NFL divisional playoffs Saturday predictions, picks and betting preview

Free NFL picks, best bets and previews for the Saturday games in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

LA Rams at Green Bay Packers

Where to watch

Sky Sports NFL, 9.35pm Saturday

Best bet

Green Bay -6.5
1pt 10-11 general

Preview

The Los Angeles Rams make the trip to a freezing Lambeau Field in the divisional round of the playoffs but even their number-one ranked defence may not have the tools needed to stifle quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

No side scored more touchdowns (64) or points (509) during the regular season than the Packers, as Rodgers rolled back the years to put himself in pole position for the MVP award.

Rodgers threw for 48 touchdowns, the most of his career, and registered his highest completion percentage as he powered the Packers to a 13-3 finish, good enough to secure the number one seed in the NFC.

That gave Green Bay a bye through the first round of the playoffs, during which the Rams sprung a surprise when knocking off NFC West rivals Seattle 30-20 on the road.

The Rams defence were again the star of the show, helping themselves to a pick-six and sacking Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson five times.

Star defensive end Aaron Donald failed to finish that game due to a rib injury and while he has been cleared to face the Packers, if he’s not 100 per cent his ability to disrupt the Packers offensive line that has protected Rodgers well could be reduced.

Donald’s fitness isn’t the only injury concern the Rams are dealing with as a bad knee is hampering wide receiver Cooper Kupp and quarterback John Wolford is out with a neck injury.

Wolford had started the last two games after a series of poor showings by Jared Goff, who failed to impress when brought into the game against Seattle, completing just nine of 19 passes.

The Rams will have to start Goff this week, with former Jaguars QB Blake Bortles backing him up, and his limitations leave the Rams short-handed against a Green Bay team who are the more complete unit on paper, pairing a top-ten defence with an offence that has looked unstoppable at times.

The Packers have covered the handicap in six of their last eight playoff games and have the tools to ride into the NFC Championship game in style.

Team news

LA Rams

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp (knee) and guard David Edwards (ankle) are doubts while quarterback John Wolford (neck) and linebacker Terrell Lewis (ankle) have been ruled out. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald (ribs) is expected to play.

Green Bay

Green Bay have concerns over defensive lineman Kingsley Keke (concussion). Offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) will miss the rest of the season.

Key stats

• The Rams have failed to cover the handicap in their last six meetings with Green Bay.
• The Packers have won 13 of their last 14 home games
• The points total has gone under in 11 of the Rams' last 14 games.

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills

Where to watch

Sky Sports NFL, 1.15am Saturday night

Best bet

Baltimore
1pt 13-10 bet365

Match preview

Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, two quarterbacks from what looks a vintage 2018 NFL Draft class, square off for the first time in the playoffs with Jackson’s Baltimore looking value to upset Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

The Ravens were able to exorcise the demons of their 2020 post-season loss with a smothering 20-13 revenge success over Tennessee last week and they face a similar puzzle in upstate New York to the one they solved in Nashville.

Baltimore must once again find a way to limit an explosive offence as Buffalo have averaged more than 30 points a game during the regular season, with Allen throwing and rushing for a total of 48 touchdowns.

Allen’s combination with wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who had the most receiving yards in the league this season, has proved devastating, guiding the Bills to a first playoff win since 1995 against Indianapolis last week.

The Colts defence found ways to limit the Bills, and Baltimore bring a better all-round defensive unit to the party, one that gave up the sixth-fewest passing yards on average during the regular season.

The Ravens run-heavy offence also matches up well against a Bills defence who have struggled to stop opponents racking up the yards on the ground all season, with Baltimore averaging close to 300 rushing yards per game in the last three weeks.

The dual-threat nature of Jackson has been pivotal to the Ravens' ability to run the ball and he should expect to have another big game against Buffalo having rushed for 139 yards against the Titans.

With bad weather forecast, keeping the ball on the ground could prove the smart play but one that Buffalo will find more difficult now they have lost part of their running-back stable with Zack Moss injured.

Baltimore’s ability to eat up the clock with their rushing attack will put pressure on Allen and give Baltimore a chance to record an upset.

Team news

Baltimore

Cornerback Marcus Peters (back) and tackle DJ Fluker are questionable but linebacker Matthew Judon (illness) should be fit.

Buffalo

Running-back Zack Moss (ankle) is out and defensive end Darryl Johnson (knee) is doubtful. Wide receiver Cole Beasley and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are set to play.

Key stats

• Baltimore have won six of their last nine meetings with Buffalo.
• The Ravens have covered the handicap in their last seven away playoff games.
• The total points line has gone over in seven of Buffalo’s last ten games.

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