KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No game during the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend was decided by more than eight points, including two that went to overtime.
Expect more close games in the Divisional Round, which kicks off Saturday when No. 6 seed Minnesota plays at No. 1 seed San Francisco at 3:35 p.m. on 41 Action News.
Nearly 70 percent of the league’s 256 regular-season games were within eight points during the fourth quarter in 2019, including more than 52 percent that finished as one-score games. Both marks rank as the fifth-most in NFL history.
Parity is central to the league’s business model, and the NFL has been remarkably effective at achieving it.
There have been at least four teams reach the playoffs that missed out on the postseason the previous year in 30 consecutive NFL seasons, a streak that dates back to 1990.
Five such teams made the playoffs in 2019 — including the NFC’s top two seeds, No. 1 San Francisco and No. 2 Green Bay, and two sixth-seeded Wild Card winners, Minnesota and Tennessee.
Having made that case, Las Vegas doesn’t seem convinced parity will reign this weekend.
Three home teams — the 49ers (-7) vs. Minnesota, Baltimore (-9) vs. Tennessee and Kansas City (-9.5) vs. Houston — are favorite by at least a touchdown.
The sports books are only banking on one close game, installing Green Bay as a four-point favorite at home against Seattle.
NFL Postseason Schedule
Divisional Round
No. = seed; () indicates TV broadcast
Saturday, Jan. 11
No. 6 Minnesota, 11-6, at No. 1 San Francisco, 13-3, 3:35 p.m. (41 Action News)
No. 6 Tennessee, 10-7, at No. 1 Baltimore, 14-2, 7:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Jan. 12
No. 4 Houston, 11-6, at No. 2 Kansas City, 2:05 p.m. (CBS)
No. 5 Seattle, 12-5, at No. 2 Green Bay, 13-3, 5:40 p.m. (Fox)
Conference Championship
Sunday, Jan. 19
AFC Championship Game, 2:05 p.m. (CBS)
NFC Championship Game, 5:40 p.m. (Fox)
Super Bowl LIV
Sunday, Feb. 2
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Conference Championship winners, 5:30 p.m. (Fox)
