The following previews look at the AFC and NFC games this weekend as six teams look to advance to the divisional round next week.
AFC
Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) - The Jaguars smoked the Chargers, 38-10 back in late September in L.A. but that was four months ago and the Chargers were severely banged up, including quarterback Justin Herbert (rib injury) as well as defensive star Joey Bosa, who suffered a severe groin injury in that game. Both Herbert and Bosa and other key members for L.A. are healthy now and would love to pay back the upstart Jacksonville team for the beat down. However, one of the Chargers' top wide receivers, Mike Williams, is being ruled out with a back injury sustained in the final game of the season.
As for the Jags, their quarterback is Trevor Lawrence and he has been tremendous in recent weeks as they reeled off five straight wins to reach the post-season for the first time in six years. The Jags have been a relentless defense in the streak as well, forcing turnovers and putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The key will be which team can force the other into mistakes and whichever team that is will likely be the winner. The Chargers offense is more potent while the Jaguars defense has been more steady throughout the entire season. The Jags can run on the Chargers, but the pass defense for the Bolts has been stellar in the last six games. This game will most likely be close with a field goal at the end possibly deciding the outcome.
Miami Dolphins (9-8) at Buffalo Bills (13-3) - The Bills should roll in this game at home with the crowd behind them and perhaps even having Damar Hamlin in the house just two weeks after his near fatal cardiac arrest during the Monday night game in Cincinnati. All of the things the Bills have endured the past two weeks and the fact the Dolphins will not have starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) for this game and will rely on third stringer Skylar Thompson just makes the task that much more difficult for Miami.
The Bills have Josh Allen at quarterback and Stefon Diggs leading the wide receiving corps. The running game Buffalo has is much improved during the their seven-game win streak. Defensively, the Bills have been solid all season long, even without linebacker Von Miller, who is out for the season with a knee injury. The secondary will challenge the speedy tandem Miami features at wide receiver in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who both put up eye popping numbers this season. Hill had 119 receptions for 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns and Waddle caught 75 passes for 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns.
The teams split the two games this year, but with Tua not at QB for this game and the Bills looking for an extra rush of adrenaline with Damar back in person this Sunday, forget about it. Take the Bills in this one.
Baltimore Ravens (10-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) - Very similar to what Miami will be facing against Buffalo, the Ravens will be likewise facing against the Bengals on Sunday night.
The Ravens will likely be without quarterback Lamar Jackson and perhaps Tyler Huntley, the number-two man at quarterback. That leaves Anthony Brown and he didn't show much when he played recently for the team. The vaunted running game has been injury plagued again this season, but Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins were effective when healthy. Both have been dinged up again in recent weeks. The Bengals defense pretty much held Baltimore's offense in check in both games this season, allowing just 35 points over the two games, which the teams split.
The Bengals are led by QB Joe Burrow, who had a great season, passing for 4,475 yards with 35 touchdowns and just twelve interceptions and he has many weapons to throw to, including Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who both topped 1,000 receiving yards. Joe Mixon heads up the rushing attack for the potent offense. The Ravens defense will be ready and know they can battle the Cincy offense. The key will be getting pressure on Burrow and forcing mistakes. If they cannot do that, it could be a long day for the Ravens.
NFC
Seattle Seahawks (9-8) at San Francisco 49ers (13-4) - This is yet another game that features teams that met in the regular season as both reside in the NFC West division, which the 49ers ran away with this season. The 'Niners have won ten games in a row and their defense has been the NFL's best this year. Rush end Nick Bosa had 18 1/2 QB sacks and the 49ers went through a stretch recently where they didn't allow a second half touchdown for over a month.
The Seahawks have been a real feel good story this year as many predicted they would be lucky to win five games. Quarterback Geno Smith has been the comeback player of the year for sure, throwing for 4,282 yards with 30 touchdowns and only eleven picks thrown. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett lead the receivers for Seattle and Kenny Walker ran for over 1,000 yards this season. They will look to solve the solid San Francisco defense. The 49ers won both games this year, but the 'Hawks hung tough at home in late December after getting pounded in San Francisco back in week two.
The 49ers offense will be the key as surprising QB Brock Purdy continues to roll along after injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Christian McCaffrey does it all at the running back position and Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are the top wide receivers, along with tight end George Kittle, who led the team with 11 TD receptions. If the 49ers show the balance they have and protect Purdy, they should score enough points to win this game.
New York Giants (9-7-1) at Minnesota Vikings (13-4) - Can the Giants do enough to beat the Vikings this time around? The last time they played three weeks ago in Minnesota, it took a team record setting 61-yard field goal by Greg Joseph for Minnesota to get a 27-24 win.
This time around, the Giants must get the needed breaks and take advantage of them, because Minnesota will not take them lightly. The Giants are the surprise team of the NFC along with Seattle being in the playoffs. Running back Saquon Barkley should be used early and often against the suspect Vikings defense, which allowed over 120 yards per game as well as 427 points allowed. In fact, the 13-4 record for Minnesota shows they won tons of close games while being outscored by three points over the entire 17-game schedule. Also, Giants QB Daniel Jones just needs to take care of the football and rely on his legs and not try to force things if the passing game doesn't get going.
The New York defense will look to create turnovers and perhaps put Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins back into the mistake prone passer he has been in big time games. If that happens, the Giants can pull off the upset, but Minnesota has WR Justin Jefferson and he was ridiculous this year. He had 128 receptions for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns. Running back Dalvin Cook ran for 1,173 yards and scored eight times as well making 39 receptions and two more touchdowns. So don't expect the Vikings offense to just go cold all of a sudden. Vikings should get the win in a tight one again.
Dallas Cowboys (12-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) - When looking at the records of these two teams, you would think the Cowboys should roll to an easy win right?
Not when the opposing quarterback is Tom Brady.
Brady is 45 years old and will be entering his 20th season as a playoff quarterback. That definitely counts for something and the Bucs are hoping he brings it on Monday night as they host the up and down Cowboys team that was blown out by the Washington Commanders to end the regular season. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers won the putrid NFC South division and have a losing record, but they did beat the 'Pokes, 19-3 in the season opener back in September.
Can Dallas' offense get it rolling again after disappearing last weekend? Prior to the debacle in their season finale, the Cowboys won six of seven games and averaged 35.7 points per game in that span. But QB Dak Prescott has been throwing way too many interceptions in recent weeks and if the Tampa Bay defense takes advantage of that, it will be lights out for the Cowboys. You simply cannot give Brady and company too many opportunities because he will make you pay.
This game could go either way. The Cowboys could come out and get a lead and force the Bucs to try and come from behind, which they have shown they can do, even if it was against weaker opponents than the Cowboys and their defense. Dallas will look to pressure Brady and LB Micah Parsons (13 1/2 sacks) know how to make it happen. One intangible for this game must be mentioned. The Cowboys seems to always get tight in the playoffs and Brady is the unquestioned master of the post-season, which includes seven Super Bowl titles. Something has to give and the choice here is to take the Buccaneers at home in a close game.
The Heftyinfo picks for the weekend Wild Card round games . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold)
San Francisco over Seattle
L.A. Chargers over Jacksonville
Buffalo over Miami
Minnesota over N.Y. Giants
Cincinnati over Baltimore
Tampa Bay over Dallas
Last Week's Record - 10-6
FINAL REGULAR SEASON RECORD - 175-94-2
Lock of the Week Record - 16-2
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