Predicting the outcome of the entire 2019 NFL Playoffs

AFC Wild Card: Los Angeles Chargers (5) at Baltimore Ravens (4)

Sometimes, the playoffs can come down to which team gets hottest at the right time. Well, at this moment, there may not be a hotter team than the Ravens. Winning six of your last seven and pulling off a divisional win to get into the playoffs certainly gives you some momentum.

Then again, we can’t necessarily shrug off the Chargers either. They’ve been one of most balanced teams of 2018, possessing exceptional units on both sides of the ball. Philip Rivers put together another sensational year, Melvin Gordon has been outstanding, and the Los Angeles defense is making plenty of plays.

Speaking of defenses… the Ravens have the best one in the NFL this season. It’s played a big part in their success down the stretch, although rookie gunslinger Lamar Jackson also deserves a huge chunk of the credit. Put together, they’ve made Baltimore a dangerous foe.

That’s why I’m predicting the Ravens will overcome the Chargers in the Wild Card round. They already took care of business against Los Angeles a few weeks ago, and it did it on the road. With the M&T Bank Stadium crowd at their backs, Baltimore will make life miserable for Rivers, get some stout play from Jackson and Gus Edwards, and book their trip to the Divisional round.

Prediction: Ravens defeat Chargers