NFL Playoffs: Which Team Will Pull Off a Shocking Upset in the Divisional Round?

NFL Playoffs – Expect Surprises in the Divisional Round of 2024-2025!

The NFL playoffs are heating up this weekend, paving the road to the Super Bowl set for February 9, 2025, in New Orleans. The Divisional Round is where the top seeds from each conference step onto the field—the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC and the Detroit Lions in the NFC—benefitting from an extra week of preparation. Will we witness a few surprises as we gear up for this exciting round?

Houston Texans: Underdogs Ready to Pounce

Bookmakers’ spread: +8.5 points

As the Houston Texans gear up for this playoff clash, there’s no need to inflate their optimism! Head coach DeMeco Ryans and his squad face the icy conditions of a hostile stadium, aiming to secure their first-ever road playoff victory.

However, the Texans carry a potent weapon into this playoff matchup: their pass rush! Led by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., Houston’s pass rush averages nearly three sacks per game (2.9 to be exact), placing them in the top five of the NFL. Considering the Chiefs’ offensive line struggles protecting Patrick Mahomes and their recent rust from three weeks off, the Texans must exploit every opportunity to put pressure on Mahomes for a shot at an upset.

Washington Commanders: The Wild Card of the Weekend

Bookmakers’ spread: +10 points

The Washington Commanders arrive at this NFL playoff weekend as the biggest underdogs. They’ll challenge the Detroit Lions, who finished the regular season as the top team in the NFC. Yet, in the unpredictable realm of NFL playoffs, anything can happen, and the Commanders’ fearlessness might just be their ace in the hole!

Adopting the same spirit as the Cincinnati Bengals from a few seasons past, few anticipated the Commanders to reach this competitive level. This positions Washington as a team with nothing to lose, shifting the pressure onto their more favored opponents. As the season wound down, they demonstrated their ability to win must-win games.

Indeed, a victory for the Washington Commanders this weekend would be monumental in this playoff campaign—but nothing is ever truly impossible!

Los Angeles Rams: Flying Under the Radar

Bookmakers’ spread: +6.5 points

With a commanding regular-season victory of 37-20, the Philadelphia Eagles enter this playoff matchup as the rightful favorites. Nonetheless, the LA Rams are primed and ready to make their mark. They’re not traveling across the country just to play a supporting role.

© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The Rams boast a significant advantage: the dynamic duo of Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. Having already led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory, they possess the necessary experience to handle these high-stakes contests seamlessly. Add in a defense that has gained momentum in recent weeks, highlighted by a relentless performance against the Vikings last week, and you have a team that few opponents would wish to face during this playoff stretch.

Buffalo Bills: On the Edge of an Upset?

Bookmakers’ spread: +1 point

Surprisingly, the Buffalo Bills are seen as underdogs heading into their second playoff game. The point spread is razor-thin, meaning an upset by Buffalo wouldn’t be shocking at all.

© Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

If quarterback Josh Allen and his teammates are to claim victory in this critical matchup, establishing a strong passing game will be essential. While the Ravens have made defensive adjustments recently, Baltimore’s pass defense still presents weaknesses. The Bills, equipped with the 9th best aerial attack in the league and numerous weapons for Allen, can exploit those vulnerabilities.

Even with the impending snow conditions, if the Bills can find their rhythm through the air, they may very well tip the scales in their favor in this unpredictable playoff showdown.

Don’t forget: The Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans (Saturday 10:15 PM) and Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday 9:00 PM) will be live-commentated on TFA’s Twitch channel.

Photo credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images