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NFL Divisional Playoffs: Trends which will decide each game

By Russell S. Baxter

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs leads players onto the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Arrowhead Stadium on December 27, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs leads players onto the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Arrowhead Stadium on December 27, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 10: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball against Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 10, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 10: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball against Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 10, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5) at New Orleans Saints (13-4), 6:40 pm

Buccaneers: The team comes off its first postseason win since Super Bowl XXXVII and it was another big outing for ageless quarterback Tom Brady. During a 1-3 stretch by the team in November, the 21-year veteran served up nearly as many interceptions (7) as touchdown passes (8) and in two of those four contests, he completed less than 60 percent of his throws. But in the Buccaneers’ last five outings, including last week’s wild card win at Washington, Brady has thrown for 12 scores, been picked off just once and totaled 300-plus yards through the air in each of this last four games. And the New Orleans Saints’ secondary has had its ups and downs during the year.

More fansided.com: 2020 NFL power rankings: Final regular season edition

Saints: The New Orleans’ offense was slow out of the gate last week against the Bears. Sean Payton’s talented team managed only 174 total yards and seven points in two quarters of action. The Saints finished with 385 total yards and was an impressive 11-of-17 on third down. The defense limited Chicago to 239 total yards and Dennis Allen’s unit did not allow a touchdown until the final play of the game. And it will be interesting to see if this group can frustrate Buccaneers’ quarterback Tom Brady for a third time this year. In the Saints’ sweep of Tampa Bay, the veteran signal-caller was limited to two scores through while being picked off five times – once for a touchdown.

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