Bets Dressed - Divisional Round - Uniform Matchups, Picks, and Prop Plays

It doesn't get much better than the Divisional Round - arguably the best week on the NFL calendar. Two days and four high-stakes games with trips to Championship Sunday on the line. What's not to like? Nice uniform matchups are just the cherry atop this football sundae. And we have four solid ones on tap (plus an all-timer to round out the weekend).

Let the good times roll.

A quick note on (playoff) methodology.

I’m still analyzing every NFL uniform matchup and picking a winner against the spread based on who dresses best. And just because a team’s wardrobe is ranked higher in the Power Rankings doesn't mean that it will automatically win the uniform matchup. It's what you wear in the instant matchup that counts.

We're not about to shame teams that made the playoffs. So we're only crowning the best matchup of the weekend from here on out. And still betting the over.

Don’t forget the Triple Mismatch Club. I’m making three units plays whenever the best dressed team in the matchup is a member of the Club (different colored helmet, jersey, and pants). And nine units plays if both members of the week’s best matchup are members.

Wild Card Weekend Recap.

2-4. Missing the Cowboys-Bucs over by one point in a game where Brett Maher shanked FOUR extra points is one of the worst beats in recent memory. But no time to dwell on the past. Time to get right.

Divisional Round Uniform Matchups and Picks.

The Jaguars and Chiefs have the honor of kicking off the Divisional Round. While I was hoping to see teal pants from the Jaguars, this uniform matchup isn't half bad. Kansas City in red is a classic while Jacksonville in black and white offers ideal contrast for the Chiefs to shine. The Chiefs are the easiest pick of the day, but I think this one will look better than expected overall.

The Jaguars and Chiefs squared off earlier this season with Kansas City winning 27-17 in Arrowhead. But this is not the same Jacksonville team. The Jaguars are 7-1 including last week's playoff win over the Chargers since that November loss to the Chiefs. With that being said, it's hard to look past the previous result between these two teams where the Jags lost by 10 with a garbage time touchdown despite having a +3 turnover advantage. Based on the eye test alone, the Chiefs are a class above. Patrick Mahomes is a lock for MVP, and it just feels like Kansas City's year. The Chiefs have been to the last four AFC Championship Games. I like Andy Reid's squad to make it five straight in convincing fashion.

The Pick: Chiefs -9 (-110)

Giants at Eagles. The only true divisional matchup on Divisional Round weekend. And while this uniform matchup will never contend for best of the week, it's a perfectly acceptable uniform matchup. Gray pants for the Giants and Kelly Green for the Eagles and we'd be cooking with gas. But beggars can't be choosers. Giants get the nod in a close one.

You have to hand it to the Giants. They refuse to turn into a pumpkin and end this Cinderella story. Brian Daboll and the boys executed an impressive game plan against the Vikings in the Wild Card Round and now draw a familiar NFC East face in the Eagles. Philadelphia won the first two games between these teams this season. But you know what they say about beating teams three times in one season. The Eagles looked like world beaters before the Jalen Hurts shoulder injury. But that feels like an eternity ago. With an extra week of rest, Hurts should hopefully be back to his almost-MVP form. Like all great NFC East battles, I expect this one to be close. Consider me content that the uniform gods steered us toward the points.

The Pick: Giants +7.5 (-110)

Bengals at Bills. The game of the weekend. To the surprise of no one, the Bills are sticking with the blue unitard. But lucky for us, the Bengals are breaking out one of the best icy white outfits in the league. Cincinnati is the easy call.

If you've seen The Office, you'll remember when Andy Bernard says "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." So I would like to take a moment to point out that we are currently living through some good old days with Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow dueling it out in the AFC. I don't know if this is going to last 3 more years or 5 more years or 10 more years or 15 more years, but I do know that I am going to enjoy it while I can. It's almost impossible to root against either of these teams. Both are loaded with incredibly likable players and coaches. Both are fighting for their first Lombardi Trophy. And both feature die-hard, trophy-starved fan bases that have endured their share of disappointment and heartbreak over the years. It's a genuine shame that someone has to lose this game. But such is life in the big mid-sized Rust Belt city. The Bengals offensive line is battling a slew of injuries, and the Bills defensive backfield is dealing with their own (and a relative feeling of ineptitude). Whichever unit crumbles first will likely reveal the result of the game. Cincinnati is getting a fair amount of points between two teams riding eight and nine game winning streaks respectively, so no complaints riding with the underdog here.

The Pick: Bengals +6 (-120)

Best NFL Uniform Matchup of the Divisional Round.

As if there were any other choice. Cowboys-49ers is as good as it gets. A+. The best uniform matchup we'll get this postseason and very much in the running for best of the year. I'm ready for Steve Young and Troy Aikman to run out of the tunnel with Pat Summerall and John Madden on the call for Fox.* This one is going to look glorious on a grass field beneath the setting California sun. Just sit back and enjoy.

Last season, these two teams faced off in the Wild Card Round in Jerry World with the Niners coming away with the victory following a bizarre QB draw from the Cowboys to end the game. This time the game is in San Francisco, and each team feels a step above where they were last year. In a lot of ways, the winner of this one is likely the team to beat in next week's NFC Championship Game (even if it involves the No. 1 seed Eagles). Brett Maher's four missed extra points cost us the over in last week's best matchup. Let's hope he regains his accuracy and both offenses live up to their explosive potential. Brock Purdy is putting the Super in Superbad - playing nothing like you would expect from a rookie quarterback taken with the the last pick in the draft. And Dak really came into his own last week in Tampa Bay. These defenses are every bit as dangerous as these offenses. If they want to join in the point scoring fun, the more the merrier. If nothing else, I think we're in for a great one at Levi's Stadium.

*Speaking of Fox, can we all take a moment to appreciate how fantastic their graphics package was in the 90s? I've been watching replays of Cowboys-Niners games all week, and Fox's game presentation was second to none. The 90s are my favorite decade in NFL history, and Fox is a big reason why.

The Pick: Over 46 (-115)

Triple Mismatch Club 3x Play

Club SDR - Divisional Round Prop Plays.

2-0 last week (Isaiah McKenzie ended up being a no-go). Travis Etienne and Ja'Marr Chase came through (as they have before) for the Single Digit Revolution. You know what they say: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Time to run it back. This time with another No. 1-wearing running mate.

Travis Etienne - Over 70.5 Rushing Yards (-115)

Travis Etienne has been a delight to watch this season. He's what Merril Hoge would call a "Factorback". He quietly went for 109 rushing yards on 20 carries in last week's electric comeback against the Chargers (pun intended). And if the Jaguars have any chance against the Chiefs this week, Etienne is going to have to do it again. He ran only 11 times for 45 yards in this season's earlier matchup against the Chiefs. If Doug Pederson can establish the run and get Etienne at least 15 carries, I like him to clear the number in this one.

Ja'Marr Chase - Over 84.5 Receiving Yards (-115)

This will be Ja'Marr's first game against the Bills (not counting the Week 17 no contest). And it's the biggest game of his career since last year's Super Bowl. The dude has a knack for playing his best when the lights are brightest. In only his second season, this will be his sixth playoff game. He's averaging 7 catches and 90 receiving yards per playoff game. If the Bengals are going to pull off a win in Orchard Park, Ja'Marr is going to be a big reason why. And I like him to clear the number (again) here.

Jalen Hurts - Over 50.5 Rushing Yards (-115)

Let's take a moment to appreciate Jalen Hurts and how important he is to this Eagles team. 4,461 total yards, 35 total touchdowns, and only 8 turnovers. And let's not forget his 14-1 record as a starter.* In only his third year in the league, Hurts is a Second Team AP All-Pro - earning the spot over equally deserving superstars Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. The number here is right in line with Jalen's rushing average on the year. Hurts has cleared the number in four of his last six games (coming well below in the massacre against the Titans and the regular season finale against the Giants where the Eagles did not call a designed run for Hurts). In those four games where he cleared the number (including the Week 14 game against the Giants), he averaged 95 rushing yards per game. I think he leaves it all on the field in this one and gets the job done with his legs.

*One of my least favorite bits comes from the "quarterback wins aren't a stat" crowd. The Eagles were 0-2 without Hurts this year and anyone with eyeballs could see that Philadelphia was not the same without their dynamic quarterback at the helm.

The Gridiron Uniform Database.

The uniform graphics you see here are courtesy of The Gridiron Uniform Database. If you’ve never paid their site a visit, stop what you’re doing right now and check it out. It is my favorite site on the Internet and an invaluable resource to uniform nerds and casual fans alike. This is especially the case during the season. I check the site multiple times a day to keep tabs on who’s wearing what.

Drop me a line.

You can always find me on Twitter at NFL Fashion Advice (@fashion_nfl) or via email at [email protected]. Come talk uniforms and all things football, and let me know what you think of the newsletter.

Coming Attractions.

Only three games left in the 2022 NFL season. We'll be back next week for Championship Sunday.

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