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Sunday 6 January 2019 21:33, UK
We preview this weekend's NFL playoff action, continuing with the Los Angeles Chargers @ Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears on Sunday.
We are live on Sky Sports USA (channel 407) from 5.30pm on Sunday for half an hour's build-up to the third and fourth games of Wild Card weekend. Here is a look ahead to what you can expect...
Like every team entering the playoffs this season, the Chargers (12-4) come in with a fantastic record in the second half of the season. They have won five of their last six - the only loss coincidentally coming in Baltimore - and 11 of their last 13. Although the 22-10 defeat to the Ravens took away from their 'invincibility', don't think they aren't capable - they went 7-1 on the road, including huge wins in Seattle, Pittsburgh and Kansas City.
Baltimore (10-6) look like they can't be stopped right now. Since rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson took over in Week 11, the Ravens have won six of seven and have averaged an astonishing 229.6 rushing yards per game which leads the league in that span by a huge margin. Before Week 11, they only had one rusher over 67 yards. Since Week 11, they have had a 67-plus-yard rusher in every single game. Oh, and they have the top-ranked defense and second-fewest points against.
Chargers QB Philip Rivers makes his 10th career playoff start and can become just the fourth quarterback to record three consecutive postseason games with a passer rating of 115 or higher (alongside Joe Montana, Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers).
Los Angeles clearly have a ton of talent. They had a league-best seven players selected to the 2019 Pro Bowl: wide receiver Keenan Allen, running back Melvin Gordon, defensive end Melvin Ingram, rookie safety Derwin James, special-teamer Adrian Phillips, center Mike Pouncey and quarterback Philip Rivers.
All those names are worth keeping an eye on, as is defensive end Joey Bosa, who recorded 5.5 sacks and nine QB hits in his six starts after returning from injury. He has 28.5 sacks in 33 career starts.
Lamar Jackson has followed on from a fantastic college career by amassing 1,201 passing yards, 695 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns in his first seven starts. Rookie runner Gus Edwards entered the starting lineup the same week as Jackson, and has impressed with 654 yards on 122 rushing attempts (5.4 average). The Chargers will know exactly what Baltimore want to do, but can they stop it? Plus, every player on the defense is capable of making a highlight-reel play!
It has been a roller-coaster season for last year's Super Bowl Champion Eagles (9-7), who relied on a Bears win over Minnesota last week to sneak into the postseason. They started off sluggishly (4-6 by Week 10), suffered the worst ever defeat by a defending champ (48-7 in New Orleans) lost quarterback Carson Wentz again to injury, but rallied to win five of the last six. Since Nick Foles took over again, the Eagles are 3-0 and have beaten two playoff teams (Rams and Texans) and pitched a shutout in Washington.
Chicago (12-4) went from worst to first, winning their first division title since 2010, and came out victorious in nine of their last 10. They proved they were the 'real deal' by holding the red-hot Rams to just six points in Week 14, and have been unbeaten since. Their defense led the league with the fewest points allowed per game (17.7), takeaways (36) and interceptions (27) and three of the past four seasons, the teams with the top regular-season scoring defense have advanced to the Super Bowl.
On third down in the calendar year 2018, Foles was 72-for-90 (80 per cent) for 874 yards, nine touchdowns, one interception and a 135.8 passer rating.
With 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes on Sunday, Nick Foles would become the second quarterback in NFL history to record at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes in three consecutive postseason games (Matt Ryan was the other). He will look for Alshon Jeffery, who has excelled since he entered the lineup, and Zach Ertz, who broke the record for most catches by a tight end in a single season (116).
It will be hard to miss Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who recorded a career-high 10.5 sacks this season and has claimed Philly's defense will better the Bears' on Sunday.
Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky has experienced the highs (six touchdowns against Tampa Bay) and the lows (three interceptions against the Rams) of being a second-year starter, but ultimately played well over the course of the season, finishing with 27 total TDs and 12 picks. His performance will be key.
The Bears' stars are on defense - especially Khalil Mack, who has taken the defense to an elite level this season. He's had 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and 18 QB hits. Philly will have to know where he is on every single play. Then there's Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Roquan Smith, Eddie Jackson... The list goes on. Every player flies to the ball, and they are fun to watch.
@PFF will provide a host of in-depth analysis throughout the season across Sky Sports platforms including our live coverage on Sunday and throughout our weekly build-up and reaction on www.skysports.com/NFL
