Playoff Pete is back with his NFL playoff picks for the Divisional Round, and he’s feeling confident after a strong start to the postseason. With a 5-1 record against the spread and a 3-3 straight up record, Pete is ready to continue his winning streak.
First up on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, the Houston Texans will face off against the Baltimore Ravens. The Texans are coming off an impressive home victory over the Browns, while the Ravens have had a bye week. The rest could benefit the Ravens, but their starters haven’t played in three weeks, which could be a disadvantage. Texans rookie passer C.J. Stroud will face his first road playoff game, and it won’t be easy against the Ravens’ stout defense. However, Pete believes that Lamar Jackson will shine in this offense and lead the Ravens to a close victory. Final score prediction: Ravens 30, Texans 29.
In the second game on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET, the Green Bay Packers will take on the San Francisco 49ers. The Packers looked impressive in their win over the Cowboys last week, but facing the NFC’s best team on the road will be a challenge. The 49ers will be well-rested coming off their bye week, but Pete believes that Packers’ quarterback Jordan Love will continue his stellar performance from the past eight weeks. The Packers’ offensive line is playing well, and if they can block the tough 49ers’ defensive front, they will have a big day throwing the ball. Pete predicts an upset with the Packers pulling off a stunner. Final score prediction: Packers 33, 49ers 31.
On Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, the Detroit Lions will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams are coming off big home victories, with the Lions earning another home game. The Bucs blew out the Eagles, while the Lions had to hold on against the Rams. The Lions’ defense showed some flaws, which could lead to a good day for Baker Mayfield and his receivers. However, Pete believes that Jared Goff will also play well, especially if he can handle the Bucs’ blitz. Although the Lions beat the Bucs earlier this season, Pete predicts that Tampa Bay will get payback this time and advance to the title game. Final score prediction: Bucs 30, Lions 28.
Lastly, on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET, the Buffalo Bills will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the game of the week. This is a Bills home game, which means Patrick Mahomes will be playing his first road playoff game in a challenging environment. The Bills have been on a roll, winning every game down the stretch, but they have some major defensive injuries. The Chiefs’ offense showed promise last week, which could pose a problem for the Bills. However, Josh Allen needs to limit his mistakes and continue his strong performance from the victory over the Steelers. Pete predicts that the Bills will beat the Chiefs and advance to the AFC championship game. Final score prediction: Bills 28, Chiefs 23.
With Playoff Pete’s picks for the Divisional Round, it’s clear that he’s favoring some underdogs and predicting a few upsets. Will his streak continue? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for an exciting weekend of playoff football.
