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Divisional Round weekend. One of the best weekends in football.

For the first time in nearly a decade, Patrick Mahomes won't be playing. Both conferences are wide open. Monday night, Indiana tries to complete college football's most improbable championship run.

Don't miss: Bills vs. Broncos on Saturday. This is Josh Allen's moment, no Mahomes, no Burrow. His clearest path to a Super Bowl. 

Here's your weekend preview.

The stakes: This is Josh Allen's moment. Without Mahomes (Allen is 0-4 against him in the playoffs) or Joe Burrow, this could be the clearest path to the Super Bowl Allen will ever see. If he can't capitalize now, the "can't win the big one" narrative may stick forever.

For Denver, this is coach Sean Payton's chance to officially bury the Russell Wilson era, one of the worst trades in sports history, and prove his gamble on drafting quarterback Bo Nix was worth it. Nix is in his second year playing the best football of his career, leading Denver's top ranked defense to the top spot in the AFC this season. These teams played in the playoffs last year with Buffalo dominating 31-7, but the Broncos are a very different team now.

What to watch for: Can Allen overcome Denver's elite defense? The Broncos have the league's highest sack rate and Patrick Surtain, the NFL's best corner. Allen's been winning without a star receiver all season, but this is his toughest defensive test yet.

What Vegas thinks: Bills +1.5. Vegas sees a toss up, expecting Allen to push Denver to the limit if not, get the outright win on the road after his masterclass against the Jaguars last week.

The stakes: Seattle (14-3) hasn't reached the NFC Championship since 2014. Losing at home would be a massive disappointment after earning the #1 seed in the NFC. Meanwhile, San Francisco is playing with house money. They've lost defensive stars Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and tight end George Kittle to injuries, but Kyle Shanahan keeps finding ways to win, most recently coaching them past the Eagles as big underdogs last week. It's impressive they even made the playoffs.

Sam Darnold has gone from NFL journeyman to Seattle's presumed franchise quarterback in one season. He's leading this team alongside breakout star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. These teams split this season: 49ers won Week 1, then Seattle dominated the rematch 13-3 in a defensive struggle to clinch home-field advantage on the last week of the regular season. 

What to watch for: Can Darnold handle the moment? He's resurrected his career in Seattle, but he's been shaky and turnover-prone down the stretch. In their last matchup, both defenses suffocated the offenses in that 13-3 game. Watch whether the offenses can finally break through or if this becomes another grind it out defensive battle.

What Vegas thinks: Seahawks -7.5. Vegas expects a comfortable Seattle win. Do the 49ers have enough left in the tank to keep it close or pull off the upset?

The stakes: New England went from 4-13 last year to 14-3 this year. Drake Maye (likely MVP runner-up) and Mike Vrabel (Coach of the Year candidate) have already exceeded every expectation. This season is already a success story. A win here solidifies them as a long term AFC force and proves the rebuild happened faster than anyone thought possible.

The Texans are one of the NFL’s hottest teams heading into this year’s playoffs. They've won 10 straight games behind one of the NFL's best defenses. Quarterback CJ Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans have reached the Divisional Round three straight years but haven't gotten over the hump. This is their chance to prove they're legitimate contenders, not just consistent playoff participants.

What to watch for: Can Maye handle Houston's relentless pass rush? Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter have terrorized quarterbacks all season long. The Patriots win through their passing attack, so Maye's ability to handle pressure decides everything.

For Houston, Stroud needs to clean it up. He had three turnovers and fumbled the ball five times last game against the Steelers. With top receiver Nico Collins out (concussion), Stroud can't afford another sloppy performance against a Patriots defense that just spent four quarters shutting down Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert last game.

What Vegas thinks: Patriots -3, O/U 40.5. Expect a tight, low scoring defensive battle. Where New England's home-field advantage could be the difference.

The stakes: Quarterback Matthew Stafford and coach Sean McVay are building Hall of Fame resumes. Another deep playoff run strengthens Stafford's case significantly. For Chicago, reaching this point under first year coach Ben Johnson (they went 5-12 last year to 11-6 this year) is already remarkable. A win establishes Johnson as an elite head coach after just one season.

Here's the thing about the Bears, you can never count them out. They have seven comeback wins this season, including last week's 18-point halftime comeback against Green Bay. Quarterback Caleb Williams just keeps finding ways to win. On the other hand, the Rams have MVP favorite Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua, arguably the best receiver in the NFL. The Rams have been one of the league's best teams but have looked shaky lately, they nearly lost to the Panthers, a team they were expected to dominate last week.

What to watch for: Can the Rams avoid another Bears comeback? They have been better on both sides of the ball, but after recent close games to teams they should have dominated it’s unclear what version of the Rams we'll see especially playing on the road in freezing temperatures. If they let Chicago hang around (and the Bears always hang around) Williams will make them pay in the fourth quarter.

What Vegas thinks: Rams -3.5, O/U 48.5. Vegas expects an offensive shootout with two elite quarterbacks, but the tight spread suggests the Bears' comeback ability keeps this close.

The stakes: Indiana is 15-0. Yes, you read that right. The same program that's never been a college football powerhouse is one win from 16-0 (only the second team in college football history to do it). Coach Curt Cignetti took them from an afterthought to undefeated in under two years. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza leads an offense that's destroyed its last two opponents by an average of 34.5 points. A loss ends their shot at history. 

Miami barely made the playoff (very controversial) but is peaking at the perfect time. Quarterback Carson Beck transferred from Georgia after a tough season where his draft stock fell, and he has completely resurrected his career in Miami. They upset Ohio State in round 1 and survived Ole Miss last week. An upset here would be one of the biggest in championship history. 

What to watch for: This game will come down to which team can impose their will at the line of scrimmage. Miami's star defensive line duo, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, is the best in the country. They face Indiana's elite offensive line in a battle that determines whether Mendoza gets pressured or has time to carve up Miami's pass defense. If the Hurricanes can disrupt Mendoza and Indiana's run game, and find success on the ground behind their running back Mark Fletcher, this gets very interesting.

What Vegas thinks: Indiana -8.5. Given their dominance, this number looks short but the game is at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Home crowd advantage and the pressure of going 16-0 could make this closer than expected.

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