Headlined by a spectacular Bills-Chiefs game, NFL Divisional Weekend was one of the greatest weekends of football the sport has ever seen.

Paid Dirt: Best Games of the Week

Cincinnati Bengals eliminate Tennessee Titans 19-16

As expected, the Tennessee Titans’ season came down to Ryan Tannehill. He did not impress in the defeat, throwing 15/24 for 220 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. The Titans will go as far as their Quarterback takes them, and with a high $39 million cap hit in 2022-23, Tennessee will keep Tannehill until his opt-out in the 2023 offseason. Harold Landry, Jeffrey Simmons, and company punished t Joe Burrow on the ground all game, registering nine sacks, the most ever in a playoff game. Cincinnati can help their failing offensive line by utilizing Joe Mixon in pass protection wherever the offensive line needs help or use a tight end in the backfield to add another layer of protection. Speaking of Mixon, the star Running Back needs to generate more attention from the front seven to eliminate consistent pressure on Burrow. Mixon, C.J. Uzomah, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd are essential in the short passing game, or Burrow will be under pressure throughout the entirety of the playoffs. The Bengals are the team America is rooting for in the playoffs and have shed the “Bungles” label.

San Francisco 49ers defeat Green Bay Packers 13-10

As mentioned on The Blitz: Episode 23 by Rob Zolosi, the 2021-22 San Francisco 49ers look like a worse version of their 2019-20 counterparts. Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, and Samson Ebukam form one of the most feared pass-rushing groups in the NFL, with the 49ers’ secondary as their core weakness. The trio had five sacks and kept Aaron Rodgers in the pocket for most of the game. Jimmy Garapoolo is incapable of throwing accurately on the run and can’t be the reason why San Francisco loses, in that he shouldn't take over the game. On the other QB side, Aaron Rodgers wasn’t the reason the Packers lost (poor special teams play from every unit) but (Rodgers) should have played better given the 49ers’ weak secondary. The 49ers should be the underdogs no matter who they play on Sunday but have the potential to surprise people.

Los Angeles Rams defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27

In one of the most pressure-filled games of the year, Matthew Stafford (28/38 with 366 passing yards and two touchdowns), Cooper Kupp (nine receptions for 183 yards with a touchdown), and Odell Beckham Jr. (six receptions for 69 yards) stepped up when it mattered. The Rams are a Super Bowl team if Stafford cuts down on turnovers and their receivers pick him up. Tom Brady had a terrific performance (30/59 for 329 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception) and led his team to a game-tying drive in the second half, but a last-second defensive breakdown cost Tampa Bay the game. Brady won’t retire after this loss and proved his doubters wrong by launching a 24 point comeback in the third quarter. The Rams will go against their heated divisional rival in the San Francisco 49ers with their season on the line, and if the Rams played as they did against the Buccaneers, a Super Bowl is attainable.

Kansas City Chiefs defeat Buffalo Bills 42-36 in OT

The Chiefs have the Bills number for the second straight year, but the NFL future has a legendary QB battle between Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes for the next decade. The Chiefs are unstoppable when Jerick McKinnon, Byron Pringle, Mecole Hardman, or Clyde Edwards-Helaire produce. Defenses must account for Patrick Mahomes' elusiveness, Travis Kelce’s big-bodied threat, and Tyreek Hill’s electrifying speed. The Bills' Gabriel Davis broke out, with eight receptions for 201 yards and four touchdowns in the game of his life. Neither defense could stop the opposing offense in the second half. It was the best game of the 2021-22 NFL season and is one of the best games of all time. A legendary AFC Championship game is on tap with Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs set to go against a rivaled high-power offense in Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

Reference Page

• Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference and NFL.com

• Images courtesy of Getty Images

• Contract information courtesy of Spotrac

• Score information courtesy of NFL.com