The Serby Crystal Ball is back from the shop programmed with artificial intelligence just in time to ensure you watch the NFL playoffs.
wild card round
A.F.C.
Saturday, 4:30 p.m., NBC
Browns 27, Texans 17: John Fanta the Fan is a wacko for Flacco, but Amari Cooper insists he won't come close to 265 receiving yards this time around. Myles Garrett will win his matchup against Laremy Tunsil and win the defensive championship, etc., but he has a lot of respect for C.J. Stroud, even more than Davis Mills, who lost 36-22 last month. I'm afraid of him.
Saturday, 8pm, Peacock
Chiefs 31, Dolphins 24: Patrick Mahomes gets a break after Miami's two best pass rushers serve out. Travis Kelce catches a pass and Taylor Swift cheers. For Tyreek Hill, there's no getting revenge in the cold.
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Bills 30, Steelers 14: Josh Allen is peaking at the right time, but Mason Rudolph is not. Bills Mafia is peaking at the right time, but George Pickens is not. TJ Watt will be out.
NFC
Sunday, 4:30 p.m., Fox
Cowboys 31, Packers 23: The forecast calls for 39 degrees and no ice, but the game won't be Lambeau and the storyline will be decided. Mike McCarthy vs. his old Titletown team will have to do it. Jordan Love was unfazed, but Micah Parsons found a way to take advantage in the fourth quarter. And this is a Dak Prescott moment. CeeDee Lamb almost beat Aaron Rodgers last November, and the Pack was lucky to chase down Jaire Alexander.
Sunday, 8 p.m., NBC
Rams 34, Lions 28 (OT): Matthew Stafford is less affected by playing against his former team than Jared Goff, and Sean McVay knows all about what excites him. Will rookie Sam LaPorta (knee) be effective if he can play? Will Dan Skipper be an eligible receiver? Puka Nacua's OT winner shocked the Ford Field crowd.
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN
Eagles 24, Buccaneers 20: Todd Bowles was able to blitz Jalen Hurts (dislocated middle finger), but the proud defending NFC champion stopped a spectacular collapse that had local media in a frenzy. There is no place like the road.
division round
A.F.C.
Ravens 26, Browns 17: Before it was Fanta the Fan, before the Lamar Jackson era began, Baltimore was Flacco's wacko. Justin Madubuike, Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are Flacco's sacco, while Odell Beckham Jr. is tormenting the city exiled by Dave Gettleman.
Chiefs 27, Bills 24: Another notable matchup between Mahomes and Allen. Andy Reid profiles the intrepid after eating too many honey butter barbecue wings from Bar Bill Tavern that were delivered to the team's hotel. Much to the chagrin of Taylor Swift, Dalton Kincaid is the best tight end on the field, but Kadarius Toney lines up onside as Kelce catches the Road Warriors' game-winner. Everything ended well.
NFC
49ers 35, Rams 21: The Niners are rested and haven't forgotten the 20-17 loss in the 2021 NFC Championship Game when Cooper Kupp (11-142, 2 TDs) ran wild. Kyle Shanahan will use Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey for this game, and Fred Warner will keep an eye on Kyren Williams.
Cowboys 37, Eagles 24: Darron Brand's sixth and seventh picks of the season lost six in a row to the visitors at AT&T Stadium, and polite Eagles fans on the road politely toasted Jerry Jones.
AFC Championship
Ravens 34, Chiefs 27: Unfortunately for Taylor Swift, Isaiah Likely is the best tight end on the field, Roquan Smith shuts down Isiah Pacheco and makes Mahomes one-dimensional, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling throws no-look passes. And then he dropped a behind-the-back TD pass and attacked Mahomes. If Toney lines up offside, Kelce will be invalidated. “Who can do it better than me? No one! John Harbaugh would be thrilled.
NFC Championship
49ers 31, Cowboys 30: Once upon a time, it was Joe Montana vs. Dwight Clark's “The Catch.” This time it was Purdy vs. George Kittle, and a beaten Jerry Jones was stripped of his first Super Bowl appearance since Super Bowl 30.
2024 super bowl
49ers 27, Ravens 26: A rematch of the Blackout Bowl, and yes, Colin Kaepernick participated in a coin toss with the 49ers players. This is a Crystal Ball preseason pick and that won't change. During the fourth quarter huddle, Purdy looked into the stands and asked, “Isn't that Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Kimmel?”
In big games, big players make big plays, Nick Bosa, McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk line up with Lamar and Justin Tucker, and rookie Jake Moody makes a 49-yard field goal as time expires. win.
