A nd after that there were 2. I’m chatting, certainly, concerning west groups.
With the playoff departures of the Seahawks and also Chargers last weekend break, the Chiefs and also 49ers are the only groups left standing for the west.
They are 2 excellent reps taking into consideration both groups remain in the leading 3 in present probabilities to win the Super Bowl.
But to arrive they’ll need to take care of organization today.
For the Chiefs, that suggests holding back a rising Jaguars group that is seeking to play looter once more. For the 49ers it suggests removing a Cowboys group that is still riding high after recently’s big win over the Buccaneers.
Now allow’s get involved in those video games with a fast sneak peek of every one.
Chiefs vs Jaguars
Chiefs vs Jaguars
Saturday, January 21
1:30 pm PT, NBC
T his is not the match that lots of people were anticipating to see today. The Jaguars finished an incredible return recently to send out the Chargers packaging and also make themselves a day with the Chiefs at the same time.
It’s a complicated job for certain. The Chiefs have the most effective infraction in the organization and also will certainly be well-rested after having a first-round bye.
It’s additionally rather clear exactly how the Chiefs are mosting likely to assault theJaguars They are clearly an extremely pass-happy group, that makes feeling with a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes.
They had the fifth-most pass efforts this period and also with the Jaguars quiting the fifth-most passing lawns it’s reasonable to state the Chiefs are mosting likely to assault them with the air.
Kansas City additionally has the most effective limited end in the organization inTravis Kelce Jacksonville surrendered 12 catches for 148 lawns and also a goal to limited ends versus Los Angeles, and also safeguarding Kelce isn’t mosting likely to be any kind of much easier.
The Jaguars’ linebackers are mosting likely to be critical to their capability to remain in the video game. Not just due to the fact that they’ll need to safeguard Kelce yet due to the fact that they’ll additionally need to contribute to aid versus a strong run video game including running backs Isaiah Pacheco and also Jerrick McKinnon.
How linebackers Foyesade Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, and also Chad Muma play in the center of the protection might wind up determining the video game.
The Chiefs might be an offense-first group yet they aren’t as well shoddy on protection, specifically versus the pass, where they enabled the sixth-fewest lawns per effort.
One of the factors they were so proficient at restricting challengers with the air was the pass thrill. Kansas City acquired 55 sacks this year, greater than every group other than the Eagles.
Defensive take on Chris Jones is the leader in advance and also is additionally among the most effective protective gamers in the video game with 15.5 sacks, one of the most of any kind of protective take on.
This video game will certainly be a best-on-best kind match, however, with the Jaguars having an offending line that is awesome sufficient to hang with the Chiefs’ protective line.
Jacksonville surrendered the fifth-fewest sacks this year, which was just one of the essential factors for the advancement of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The young signal-caller looked better in his 2nd period, appearing like a future celebrity in the organization. He additionally managed his initial preference of playoff activity well recently, a minimum of in the 2nd fifty percent.
Lawrence got rid of a traditionally poor initial fifty percent to complete the video game with 288 lawns and also 4 goals and also lead a drive for a game-winning basket.
But currently he will certainly deal with a protection that is better versus the come on the Chiefs, so exactly how he will certainly take care of that difficulty will certainly be among the secrets to the video game.
It will certainly assist Lawrence if the Jaguars can have success on the ground, where the Chiefs are even worse on protection.
Jacksonville was a borderline top-10 hurrying assault this period yet young running back Travis Etienne had success recently, 109 lawns on 20 lugs.
The Chiefs have among the most effective young linebackers in the organization in Nick Bolton, so exactly how he compares with Etienne and also the run video game will certainly deserve viewing.
Bottom line, if the Jaguars desire an opportunity to win this video game they require to play even more like they played in the 2nd fifty percent recently. The just method to defeat the Chiefs is to make favorable use infraction, which Lawrence must have the ability to make with tools such as pass receiver Christian Kirk, limited end Evan Engram, and also pass receiver Zay Jones.
But, if the Chiefs can have their typical success on infraction, it might not be much of a video game. they are the most significant wagering fave of the week, preferred by eight-and-a-half factors, so it’s reasonable to think that if they play like they’re meant to, a win must be available.
49ers vs Cowboys
49ers vs Cowboys
Sunday, January 22
3:30 pm PT, FOX
T his match seems like one right out of the eighties and also with the method both defenses are playing, it might wind up appearing like one as well.
Both of these groups field a top-tier protection. the 49ers enabled the least factors and also the second-fewest lawns while the Cowboys weren’t much behind as well as additionally led the organization in turn overs.
Both groups are additionally coming off good fortunes in the opening round of the playoffs so must have lots of energy on their side.
The most intriguing component of this video game will certainly be exactly how well quarterback Dak Prescott does versus the 49ers’ protection. He had perhaps the video game of his life recently versus the Buccaneers and also currently needs to go up a degree or 2 in problem.
There isn’t much that the Cowboys can extract from the Seahawks’ efficiency versus the 49ers recently, yet there might be one point. Seattle pass receiver D.K. Metcalf had a great deal of success versus San Francisco’s primary cornerback, Charvarius Ward.
Dallas might additionally have the ability to capitalize on that match by utilizing pass receiver CeeDee Lamb, among the most effective in the video game, in a comparable method. Prescott and also Lamb might be the trick to Dallas awaiting this set, specifically due to the fact that it would certainly allow Prescott prevent several of the elite playmakers on that particular protection in protection such as linebacker Fred Warner and also safety and security Talanoa Hufanga.
But the Cowboys normally like to run their infraction with the hurrying assault, that makes feeling offered the elite running back duo of Ezekiel Elliott and alsoTony Pollard The 5 video games Dallas hurried for the most lawns in this year were all success.
Unfortunately for them, the 49ers enabled the second-fewest lawns per thrill this year and also have actually a piled front 7 led by protective endNick Bosa But they did enable 181 hurrying lawns recently to the Seahawks so it’s feasible for the Cowboys to have some success with their elite offending line.
As hard maybe for the Cowboys to rack up on the 49ers, it might be also harder for them beyond of the sphere.
Lately, the 49ers have actually looked downright leading on infraction, racking up 37 or even more factors in each of their last 4 video games.
They are led by novice quarterback Brock Purdy, that looked wonderful in his playoff launching. But he is not excellent. He made a number of tosses right into limited home windows and also versus a protection like the Cowboys’ that is improved obtaining turn overs, those choices might wind up harming them.
But, the one point the 49ers succeed at is making mess around their quarterback. And versus a hostile protection, possibilities for huge plays will certainly exist.
With pass receivers Deebo Samuel and also Brandon Aiyuk, and also limited end George Kittle, San Francisco absolutely has the tools to obtain open, it’s simply an issue of whether Purdy can take advantage of them or otherwise.
Dallas additionally has playmakers by themselves on protection. Obviously, linebacker Micah Parsons obtains all the credit score for being just one of one of the most turbulent protective gamers in the organization yet he’s not the only one.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence has actually had an additional wonderful period and also cornerback Trevon Diggs is among the most effective ball-hawking protective backs in the organization. And after that there are some under-the-radar gamers that have actually played well such as novice cornerback Daron Bland, safety and security Jayron Kearse, and also protective end Dorance Armstrong.
Lawrence and also Armstrong will certainly be specifically crucial due to the fact that one method to make life hard on Purdy is by obtaining stress on him, although the 49ers did enable the sixth-fewest sacks this year.
San Francisco might additionally attempt to utilize the ground video game to its benefit taking into consideration Dallas is much more susceptible because location than the pass.
And thankfully for the 49ers, they have running back Christian McCaffrey, among one of the most vibrant running backs in the organization, that must have the ability to have lots of success.
A great deal of focus will certainly be paid to the defenses in this video game, and also truly so, yet it’s the offenses that might wind up choosing it. How 49ers’ head trainer Kyle Shanahan and also Cowboys’ offending planner Kellen Moore plan for these elite defenses will certainly be critical.
And after that it will certainly all boil down to implementation. Both groups revealed recently what they can do when running on top of their video games, so whichever group can much more carefully repeat that today will likely be the one progressing to the championship game video game.
