NEWSLETTER
The NFC side of the NFL Playoffs opens up this afternoon, but the Chicago Bears aren’t a part of the action.
So … who’s down to root against some rivals?
NFC Game #1
Minnesota Vikings (10-6, 2nd NFC North) at New Orleans Saints (13-3, 1st NFC South) – 12:05 p.m. CT, FOX (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Myers), Westwood One Radio (Kevin Kugler, Jason Taylor, Scott Kaplan)
Site: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Referee and crew: Carl Cheffers (referee), Rich Hall (umpire), Jim Mello (down judge), Byron Boston (line judge), Allen Baynes (field judge), Jim Quirk (side judge), Greg Wilson (back judge)
Odds: Saints (-7.5), Over/Under 49.5
Coaches
Vikings Mike Zimmer (57-38-1, 1-2 playoffs) vs. Saints Sean Payton (131-77, 8-6 playoffs)
Starting Quarterbacks
Vikings: Kirk Cousins: 3,603 yards, 26 TD, 6 INT, 69.1 completion pct., 107.4 rating
versus
Saints: Drew Brees: 2,979 yards, 27 TD, 4 INT, 74.3 completion pct., 116.3 rating
Quick Hit: Drew Brees’ home splits in 2019 (119.7 rating, 322.8 yards/game, 17 TD, 3 INT) are freaking wild, but Kirk Cousins (101.1 rating, 253.6 yards/game, 15 TD, 4 INT) has been more respectable on the road than you might have otherwise expected.
NFC Game #2
Seattle Seahawks (11-5, 2nd NFC West) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-7, 1st NFC East) – 3:40 p.m. CT, NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tafoya), Westwood One Radio (Kevin Harlan, Brian Griese, Ross Tucker)
Site: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Referee and crew: Shawn Smith (referee), Bryan Neale (umpire), Derick Bowers (down judge), Tim Podraza (line judge), Keith Washington (field judge), Jeff Lamberth (side judge), Tony Steratore (back judge)
Odds: Pick ’em, Over/Under 44.5 via the Westgate Superbook.
Coaches
Seahawks Pete Carroll (133-90-1 overall, 100-59-1 with Seahawks, 10-8 playoffs) vs. Doug Pederson (38-26, 4-1 playoffs)
Starting Quarterbacks
Seahawks: Russell Wilson: 4,110 yards, 41 TD, 5 INT, 66.1 completion pct., 106.3 rating
versus
Eagles: Carson Wentz: 4,039 yards, 27 TD, 7 INT, 63.9 completion pct., 93.1 rating
Quick Hit: Believe it or not, today marks the first Eagles playoff game started by someone other than Nick Foles since January 9, 2011 . That’s when Mike Vick started for Philly, but the Packers beat the Eagles 21-16. You can check out that enchanted box score here.
