Houston Texans at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Saturday 4.30pm EST/9.30pm GMT)
What the Texans must do to win: CJ Stroud must proceed his upward trajectory. After turning what would have been an unpleasant fumble deep in his personal half into the start of a run of 23 unanswered factors in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers final week, Houston’s quarterback appeared to shake off his winter blues on the very second he discovered Xavier Hutchinson broad open downfield. Stroud must belief his instincts with a purpose to compensate for a subpar offensive line, although extra importantly he has to think about Nico Collins. The receiver might be beneath blanket protection from Trent McDuffie and Justin Reid, owing to a scarcity of some other vital Texans risk downfield, however his outstanding knack of creating catches in heavy site visitors might be essential if his crew are to maintain tempo with the Chiefs. Oh, and in video games that Collins has 150 or extra receiving yards the Texans are 4-0 so simply maintain it flowing in his route. Simple.
What the Chiefs must do to win: After coasting via the warmup for this sport 27-19 in December it’s tough to see what the masters of staying one step and one rating forward want so as to add to their gameplan. Nonetheless they should be ready for a battle with Houston’s protection. The go rush from Will Anderson Jr and Danielle Hunter is immense whereas the cornerback pairing of Derek Stingley Jr and Kamari Lassiter dominated the Chargers with a trio of interceptions between them final weekend. Patrick Mahomes wants to observe his again whereas being very cautious with ball placement in gentle of Houston’s clear benefit over Kansas Metropolis within the backfield and trenches.
Key participant: Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs. It’s good that the good sandbagging season of 2024 has lastly drawn to an in depth and the true Kelce can come out to play. A 25-day layoff can have the 35-year-old match to step again into his function as goal chief and pink zone murderer.
Prediction: Chiefs over Texans.
Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions (Saturday 8pm EST/Sunday 1am GMT)
What the Commanders must do to win: Head coach Dan Quinn has to remain aggressive to maintain Washington from being blown away. Their 87% fourth-down conversion fee leads the league and was an enormous consider edging out Tampa Bay within the wildcard spherical. The 5 makes an attempt that they had in opposition to the Bucs made certain they stored up with a high-scoring offense, one thing they may encounter once more in opposition to the Lions. The ultimate fourth-down conversion, which resulted in a five-yard landing to Terry McLaurin, is the proper instance of how their aggression usually yields outcomes. The Commanders might have kicked a discipline purpose, to chop a 17-13 deficit down to at least one level, and relied on their protection to get a cease. As an alternative Quinn gambled or, as he put it after the sport, was “daring, however not reckless”.
What the Lions must do to win: Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn must take dangers together with his playcalling to convey rookie sensation Jayden Daniels again all the way down to earth. The bye week can have helped the Lions recuperate from an extended season however three cornerbacks stay on injured reserve so to guard his undermanned secondary Glenn has to attempt to strain Daniels into errors. In opposition to Minnesota within the remaining sport of the common season, Detroit pressured Sam Darnold on 28.9% of his dropbacks forcing a completion fee of solely 44% whereas within the earlier sport in opposition to the 49ers, Brock Purdy was pressured on 23.7% of dropbacks. He was sacked twice and threw two interceptions. As a rookie Daniels has confirmed himself higher than these gamers at dealing with strain however within the largest sport of his younger profession the chance of a handful of pricey performs is well worth the reward for Detroit.
Key gamers: Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, RBs, Lions. The bye week might have been most useful for Gibbs after dropping Montgomery for 3 video games to shut the season. Gibbs now has his operating mate again for a change of tempo briefly yardage conditions. The elite pairing might simply expose a Washington protection outmatched by their tempo and energy.
Prediction: Lions over Commanders.
Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday 3pm EST/8pm GMT)
What the Rams must do to win: The Eagles boast one of many NFL’s best cornerback pairings in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean so deep passes to Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp must be restricted to maintain the Philly tandem guessing if an extended bomb will come their approach. In any other case alternatives beneath their protection must be preyed upon. Operating again Kyren Williams and tight finish Tyler Higbee will almost certainly play necessary roles within the passing sport whereas Nacua and Kupp can each be efficient within the slot on brief catches.
What the Eagles must do to win: Philadelphia have to seek out extra within the passing sport after counting on a defensive masterclass to beat Inexperienced Bay. Jalen Hurts threw for less than 121 yards final weekend, with a run of seven incompletions from the top of the primary quarter till halfway via the third. A repeat of that chilly snap might be Philadelphia’s undoing. LA are going to promote out to cease the run after Saquon Barkley ran over them for a ridiculous 255 yards and two touchdowns when these groups met in November, so Hurts will must be extra concerned. He has to boost his sport even with a slowed down Barkley greater than doubtless nonetheless capable of finding the majority of the offensive manufacturing.
Key participant: AJ Brown, WR, Eagles. After a quiet efficiency there all the time comes an overcorrection. Hurts can be smart to proceed the custom and goal his star receiver as a lot as attainable after Brown felt uninvolved sufficient to do some gentle studying through the win over Inexperienced Bay. Brown has confirmed to be a tricky cowl for the Rams of their previous two conferences. He caught six of his seven targets for 109 yards and one landing earlier this season and 6 of eight targets for 127 yards in 2023.
Prediction: Rams over Eagles.
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Payments (Sunday 6pm EST/11pm GMT)
What the Ravens must do to win: Baltimore must maintain using Derrick Henry. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who’ve an incredible protection, knew precisely what was coming for them and have been nonetheless powerless to withstand within the wildcard spherical. The operating again’s 186 yards in opposition to Pittsburgh final weekend show that retaining Henry in examine is nigh on unattainable. Just like the Steelers, the Payments have an excellent run protection and but Henry recorded a season-high 199 yards on the bottom in a straightforward 35-10 win over Buffalo in September. The operating again’s dominance also needs to assist calm any jitters from Lamar Jackson.
What the Payments must do to win: With a protection as strong as Baltimore’s it’s arduous to seek out any weaknesses. But when there’s a flaw Josh Allen can decide aside it’s the Ravens’ inside linebackers. Roquan Smith and Malik Harrison provide restricted go protection so the Payments can goal the center of the sector as they did in opposition to the equally underpowered linebackers of Detroit in December. The Payments operating backs thrived within the passing sport within the 48-42 shootout win over the Lions as James Prepare dinner, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson mixed for 156 receiving yards and a rating. Johnson in the meantime confirmed once more that he’s a superb pass-catching again together with his miracle landing seize on fourth-and-one in opposition to the Broncos final week. Quick, sharp throws to the operating trio will damage Baltimore.
Key participant: Kyle Hamilton, S, Ravens. Baltimore’s passing protection has been remodeled because the crew moved Hamilton to deep security however defensive coordinator Zach Orr could also be smart to place him nearer to the road of scrimmage to spy Allen. Hamilton’s measurement and velocity make him effectively suited to limiting the swashbuckling quarterback on the bottom.
Prediction: Ravens over Payments.
