The 2017 NFL playoffs continue to be all about the favorites. Chalk won all four wild card round games, each covering with ease, and the divisional round is following suit. The higher seed advanced and covered against the lower seed, even though both games looked promising for a while.
The Seattle Seahawks looked like they might give the Atlanta Falcons some trouble, taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. However, Atlanta took a nine point lead into the half, and expanded it the rest of the way en route to a 36-20 win. They will either travel to Dallas or host Green Bay in the NFC title game.
Most notably in the early game, Kyle Shanahan’s team won and so the 49ers continue to have to wait if they want to interview the Falcons OC again, or outright hire him. Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable was on the losing end, and with an interview planned on Sunday, the 49ers could choose to hire him immediately if that was the plan.
The late game saw the New England Patriots pull away in the fourth quarter en route to a 34-16 win over the Houston Texans. Houston made the game interesting in the first half, trailing by one at one point. They were down eight early in the fourth quarter and forced a Patriots punt, but Brock Osweiler fell apart, throwing three interceptions on the day. The Patriots will host the Chiefs-Steelers winner in the AFC title game.
The Patriots win means Josh McDaniels remains unavailable to the 49ers.