Nat Coombs NFL Divisional Tips Including Commanders @ Lions

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Nat Coombs NFL Divisional Tips Including Commanders @ Lions

Nat Coombs is an NFL writer and broadcaster who has been anchoring TV and radio coverage in the UK for over 15 years, working with a range of networks including BBC, TalkSPORT, FIVE, ESPN and Channel 4. 

He writes a column for The Times and also hosts his own NFL podcast The Nat Coombs Show, which has been nominated for the best American Football podcast in the Sports Podcast Awards.

Nat has joined The Panel to share his three best tips for the weekend’s NFL action using the best prices from the leading NFL betting sites.

The four-leg acca pays just under 11/1 with Betway.

Nat Coombs' NFL Wild Card Predictions:

Texans @ Chiefs Prediction: Kelce To Be Clutch, Again

Whilst everyone has been obsessing about the underperforming Texans offense for much of the season, the Houston defense, a unit peppered with elite talent and some underrated playmakers, has been quietly going about its business with the attention elsewhere. 

The AFC South champs turned in a mightily impressive defensive performance last weekend against the Chargers, with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter wreaking havoc, sacking Justin Herbert four times and limiting the LA ground game in the process. 

Meanwhile, All-Pro corner Derek Stingley and his band of brothers throttled the Chargers receivers (Ladd McConkey notwithstanding), a vice-like grip from top to bottom that sent the talented Herbert into turnover meltdown. 

Offensively for the Texans, CJ Stroud and co delivered one of their better performances of the season, with Joe Mixon getting the ground game going slowly but surely, with a big second half. 

Star wideout Nico Collins stepped up and reminded us why he’s a top-tier talent and Stroud’s go-to guy. 

The Hunter/Anderson combo will hope to cause issues for a Chiefs offensive line that is fallible, particularly on the left hand side, which is Mahomes’ blind side.

If the Texans front can replicate the success against the run that they had against LA, Mahomes will need to beat them with his arm and specifically fast releases underneath, especially if the impressive Houston secondary limits his downfield shot. 

If we were talking WWE right now, the next line would be “That’s Kelce’s Music!” Travis Kelce, who has been bubble wrapped for much of the season.

His minutes have been managed and will be leant for the deep waters of the playoffs. Mahomes will hit his old pal to ease the Chiefs through a tricky spot. 

Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 1: Travis Kelce Over 52.5 Total Points - 20/23 With Betway

Commanders @ Lions Prediction: Detroit's Ground Game To Dominate

The Lions are rested and ready, possess the highest scoring offense in the NFL (33.2 points per game) and are understandably heavy favourites, but they will need to be cautious squaring off against the extraordinary Jayden Daniels. 

Playing with a poise and calmness that belies his relative inexperience, Commanders quarterback Daniels has demonstrated on multiple occasions a penchant for last-gasp comebacks.

Washington can put up points themselves (ranked fifth in the league in points per game), and if they can expand a ground game beyond a reliance on Daniels and establish his connection with Terry McLaurin, they can keep up. 

However, if 'Scary Terry' is taken out, and the running game remains one dimensional, albeit a dazzling dimension in Daniels, this could be a runaway win for the Lions.

Lions running back Jahymr Gibbs has been superb as the focal point of the Detroit ground game over recent weeks.

Gibbs welcomes back his tag-team colleague David Montgomery, which is a worrying development for a Commanders defense that gave up the third most yards on the ground this season.

Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 2: Lions To Have Over 149.5 Rushing Yards - 5/6 With Bet365

Rams @ Eagles Tip: Defenses To Come Out On Top

Two of the most in-form defenses in the league right now go head-to-head this weekend.

The Rams have unearthed some sensational rookie talent, particularly in the shape of FSU alumni Jared Verse, who spearheads a unit that has held their opponents to under 10 points in four of their last five games.

That includes last week's Wild Card game against Minnesota, where they sacked the unfortunate Sam Darnold nine times.  

In their Wild Card game, Philadelphia's defense was equally impressive, delivering a display that underpinned a double-digit win against the Packers despite their own offense’s shortcomings.

The Rams come into this game off that highly emotional and charged win over the Vikings, but Matthew Stafford will find this a much tougher spot than the Minnesota match-up, where he swatted away the continued Vikings blitz with ease. 

Los Angeles won’t achieve as much traction with the pass rush against an impressive Eagles offensive line as they did against the Vikes.

If they can contain Eagles' running back Saquon Barkley and put quarterback Jalen Hurts under enough duress, they can exploit a Philly passing game that’s still not in sync. 

Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 3: Rams @ Eagles: Under 44.5 Total Points - 5/6 With Betway

Ravens @ Bills Betting: Heavy Workload For King Henry 

The MVP showdown between Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and his Buffalo counterpart Josh Allen, will both pound the ball into submission in sub-freezing conditions in Buffalo.

Both stars, who top the MVP market on betting apps, are ably backed by their partners in crime - Derrick Henry and James Cook - who have both had sensational seasons.  

The two running backs have combined for 5,419 rushing yards during the regular season, although the Ravens are sturdier at stopping the run.

Baltimore boasts the number one defense in the NFL for both rushing yards conceded and rushing yards per carry. 

In which case, I’m leaning on the Ravens running game. I'm backing Derrick Henry, who has had 24 carries on average over the last four games, to see a lot of the rock once again to rack up his yards.

Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 4: Derrick Henry Over 95.5 Rushing Yards - 20/23 With Betway

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