Saturday, January 11
AFC Wild Card Games
Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7) - The Chargers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and this time they want to advance to the divisional round. Led by a stout defense and quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers exceeded expectations under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has a knack for turning around struggling football teams at both the pro and collegiate level. The Houston Texans are banged up heading into the playoffs, missing wide receivers Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. Quarterback C.J. Stroud took a step back from his excellent rookie season in 2023, so he will need to rediscover the magic if the Texans want to advance in the wild card round.
PICK - Chargers 23, Texans 17
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at Baltimore Ravens (12-5) - The Ravens are one of the hottest teams in the NFL heading into the playoffs and they trounced the Steelers just three weeks ago, 34-17 and quarterback Lamar Jackson finally got a win against the Steelers after going 1-7 in recent head-to-head games. The Ravens can score points and Pittsburgh will need to knock Jackson and company off their rhythm while also trying to lock down AFC leading rusher Derrick Henry (1,921 rushing yards, 16 TD) and that could too much to ask. The Ravens will be without their deep threat WR Zay Flowers (knee injury) in this game, so that should benefit the Steelers defense. Meanwhile, the Steelers offense has been sputtering down the stretch (four straight losses) with QB Russell Wilson looking lost out there. The running game has been non-existant and if the Steelers want to win this one, they have to find a way to sustain drives and score enough points to beat the Ravens.
PICK - Ravens 31, Steelers 20
Sunday, January 12
AFC Wild Card Game
Denver Broncos (10-7) at Buffalo Bills (13-4) - The Cinderella Broncos head to Buffalo after qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season (when they won Super Bowl 50) and have rookie QB Bo Nix leading the offense, which has been super in the second half of the season. The Broncos defense is vaunted, but they can be had, evidenced when the L.A. Chargers lit them up recently for 34 points in a big comeback victory. The Bills are led by MVP candidate quarterback Josh Allen (3,731 passing yards, 28 TD, six INT and 531 rushing yards, 12 TD) and they can put the points on the scoreboard. As long as the Bills do their thing on offense and do not turn the football over, they should win this game.
PICK - Bills 28, Broncos 20
NFC Wild Card Games
Green Bay Packers (11-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) - These two teams met in the season opener in Brazil and the Eagles won, 34-29. The big question surrounding this one will be whether either starting quarterback will be ready to play. Packers QB Jordan Love (elbow) and Eagles starter Jalen Hurts (concussion) could be game time decisions. When they are on the football field, both of these guys can get it done. The Packers averaged just under 29 points per game this season while the Eagles did the same. The big key favoring the Eagles is the running game, where Saquon Barkley went for 2,005 rushing yards to lead the NFL and also scored 13 rushing touchdowns. He also out the final game to be fresh for the playoffs. Packers top running back Josh Jacobs rushed for 1,329 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. Green Bay did struggle during December and the January season finale, going 2-3, but all those losses were by three or fewer points. The Eagles had the NFL's top defense this season and also ranked number two in scoring defense, allowing 17.8 points per game. This game should be a close one and could come down to the final possession.
PICK - Eagles 27, Packers 24
Washington Commanders (12-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) - The Bucs manhandled rookie QB Jayden Daniels and the Commanders, 37-20 in the season opener, but since that time, Daniels developed into a much better quarterback and is favored to win the NFL Rookie of the Year Award. Tampa Bay's defense has been getting it going in recent weeks, allowing just 17 PPG over the final seven games. Washington has the confidence coming into the post-season, having beaten Philadelphia three weeks ago and doing what is necessary to win. The Bucs offense is led by QB Baker Mayfield, who had his best season as a pro, passing for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Rookie RB Bucky Irving has been excellent and of course, WR Mike Evans had another solid season and will be the go to guy in the passing game.
PICK - Buccaneers 30, Commanders 24
Monday, January 13
NFC Wild Card Game
Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at Los Angeles Rams (10-7) - The Rams have been playing well down the stretch and they won the NFC West division while the Vikings blew a chance at the top seed in the NFC last weekend, losing 31-9 to the Detroit Lions. So they are on the road against a Rams team that features QB Matthew Stafford, wide receivers Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and running back Kyren Williams. The Vikings defense has been solid most of the season, but the Rams did put up 27 points (Week 8) in a 27-24 win against Minnesota. The Vikings feature QB Sam Darnold (4,319 passing yards, 35 TD, 12 INT), who had his best ever season in the NFL and has a huge target in WR Justin Jefferson, who had 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and ten touchdowns. There is the possibility this game could be moved to Arizona because of the raging wild fires in California, so stay tuned on that aspect. All in all, this could be the best game in the wild card round. (NOTE - The game has been moved to Glendale, AZ on Monday night.)
PICK - Vikings 31, Rams 24
Last Week's Record - 11-5
FINAL SEASON RECORD - 187-85
Lock of the Week Record - 15-3
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