Week 2 of the National Football League playoffs is upon us. The Divisional Round is even better than last weekend with the teams that received byes (the 49ers, the Ravens, the Chiefs and the Packers) squaring off with the teams that were so impressive in wild card weekend. Record was 1-3, which I’m still steaming about as the Brady pick 6, the missed offensive PI against the Saints in OT and Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz being knocked out of the game with a concussion by Clowney, didn’t help the cause. But have to take the lickin’, as what happened to my man, the late J.C. Conzelman, who, when he got walloped by McElwain’s country boy tough guy, Greg Scott in our 7th grade football game, started kickin him and Scott said, “What’s wrong can’t take a lickin?” So I need to take the lickin and regroup.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s elite matchups as the quest for Super Bowl LIIII (54) and a trip to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday, February 2nd at 5:30 PM CT on FOX is in the balance. It’s win or you’re done. So the intensity is high, the play on the field is outstanding and there is an electric feel in January in the National Football League. It’s a thrilling month of football.

Saturday

Minnesota Vikings (11-6) @ San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Caly, 75,000

3:35 PM CT

NBC

Al, Cris, Michele

Lead Launderer, Walt Anderson, 24th season.

Be ready for some yella. Anderson threw the most flags per game (18.8) of any ref in the National Football League during the regular season. So here we go again with these NFL refs. The last 3 years they have become way too much a part of the games. They don’t let the players play, and that needs to change. Anderson always has controversy in his games, so expect something here. The NFL has also failed to overturn clear pass interference penalties both on defense AND on offense. The reffing in the NFL is substandard right now. Maybe the NFL is aware of this and the refs will do a better job this weekend. Hoping that’s the case. These refs are starting to get on my last nerve. They’re talked about too much. They need to call the game and just stay out of the limelight. That’s reserved for the players and the coaches. Need to change this trend of officials being celebrities and the rules expert on the networks always siding with the refs’ calls. They’re all former officials and are biased. Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino on FOX are good, but the others take the refs side even when the refs blow it. Need Roger Goodell and the NFL leadership to get improvement from these refs. Hopefully this weekend they won’t try and ruin the games and let these outstanding teams and super players decide the games.

49ers by 7

I like a close game here. Even though the Vikings got a very fortunate break against the Saints last Sunday, Kirk Cousins did complete a phenomenally clutch 46 yard pass to Adam Thielen to set up the Vikings first and goal at the Saints 4. Dalvin Cook is a terrific running back, Cousins is playing well and Thielen and tight end Kyle Rudolph are awesome players. The Vikings defense is pretty tough, too. But I’m going to take the Niners at home because they are such a well rounded team. I’ll take Jimmy Garoppolo (69% completion percentage, 3,978 yards, 27 TDs but 13 ints) and the Niners to just hold off the Vikings.

San Francisco 30, Minnesota 27

Tennessee Titans (10-7) @ Baltimore Ravens (14-2)

M&T Bank Stadium, 71,008

7:15 PM CT

CBS

Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn

Vogue, Bill Vinovich, lead cleaner

Ravens by 10

Lamar Jackson has authored a phenomenal season, I will admit. He’s completed 66% of his passes (265-of-401) for 3,127 yards, 36 TDs and 6 ints) . He’s also rushed for 1,206 yards and 7 TDs. So he’s been spectacular in the “Regular” season. This is a whole different deal though. His last game at Louisville against Mississippi State a couple of years back in the Gator Bowl, he threw 4 interceptions and his Cardinals team lost the game as the clear favorite when Dan Mullen had just left State and they had an interim coach. Mike Leach is State’s coach now, which is fantastic with him and Lane in Mississippi. Can’t wait for SEC Media Days. That’ll be spectacular entertainment with Leach, Kiff, S and O among others. The SEC made some upgrades in their coaching with the Kiffin and Leach hires. I’ll have more on that in the future, but my point is, Jackson has to prove it in the postseason before I can believe he’s as great as everybody says he is. I like Derrick Henry, who rushed for 182 yards against the Patriots last week, wow, and 1,540 yards this season and fellow former Crimson Tide inside linebacker RaShaan Evans, who now plays that position for the Titans, and the Titan defense to give the Ravens everything they want. The game’s at Baltimore though and it’ll be windy, winds at 15 gusting to 20, and those fans give the Ravens a heckuva home field advantage. So I’ll take the Ravens, but I like the Titans to take it to the wire. More of a defensive battle with some high quality defenses in this game and the windy conditions with some rain. Balmy temperature for Baltimore at 59 degrees at kickoff. What’s the deal with the weather this weekend? Extreme conditions, hopefully nobody will have a problem with severe. I’ll take the Ravens barely. Like a Justin Tucker field goal to win it for the Ravens

Baltimore 17, Tennessee 14

Sunday

Houston Texans (11-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)

Arrowhead Stadium, 76,416

2:05 PM CT

CBS

Jim, Tony, Trace

Lead ref, Shawn Hochuli

Doesn’t have the artillery his dad, Ed, had. Ed Hochuli just retired after last season and he always liked to show off his guns with tight shirts much like Big 12 ref Mike Defee does in college. Little too much self promotion from those 2 refs, as Laura Ingraham said to LeBron, “Shut up and dribble.” The refs should “Shut up and call the game.” Hopefully the younger Hochuli will call a good game.

KC by 10

DeShaun Watson put on his Harry Houdini hat again last week in I would say the play of the season in the NFL when, on 3rd and 10 in overtime and the Texans about to punt it back to the BIlls with the scored tied at 19, Watson looked dead to rights as a defender came in from the right and crushed him and a defender came from the left and behind and hit him just as violently, amazingly, Watson bounced off both tacklers, rolled to his right and found wide receiver Taiwan Jones, who caught the ball in the flat and took it 34 yards to the Buffalo 10. The Texans kicked the field goal and won it 22-19. Patrick Mahomes is a superb quarterback, no doubt. He completed 66% of his passes, 319-of-484, for 4,031 yards, 26 TDs against only 5 ints, but I can’t go against DeShaun and the Texans. According to Dabo Swinney and Texans Coach Bill O’Brien, Watson is the closest thing ever to Michael Jordan in sports. I would say Tom Brady and Joe Montana have a pretty good arguement with that, but DeShaun’s a great one, and I like him to lead his team to the upset in one of the most raucous stadiums in football. Like New Orleans and Seattle, Arrowhead will register over 3.0 on the Richter Scale. That’s a small earthquake. It’s amazingly loud there. But give me DeShaun, DeAndre “Newk” Hopkins, the phenomenal wide receiver, the spectacular and tough as a B-52 J.J. Watt, who’s come back in 2 months from a torn pectoral muscle, which was considered impossible by any stretch of the imagination and had a key sack that led to the Texans comeback victory last Saturday, and the Texans to prevail. 37 and winds gusting to 17 during the game, so give me DeShaun making a few more plays than Ma-homes in maybe a little bit lower scoring game than expected due to the windy conditions.

Texans 27, Chiefs 24

Seattle Seahawks (12-5) @ Green Bay Packers (13-3)

Lambeau Field, 81,441

5:40 PM CT

FOX

Joe, Troy, EA, Chris Myers

Aladdin Chief Operating Officer, Clete Blakeman

Packers by 5

“Breakin the Law, breakin the Law” hasn’t been as prolific this season at 36 years old, but he doesn’t seem to have as much weaponry on the perimeter. ARodg has still completed 62% of his passes (353-of-569) for 4,002 yards, 26 TDs and only 4 ints. So still some excellent numbers though he hasn’t looked as sensational as usual. Still believe in him. Russell Wilson was terrific against the Eagles last Sunday, but the Packers defense with OLBs Za’Darius Smith (13 1/2 sacks -112 yards, 18 1/2 TFLs) and Preston Smith (12 sacks -88 yards, 12 1/2 TFLs) are going to cause Wilson some problems. The weather is cold with the temperature at kickoff in the low 20’s and that’ll affect the Seahawks a lot more than it will the Packers. The Seahawks are 0-8 at Lambeau Field since 1999. So give me the Pack to move on to the NFC Championship game where they’ll play at SF.

Green Bay 28, Seattle 20

Monday

CFB National Championship Game sponsored by “Have you tried this, what’s it called Dr. Pepper?”

No.1 LSU (14-0) vs. No.3 Clemson (14-0)

An expected game for the ages.

Preview and Prediction on Monday.

Have a great weekend.