NFC Divisional Round Breakdown & Prediction
(1) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (6) New York Giants
After missing two games late in the season with a shoulder injury Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is healthy enough to play. Lane Johnson Eagles All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson is left off the injury list and is good to go. This is good for the Eagles all their important players are getting healthy just in time for a big game.
The Eagles started the season 8-0 and 13-1 as Hurts was ascending as an MVP candidate. From the beginning to the end this team has been looked at as the most complete team in the NFL. It is hard to beat a team three times in a season but if there is a team that can do it, it’ll be the Eagles. Everyone healthy at the right point as long as they are all clicking not much is stopping them from getting to where they want to go.
The Giants on the other side were supposed to be in a rebuild year but they flipped the script on that. From five straight losing season to the postseason in Brian Daboll’s first season says a lot about Daboll and how he got these guys to buy in. The Giants are coming off a huge win at Minnesota after losing to them on Christmas Eve earlier this season. Watching Giants quarterback Daniel Jones get better as the year went on was great. Over the past couple of years it was rough on him with the turnovers and the media on his back. This season he has turned it around especially in that Wild Card game. Throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 78 yards. He played a near perfect game and he will have to duplicate that performance and do it again against the Eagles.
Brian Daboll Effect:
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 20, 2023
Josh Allen was known as turnover prone QB as a rookie. Daboll then coached it out of him, resulting in an MVP-like season in 2021.
Daniel Jones had NFL-leading 65 INTs+Fumbles prior to 2022.
Now? Allen led NFL in turnovers, Jones only had 5 INTs. pic.twitter.com/ZB9a72pUxG
The defense came up great as well. The secondary held the Vikings top two receivers to 50 yards or less. Justin Jefferson had seven receptions for 47 yards and Adam Thielen had three receptions for 50 yards and no touchdowns. If they can do the same thing to the Eagles receivers than the Giants will have a chance to upset the number one team in the league. One main thing they will have to focus on is the run game. Hurts and Miles Sanders can hurt any team with their run attack. A lot for the Giants to focus on but they can get it done.
Eagles 24, Giants 21
(2) San Francisco 49ers vs. (5) Dallas Cowboys
In the first half the 49ers found themselves down by one to their divisional rivals the Seattle Seahawks. In the second half they figured them out and showed that they were on a different level than them.
Their quarterback Brock Purdy played a great game against the Seahawks and will look to continue his great play against the Cowboys. He was 18 for 30 throwing for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Their run game has been on since they traded for Christian McCaffrey, in this last game he had 15 carries for 119 yards and caught a touchdown pass. All the weapons on this team can do whatever they feel like. They can run the ball, catch and block the attack comes from all different angles and will keep the Cowboys on their toes.
Their defense might be the best in the game right now. When the Seahawks were threatening to score in the fourth they got a strip sack and the offense converted it into points. From then on the game was in the Niners hands. Once the defense gets comfortable and figures out how to make the quarterback uncomfortable they will come after them.
The Cowboys played a great game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They blew them out of their own building 31-14 and Dak Prescott played a near perfect game. After the first two drives stalled he found his stride and didn’t look back. He went 25 for 33 with 305 yards and four touchdowns. All receivers were involved in a big way and Prescott used his legs and he will have to continue to use them if they want a chance against the Niners. One of the receivers such as Ceedee Lamb or Michael Gallup will have to come up big in this game.
The defense played well against the Bucs considering they barely ran the ball. It will be different for this game, the Niners will look to run the ball and tire out the Cowboys defense. They have to be ready and stop them because if McCaffrey or Deebo Samuel get pass the first level of the defense a 3-yard gain will turn into a 30-yard gain. The Cowboys kicker problem will have to be resolved as well. Their kicker Brett Maher missed four PAT’s. A couple miscues like that will leave the door wide open for the Niners to win the game. If the Cowboys want to win their margin for error is slim and as soon as there is a mishap the Niners will capitalize.
49ers 38, Cowboys 28