One of the best weekend of the NFL playoffs is nearly right here because the divisional spherical kicks off on Saturday with two video games.
Beneath, we study the 2 NFC video games and the matchups that can assist determine which groups advance to the convention championship on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Seahawks huge receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. 49ers secondary | Seattle averaged 13 factors and was held to 327 passing yards in its two video games versus San Francisco through the common season, however Smith-Njigba was nonetheless not possible to include. The third-year professional had 15 receptions on 21 targets for 208 yards, together with a protracted of 40 yards in Week 1 that set the Seahawks up deep in Niners territory late within the fourth quarter with an opportunity to take the lead in a sport they misplaced, 17-13.
Per NFL Pro insights, Smith-Njigba feasted in opposition to Cowl 4 protection, which the Niners ran on 25.1 p.c of their opponents’ dropbacks (the league’s fifth-highest fee), through the common season. He had 34 receptions for 559 yards in opposition to the zone protection scheme.
San Francisco should include Smith-Njigba to have an opportunity of pulling off the street upset. Per Sports Info Solutions, he led the NFL with a 35.7 p.c goal share in 2025, so the ball will likely be coming his means. It is going to be as much as 49ers’ defensive backs to win their protection matchups whereas avoiding turning catches into longer beneficial properties.
Bears run-blocking vs. Rams run protection | Chicago’s funding into the offensive line paid off with a exceptional turnaround. Per SIS data, left guard Joe Thuney, acquired in a commerce with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and free-agent heart Drew Dalman ranked within the high 10 in run block factors earned, which assigns worth to every linemen on each run down.
The Bears shifted right into a pass-heavy scheme after trailing 21-3 at halftime in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the wild-card spherical, throwing on 63.6 p.c of their performs, according to Sumer Sports data. Chicago may also help its protection out in opposition to the top-ranked Rams offense by leaning on the run and limiting the variety of possessions for potential league MVP Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles has glorious run defenders at every stage, together with defensive lineman Poona Ford, linebacker Nate Landman and security Kamren Curl.
Per Pro Football Focus data, Ford ranks third amongst remaining playoff defenders in run-play cease fee (11.3 p.c), whereas Landman leads all defenders with 38 stops. Curl’s 7.7 p.c missed deal with fee is the fourth-lowest amongst remaining safeties with at the least 100 run-play snaps.
After each groups gained high-scoring video games final weekend, the Bears and Rams could really feel equally assured about profitable a shootout. However nearly as good as quarterback Caleb Williams was down the stretch in opposition to the Packers, it is tough to think about him out-dueling Stafford in an aerial assault.
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