Open thread: Sunday's playoff action
Coming up today/tonight:
Titans at Chiefs - 3:05 p.m. ET
An interesting match-up pits the Chiefs who overcame a 24-point last week against a Titans team that is reminding many of the Rex Ryan-era Jets with their ground and pound style.
Will the Titans fall down at the Conference Championship stage like those Ryan teams did? If they don't they'll be relying on Derrick Henry. Fun fact: If Henry can rush for 412 yards over the next two games, he'll have rushed for 1,000 after week 16. He's averaging 196 in the past three so maybe that's not too far-fetched.
If the Titans can use their running game to control time of possession that may be their best hope of slowing down Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Despite Tyreek Hill being held to 45 all-purpose yards and a fumble on five touches, the Chiefs still racked up 51 points last week.
Packers at 49ers - 6:40 p.m. ET
Two teams with good defensive fronts square off in the NFC title game. The Packers held Seahawks running backs to 39 yards on 15 carries and racked up five sacks including two each for Preston Smith and ZaDarius Smith. However, the 49ers were even more dominant with Minnesota held to 21 rushing yards and giving up six sacks including two for Nick Bosa.
The Packers scored just seven points after half time and had to hang on to hold off Seattle despite a big game by Davante Adams who had eight catches for 160 yards and two scores. Running back Aaron Jones was held to 66 yards on 22 touches.
The 49ers used a similar formula to the Titans to win their divisional round match-up as they rushed for 186 yards with Tevin Coleman posting a 100-yard game and two scores. Jimmy Garoppolo has a variety of offensive weapons but only targeted four different receivers in the passing game last week with nobody posting more than three catches or 50 yards.
WHO YA GOT?