NFC PLAYOFFS
WILD-CARD ROUND
FALCONS at RAMS: Precocious quarterback whisperer Sean McVay brings the belle of the ball to the tournament, as a revived Jared Goff and Todd Gurley key the league’s most electric team (29.9 points per game). The Super Bowl LI runner-ups, meanwhile, spent the regular season reluctant to talk about any Super Bowl hangover. But Matt Ryan predictably slumped following his MVP season alongside new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who replaced 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. The playoffs are a new season, and the young Rams are new to this. Don’t sleep on Dan Quinn’s Brotherhood. He’ll dare Goff to beat him. FALCONS 31, RAMS 28.
PANTHERS at SAINTS: The Super Bowl XXI Giants beat the Redskins three times, and Drew Brees tries to beat Cam Newton for a third time this season. Ex-Panthers linebacker A.J. Klein — on injured reserve — has an intimate knowledge of Newton and will share it. Ron Rivera doesn’t have a shutdown cornerback like Marshon Lattimore, a dynamic running back like Alvin Kamara or a receiver like Michael Thomas. Following a three-year playoff drought, this will be a Sunday football Mardi Gras for Who Dat Nation. SAINTS 31, PANTHERS 21.
DIVISIONAL ROUND
FALCONS at EAGLES: Julio Jones’ last two games against the Eagles: 9-141-2 TDs, 10-135-0 TDs. Nick Foles (right) has the entire city of Philadelphia biting their fingernails. The pressure’s on the rested No. 1 seed, but Jay Ajayi and defense prevail.
EAGLES 27, FALCONS 24
SAINTS at VIKINGS: Kamara totalled just 38 yards in a seasonopening 29-19 loss at U.S. Bank Stadium. Case Keenum is 11-3 as the starter since replacing Sam Bradford and a deafening home crowd and No. 1 defense in yards and points allowed will make life miserable
for Brees. VIKINGS 28, SAINTS 22 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP VIKINGS at EAGLES: Xavier Rhodes can handle Alshon Jeffery. Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount are stifled. Foles implodes. Keenum plays catch with Adam Thielen (right). A despondent Philadelphia crowd watches the Vikes become the first team to host a Super Bowl. VIKINGS 24, EAGLES 17.