LA Rams wild ride wraps up Wildcard Round of NFL Playoffs

NFL Sunday games

The Sunday games feature a bit less inclimate weather and the two second-seeded teams. In the Sunday games, no team has had the benefit of a BYE week, so all of the preparation, resting, and healing must take place in a week’s time. For the teams that have advanced, less time means players either not suiting up, or playing banged up.

It’s a test of durability now, a challenge to stay the healthiest. Availability is the strongest ability in the NFL Playoffs.

Los Angeles Rams (4th seed) at Tampa Bay (2nd seed): Buccaneers favored (-2.5 points)

The LA Rams put on quite a showing in the Wildcard Round, smothering the Arizona Cardinals offense and pretty-much settling things by halftime. But now, the Rams must pivot from a mobile young quarterback-led offense to one of the savviest and most successful veteran pocket-passers in the game, Tom Brady.

The LA Rams match up pretty well against the Buccaneers. At least, that is how you may be able to interpret the fact that the Rams have won their last two matchups. In both games, the LA Rams have done well passing the football and had enough of a pass rush to harass Tom Brady.

Unfortunately, the Rams did suffer some injuries against the Cardinals:

But the Buccaneers are dealing with some injuries of their own. Both offensive center Ryan Jensen and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs were banged up against the Eagles. That should make the Rams already menacing pass rush even more menacing in this one.

The Buccaneers’ offense will try to route much of what they do through Mike Evans, which the Rams can counter with Jalen Ramsey. The game will come down to stopping the Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski, versus the Rams beating the Buccaneers’ pass defense deep. I like Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson in this one.

Now, onto the AFC game…

Buffalo (3rd seed) at Kansas City (2nd seed): Chiefs favored (-2.0 points)

The Buffalo Bills certainly seemed to be firing on all cylinders in their dismantling of the New England Patriots. But can this Bills team take their show on the road? They were able to win at Kansas City in the regular season, defeating the Chiefs by a score of 38-20.

But it’s much to win on the road in the playoffs. Although the Bills got a nearly flawless performance from QB Josh Allen in that regular-season matchup, don’t expect similar results in this one.

Playoff teams that lose regular-season games seem to have a way of exacting revenge in post-season, and that’s what I expect will transpire in this one. Patrick Mahomes won’t throw two interceptions, but he will throw a game-winning touchdown strike in the closing seconds.

Okay, that about sums it up. I’m already eager for Sunday. How about you?