2020 DIVISIONAL ROUND POWER RANKINGS
Well, what a Super Wild Card Weekend that turned out to be. Some big offensive performances as well as stingy defenses made for a great weekend of football. Unfortunately only six teams can progress and we had to send more teams off into the off-season. For the teams that got the win it’s onto the divisional round and we can welcome the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers into the mix. The matchups for the divisional round are as follows:
Los Angeles Rams at the Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the New Orleans Saints
Baltimore Ravens at the Buffalo Bills
Cleveland Browns at the Kansas City Chiefs
Let’s take a look at where they all fall in our weekly Power Rankings.
8. Cleveland Browns
Fresh off their first playoff win since 1994 the Cleveland Browns now have the delight of the Kansas City Chiefs to prepare for. In what was possibly the best game of Super Wild Card Weekend the Browns got off to a great start thanks to some mishaps from the Pittsburgh Steelers. A fumble on the first play and three interceptions led to the Browns having a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In typical Browns fashion, however, they began to let the Steelers back into the game. Another interception in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for Cleveland who was playing without their head coach on the sidelines. Cleveland held on to a 48-37 win as they sent their divisional rivals packing. Onto Kansas Dorothy.
7. Los Angeles Rams
For the third time this year, the Los Angeles Rams did battle with the Seattle Seahawks. Having to start with John Wolford at the helm the Rams had to turn the reigns back over to Jared Goff early on. Wolford was injured on a tackle by Jamal Adams and was taken to a local hospital for scans. In came Jared Goff and he looked okay as the game went on. A couple of big plays and a defensive touchdown allowed the Rams to rack up 30 points against a Seattle defense that had looked better in recent weeks.
Up next is the Green Bay Packers and with Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald, both nursing injuries the Rams will be praying they get both back in time.
6. Baltimore Ravens
What was predicted to be a scoring feast between the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens turned out to be just the opposite. Both defenses stepped up and held the opposing offense in check for the majority of the game. Unfortunately, you can only contain Lamar Jackson for so long, and eventually, he stamped his authority on the game. Finishing with 136 rushing yards and a score the Titans had no answer for Jackson’s legs.
Tennessee’s inability to get Derrick Henry involved in the game cost them dearly in this one and allowed Baltimore to focus on stopping Ryan Tannehill. Big defensive performance for the Ravens and another one will be needed when they face off with the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady continues to roll back the years as he throws the ball around seemingly at will. Despite having Chase Young gunning for him, Brady finished the game with 381 yards and two touchdowns. He now has 31 playoff wins which are eight more than Washington has as a franchise. Washington kept the scoreline close but it felt like Tampa Bay had this one in the bag throughout. Tom Brady making another run at a Super Bowl perhaps???
4. New Orleans Saints
In a thoroughly unentertaining game, the Saints did exactly what they were supposed to. The only surprise was that the scoreline wasn’t larger. A 21-9 win that really should have been 21-3 if it wasn’t for a garbage-time drive by the Bears. New Orleans dominated from start to finish and a couple of touchdowns on their first two drives of the second half put this game to bed. The Saints have their offense back in time for one last run at the Super Bowl with Drew Brees at the helm.
3. Buffalo Bills
Despite being number one last week it’s difficult to put teams that have had a rest anywhere other than one and two. Buffalo did nothing wrong against the Colts but it wasn’t quite as dominating as we were all expecting. Indianapolis had a chance to tie the game up or even win it with the last play of the game but came up short. Josh Allen had another big day as he threw for over 300 yards and two scores.
After having a poor performance against the Texans in last year’s playoffs this was exactly what the young quarterback needed. Baltimore comes to town in the divisional round and Josh Allen will need to continue his MVP caliber play.
2. Green Bay Packers
A week off for Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams and more time for them to work on their devastating connection. Up next is the Los Angeles Rams and Aaron Donald coming to Lambeau to try and ruin Rodger’s dream season. With more touchdown passes than punts this year, the Packer’s offense will be hoping to continue this fine form against the league’s best defense.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes has had two weeks off now to rest up and get ready for another Super Bowl run. That does not bode well for the visiting Cleveland Browns. Mahomes has been on a different level for the last two years and despite having a slightly more human season this year he still led his team to a 14-1 record before sitting out the final game.
In Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, Mahomes has two of the top ten receivers in the league at his disposal and after watching the Browns give up over 500 passing yards to Ben Roethlisberger he will be licking his lips. The title defense starts now and the Chiefs better be ready for everyone gunning for them.
MArk Ross
NFL Analyst