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As usual, the Divisional round of the playoffs isn’t the best place to find awful teams that you can pick on with defenses, but there are some matchups that are better than others and game-scripts that could help out a defense.
Kansas City Chiefs ($3,200) vs. Texans
Kansas City has a bad run defense but their pass defense has stepped up this season, which, if you have a choice, is the defense you want to play well when you have an offense like the Chiefs. When Kansas City is clicking on offense, they can score quickly and get teams behind and not wanting to methodically drive down the field with the run eating up clock that they might need to come from behind.
Last time these two teams met, Carlos Hyde and DeShaun Watson ran all over them and had a lead at halftime. That could happen again, but I like the Chiefs chances to hold a lead at halftime this week with Andy Reid getting an extra week of preparation. As long as they can push the Texans to throw, we should see turnovers and sacks. The last time they played Kansas City picked Watson off twice and recovered a fumble despite losing. If they are in the win column this week, their D/ST points should be useful.
Baltimore Ravens ($3,600) vs. Titans
The Titans aren’t the easiest team to put up D/ST points on, as they have Derrick Henry leading the way on the ground, which means there aren’t as many drop backs for sacks and passes for interceptions. And they aren’t often in must-throw positions that let defenses key on the pass. But that could easily change in Baltimore, as the Ravens lead the league in points per game and can get teams down quickly.
There is a chance that they can keep the game close and still have Henry as their main mode of offense, but I can assure you that Ryan Tannehill will be asked to throw the ball more than he did against the Patriots and that means chances for one of the top secondaries in the league to get to work.
Minnesota Vikings ($2,700) at 49ers
This isn’t my favorite pic, as I think the Vikings may have shot their shot in New Orleans and will now have trouble in a short week going against a rested 49ers team but after watching their defense line harass Drew Brees all game, you can’t ignore them. The Saints have one of the best offensive lines in the league and the Vikings took it to them, winning on most plays. The 49ers also have a good o-line but if the Vikings bring that kind of heat again, they will get points for their D/ST.