NFL Divisional Round Tips: Why Bears Are Real Deal
It’s fair to say the Wild Card Weekend lived up to the hype.
Four games came down to a single score and, in the first three games, none of the teams that were leading at the two-minute warning mark ended up closing out the match.
The lead changed nine times in the fourth quarter of the first three games; the previous record for this statistic was six.
Now we head to the NFL Divisional Round, find out why we reckon the Chicago Bears are the real deal, why Maye could lead the New England Patriots to a big win and more in our full preview below…
Tip 1 – Bears to beat Rams @ 31/20
This prediction should come with a footnote.
While we think the Bears will win, and 31/20 is a good price, you might be encouraged to bet on them in-play and capitalise on better value.
That’s primarily because they come in clutch during the dying embers of the fourth quarter this season.
Quarterback Caleb Williams has engineered seven Bears victories after trailing in the final two minutes of regulation, which is the most by any team in a single season since at least 1970.
In the victory over the Packers, they erased an 18-point half-time deficit, which represents the fourth-biggest comeback in postseason history.
Williams holds the key. He looks in a good place at the moment – if he can lock in there’s no reason why they can’t shock the LA Rams.
Tip 2 – Drake Maye 224.5+ passing yards & more than 1.5 touchdown passes vs Texans @ 9/4
Drake Maye continues to look every inch a franchise quarterback and this matchup sets up nicely for him to put the ball in the air.
With defences tightening up against the run in the Divisional Round, volume often shifts toward the passing game and Maye has shown he can thrive when asked to carry the load.
The Patriots' QB grown more confident with each postseason snap, attacking downfield and spreading the ball efficiently across multiple targets.
The yardage line feels well within reach if the game script turns even slightly pass-heavy, while the touchdown mark reflects his increasing red-zone poise.
If this game with against the Houston Texans turns into the kind of back-and-forth contest we’ve seen so often this postseason, expect Maye to be central to everything and for those numbers to follow naturally.
Keep an eye out online and on the BetMGM app for Profit Boosts on Bet Builders for this game, too!
Tip 3 – Broncos to win & under 38.5 points @ 24/5
The Denver Broncos come in fresh after bagging the number one seed.
It means they have a week of rest in the system and are playing host at a higher altitude. Home advantage could be absolutely key in this tie.
More important, though, will be the Broncos’ defence as the basis of this tip. Only the Texans have a better yards allowed per game in the regular season.
For all the genius of Josh Allen, he doesn’t have the tools at his disposal to chip away too drastically at the Broncos.
Backed by a bye week, altitude, and home-field advantage, the Broncos are well-positioned to control this matchup.
Their elite defense should limit Allen’s impact, pointing toward a low-scoring home win.
Keep an eye out online and on the BetMGM app for Profit Boosts on Bet Builders for this game, too!
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
