:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68672549/1200033496.0.jpg)
Continuing with our game picks into Round 2 of the postseason, the Baltimore Beatdown staff is once again predicting the winners of all four matchups in the Divisional Round.
As per usual, below you’ll see how everyone fared in last week’s Wild Card slate, analysis of everyone’s picks for this weekend, and polls for you to cast your own votes!
Playoff Standings:
- Jakob (5-1)
- Frank, Spencer, Kyle, Dustin, Peter (4-2)
- Vasilis (3-3)
Consensus Selections —
The staff is in agreement on just two games for Round 2 of the postseason:
Some have suggested that both the Packers and Chiefs are relatively “vulnerable” as No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC. However, none of our staff members are picking against them this weekend.
Green Bay is favored by just under a touchdown against the Rams. Los Angeles has the top-ranked defense in the NFL in several categories, but starting QB Jared Goff is playing with a broken finger and Aaron Donald is likely going to be playing through injury as well after getting nicked up in the Rams win over Seattle last week.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs are a 10-point favorite over the Browns at Arrowhead Stadium in what is the most lopsided spread of the week. Patrick Mahomes and several other starters are coming off two weeks of rest. Cleveland is fresh off an 11-point upset victory over the Steelers in the Wild Card round, scoring 48 points on the road.
Lone Wolf Selections —
Vasilis is the only writer going against the grain this weekend, taking the Bills to defeat the Ravens at home. In a battle of top young quarterbacks in Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson, Buffalo is favored by 2.5 points. Similarly, Vasilis picked the Titans to beat the Ravens last week, so we’ll have to see if his reverse psychology strategy works yet again.