After a season of uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, low and behold we finally made it to the playoffs. And because of the said pandemic, this year’s NFL postseason will be unlike any other when you consider any home-field advantage will be greatly reduced given the limited to no fans policies at stadiums across the League.
How will that play into Saturday’s slate of games, if at all? Let’s take a look at the NFL spreads for each matchup?
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Spread: Rams +3.5
If there’s any team on the entire slate of Wild Card games this weekend that’ll miss that home-field advantage, it’s the Seattle Seahawks and their “12th man”. Likewise, if Seattle was able to take advantage of a full stadium I wouldn’t have any hesitations about predicting the Seahawks moving on in the postseason.
Obviously, that’s not the case and this game has the makings to be a very good, low scoring game.
At the beginning of the season, the Seahawks relied on their offense averaging 33.8 points per game, however, it wasn’t until later in the year that Seattle really solidified themselves when they were finally able to get their defense going. With that said it was really a remarkable 180 as the Seahawks went from allowing 30.4 points per game the first eight weeks, third-worst in the NFL to 16.0 in the final eight weeks which was the best of any team over that stretch.
Meanwhile, the Rams have been much more consistent on defense allowing a league-low 18.5 points per game, and haven’t had an opponent score more than 24 in the past eight weeks. This suffocating defense has been anchored by LA’s ability to get at the quarterback with Aaron Donald recording 13.5 sacks, second in the NFL to T.J. Watt’s 15 with the Steelers. Leonard Floyd has also been giving opposing QB’s nightmares collecting 10.5 sacks further contributing to LA’s team average of 3.3 sacks per game good for second in the League behind Pittsburgh’s 3.5.
The difference in this game though is going to come down to what each team can muster on offense and as it stands right now the Seahawks have the edge. This is especially considering the uncertainties surrounding Jared Goff’s thumb on his throwing hand and whether he can even play on Saturday. Likewise, even when Goff was under center the Rams’ offense was still incredibly inconsistent.
Prediction: Seahawks 17 – Rams 13
Indianapolis Colts vs. Buffalo Bills
Spread: Colts +6.5
The Bills are playing some of the best football of any team in the League right now. Much of this is due to Buffalo’s vaunted offensive attack which is second in the league in total yards per game (396.4) while Josh Allen is fifth in passing yards with 4,544. Meanwhile, Stefon Diggs has been a major and important addition to Buffalo’s offense with the wideout leading the NFL in receptions (127) and receiving yards (1,535).
That’s not to say Indianapolis doesn’t have a chance. They most certainly do.
The Colts have a top-notch defense that allows 332 yards per game (eighth in the NFL), led by the duo of DeForest Buckner and his nine sacks and linebacker Darius Leonard and his 132 tackles. Indianapolis also features a nice running game behind rookie running back Jonathan Taylor, who has rushed for 1,169 yards and 11 scores, and a veteran QB in Philip Rivers.
Is Indy primed though to do enough to stop that deadly offensive attack from Buffalo? They’ll give it a nice effort but Josh Allen and the Bills will be moving on after Saturday.
Prediction: Bills 24 – Colts 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Football Team
Spread: Washington +8
What’s to say about this game other than Tom Brady — even at 43-years-old is still playing at a high level and delivered Tampa Bay to their first playoff berth since 2007.
This season Brady finished tied for second in passing touchdowns with a franchise-record 40 and was third in passing yards at 4,633. But other than Brady, the Tampa Bay offense also features RB Ronald Jones II who set career-highs in scrimmage yards (1,143), rushing yards (978), and rushing TDs (seven) during the regular season. This includes rushing for over 100 yards in four total games this season.
What Washington though has done this season is nothing to scoff at.
Alex Smith — who should be playing Saturday — does make sure to save some of his best performances for the postseason throwing for 1,745 yards while scoring 15 touchdowns against two interceptions in seven career playoff starts with San Francisco and Kansas City.
Rookie RB Antonio Gibson has also performed well tying Jonathan Taylor for the most touchdowns among first-year players (11) while compiling 170 carries for 795 yards.
In the end, though it’s easy to distinguish the differences that separate these two teams. Whether it be Tom Brady and his success in the postseason to Alex Smith’s or what Ronald Jones has been able to do on the ground to Antonio Gibson’s season totals. Not to mention the Bucs have performed very well against the NFL’s best this season dominating the Packers while almost coming back to beat Kansas City.
That’s not to say that Washington won’t make a good game out of it, Tampa Bay though will undoubtedly be coming out on top and moving on to next weekend.
Prediction: Buccaneers 28 – Washington 20