Saturday’s NFL playoff capsules
COLTS at BILLS
WHEN — Saturday, 1:05 p.m., CBS
RECORDS — Indianapolis 11-5, Buffalo 13-3
OPENING LINE — Bills by 6 1⁄
2
RECORD VS. SPREAD — Colts 8-8; Bills 11-5
SERIES RECORD — Bills lead 37-32-1
LAST MEETING — Colts beat Bills 37-5 on Oct. 21, 2018 at Indianapolis
LAST WEEK —- Colts beat Jaguars 28-14; Bills beat Dolphins 56-26
SKINNY — There are some who believe Buffalo is the best threat to top-seeded Kansas City in the AFC, which is stronger overall than the NFC. We’re not quite sure of that, but if Josh Allen truly has matured into an MVP-level player, he’ll do more than Philip Rivers will here in what might be the Colts QB’s last game.
PICK — Colts, 30-20
RAMS at SEAHAWKS
WHEN — Saturday, 4:40 p.m., Fox
RECORDS — LOS ANGELES 10-6, SEATTLE 12-4
OPENING LINE — Seahawks by 4 1⁄
2
RECORD VS. SPREAD — Rams 9-7; Seahawks 8-8
SERIES RECORD -- Seahawks lead 25-21
LAST MEETING — Seahawks beat Rams 20-9, Dec. 27,
2020
LAST WEEK — Rams beat Cardinals 18-7; Seahawks beat 49ers 26-23
SKINNY — When teams play for a third time, there are not many secrets they can bring to the field. That means Seattle, with its resurgent defense, awakened running game and just enough Russell Wilson, should have enough for the Rams. LA has no clue how (or how long) QB Jared Goff can go, and the Rams won’t win this game on the ground. It will need a huge game from its formidable defense.
PICK — Seahawks, 21-17
BUCCANEERS at WASHINGTON
WHEN — Saturday, 8:15 p.m., NBC
RECORDS — TAMPA BAY (11-5) at WASHINGTON (7-9)
OPENING LINE — Buccaneers by 6 1⁄
2
RECORD VS. SPREAD — Buccaneers 9-7; Washington 8-6-2
SERIES RECORD — Washington leads 12-11
LAST MEETING — Washington beat Buccaneers 16-3 on Nov. 11, 2018 at Tampa Bay
LAST WEEK — Buccaneers beat Falcons 44-27; Washington beat Eagles 20-14
SKINNY — Let’s see: Tom Brady and his six Super Bowl rings versus a 7-9 division winner. Need we say more? Well, yes. Washington’s NFC East triumph is nothing to scoff at despite the losing record. A franchise in turmoil because of off-field issues that released the supposed building block at quarterback late in the season has been somewhat revitalized by the work of coach Ron Rivera. The defense is aggressive and anchored by rookie Chase Young, the second overall pick in the 2020 draft. The starting QB, Alex Smith, has been as inspirational as any NFL player, capping a comeback from a severe injury that almost cost him a leg. Still, it’s pretty much a mismatch.
PICK — Buccaneers 26-16