Then there were four. In the NFL Divisional Round, all the matchups are expected to be tight. To amplify the interest, our resident degen Brad Evans gets his grubby mitts on various tickets. Fade or follow? That's up to YOU!
Game 1 Pick: SGP - Patriots ML, Drake Maye 25+ rush yards vs. Texans (+120, BetMGM)
The antithesis of Tom Brady and his truck-pulling "sprint" speed, Maye has repeatedly displayed his premier scuttle ability. In last week's utter destruction of the Chargers, he set the game pace with 66 rush yards on 10 carries.
As stated previously, betting on QB rush yard props in the postseason is often a profitable exercise. With the entire season at stake, passers typically play with their hair on fire, risking life and limb to move the chains. Maye's Wildcard Weekend showing provided yet another example.
Another dose of No. 10 dashes is likely Sunday in Foxboro.
When the alarm sounds and Texans defenders rise from their restful slumber they always choose violence. Arguably the most intimidating D in the entire league, Houston is second only to Seattle in rush EPA D on the season. DeMeco Ryan's terrorizing crew repeatedly gashes lines, ratchets pressure and punishes opposing players.
Though dynamite in nearly every fact, Houston's applied heat often leads to pocket flushes and QB bolts. In the regular season, they cranked pressure on over 21% of quarterback dropbacks. As a result, opportunistic passers often dodged the Texans blitz and scampered for decent gains. Last week, Justin Herbert ran for 57 yards on 10 carries against them. During the regular season, they surrendered the ninth-most rush yards to QBs with six opposing passers scurrying for at least 25 rush yards.
Calling his own number over six times per game in the regular season, Maye averaged 4.37 yards per carry and topped 25 rush yards eight times.
Tacking on the Patriots to advance and sexy plus money comes into view.
Make us dollars, Drake.
NO CONTEXT PARLAY PLAY - SGP: Game UNDER 50.5, Woody Marks UNDER 56.5 rush yards, Drake Maye 4+ rush attempts (+134, DraftKings)
Game 2 Pick: D'Andre Swift most rush yards in game vs. Rams (+185, DraftKings)
The cheese graters have returned to kitchen drawers, but the elation of last Saturday's historic come-from-behind triumph over archrival Green Bay still has the Windy City chomping on cheddar.
A playoff win. It actually happened, Chicago.
In conditions fit for a tauntaun, the Bears ground game could run hot. Game-time temps are expected to hover around 17 degrees with wind chills approaching or dipping just below zero. Layer up and pack a whisky flask, Soldier Field patrons.
Given the teeth-chattering elements, Ben Johnson is sure to deploy Swift and Kyle Monangai often. The predictable approach could mirror what Chicago featured in its late-November road takedown of Philadelphia. In that victory, the Bears 1-2 RB punch combined for 40 carries and 255 rushing yards. On 18 carries, Swift accumulated 125 ground yards alone.
Admittedly, the franchise's RB1 isn't the most efficient rusher on a per touch basis. Including the Wildcard Round, Swift is RB35 in yards after contact per attempt (2.97), forcing a missed tackle on a modest 16.9% of his attempts. However, running behind a bullying offensive line that ranked No. 3 in the regular season in run-blocking efficiency, he owns the vision and burst to take advantage of exploitable lanes.
Over the last several weeks, the Rams once feared defense has become the subject of folly. Since Week 12, it's a sorrowful No. 24 in rush EPA D. In the regular season, Chris Shula's unit allowed an unattractive 4.23 yards per carry to RBs. In total, five RBs sprinted for at least 80 ground yards against them.
Kyren Williams is the runaway favorite in the above market and Monangai is a threat, but the very live 'dog should lean on Swift at least 15-17 times. Charging through the cold, the veteran back has realistic odds of topping 100 rush yards.
If he accomplishes that, the Malort will inevitably flow in celebration.
Bear ... DOWN!
NO CONTEXT PARLAY PLAY - SGP: Bears +10.5, Coleston Loveland 3+ receptions, Blake Corum 25+ rush yards, Caleb Williams 3+ rush attempts, Kyle Monangai 7+ rush attempts (+161, theScore)