NFC underdog report: divisional playoffs.
Hold on to your kneecaps, the NFC playoffs are down to its final four teams. Here’s how two underdogs can make it to the championship round.
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (-10)
Despite being the youngest team in the NFL, the Packers seemed unaffected by their underdog status on Sunday as they became the first seventh seed to win a playoff game with a 48-32 upset victory over the Cowboys.
Facing a Dallas defense ranked fifth in points and yards allowed, quarterback Jordan Love completed 76.2% of his passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns with a near-perfect passer rating of 157.2. In his past nine games, Love has 21 touchdown passes with just one interception.
Running back Aaron Jones had three scores of his own, along with 118 yards to lead all running backs in the wild-card round. It was his fourth-straight 100-yard game but a fifth could be difficult against San Francisco’s third-ranked run defense.
If the Niners stop Jones, Green Bay will need a repeat performance from Love and his talented group of young pass-catchers. Second-year receiver Romeo Doubs led the team with six catches for a career-high 151 yards and a touchdown in Dallas while rookies Luke Musgrave and Dontayvion Wicks each had the first postseason scores of their careers.
Defensively, the Packers hope rest leads to rust for the 49ers’ stable of offensive weapons. Stopping the NFL’s second-ranked offense on the road won’t be easy, but they did just fine against Dallas’ fifth-ranked unit. If they can find a way to turn over the Niners’ Brock Purdy, Love’s Packers could have just enough to get a win.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions (-6)
With their first postseason win in 32 years, a 24-23 victory over the Rams on Sunday night, the Detroit Lions advanced to the divisional round where they’ll meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field.
The Bucs avenged a Week 3 loss to Philadelphia with a 32-9 victory over the Eagles on Monday night, next they’ll look to atone for a 20-6 loss to Detroit in Week 6. It won’t be easy, but the Lions’ playoff performance against the Rams should offer hope.
Of the six teams remaining from Super Wild Card weekend, Detroit gained the fewest yards (334.0) and scored the fewest points (24). Defensively, the Lions allowed more yards (425) than any remaining wild-card team and only the Packers gave up more points (32) than Detroit (23) among the group.
Meanwhile, Tampa held the Eagles to 276 total yards and nine points as Philadelphia’s offense went 0-9 on third downs and 0-2 on fourth downs. If they pressure Jared Goff the way they did Jalen Hurts, the NFL’s second-leading passer could be in trouble.
Offensively, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield had no trouble playing through rib and ankle injuries on Monday, throwing for 337 yards and three scores. If he gets a little more help from receiver Mike Evans (three catches, 48 yards), the Bucs could make it to their first conference championship game since 2020.
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