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SPORTS Friday 10 January 2020
Top seeds back in action as NFL's divisional round kicks off

NEW YORK (AP) — The bye- we're down 16-0, 7-0, 28-0,
week breaks are over for I'm going to keep fighting.
the top two seeds in the I'm going to keep playing."
AFC and NFC after a, well, The next test is the Chiefs
wild wild-card weekend to at Arrowhead Stadium —
open the NFL playoffs. where they've proven they
That means it's back to can win after beating Kan-
work for Lamar Jackson sas City 31-24 in October.
and the Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs' defense has
Same for Patrick Mahomes gotten a lot stingier since
and the Kansas City Chiefs. then, though, allowing a
Jimmy Garoppolo and the total of 69 points in the last
San Francisco 49ers and six games — all victories.
Aaron Rodgers and the Mahomes has the offense
Green Bay Packers, too. rolling again and is the first
"Yes, it feels like it's been for- player in franchise history to
ever," Jackson said. "It feels pass for at least 4,000 yards
like it's a whole new season and 25 or more touch-
already." downs in consecutive sea-
It's down to the final four sons — despite missing two
teams in each conference games with a knee injury.
and the divisional round The key for Houston's de-
includes intriguing match- fense, though, might be
ups. The Chiefs are the only making sure it knows where
team of the eight that got Travis Kelce is at all times.
at least this far last year; the He became the first tight
Ravens, Seahawks and Tex- end in NFL history with at
ans all lost in the wild-card least 1,000 yards receiving
round. The 49ers, Packers, yards in four straight years.
Titans and Vikings didn't "They've got playmakers all
even make the postseason over who can do many dif-
a year ago. ferent things," Watt said.
"It's the playoffs," Garoppo- Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill hands off to running back Derrick Henry, left, in the SEATTLE-GREEN BAY
first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New England Patriots, Saturday,
lo said. "You've got to love Jan. 4, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. Russell Wilson and the Se-
it." Associated Press ahawks have been a tough
The 49ers (13-3) are the top team to face at home for
seed in the NFC and take get after you. So it'll be a also averaged 206 yards during the regular season years, using their ear-split-
on the visiting Vikings (11-6) good test for us." per game, the first team to and went for 182 and a ting "12th Man" crowd to
in the first game Saturday. Meanwhile, the 49ers will be average 200 or more since TD last week while helping overwhelm opponents.
That's followed by the Ra- tasked with having to stop 1977. power the Titans past Tom They flipped the script this
vens (14-2), the No. 1 team the Vikings' offense with So the Titans will certainly Brady and the defending year.
in the AFC, hosting the Ti- a confident Cousins, who have their hands full — or Super Bowl champion New Seattle is 8-1 on the road,
tans (10-7). was able to put to rest the they at least hope to be England Patriots. including a 17-9 win at
On Sunday, it's the Chiefs knock that he's unable to able to make enough tack- "The key to stopping play- Philadelphia last Sunday.
(12-4) at home against the win a big game. His 4-yard les to keep Jackson and action is stopping the run They'll have to keep that
Texans (11-6), followed by TD pass to Kyle Rudolph the Ravens from getting game," Ravens safety Earl road warrior mentality go-
the Seahawks (12-5) at the against the Saints was the into a rhythm. Jackson led Thomas said. "I think when ing at Lambeau Field.
Packers (13-3). exclamation point — and the league with 36 touch- the run game gets going, "There's no tougher place
MINNESOTA-SAN FRANCIS- earned him the game ball down passes while also that's when the play-action to play than going to Green
CO from coach Mike Zimmer. setting an NFL record for shot is available, because Bay," Seahawks coach
The 49ers won the NFC West "It was just about him solidi- quarterbacks by rushing for the defense is so aggressive Pete Carroll said.
for the first time since 2012, fying himself with all of the 1,206 yards. trying to stop the run. So if Still, Seattle won't be fazed,
and Garoppolo will make bad rhetoric that he gets "He's definitely a different we knock that out from the especially if its defense
the first postseason start of all the time about this or beast, man," Titans defen- start, I think we'll be fine." puts together another im-
his NFL career. that," Zimmer said. "I just felt sive lineman Jurrell Casey HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY pressive performance like
He'll face a Vikings' defense like it was time to tell a lot said. "Not one guy in the Last week was all about last week's, when the Se-
that wreaked havoc on of people that he's our guy league now or in the past comebacks for the Texans. ahawks had seven sacks to
Drew Brees and the New and he did it." that can match up and Star defensive end J.J. set a franchise postseason
Orleans Saints last Sunday TENNESSEE-BALTIMORE compare to what that guy Watt returned from a torn record. They'll have to do
before Kirk Cousins led a The Ravens come in hav- can do." pectoral muscle that was it against Rodgers, who is
75-yard touchdown drive ing won 12 straight and Ryan Tannehill isn't any- expected to keep him side- right at home in the play-
to win it 26-20 in overtime. with the best record in the where near as dynamic as lined until next season. In- offs. He ranks fifth in NFL
That's after Danielle Hunter league. Jackson, but he has been stead, he was back on the postseason history with 36
and Everson Griffen com- They have run over — and solid since taking over as field and made a key sack touchdown passes.
bined for three sacks and past — teams all season, the Titans' starting quarter- against Buffalo. "They're tough to beat
Minnesota caused two with Jackson and running back. He's 8-3 and led the Oh, and a 16-0 deficit was when they're away from
turnovers. back Mark Ingram lead- NFL with a career-high 117.5 no match for Deshaun their home stadium, which
"They're a talented group, ing the way. Baltimore fin- passer rating while throw- Watson and the Texans, is kind of an outlier in this
defensively," Garoppolo ished the regular season ing 22 touchdown passes who stormed back to beat league," said the Packers'
said. "They make it tough with 3,296 yards rushing — and six interceptions. Der- the Bills 22-19 in overtime. Matt LaFleur, who is the fifth
on offenses. That D-line, the most by a team in NFL rick Henry led the league "The game is never over," rookie coach to win 13 or
they're impressive and they history. The runnin' Ravens with 1,540 yards rushing Watson said. "Regardless, if more games in a season.q