2025 NFL Divisional Round Preview

With the Wildcard Round in the past, the NFL action and emotions continue this weekend, with the Divisional Round games. We are closer to finding out who will be the Champion of this NFL season 2024/5, so, from now on we will be witnessing interesting and thrilling games.

The 8 teams that are still alive at this stage of the season are:

So far, we have both the Commanders and Rams surprised many by winning their Wildcard games against Buccaneers and Vikings, respectively. As a result, right now there is no weak team in the battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Now, this weekend we will enjoy the action of the Divisional Round games of the 2024/25 NFL season, and, as usual, we bring you a preview of all 4 games.

NFL Divisional Round: Chiefs vs. Texans

We begin this preview with the Chiefs-Texans Game, which opens the curtain on the Divisional Round.

The Chiefs are favored to make history by winning their third consecutive Super Bowl championship, a feat never before accomplished in league history. In the 2024 season, they finished with an impressive 15-2 record, starting the year with a perfect 9-0 streak. Surprisingly, the team achieved this success without having a standout wide receiver or an offense as explosive as in previous seasons.

A major contributing factor to their success has been their defense, which ranked fourth in points allowed and ninth in total yards surrendered. In addition, they rank among the top eight teams in defense against the run and possess one of the highest time-of-possession averages per offensive series in the league, with a solid defense and efficient game management in their journey toward securing an unprecedented third Super Bowl victory.

The Texans had an encouraging start to the season with a 5-1 record, but their performance during the regular season was fairly average. Sometimes, the division remained competitive, even though none of their opponents had a winning record.

Houston finished the season with a respectable 3-2 record in December and January, leading many to believe they could be a weak team in the Wild Card round. However, when the Chargers visited Houston for their recent game, few anticipated the solid performance of quarterback C. J. Stroud and the defense, which ultimately dominated a team that looked stronger on paper.

The convincing 32-12 win at home leads us to consider whether they will be able to stand up to this season’s super favorites.

For this game, our winner’s chip is on the Chiefs.

Chiefs vs. Texans Betting Pick: Chiefs

NFL Divisional Round: Lions vs. Commanders

In the 2025 NFL NFC Divisional Playoff Round, the top-seeded Lions will face the sixth-seeded Commanders.

The question is whether Detroit can stop Washington’s surprising playoff streak, as the Commanders exceeded expectations by defeating Tampa Bay at home in the Wild Card Round to advance further in the postseason.

Certainly, it is undeniable that the Lions emerged as the most dominant team both offensively and defensively all season. Offensively, they led the NFL with an average of 33.2 points per game and ranked second with 409.5 yards per game, including 263.2 air yards. Defensively, they also proved to be formidable, ranking seventh in points allowed per game with 20.1 and fifth in interceptions with 16. This is particularly noteworthy considering the significant number of injuries the team suffered.

Undoubtedly, quarterback Jared Goff was the standout player, posting his best touchdown-to-interception ratio of 37/12 in his 9-year career. The team also showed an unstoppable ground game, led by the dynamic running back duo of Jamie Gibbs and the healthy David Montgomery who returned for the Divisional Round. In addition, their aerial attack, with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, posed significant challenges for opposing defenses.

Washington, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle as it heads into the next game as an 8.5-point underdog.

It may not be expected to advance that far, but rookie Jayden Daniels secured a historic postseason win as a visitor, with the help of the Buccaneers’ mistakes.

Heading into their matchup against Detroit, the Commanders’ defense may struggle to contain the Lions’ potent offense.

While the game could turn into an offensive showdown, the influence of defensive strategist Dan Quinn and offensive mastermind Kliff Kingsbury cannot be overlooked. The result of this game may hinge on the effectiveness of Dante Fowler Jr. and Frankie Luvu in pressuring Jared Goff, whose recent performances suggest the importance of altering his tempo for the Commanders’ success.

In addition, Washington comes in very confident after their excellent 23-20 win over the Bucs as visitors in the wildcard.

That said, we expect the Lions to break their playoff curse and win at home.

Lions vs. Commanders Betting Pick: Lions

NFL Divisional Round: Eagles vs. Rams

The Pennsylvania Eagles finished the season impressively with a 14-3 record and then easily defeated the Packers in the Wild Card round. Conversely, the Californians (10-7) come into the game on the heels of a remarkable win over Minnesota.

In the Wild Card Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, the Eagles managed to defeat the Packers, mainly due to Green Bay’s mistakes rather than Philadelphia’s outstanding performance.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw 2 touchdowns, but struggled with air yards. Star wide receiver A. J. Brown had only one reception for 10 yards. Facing formidable defenses like the Rams or Detroit’s strong perimeter defense, the Eagles will need to be more effective in the air to overcome potential offensive challenges.

Running back Saquon Barkley topped 100 yards on the ground, once again showcasing his consistent ground power. With Barkley’s ability, the Eagles could have an advantage against the Angelenos in the Divisional Round, as the Rams faced struggles against ground attacks in the regular season.

The Rams’ journey from a 1-4 start to reaching the Divisional Round is remarkable, with key players like Sean McVay, Super Bowl winner Cooper Kupp, and the versatile Puka Nacua bolstering their offense.

Los Angeles will aim to prevent Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley from using their running skills, relying on their strong pass rush led by players like Kobie Turner, Neville Gallimore, and Byron Young to disrupt the Eagles offense and advance to the NFC Championship Game.

For this game, our prediction is a win for the Eagles.

Eagles vs. Rams Betting Pick: Eagles

NFL Divisional Round: Bills vs. Ravens

It is a rare occurrence in NFL Playoff history to witness two teams square off in a divisional round clash with quarterbacks at the top of their careers.

The highly anticipated game between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in the Bills vs. Ravens showdown is expected to be a highlight dubbed as the game of the decade. This game is played this Sunday, January 19, 2025, at Highmark Stadium, home of the Bills, at 6:30 PM ET.

The focus is understandably on Lamar Jackson for his outstanding performance. Jackson maintained a pass complete rate of around 67%, posting over 4,000 air yards and nearly 1,000 ground yards (915) in a season.

Despite his outstanding performance, Derrick Henry’s contribution is equally notable. In his debut season, Henry nearly reached 2,000 yards on the ground, scoring 16 touchdowns, making him a strong contender for the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year award.

While the Ravens’ defense has not been as dominant as in previous seasons, ranking 10th in yards allowed and ninth in points allowed, they struggle in pass defense and turnovers.

Conversely, the Bills lack a complementary style to Derrick Henry in their backfield. Although running back James Cook had a solid season topping 1,000 yards on the ground, the team lacks an elite receiver to dominate in the air.

Josh Allen has taken on the role of spreading the ball around to his receivers efficiently due to the absence of a standout star player in Buffalo’s arsenal. Allen recorded 28 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions while showcasing his skills as a runner with 12 touchdowns on the ground, comparable to the best running backs in the league.

Buffalo’s defense, while more average compared to their opponents, has been effective in securing wins in four of the last five games and dominated the Broncos in the previous round.

For this game, our prediction is a win for the Buffalo Bills.

Bills vs. Ravens Betting Pick: Bills

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