Once again, the Sunday set of games is looking so good. Rams at Bucs and Bills at Chiefs on a Divisional Round Sunday evening is the stuff of dreams. Sit back and enjoy.

Against The Spread (ATS): 7-1

LA Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rams +3

Rams:

Regular Season:

• End of Season Record: 12-5 (5-3 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 372.1 (9th) // Passing – 273.1 (5th) // Rushing – 99.0 (25th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 344.9 (17th) // Passing – 241.7 (22nd) // Rushing – 103.2 (6th).
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 27.1 (8th) // PPG Allowed – 21.9 (15th).
• Turnover Differential: +2 (13th).

Post Season (After Wild Card):

• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 375.0 (4th) // Passing – 235.0 (6th) // Rushing – 140.0 (3rd).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 183.0 (1st) // Passing – 122.0 (1st) // Rushing – 61.0 (2nd).
• Wild Card Score: 34-11.

• Injury Report (Out): No one confirmed yet (writing this on Thursday).
• Against the Spread: 9-9-0.

Bucs:

Regular Season:

• End of Season Record: 13-4 (7-1 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 405.9 (2nd) // Passing – 307.6 (1st) // Rushing – 98.4 (26th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 331.5 (13th) // Passing – 238.9 (21st) // Rushing – 92.5 (3rd)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 30.1 (2nd) // PPG Allowed – 20.8 (5th).
• Turnover Differential: +10 (6th).

Post Season (After Wild Card):

• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 349.0 (5th) // Passing – 243.0 (5th) // Rushing – 106.0 (5th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 339.0 (6th) // Passing – 244.0 (8th) // Rushing – 95.0 (6th).
• Wild Card Score: 31-15.

• Injury Report (Out): No one confirmed yet (writing this on Thursday).
• Against the Spread: 10-8.
• Weather Report (YR Weather): 13*C.

The Rams looked impressive on Monday night, against the Cardinals. It’s hard to say exactly how impressive, due to how much the Cardinals were struggling down the stretch, but their 34-11 beat down could have been a lot more had they not taken the foot off the accelerator in the second half. The Rams were 21-0 up after the first two quarters, as Matt Stafford looked solid as a rock, while Cam Akers looked powerful and dynamic carrying the ball. Odell got on the scoreboard again, which I feel is huge going forward. The Rams are definitely looking more and more dangerous as we go on, and their defence has a huge part to play in that. Aaron Donald garners so much attention that Von Miller is getting one on one plays and Jalen Ramsey is also doing what Jalen Ramsey does. The Rams D will have a tougher match-up this week against the Goat, but Brady’s protection is not looking like the usual brick wall.

Last week against the Eagles, the Bucs had some massive offensive line injuries. All-Pro OT, Tristan Wirfs and C, Ryan Jensen left the game with ankle injuries. Both are key to their team’s success, but Wirfs is different gravy. He was held out of practice yesterday and is looking unlikely for Sunday’s game, although nothing has been confirmed yet. Even with Jensen and Wirfs out of the game, the Bucs still dominated, only conceding points in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. They are differently more banged up this week, which is not good against a Rams elite defensive unit.

The two teams met in week three, which the Rams took 34-24. That game was in SoFi Stadium, and we learned as the year went on, the Bucs are not the same team away. This game is in Tampa, but I’m not sure that it is going to be enough for it to swing the pendulum in the Bucs direction. The Rams have signed OBJ and Von Miller since then, who are starting to look like difference makers. I think the Rams will win it straight and I’ll happily take the 3 extra points.

Buffalo Bills@ Kansas City Chiefs: Bills +2.5

Bills :

Regular Season:

• End of Season Record: 11-6 (5-3 away)
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 381.9 (5th) // Passing – 252.0 (9th) // Rushing – 129.9 (6th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 272.8 (1st) // Passing – 187.1 (1st) // Rushing – 109.8 (13th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 28.4 (3rd) // PPG Allowed – 17.0 (1st).
• Turnover Differential: +8 (7th).

Post Season (After Wild Card):

• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 482.0 (1st) // Passing – 308.0 (2nd) // Rushing – 174.0 (1st).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 305.0 (3rd) // Passing – 216.0 (4th) // Rushing – 89.0 (5th).
• Wild Card Score: 47-17.

• Injury Report (Out): N/A.
• Against the Spread: 10-6-2

Chiefs:

• End of Season Record: 12-5 (7-2 home)
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 396.8 (3rd) // Passing – 281.8 (4th) // Rushing – 115.0 (16th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 368.9 (27th) // Passing – 251.4 (27th) // Rushing – 117.6 (21st)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 28.2 (4th) // PPG Allowed – 21.4 (8th).
• Turnover Differential: +4 (11th).

Post Season (After Wild Card):

• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 478.0 (2nd) // Passing – 372.0 (1st) // Rushing – 106.0 (4th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 257.0 (2nd) // Passing – 201.0 (3rd) // Rushing – 56.0 (1st).
• Wild Card Score: 42-21.

• Injury Report (Out): Clyde Edwards-Helaire – RB.
• Against the Spread: 9-9-0.
• Weather Report (YR Weather): -1*C with a gentle breeze.

The battle of the juggernaut QBs is here. Allen and Mahomes lit up their respective opponents on Wild Card weekend, both throwing for five TDs. Both led their teams to 40+ point performances, ensuring they cruised into the Divisional Round. Josh Allen slightly gets the edge with his interception free performance, but can he do it again here?

The two teams last met in week five, which the Bills won 38-20. The game was also in Arrowhead, making it sound even more impressive. Josh Allen had another clean game that day, throwing for 315 yards and three TDs. He also added another 59 yards on the ground. Allen’s dual threat play was also evident last week against the Patriots, as he logged 66 yards on the ground to go along with his 308 yards and 5 TDs. The young QB is getting hot at the right time and with the defence ranking number one in most stats, they will be putting it up to Mahomes & Co.

The Chiefs had an impressive victory of their own on Sunday night, sending the sorry Steelers packing. The Chiefs did go down first, following a TJ Watt touchdown, but the Chiefs bounced back quickly, as they dropped 34 points in the middle two quarters. Kelce had another 100+ playoff game, as he looked his unstoppable self. The Chiefs may look down and out sometimes, but their explosiveness is at a different level, and with Andy Reid’s play-calling abilities at full display in the playoffs, they are a lot of people’s favourite to take home the Vince Lombardi trophy.

But they’re not my favourite and I think they get beat here. The Bills will get their revenge on last year’s AFC championship. They are a more experienced team this year and Josh Allen has more miles on the clock. The Bills also have a sort of underdog mentality as some analysts were taking the Patriots last week, so I think that will play to their advantage. Regardless, should be a great game.

J.