The most exciting time of the year is upon us. The NFL regular season has ended, setting the stage for what promises to be another exciting postseason. The playoffs bracket is all set, and we now know who plays who in the wild-card round, which is set to kick off on January 15th. So let’s check out all the details.

Bye Week Teams

The Green Bay Packers have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC thanks to a 13-4 record and will receive a bye in the wild card round. The Tennessee Titans will get the same treatment, having finished at the top of NFC with a 12-5 record.

Wild-Card AFC

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The wild-card round starts on Saturday, January 15th, when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Las Vegas Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 PM ET.

New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills

On Saturday, we’ll also have AFC East rivals New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills meet in their first playoff clash ever. The game will be hosted on the Bills’ Highmark Stadium at 8:15 PM ET.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The AFC’s side of the wild-card will wrap up on Sunday, January 16th, when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Pittsburgh Steelers at their Arrowhead Stadium. The game starts at 8:15 PM ET.

Wild-Card NFC

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The defending Super Bowl champs Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, January 16th, to start the wild-card round for NFC. The game kicks off at 1 PM ET at Raymond James Stadium.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys

NFC wild-card will continue on Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys welcome the San Francisco 49ers at their AT&T Stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 4:30 PM ET.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams

Finally, the last divisional round spot will be up for grabs on Monday, January 17th. The NFC West rivals Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams play at 8:15 PM ET at LA’s SoFi stadium.

The post The 2021 NFL Playoffs Bracket Schedule appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a weekend that saw four teams advance after winning their respective divisional playoff games, the Conference Championship games are now set with two tickets to the Super Bowl on the line.

The Packers and Buccaneers will face off at Lambeau Field in Green Bay to kick off Championship Sunday, and the nightcap will see the Bills visit Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Let’s break down both of the games and make a prediction as we set our eyes on the two teams which will face off to try to take home football’s biggest prize.

AFC Championship Game: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The conference’s best two regular-season teams will match up as the Chiefs host the Bills. This will be a matchup between the reigning champions and a team that hasn’t been to a Super Bowl in nearly three decades.

The Chiefs are still unsure if star quarterback and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes will play after suffering a concussion in their win over the Browns last Sunday, but it appears he will play.

Kansas City has not been tested like this so far this season, and the Bills have a “nothing to lose” attitude. Much of their success will hinge on how much of an impact Josh Allen’s arm can make and if they can slow down KC’s deadly offense.

While they might be able to do so partially, the Chiefs are once again the strongest overall team in the league and we expect them to survive a close battle on Sunday and advance to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Bills 20

NFC Championship Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers

Tom Brady left the New England Patriots in what was considered the riskiest move of his career, but after leading a once-mediocre franchise to the NFC Championship Game, he proved that he continues to be one of the league’s elite.

Aaron Rodgers’ Packers will have their hands full at Lambeau Field, and their secondary will get quite a workout against Brady and his top-notch pack of wide receivers.

The Packers, however, will not miss out on their chance to claim the title at their home field and we expect them to win a nail-biter.

Prediction: Packers 35, Buccaneers 34

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In their postseason opener at Lambeau Field, the top-seeded Green Bay Packers raced past the Los Angeles Rams by a 32-18 final score to earn their second consecutive trip to the NFC Championship Game.

Aaron Rodgers led the Packers offense past a Rams team that just could not quite keep up, throwing for 296 yards and two touchdowns in what looked to be a comfortable Packers win after they took a 16-3 lead in the second quarter.

However, the Rams stuck along and brought the game to within a score after a Cam Akers touchdown late in the third quarter.

The Packers, though, were able to pull away after Allen Lazard hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass halfway through the fourth quarter, putting his team up two scores and securing an important win.

Green Bay’s victory meant that they will play in the NFC Championship Game at home at Lambeau Field for the first time since 2008, back when star QB Aaron Rodgers was Brett Favre’s backup.

“I’m definitely a little emotional, just thinking about what we’ve been through,” said Rodgers after the win.

The Packers will now wait to see who wins the Sunday matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints to see who their opponent will be.

The post Aaron Rodgers Leads Packers Past Rams 32-18 to Reach NFC Championship Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Buffalo Bills are heading to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1994 after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in a defensive struggle on Saturday in Orchard Park.

The Bills, the surprise team of the season that shocked everyone by finishing 13-3, defeated a Baltimore team that was picked by many to win after their defense completely suffocated Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Buffalo held Baltimore to only a field goal, propelling them to a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

Despite gaining 340 total yards, the Ravens were unable to capitalize due to missed field goals and a crucial turnover in the third quarter when the team was only down by a touchdown deep in the Bills’ red zone.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw a pick-six interception to Bills cornerback Taron Johnson, whose touchdown gave his team a 17-3 lead they would not relinquish.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs also starred on the day, catching 8 Josh Allen passes for 106 yards and a third-quarter touchdown which gave his team the lead.

Buffalo will now wait to see whether they will take on the Cleveland Browns or the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game next Sunday.

The post Bills Stifle Ravens, Win 17-3 to Advance to AFC Championship Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that the Los Angeles Rams will have their most important player available on Saturday for their NFC Divisional Round matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Despite suffering a rib injury and missing most of the second half of their win against the Seahawks in the Wild Card Round, Aaron Donald will be suited up and ready to go on Saturday.

Rams coach Sean McVay and Aaron Donald himself revealed in media availability that the big defensive tackle had recovered quickly enough to participate just a week after he went down.

“I feel good, feel real good,” Donald said on Wednesday. “No pain, feel healthy.”

The six-time First-Team All-Pro, widely considered the best defensive player in the league, will be key if the Rams are to pull off a huge upset on Saturday afternoon. His pressure on quarterbacks is a key part of the Rams’ defense and a reason the team was able to sneak into the playoffs despite an inconsistent season.

Donald finished the season with 45 combined tackles and 13.5 sacks and could play a big part in making things difficult for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Rams and Packers will face off at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday at 4:35 pm Eastern Time.

The post Rams DT Aaron Donald (Rib Injury) Expected to Play on Saturday vs. Packers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2021 NFL Playoffs got off to a thrilling start in the Wild Card Round with a few upsets that have led us to some surprising Divisional Round matchups as eight teams continue to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

Four games await in this weekend’s divisional rounds, and there is plenty to analyze. Let’s take a look at the games and pick a winner for each one!

Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills

The Ravens avenged their early playoff exit at the hands of the Tennessee Titans with a 20-13 win at Nissan Field last weekend, and they will look to advance even further on Saturday against a very tough Bills team.

Buffalo has been a magical story this year, but Lamar Jackson and the Ravens appear to be on a revenge tour and they proved to have defensive meddle last week that could help them slow down Bills quarterback Josh Allen. We like them in a road upset.

Pick: Ravens 27, Bills 21

Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs

No one expected the Cleveland Browns to walk out of Heinz Field alive last weekend after facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they made easy work of their opposition. Their reward? A date against the reigning Super Bowl champions and this season’s presumptive favorites.

The Chiefs went 14-2 in the regular season for a reason, as they have the game’s deadliest offense led by superstar QB Patrick Mahomes. They’ll use this to exploit the Browns’ shaky secondary and cruise to a win, ending the Cinderella story.

Pick: Chiefs 41, Browns 24

Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers

The Packers had a first round bye after finishing first in the NFC during the regular season, and they watched as the Rams upset the Seahawks despite their team’s injury problems and lack of a healthy starting quarterback.

The Rams have a great defense, but will they and cornerback Jalen Ramsey be able to do enough to slow down Aaron Rodgers and the conference’s best passing offense? We think they will put up a valiant fight but fall short at a frigid Lambeau Field.

Pick: Packers 30, Rams 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

The Sunday night special pits Tom Brady’s Buccaneers against Drew Brees’s Saints in a matchup of two of this generation’s best signal-callers. So, who will come out on top?

The Saints handled Tampa Bay in each of their two regular-season matchups, including a 38-3 home win in early November. The Bucs’ offense is doing better now, but we think they will come up just short in a bid to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Pick: Saints 38, Buccaneers 34

The post Predicting the 2021 NFL Divisional Round Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2020 NFL season has been full of surprises, COVID-19 related chaos, and tight races that have put some of the league’s playoff berths completely up in the air with just one month of regular season action left.

Five regular season games remain for most teams, and plenty of the league’s coveted playoff berths are still yet to be decided.

Which ones should you be paying attention to over the final weeks of the season? Here are some of the most unsettled and potentially volatile races that you should be watching in December.

AFC Wild Card

Everything is up for grabs in the AFC’s wild card race, as a handful of three-loss teams and four-loss teams will jockey for the three Wild Card spots the conference has to offer.

The Browns (8-3), Dolphins (7-4), and Colts (7-4) currently hold the three spots, but the Ravens (6-4) and Raiders (6-5) are hot on their tails and a hot streak or a cold run for any of these teams could seal their fate.

Keep in mind that the Dolphins and Colts are both still very much alive in their respective division races, trailing the Bills and Titans by one game, respectively.

NFC West

In a division that many expected to be won by the San Francisco 49ers on the heels of their Super Bowl berth last season, it is instead the division’s other three teams which will be fighting to take home the division title and a guaranteed top-three seed.

The Seahawks (8-3) currently lead the Rams (7-4) and the Cardinals (6-5) for the division crown, and with the league’s most lethal offense, they look to be the best bet to win the division, leaving L.A. and Arizona to fight for Wild Card berths.

However, with the Rams holding a potential tiebreaker over Seattle and a hot Arizona team looking like a candidate to win every week, nothing is certain at this point.

NFC East

The NFL’s saddest division in 2020 has been the NFC East, where a foursome of sub-500 teams are battling it out to try to sneak into the playoffs as one of the weakest postseason teams in the league’s history.

The 4-7 Giants are currently tied with Washington for the division lead, and would win it if the season ended today based on a tiebreaker.

However, the arguably more-talented Eagles (3-7-1) and Cowboys (3-8) could both still easily sneak ahead and claim a playoff spot which would feel like a miracle to any of the four teams involved.

Which teams do you think will make the playoffs?

The post NFL Playoff Races to Watch in the Season’s Last Month appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The most exciting time of the year is upon us. The NFL regular season has ended, setting the stage for what promises to be another exciting postseason. The playoffs bracket is all set, and we now know who plays who in the wild-card round, which is set to kick off on January 15th. So let’s check out all the details.

Bye Week Teams

The Green Bay Packers have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC thanks to a 13-4 record and will receive a bye in the wild card round. The Tennessee Titans will get the same treatment, having finished at the top of NFC with a 12-5 record.

Wild-Card AFC

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The wild-card round starts on Saturday, January 15th, when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Las Vegas Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 PM ET.

New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills

On Saturday, we’ll also have AFC East rivals New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills meet in their first playoff clash ever. The game will be hosted on the Bills’ Highmark Stadium at 8:15 PM ET.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The AFC’s side of the wild-card will wrap up on Sunday, January 16th, when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Pittsburgh Steelers at their Arrowhead Stadium. The game starts at 8:15 PM ET.

Wild-Card NFC

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The defending Super Bowl champs Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, January 16th, to start the wild-card round for NFC. The game kicks off at 1 PM ET at Raymond James Stadium.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys

NFC wild-card will continue on Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys welcome the San Francisco 49ers at their AT&T Stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 4:30 PM ET.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams

Finally, the last divisional round spot will be up for grabs on Monday, January 17th. The NFC West rivals Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams play at 8:15 PM ET at LA’s SoFi stadium.

The post The 2021 NFL Playoffs Bracket Schedule appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a weekend that saw four teams advance after winning their respective divisional playoff games, the Conference Championship games are now set with two tickets to the Super Bowl on the line.

The Packers and Buccaneers will face off at Lambeau Field in Green Bay to kick off Championship Sunday, and the nightcap will see the Bills visit Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Let’s break down both of the games and make a prediction as we set our eyes on the two teams which will face off to try to take home football’s biggest prize.

AFC Championship Game: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The conference’s best two regular-season teams will match up as the Chiefs host the Bills. This will be a matchup between the reigning champions and a team that hasn’t been to a Super Bowl in nearly three decades.

The Chiefs are still unsure if star quarterback and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes will play after suffering a concussion in their win over the Browns last Sunday, but it appears he will play.

Kansas City has not been tested like this so far this season, and the Bills have a “nothing to lose” attitude. Much of their success will hinge on how much of an impact Josh Allen’s arm can make and if they can slow down KC’s deadly offense.

While they might be able to do so partially, the Chiefs are once again the strongest overall team in the league and we expect them to survive a close battle on Sunday and advance to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Bills 20

NFC Championship Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers

Tom Brady left the New England Patriots in what was considered the riskiest move of his career, but after leading a once-mediocre franchise to the NFC Championship Game, he proved that he continues to be one of the league’s elite.

Aaron Rodgers’ Packers will have their hands full at Lambeau Field, and their secondary will get quite a workout against Brady and his top-notch pack of wide receivers.

The Packers, however, will not miss out on their chance to claim the title at their home field and we expect them to win a nail-biter.

Prediction: Packers 35, Buccaneers 34

The post Predicting the 2021 NFL Conference Championship Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

In their postseason opener at Lambeau Field, the top-seeded Green Bay Packers raced past the Los Angeles Rams by a 32-18 final score to earn their second consecutive trip to the NFC Championship Game.

Aaron Rodgers led the Packers offense past a Rams team that just could not quite keep up, throwing for 296 yards and two touchdowns in what looked to be a comfortable Packers win after they took a 16-3 lead in the second quarter.

However, the Rams stuck along and brought the game to within a score after a Cam Akers touchdown late in the third quarter.

The Packers, though, were able to pull away after Allen Lazard hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass halfway through the fourth quarter, putting his team up two scores and securing an important win.

Green Bay’s victory meant that they will play in the NFC Championship Game at home at Lambeau Field for the first time since 2008, back when star QB Aaron Rodgers was Brett Favre’s backup.

“I’m definitely a little emotional, just thinking about what we’ve been through,” said Rodgers after the win.

The Packers will now wait to see who wins the Sunday matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints to see who their opponent will be.

The post Aaron Rodgers Leads Packers Past Rams 32-18 to Reach NFC Championship Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Buffalo Bills are heading to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1994 after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in a defensive struggle on Saturday in Orchard Park.

The Bills, the surprise team of the season that shocked everyone by finishing 13-3, defeated a Baltimore team that was picked by many to win after their defense completely suffocated Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Buffalo held Baltimore to only a field goal, propelling them to a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

Despite gaining 340 total yards, the Ravens were unable to capitalize due to missed field goals and a crucial turnover in the third quarter when the team was only down by a touchdown deep in the Bills’ red zone.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw a pick-six interception to Bills cornerback Taron Johnson, whose touchdown gave his team a 17-3 lead they would not relinquish.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs also starred on the day, catching 8 Josh Allen passes for 106 yards and a third-quarter touchdown which gave his team the lead.

Buffalo will now wait to see whether they will take on the Cleveland Browns or the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game next Sunday.

The post Bills Stifle Ravens, Win 17-3 to Advance to AFC Championship Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that the Los Angeles Rams will have their most important player available on Saturday for their NFC Divisional Round matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Despite suffering a rib injury and missing most of the second half of their win against the Seahawks in the Wild Card Round, Aaron Donald will be suited up and ready to go on Saturday.

Rams coach Sean McVay and Aaron Donald himself revealed in media availability that the big defensive tackle had recovered quickly enough to participate just a week after he went down.

“I feel good, feel real good,” Donald said on Wednesday. “No pain, feel healthy.”

The six-time First-Team All-Pro, widely considered the best defensive player in the league, will be key if the Rams are to pull off a huge upset on Saturday afternoon. His pressure on quarterbacks is a key part of the Rams’ defense and a reason the team was able to sneak into the playoffs despite an inconsistent season.

Donald finished the season with 45 combined tackles and 13.5 sacks and could play a big part in making things difficult for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Rams and Packers will face off at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday at 4:35 pm Eastern Time.

The post Rams DT Aaron Donald (Rib Injury) Expected to Play on Saturday vs. Packers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2021 NFL Playoffs got off to a thrilling start in the Wild Card Round with a few upsets that have led us to some surprising Divisional Round matchups as eight teams continue to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

Four games await in this weekend’s divisional rounds, and there is plenty to analyze. Let’s take a look at the games and pick a winner for each one!

Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills

The Ravens avenged their early playoff exit at the hands of the Tennessee Titans with a 20-13 win at Nissan Field last weekend, and they will look to advance even further on Saturday against a very tough Bills team.

Buffalo has been a magical story this year, but Lamar Jackson and the Ravens appear to be on a revenge tour and they proved to have defensive meddle last week that could help them slow down Bills quarterback Josh Allen. We like them in a road upset.

Pick: Ravens 27, Bills 21

Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs

No one expected the Cleveland Browns to walk out of Heinz Field alive last weekend after facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they made easy work of their opposition. Their reward? A date against the reigning Super Bowl champions and this season’s presumptive favorites.

The Chiefs went 14-2 in the regular season for a reason, as they have the game’s deadliest offense led by superstar QB Patrick Mahomes. They’ll use this to exploit the Browns’ shaky secondary and cruise to a win, ending the Cinderella story.

Pick: Chiefs 41, Browns 24

Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers

The Packers had a first round bye after finishing first in the NFC during the regular season, and they watched as the Rams upset the Seahawks despite their team’s injury problems and lack of a healthy starting quarterback.

The Rams have a great defense, but will they and cornerback Jalen Ramsey be able to do enough to slow down Aaron Rodgers and the conference’s best passing offense? We think they will put up a valiant fight but fall short at a frigid Lambeau Field.

Pick: Packers 30, Rams 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

The Sunday night special pits Tom Brady’s Buccaneers against Drew Brees’s Saints in a matchup of two of this generation’s best signal-callers. So, who will come out on top?

The Saints handled Tampa Bay in each of their two regular-season matchups, including a 38-3 home win in early November. The Bucs’ offense is doing better now, but we think they will come up just short in a bid to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Pick: Saints 38, Buccaneers 34

The post Predicting the 2021 NFL Divisional Round Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2020 NFL season has been full of surprises, COVID-19 related chaos, and tight races that have put some of the league’s playoff berths completely up in the air with just one month of regular season action left.

Five regular season games remain for most teams, and plenty of the league’s coveted playoff berths are still yet to be decided.

Which ones should you be paying attention to over the final weeks of the season? Here are some of the most unsettled and potentially volatile races that you should be watching in December.

AFC Wild Card

Everything is up for grabs in the AFC’s wild card race, as a handful of three-loss teams and four-loss teams will jockey for the three Wild Card spots the conference has to offer.

The Browns (8-3), Dolphins (7-4), and Colts (7-4) currently hold the three spots, but the Ravens (6-4) and Raiders (6-5) are hot on their tails and a hot streak or a cold run for any of these teams could seal their fate.

Keep in mind that the Dolphins and Colts are both still very much alive in their respective division races, trailing the Bills and Titans by one game, respectively.

NFC West

In a division that many expected to be won by the San Francisco 49ers on the heels of their Super Bowl berth last season, it is instead the division’s other three teams which will be fighting to take home the division title and a guaranteed top-three seed.

The Seahawks (8-3) currently lead the Rams (7-4) and the Cardinals (6-5) for the division crown, and with the league’s most lethal offense, they look to be the best bet to win the division, leaving L.A. and Arizona to fight for Wild Card berths.

However, with the Rams holding a potential tiebreaker over Seattle and a hot Arizona team looking like a candidate to win every week, nothing is certain at this point.

NFC East

The NFL’s saddest division in 2020 has been the NFC East, where a foursome of sub-500 teams are battling it out to try to sneak into the playoffs as one of the weakest postseason teams in the league’s history.

The 4-7 Giants are currently tied with Washington for the division lead, and would win it if the season ended today based on a tiebreaker.

However, the arguably more-talented Eagles (3-7-1) and Cowboys (3-8) could both still easily sneak ahead and claim a playoff spot which would feel like a miracle to any of the four teams involved.

Which teams do you think will make the playoffs?

The post NFL Playoff Races to Watch in the Season’s Last Month appeared first on SportzBonanza.