It’s officially time for the NFL playoffs! The Wild Card round starts on Saturday when we will let all the chaos ensue.
NFC Wild Card Matchups
#2 New Orleans vs. #7 Chicago
One of the few matchups that most think won’t be close, Chicago heads to New Orleans. The Bears come in as 10 points underdogs at the time this is written, per Action Network.
QB Competitions
During the regular season, the Saints went to a cold Soldier Field and beat the Bears on a field goal in overtime. However, that was the Bears that were led by Nick Foles early in the season. Those Bears, despite starting 5-1, seem to have been much worse than the Bears that went 6-3 in Mitchell Trubisky’s 9 starts. In that head to head matchup, Trubisky was out with a shoulder ailment that plagued him for a majority of the start of the season.
For New Orleans, they started Taysom Hill during Drew Brees’ injury. Somehow, after 11 broken ribs and a collapsed lung, Drew Brees was able to come back after 4 weeks. Brees posted a completion percentage above 70% for the 5th straight season.
Prediction
New Orleans is very good. They’re probably the most complete team in the NFC.
NO- 31 CHI-17
#3 Seattle vs. #6 Los Angeles
A battle of divisional foes will be on display in Seattle.
Recent History
The Rams are 10-8 against the Seahawks since Russell Wilson came into the league in 2012. However, they’re 3-6 in Seattle over that same span. Both have battled atop the division especially over the last 4 years. Both teams have also lost a Super Bowl since 2012, with Seattle also winning one.
Prediction
The Rams have the best defense in the NFL. If Jared Goff is playing, that will help the offense produce points. If Goff can’t go, that will crumble the Rams’ chances of scoring points.
SEA- 24 LA- 17
#4 Washington vs. #5 Tampa Bay
The other NFC game that seems like it won’t be close.
Defense, Defense, Defense
The game will be played in primetime, where the Buccaneers struggled. The Bucs went 1-3 in primetime this season. They scored just under 18 points per game in those games this season. That’s 2 points less than the Washington Football Team gave up per game this season. Both teams pride themselves on their defense and regardless of how they got there, that’s how the better team will win on Sunday.
Prediction
People are citing Tom Brady’s bedtime for the poor play in primetime. Is it true? Likely not, but don’t sleep on the Football Team with Chase Young coming after Brady.
WFT- 20 TB- 31
AFC Wild Card Matchups
#2 Buffalo vs. #7 Indianapolis
Indy has to go to Buffalo to play Buffalo who are as hot as the wings served all over the city.
Tale of Two Quarterbacks
A young stud in Josh Allen and an old vet in Phillip Rivers will duke it out. However, if both teams play to their offensive strengths, it won’t be a battle of the arms. The Colts are 6-1 when they hand the ball to rookie running back Jonathan Taylor this year. Taylor had the 2nd most yards after week 11 behind division foe Derrick Henry.
Limiting Rivers throwing the ball and letting Josh Allen sling it will probably spell the most success for both teams. Allen, defying playing norms, dramatically improved his accuracy completing 69% of his passes this season. Combining his passing with his legs, Allen put forth an MVP campaign.
Prediction
The Colts snuck into the top ten offensively and defensively this season. Buffalo dominated games so much offensively, that it overshadowed their very average defense. That defense gave up eight 100-yard games on the ground and another of 99.
BUF- 27 IND- 30
#3 Pittsburgh vs. #6 Cleveland
Another matchup of hard-nosed, divisional foes meet in the Wild Card round.
Back to Back
Cleveland, riddled with COVID cases beat a Pittsburgh team that mostly sat out last weekend, 24-22. That doesn’t instill much confidence in a team that will be without their coach of the year candidate. Pittsburgh, when they were fully healthy, beat Cleveland with ease 38-7 early in the season. However, after the 11-0 start, Pittsburgh struggled mightily.
Prediction
Pittsburgh has looked really bad after losing guys to the COVID list and key defensive players like Bud Dupree and Devin Bush. However, I think they’ll be able to put all of that aside and beat a COVID-ridden Cleveland.
PIT- 30 CLE- 27
#4 Tennessee vs. #5 Baltimore
Do you like lots of running the ball? If yes, good. If no, don’t watch.
Run, Forest, Run
This game will be played on the ground. I don’t think it will be similar to the game that will be 12 years to the day, a 13-10 Baltimore victory. In that game, both teams combined for 166 yards on the ground. Despite the success of the last 2 seasons on the ground, Baltimore’s number has been up against Tennessee. Tennessee has the chance to beat them for the 3rd time in a calendar year and knock them out of the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Prediction
Mike Vrabel will find a way for his below-average defense to get just enough stops to allow Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry to put up a lot of points.
TEN- 34 BAL-24
Enjoy what is sure to be a super wild, Super Wild Card weekend!