CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUPS
Bengals at Chiefs
TV: 3 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Tipico Sportsbook line: Chiefs by 71⁄2
Chiefs’ keys: Joe Burrow was pressured 19 times and sacked 11 sacks by Tennessee’s defense in the divisional round. The Arrowhead Advantage could play a big part for the Chiefs. It’s going to be loud, which makes things increasingly difficult on the communication between the offensive line and the quarterback. That means Kansas City could steal a few sacks on miscommunications up front. The Chiefs must take advantage of Cincinnati’s weakness with pressures and sacks on Burrow. Chris Jones, Jarran Reed and Frank Clark all had sacks in the teams’ Week 17 meeting.
Bengals’ keys: The big similarity between Cincinnati’s divisional-round win and their win against Kansas City in Week 17 is that they were the last team to touch the football. This game is going to be a shootout between Burrow and Patrick Mahomes. Whether the game ends in a touchdown or a kick from Evan McPherson doesn’t matter, but they’re going to want to ensure that Mahomes doesn’t become the “Grim Reaper” two weeks in a row.
Matchup to watch: Chiefs CB Charvarius Ward vs. Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase. No one could cover Chase in Week 17. Ward was in position on a few of the big receptions by Chase, but he didn’t come up with the play. Ward is the Chiefs’ top cover corner and very well could travel with Chase this game.
– Charles Goldman, Chiefs Wire
49ers at Rams
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Rams by 31⁄2 49ers’ keys: The 49ers are built to run the ball, maintain possession and wreak havoc up front on defense. They did those things in the second half when they beat the Rams in Week 18. RB Elijah Mitchell must make defenders miss, as he did two weeks ago when he forced eight missed tackles against Los Angeles. The same goes for WR Deebo Samuel. San Francisco cannot go threeand-out constantly and expect to beat the Rams.
Rams’ keys: The Rams are finding new ways to win games, whether it’s by pounding the ball on the ground, like they did against the Cardinals in the wild-card round, or by airing it out with QB Matthew Stafford. Stafford is playing some of the best football of his life. Allowing him to sling the ball around 35-plus times is a good recipe for the Rams because not only is he making big plays, but he’s not coming close to turning the ball over.
Matchup to watch: 49ers’ Samuel vs. Rams LB Troy Reeder. Samuel has been a thorn in the Rams’ side for two years, and he’ll be San Francisco’s most important player. If the 49ers can get him matched up on Reeder as a receiver and force the linebacker to make open-field tackles in the running game, San Francisco is going to have a good chance.
– Cameron DaSilva, Niners Wire