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News 📰

Off the top, and because I had to look it up yesterday to figure out which apps to open:

Denver/Buffalo: CBS/Paramount+
Green Bay/Philly: FOX
Tampa/Washington: NBC/Peacock

Luckily, all three are on normal television, and you won’t have to call your older relatives and explain how to get Amazon Prime on their TV today.

• It sounds like we are very close to having the first of the six coaching openings filled already.

• Primetime may be throwing his hat in the ring for the Raiders job

• Black Monday firings drag into the weekend with the Falcons firing first year DC Jimmy Lake

• The League may look at the format of the playoffs and consider seeding by record rather than giving preference to division winners.

• Updated NFL Playoffs Bracket

Injuries 🤕

• Bills: Coming in very healthy with just kick returner Brandon Codrington questionable with a hamstring injury.

• Broncos: Similarly, not much to report outside of depth RB Tyler Badie was activated off of IR and was listed as questionable.

• Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts is back off the concussion protocol and good to go; both AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith sat out some practice this week, but are also ready to go for this game. Just backup OL Trevor Keegan has been ruled out.

• Packers: Obviously the big one is Christian Watson being out for the rest of the season with an ACL tear. Several defenders are listed as questionable including LB Quay Walker, S Evan Williams, and DE Brenton Cox Jr. S Zayne Anderson has been ruled out.

• Buccaneers: CB Troy Hill (knee/foot) is ruled out. Listed as questionable: CB Jamel Dean (knee), S Mike Edwards (quad), DL Logan Hall (groin), TE Cade Otton (knee) and CB Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee).

• Commanders: Just WR Jamison Crowder is listed as questionable. If he were out or limited, KJ Osborne would likely step into the 4th receiver role.

For the Latest Injury Updates, be sure to have the Bleacher Nation Fantasy App

Weather ⛈

“Nice” may be a bit of an overstatement, considering it will still be pretty cold in Buffalo, but it’s the day game, so the sun will be out, and the game time temps will still be around 30 degrees. None of today’s games (all outdoors) have real threats of wind or rain. It shouldn’t be a factor today (or tomorrow with an indoor game in the desert).

Situational 📆

• This is Philadelphia’s third straight week at home

• Tampa Bay is also playing their third consecutive game at home

• Obviously, we have a couple of rookies starting tonight, it’ll be Jayden Daniels’ and Bo Nix’s first playoff games.

• No real first-time playoff games for coaches. While Sean Payton and Dan Quinn are bringing their teams to the postseason for the first time in their respective tenures, they have quite a bit of experience in the playoffs.

• Don’t forget to check any early bets you may have had on MIN/LAR. With the change in venue, some sportsbooks will have voided your bets. Always read the house rules.

Philly -5

I supposed I could have played this at -4 earlier in the week. While I was fairly confident that Jalen Hurts was fine and the team was just taking advantage of the rules surrounding the concussion protocol, I do feel quite a bit better after he got full practice in.

I love what they have on offense. Saquon Barkley couldn’t have found a better home, the offensive line is elite, the top two WRs are stars and Jalen Hurts is healthy. But a big reason I like the Eagles today is their defense, especially against a Packers offense that is down their top WR.

Having the high-end safeties in C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship allows defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to broaden what he does and bring one of those men closer to the line of scrimmage more often to press opposing receivers and really shut down some good passing games at times.

Overall, this is a defense that’s definitely gotten better as a whole since these teams met months ago in Brazil, and with Christian Watson out, I wonder how much the Packers will just have to rely on the running game to keep the chains moving. If they find themselves trailing and in constant obvious passing situations, the Eagles’ defense has one of the higher pressure rates in the league. I see him taking some hits and the Eagles holding on to a multi-touchdown lead late.

Other Stuff I played:
Teaser: Bills -2.5/Rams +8.5
James Cook over 55.5 rushing yards
Josh Allen over 7.5 rushing attempts
Tampa/Washington over 50.5

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