The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

NFL Division Playoff Games This Weekend

AFC

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-6) over KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-4) at Kansas City 3:35 p.m. Saturday (NBC)—The last time these two teams met at Arrowhead Stadium, the Colts rallied in the fourth period and nipped the Chiefs 45-44, which is the highest scoring game that didn’t go to an overtime period. I believe the Colts are playing even better than they were last year and may not have to even come back from a deficit to record this upset. The Chiefs are favored by 5½ points and have the home field advantage. Visiting teams have a difficult winning at Arrowhead Stadium. Look for another high-scoring game.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (11-5) over LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (13-4) at Foxborough, MA. 12:05 p.m. Sunday (CBS)—The Chargers may be facing one of the “weaker” Patriots teams, but New England shows up the same way as division champions with Bill Belichick as the head coach, Tom Brady as the masterful field general and New England favored by 4½ points. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

NFC

DALLAS COWBOYS (11-6) over LOS ANGELES RAMS (14-3) at LA 7:15 p.m.

Saturday (Fox)—This is probably more wishful thinking than my Upset Special, but stranger things have happened despite the fact the Rams have the better defense with Orange native Wade Phillips as its coordinator.

After winning their first eight games this season, the New Orleans Saints brought the Rams back to earth by scoring 45 points and beating them by 10 points in the Super Dome.

LA finished the regular season by splitting their final four games.

I look for this game to be a low-scoring battle featuring stellar running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley.

Throw in the fact the Cowboys are seven-point underdogs and you might agree it really is wishful thinking.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-3) over PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-7) at New Orleans 3:40 p.m.

Sunday (Fox)—This very well could be the game between the defending world champions and the team that will be this year’s world champions.

The Eagles looked defeated Sunday by the Bears in Chicago until Nick Foles connected with Golden Tate on a two-yard pass with 56 seconds remaining in that wild card contest putting them ahead 16-15.

Former Eagles kicker Cody Parkey missed on a 43-yard field goal with 10 seconds left securing the win for Philly.

The Eagles probably won’t be as fortunate Sunday with Drew Brees being a better quarterback than Mitch Trubisky and the Saints favored by a whopping eight points.