NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

2023 NFL picks, score predictions for Divisional Round

By Sayre Bedinger

NFL picks; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shakes hands with Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
NFL picks; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shakes hands with Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
NFL picks
NFL picks: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers drops back to pass during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on January 14, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

(5) Dallas Cowboys at (2) San Francisco 49ers

Sunday, January 22, 6:30 PM ET (FOX)

Well, let’s get this one out of the way. I had the Dallas Cowboys losing on the road to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in the first round of the playoffs 21-17. I’m going to hold my “L” on that one, especially after I’ve been all about the Cowboys this season in NFL picks.

I should have known.

The Cowboys have been a good team almost all year with a couple of blips on the radar. The Buccaneers have stunk. It was writing on the wall and I just didn’t see it. But the Cowboys definitely proved me wrong when I should have seen their victory over the Bucs coming.

The Cowboys are good, and they deserve a ton of respect for the way they have played this season. They are one step closer to the NFC Championship game but they’re about to face off against one of the most unstoppable forces in the NFL right now, the San Francisco 49ers.

The Cowboys might have honestly preferred a trip out to Philadelphia.

The big chess match here — Brock Purdy against the Dan Quinn defense.

Purdy has been tremendous in his rookie year for the 49ers, although his impact on the San Francisco offense was initially unexpected. The 49ers had to cycle through their entire depth chart at the QB position and Purdy has taken advantage of his opportunity to the point that you can’t help but wonder — is he this team’s QB from now on and not just for now?

The 49ers are such a well-oiled machine. Is this a Cinderella story with Purdy that’s going to hit midnight soon? I’m not so sure, the more time passes.

This is a tremendous matchup in the NFC, regardless. The Cowboys and 49ers have been two teams that, at times, have been dominant on both sides of the ball for stretches of time. You could really see this game going either way but I’m giving the edge to the 49ers because they’ve got so many weapons to deal with offensively and the entire group of them showed out against Seattle.

I think the Cowboys will keep this thing interesting for three quarters, maybe more, but the 49ers pull away late.

Prediction: 49ers win 37-27

Home/NFL