NFL Playoff Schedule 2018: TV Info, Bracket Predictions for Divisional Round

Through four games, the 2018 NFL playoffs boast a little bit of something for everyone. 

One game featured an epic comeback with franchise-changing implications on both sides. Another featured a gritty, MVP-esque performance. Another was a defensive-minded affair likely striking fear in the teams that have to deal with the victor next. Yet another featured gaudy stat lines from a guy by the name of Drew Brees. 

It gets better—now the top seeds step into the fray. Tom Brady will enter in the divisional round, as will the Pittsburgh Steelers and an elite cast of weapons. The unexpected, albeit dominant Minnesota Vikings take the field at home. 

There isn't an unworthy team left standing, and based on the initial lines from oddsmakers out of Las Vegas, each game should be hotly contested and one-up the competition from the postseason's opening round.  

Divisional-Round Weekend

Game: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles

Date and Time: Saturday, January 13, at 4:35 p.m. ET 

TV: NBC

Odds: Atlanta (-3), O/U 41

Prediction: Falcons 27, Eagles 24

Game: Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots

Date and Time: Saturday, January 13, at 8:15 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Odds: New England (-14) O/U 47

Prediction: Patriots 30, Titans 17

Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers

Date and Time: Sunday, January 14, at 1:05 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Odds: Pittsburgh (-7.5) O/U 41

Prediction: Steelers 24, Jaguars 20

Game: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings

Date and Time: Sunday, January 14, at 4:40 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Odds: Minnesota (-4) O/U 45.5

Prediction: Vikings 23, Saints 21

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles

The Atlanta Falcons look like a team headed back to a Super Bowl. 

Opening the playoffs on the road against a red-hot Los Angeles Rams team, the Falcons did what they've done as of late: shock teams via a persistent running game and strong defense as opposed to a gaudy, stat-sheet-stuffing performance from Matt Ryan under center. 

At the Coliseum, the Falcons jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held their lead all the way to a 26-13 final margin. Ryan was gritty, at least, posting a 21-of-30 line for 218 yards and a score while getting hit often and struggling on a sloppy field. 

ESPN Stats & Info captured the impressive statistical side: 

Perhaps more importantly, Atlanta's stellar balance kept a high-flying Rams attack in check on its home turf. Todd Gurley averaged 7.2 yards per carry on 14 attempts, with 33 of the 101 yards coming on a chunk play. Jared Goff put up a 24-of-45 line with only 259 yards and one score. 

This doesn't bode well for the Philadelphia Eagles, a team well-rested and at home but missing MVP contender Carson Wentz. The Eagles won two of three to close the season with Nick Foles under center, yet he was miserable outside of a four-touchdown performance—a fluke by any sort of serious analysis given it came against the terrible New York Giants. 

While this isn't to suggest the Eagles don't stand a chance, teams that rested starters in Week 17 played miserably to start the playoffs. These Eagles only played Foles for a quarter to close the season, and while extra time to tweak the offense to his skill set is nice, it's hard to shake off how complete the Falcons look right now with Ryan finally surrounded by strong complementary pieces in the form of an elite running game and defense. 

Look at it this way: One team is down an MVP; the other is red-hot after shutting down a contender. The Falcons are quite the extraordinary wild-card team in the first place, given they have elite players at the skill positions.

These Falcons are too complete to bow out against a team without Wentz, so look for the balanced attack to lead a late scoring drive. 

Prediction: Falcons 27, Eagles 24

Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots

What a story for the Tennessee Titans. 

Marcus Mariota and these Titans are the architects behind the epic comeback hinted in the intro above thanks to a 22-21 road dismissal of the Kansas City Chiefs, rallying from 21-3 down to steal the victory. 

There, Mariota took over in the second half, ripping away control of the offense and working his way to 205 yards with a pair of touchdowns against one interception, putting his body on the line and silencing doubters who pointed out his iffy season entering the game: 

"Special, special," Mariota said, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "I'm a part of a great team. I'm a part of a group of guys that really just believe in each other. And, it's something special, and I look forward to playing next week."

As expected, the Titans put up a monster performance on the ground even without DeMarco Murray, with Mariota going for 46 yards on eight attempts and Derrick Henry—quietly one of the NFL's better stories this year—ripping off 156 yards and one touchdown on a 6.8 per-carry average. 

Unfortunately for the Titans, those Chiefs aren't these New England Patriots. 

The Patriots closed the season with a three-game tear, including a win over contenders Pittsburgh Steelers. Prior to a Week 14 loss at Miami, the team hadn't lost since Week 4. Early-season defensive issues evaporated and Brady worked his way to 4,577 yards and 32 touchdowns against eight interceptions, while his ground game sparkled on a 4.2 per-carry average with 16 rushing scores. 

Oddsmakers pinned a two-touchdown difference on the opening line for a reason. New England is not only the better team; its strength via the air neutralizes the ground game the Titans need to lean on in order to be successful. The Patriots know the Titans will enter this one looking to pound the rock and keep Brady off the field. 

While strong in this area, the Titans don't have the weapons through the air capable of keeping pace once Brady pulls away, which he will. Speedy backs out of the backfield and Rob Gronkowski will push the Titans out of their comfort zone and into a deficit, which against Brady and the Patriots is known as a point of no return. 

Prediction: Patriots 30, Titans 17

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Odds according to OddsShark.