Six down, seven to go.
The postseason is nearly halfway over, after the wild-card round. Simms went 4-2 straight up and 3-3 against the spread; I was 3-3 and 2-4, respectively.
Simms has clinched the straight-up title for the year, at 185-92-1. I’m 177-100-1. Against the spread, I’m clinging to a two-game lead, 141-133-4 and he’s 139-135-4.
This week, we have two disagreements against the spread, and two straight up.
For all division-round picks, you know what to do.
Bills at Broncos (-1.5)
Josh Allen knows the clock is ticking louder and louder on his chances to get to a Super Bowl. This may be his best chance yet to make it, especially without Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow in the playoff field. While the future is extremely bright for the Broncos, this year could end up being another stepping stone toward the ultimate prize.
Florio’s pick: Bills 24, Broncos 21.
Simms’s pick: Bills 24, 21.
49ers at Seahawks (-7)
Sam Darnold gets another chance to make a big play in a big spot, and to avoid making a bad play in a bad spot. And Kyle Shanahan gets another chance to cook up a game plan that will yield more than three points. All the pressure is on Seattle; none of the pressure is on the 49ers. In this round, sometimes that can make all the difference.
Simms, obviously, disagrees. He thinks Darnold will get it done, and that the Seattle defense will once again hold the San Francisco offense in check.
Florio’s pick: 49ers 27, Seahawks 24.
Simms’s pick: Seahawks 27, 49ers 17.
Texans at Patriots (-3)
The Texans’ defense is on par with other great units that carried the franchise to a Super Bowl win. This week, they likely won’t have to overcome a surprisingly poor performance from quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Florio’s pick: Texans 16, Patriots 13.
Simms’s pick: Texans 20, Patriots 17.
Rams (-3.5) at Bears
Who will step up in the fourth quarter, and who will step off? The Bears thrive when they’re firmly behind the 8 ball. And number 18 has shown that, in those moments, he can rise to a higher level.
Simms sees the Rams as being good enough on both sides of the ball to pull away.
Florio’s pick: Bears 30, Rams 27.
Simms’s pick: Rams 38, Bears 27.
49ers Clips
The Dolphins interviewed Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Wednesday and they’re interviewing two more defensive coaches on Thursday.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that they will interview Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The Dolphins have also interviewed former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Minter has been requested to interview with every team looking for a head coach other than the Steelers, but we now know he won’t be landing the Giants job. Saleh is set to interview with the Ravens and Titans this weekend.
Oddsmakers have pegged Hafley as the favorite to get the job in Miami, but the search process still has to play out before anyone is going to be announced as their new head coach.
49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will be trying to beat the Seahawks on Saturday night and he’s got other things lined up for Sunday whether his team wins or loses.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Saleh is set for a couple of head coaching interviews. Saleh will meet with the Ravens and the Titans about their vacancies.
The Cardinals and Falcons have also requested interviews with Saleh, but there’s no word about when or if interviews with those teams will take place as well.
Saleh was 20-36 over three-plus years as the Jets’ head coach. He returned to run the 49ers defense this year and has managed an injury-riddled unit well enough to help them to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The indications from the 49ers have been that linebacker Fred Warner will not play against the Seahawks on Saturday, but Warner isn’t ready to rule anything out yet.
Warner has been out since dislocating and fracturing his ankle in Week 6, but he participated in practice for the second straight day on Wednesday and said he feels “amazing” when he spoke to reporters after the session. Warner added that having a chance to help the team win this weekend and in any future games is the “only goal moving forward.”
Warner was asked if he expects to have that chance this Saturday.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Warner said, via 49ersWebzone.com. “I think they said last week they weren’t going to open my window, and then, my window’s now open, so we’re just taking it day by day. The expectation is to continue to take it day by day and see where we’re at.”
The 49ers will release their injury designations for the Seattle game on Thursday and that will bring further word on whether there’s any chance of Warner being in the lineup.
Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross returned to practice as a full participant on Tuesday. He has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury.
Cross, though, was downgraded to limited participation, with not only a hamstring, but with a knee injury.
Josh Jones has started in Cross’ place, but he remained out of practice on Wednesday with a knee injury.
The Seahawks added linebacker Ernest Jones to the injury report with an illness. He did not practice.
The Seahawks had five other changes to their practice report.
Linebacker Tyrice Knight (shoulder) returned to limited work on Wednesday after missing Tuesday’s work.
Edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence (Achilles), wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (rest), linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle) and defensive lineman Leonard Williams (rest) were back to full participation on Wednesday.
Cornerback Riq Woolen (oblique) again was limited.
49ers left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) returned to full participation at Wednesday’s practice.
He was limited on Tuesday’s report.
Williams tweaked his hamstring early in Week 17 and missed Week 18’s loss to the Seahawks. He returned for Sunday’s playoff victory over the Eagles, playing all 59 snaps.
The 49ers had no other changes to their injury report on Wednesday.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) remained a limited participant. He has missed the past two games after aggravating his PCL injury in the Week 17 game against the Bears.
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) and linebacker Luke Gifford (quad) again were non-participants.
Linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), defensive end Keion White (groin/hamstring), offensive guard Dominick Puni (ankle), linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) were limited for a second consecutive day. The 49ers opened Warner’s 21-day practice window on Tuesday as he works his way back from a dislocation and fracture of his right ankle in Week 6.
He won’t play this week but could return for the NFC Championship Game if the 49ers win Saturday.
The 49ers beat the Eagles 23-19 when Brock Purdy hit Christian McCaffrey on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 2:54 left. The third-down play, though, had Eagles fans crying foul.
49ers left tackle Trent Williams had an egregious hold on Nolan Smith as the Eagles edge rusher beat Williams around the corner and was bearing down on Purdy.
Officials did not throw a flag.
The 49ers, in fact, had only one penalty for 15 yards the entire game.
Williams was asked about the hold on Wednesday.
“I didn’t see a flag,” Williams said, via video from David Lombardi of The SF Standard. “Hey, you only can’t get a speeding ticket if you don’t get pulled over, right. I didn’t see a flag.”
Williams had only one holding penalty called on him this season as he earned Pro Bowl honors for a 12th season.
The 49ers placed tight end George Kittle on injured reserve, the team announced Tuesday.
Kittle tore his Achilles in the 49ers’ 23-19 win over the Eagles.
He caught 57 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 regular-season games.
In a corresponding move, the 49ers promoted tight end Brayden Willis to the active roster from the practice squad.
The 49ers drafted Willis in the seventh round in 2023. He has appeared in 23 regular-season games and three postseason games and has 11 total special teams tackles. Willis has never caught a pass.
The 49ers offense could get a boost if wide receiver Ricky Pearsall can play this week.
The 49ers estimated him as limited in Tuesday’s walk-through as he continues to work his way back from a knee injury. He missed all three practices last week before missing his second consecutive game.
Pearsall aggravated his PCL injury in the Week 17 game against the Bears.
Left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) was also listed as limited. He returned Sunday to play all 59 snaps.
Williams tweaked his hamstring early in Week 17 and missed Week 18’s loss to the Seahawks.
Linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) was limited in his return to practice, as the 49ers opened his 21-day practice window on Tuesday. Warner dislocated and fractured his right ankle in Week 6.
He won’t play this week but could return for the NFC Championship Game if the 49ers win Saturday.
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) and linebacker Luke Gifford (quad) were listed as non-participants.
Linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), defensive end Keion White (groin/hamstring), offensive guard Dominick Puni (ankle) and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) were limited.
Left tackle Charles Cross was back on the practice field for the Seahawks on Tuesday.
Cross missed the last three games of the regular season with a hamstring injury, but he was able to fully participate in practice. That bodes well for his chances of playing against the 49ers on Saturday night.
Josh Jones has started in Cross’ place, but he missed practice Tuesday with a knee injury. Linebacker Tyrice Knight (shoulder) also missed practice for Seattle.
Edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence (Achilles), wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (rest), linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle), defensive lineman Leonard Williams (rest), and cornerback Riq Woolen (oblique) were limited participants. Tight end Elijah Arroyo (knee), tight end A.J. Barner (hip), and safety Coby Bryant (knee) joined Cross as full participants.
