After an intense Wild Card Round, the NFL Playoffs continue with one of the most anticipated stages of the year: the Divisional Round, where the eight surviving teams play for a ticket to the Conference Finals. In this stage there are no easy games: a mistake can cost the season, and an explosive play can change everything. This weekend’s matchups combine divisional rivalries, high-powered offenses and defenses that have been key throughout the campaign.
In addition, the Divisional Round will feature the teams that finished as No. 1 seeds, who took advantage of the previous week to rest and prepare calmly. Even so, the challenge will be immediate: any overconfidence can be lethal when the prize is to be just one step away from the Super Bowl.
Seedlings 1 at last enter the field
Saturday’s first matchup will be between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, in a clash steeped in recent history.
Denver arrives rested, but with a clear mission:
Defend their home and reassert their dominance with a defense that has been a determining factor all season long.
Buffalo, on the other hand, is under pressure to keep advancing and sustain its Super Bowl aspirations led by its main player, Josh Allen.
Later in the day, the NFC West steals the spotlight with a new edition of the Seattle Seahawks-San Francisco 49ers rivalry.
Seattle, the top seed in the NFL’s National Conference, hosts a San Francisco team that has already won a big Wild Card game and wants to repeat the dose, this time in hostile territory.
This type of clashes are usually of high voltage, where pride weighs as much as the scoreboard.
Sunday of physical and close games
Sunday opens with Houston Texans vs New England Patriots, a duel that promises to be a low-scoring affair.
Two teams that have shown defenses capable of winning games on their own.
It will be a battle of punches, minimal mistakes and possessions worth gold.
To close the day, the Los Angeles Rams vs Chicago Bears, in a match that is expected to be played in difficult conditions and very cold at Soldier Field.
Both teams advanced with difficulty, but have found timely offensive responses.
Here, no form matters: just winning and staying alive at this stage of the NFL season.
Any overconfidence can be fatal
QuéOnnda.com
Where and when to watch the Divisional Round?
Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos
Date: Saturday, January 17
Time (ET): 4:30 PM ET
Stadium: Empower Field at Mile High
San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks
Date: Saturday, January 17
Time (ET): 8:00 PM ET
Stadium: Lumen Field
Houston Texans vs New England Patriots
Date: Sunday, January 18
Time (ET): 3:00 PM ET
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Los Angeles Rams vs Chicago Bears
Date: Sunday, January 18
Time (ET): 6:30 PM ET
Stadium: Soldier Field
Streaming in the U.S. (subject to availability)
NFL Game Pass (DAZN), ESPN/ESPN+, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video (on some games), and live TV platforms such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV or Sling TV, depending on the market.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
