On paper, the Rams have the higher, and more healthy, crew. Odell Beckham Jr. has caught six landing passes in 9 video games with Los Angeles, Cooper Kupp leads the league in each receiving class that issues and Von Miller has change into a nightmarish sidekick for Aaron Donald. However the Buccaneers have Tom Brady, whose huge playoff expertise far outclasses Matthew Stafford’s.
Tampa Bay took two large hits to its offensive line final week with accidents to Tristan Wirfs (ankle) and Ryan Jensen (again), who’re each questionable to play. In the event that they’re absent, that will hinder an offense that’s counting on second-string receivers within the absence of Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown and that can’t rely on working again Leonard Fournette (hamstring) to be prepared.
The Buccaneers do have defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, although, and his unique blitz packages could fluster Stafford, who threw 17 interceptions within the common season, tied for the league lead. Even at 33, Stafford remains to be a relative postseason newcomer whereas Brady has proved he can elevate these round him. If Tampa Bay’s protection performs properly, he ought to do it once more. Choose: Buccaneers -3
No. 4 Buffalo Payments at No. 2 Kansas Metropolis, 6:30 p.m., CBS
Line: Kansas Metropolis -2.5 | Complete: 55
Nobody ought to wish to play the Payments, particularly after they pitched an ideal offensive sport in opposition to the Patriots within the wild-card spherical. After a brief droop in the midst of the common season, Buffalo seems to have caught fireplace — its offense has change into extra balanced and the protection, which completed the common season with the fewest yards allowed and factors scored, has created no less than one turnover in 4 of its final 5 video games.
Kansas Metropolis, as anticipated, simply dispatched the Steelers within the wild-card spherical, however solely after failing to attain within the first quarter. A torpid begin in opposition to the Payments could possibly be an excessive amount of to beat. Choose: Payments +2.5
How Betting Traces Work
A fast primer for many who aren’t accustomed to betting traces: Favorites are listed subsequent to a destructive quantity that represents what number of factors they need to win by to cowl the unfold. Raiders -5.5, for instance, signifies that Las Vegas should beat Chicago by no less than 6 factors for its backers to win their guess. Gamblers may also guess on the overall rating, or whether or not the groups’ mixed rating within the sport is over or below a preselected variety of factors.
