saints yielded franchise playoff lows of 9 factors, 11 first downs and 239 whole yards of offense. And after a comparatively sluggish begin on offense, Drew Brees received it going to the tune of two second half touchdown-scoring drives.

Associated: NFL defense rankings – Wildcard Weekend edition

Thought of one of many prime Tremendous Bowl contenders in the course of the common season, the Saints did nothing this previous weekend to dispel that notion. It’s additionally necessary to notice that Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas are seemingly 100% wholesome after coping with injury-plagued common seasons. They mixed for 189 whole yards on Sunday. If these two can present they’re the identical gamers as earlier years, be careful.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It wasn’t all the time fairly on Saturday, however a victory on Tremendous Wild Card Weekend is all that issues. Tampa Bay did a pleasant job holding the pocket clear, permitting Tom Brady to assault Washington’s secondary. When the sport received shut, with the Buccaneers clinging to a two-point lead, the long run Corridor of Fame quarterback got here by way of and put the sport away. In fact, you anticipate that from the best quarterback in NFL historical past.

Associated: If you’re a fan of the Buccaneers, check out #GoBucs rumors, rankings, and news here.

The actual enjoyable begins within the Divisional Spherical. In two begins in opposition to the New Orleans Saints this season, Brady accomplished simply 60.8% of his passes, averaged 6.1 yards per try and posted an terrible 2/5 TD/INT ratio. It can also’t be forgotten that Tampa Bay misplaced each video games. Beating an opponent, particularly an excellent workforce, 3 times in a season is extremely tough. With that stated, the Buccaneers must be the underdogs, given how nicely the Saints match up in opposition to them.

6. Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson had a career-defining moment Sunday in opposition to the Titans. Down 10-0 within the first half, the reigning NFL MVP was dealing with one other playoff deficit. May he lead the Ravens again for his first postseason win in three makes an attempt, exercising the demons from last year’s matchup against this very same team? Jackson responded resoundingly. Baltimore got here away with a 20-13 win as Jackson went for 315 whole yards.

Associated: Winners/losers from Ravens-Titans game

What’s much more spectacular right here for the red-hot Ravens is the truth that their protection held Derrick Henry to 40 yards on 18 makes an attempt. That sort of stout protection could make an opposing offense one-dimensional. It truly is one thing to consider heading heading into the AFC Divisional Playoffs in opposition to the Buffalo Payments.

7. Cleveland Browns

There was some concern about these Browns heading into their first playoff look since 2002. A COVID-19 outbreak pressured head coach Kevin Stefanski and a number of gamers out of the sport. Regardless of boasting an 11-5 regular-season document, Cleveland was additionally 3-3 in opposition to profitable groups. May the Browns go into Pittsburgh and are available away with a win?

Associated: If you’re a fan of the Browns, check out #Browns rumors, rankings, and news here.

This query was answered inside the first 13 minutes of the sport. Counting on a mistake-prone Steelers squad, Cleveland opened up a 28-0 lead. It was essentially the most factors a workforce has scored within the first quarter in NFL Playoff historical past. And whereas the Steelers got here again to make this considerably of a recreation, two touchdown-scoring drives by Baker Mayfield within the fourth quarter put this one away. In leading his team to a 48-37 win, Mayfield utterly outplayed Ben Roethlisberger. It has the Browns desirous about larger issues heading right into a matchup with the defending champion Chiefs.

8. Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams wanted an completely dominant efficiency from their protection to drag off an upset within the Wild Card spherical. Because of Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and a few big performs from unheralded gamers, that’s precisely what occurred. Los Angeles suffocated the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday and it paved the best way for this workforce punching a ticket to Lambeau Area.

Associated: Winners and losers from Saturday’s NFL Wildcard games

There are causes to be involved about this matchup for the Rams. Even when Cooper Kupp (knee) and Aaron Donald (ribs) are cleared to play, each could possibly be restricted bodily. The larger downside, although, is Goff throwing it 20-plus occasions in frigid temperatures. It’s going to take loads for the Rams to drag off the Divisional Spherical upset, most likely a defensive landing and a number of takeaways.