Eight  teams are competing this weekend to move even closer to an appearance in Super Bowl 59 and have a shot at the coveted Lombardi Trophy that comes with the ultimate victory at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 5:30 PM CT on Sunday, February 9th on FOX.

Here are predictions for the four Divisional Round games in the National Football League; with two games on Saturday and two on Sunday. The winners advance to the AFC and NFC Championship Games, respectively.

Last Week: SU-4-2; ATS: 3-3

 2023-24 Playoffs record: 8-5 SU; 7-6 ATS.

All times Central

 Saturday

 AFC

 Houston Texans (11-7, 5-4 Away) @ KC Chiefs (15-2, 8-0 Home)

 GEHA Field @ Arrowhead Stadium, KC, 76,416

 3:30 PM

 ESPN/ABC

 Joe, Troy, Lisa, Laura

 Refs, Clay Martin, Lead Laundry

 Chiefs by 8

CJ Stroud was awesome last Saturday against the Chargers, and DeMeco Ryans is already a heckuva football coach at 40 years old. The future’s extremely bright for the Texans. I just don’t see’em keeping up with Mahomes and the Chiefs on the road. Arrowhead is as tough a place to win as it gets in sports, particularly with the quarterback and stellar defense that they have.

 Chiefs 27, Texans 17

NFC

Washington Commanders (13-5, 6-3 Away) @ Detroit Lions (15-2, 7-2 Home)

 Ford Field, Motown, 65,000

 7 PM

 FOX

 Kevin, Tom, Erin, Tom R.

 Yella: Ron Torbert

 Lions by 9

 Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is a magician, and will keep this closer than expected. His leading his team to victory at Tampa last Monday was, as usual, miraculous. Detroit has running back David Montgomery back from injury, so he’ll team up with Jahmyr Gibbs for a potent 1-2 rushing combination, and Jared Goff and the receivers are equally prolific. The Commanders make it tough, but I like the Motor City Boys to survive and advance and host the NFC Championship Game next Sunday, 1/26/25.

 Lions 31, Commanders 24

Sunday

NFC

LA Rams (11-7, 5-3 Away) @ Philadelphia Eagles (15-3, 9-1 Home)

 Lincoln Financial Field, Philly, 67,594

2 PM

NBC

Mike, Cris, Melissa, Kaylee

Yello? Shawn Smith

 Eagles by 6

 I like this to be an extremely hard fought contest and for the Rams to give the Eagles everything they want. It’ll be interesting to see what book AJ Brown makes a New York Times bestseller this Sunday. He needs to remember to catch the football too! As Troy Aikman likes to say a lot, “Make a play!”

 Eagles 24, Rams 21

 AFC

Baltimore Ravens (12-5, 6-3 Away) @ Buffalo Bills (14-4, 9-0 Home)

 Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y., 71,608

 5:30 PM

 CBS

 Jim, Tone, Trace, Jay Feely

 Ol’Yellar: Carl Cheffers

 Ravens by 1

 This is the game of the weekend, although the others are very good also. The two top MVP candidates, with one getting the award in a couple of weeks, compete against each other. Lamar versus Josh. Stellar. Derrick Henry, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are  the X factors for the Ravens here. I like Lamar, Henry and the Ravens to get over the hump, barely, in one of the toughest road environments in the National Football League.

Ravens 23, Bills 21

Monday: National Championship Prediction

No.8 Ohio State (13-2) vs No.7 Notre Dame (14-1)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 6:30 PM CT, ESPN

Typically, Lou Holtz picked Notre Dame and disrespected Ohio State and Ryan Day once again. I’ll let you know what I think Monday, the day of the game.