A very unpredictable and wild NFL regular season has come to a halt sadly! Time sure does fly, it is now time for the NFL Playoffs!
NFL Super Wild Card Weekend – Predictions
Saturday
Seattle Seahawks (9-8) @ San Francisco 49ers (13-4) – 4:30PM EST.
We all wanted to see the Detroit Lions in this matchup, they earned it. Seattle can tip their cap and politely thank the Lions for defeating the Packers, leading to the Seahawks stealing the final playoff seed. On the bright side, Lions fans should be feeling good about the team headed into next season.
Seattle gets a tough draw in the NFC Wild Card, having to travel to the Bay Area to face the 49ers. Seattle has been no match for the 49ers both times they faced off. Geno and the Seahawks offense struggled mightily in those two games, only scoring 2 offensive TD’s. The Niners have won 10 straight games with rookie QB Brock Purdy surprisingly leading the way. The Niners are a real threat to win the Super Bowl, their first step is taking care of a familiar division foe.
Prediction - 49ers: 34 Seahawks: 17
Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) – 8:15PM EST.
Quite the turnaround this year by the Jacksonville Jaguars. They finished dead last place last year at 3-14, and now they are Division Champs and in the playoffs. Very impressive. First-year coach Doug Pederson and #1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence have been instrumental in turning around the Jaguars franchise.
The LA Chargers and star QB Justin Herbert got over the injury hump and are in the playoffs for the first time in the Herbert era. This is a great matchup between two young QB’s of the future. Really looking forward to this one.
The Chargers last game of the season against the Broncos was somewhat concerning. Coach Brandon Staley decided to play all the starters when they had already clinched the #5 seed. It did not pay off. WR Mike Williams suffered what looked to be an ugly back injury and is not questionable this weekend, and the team in general did not look good against a 4-12 Broncos team. The Jaguars have been on a roll recently, especially the offense, winning six of their last seven games. They got their first taste of playoff atmosphere last weekend in their win-or-go-home game against the Titans, will they prevail at home again? I think so.
Prediction: Jaguars: 28 Chargers: 24
Sunday
Miami Dolphins (9-8) @ Buffalo Bills (13-3) – 1:00PM EST.
With Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa sidelined due to a concussion, this game will not be close. The Bills escaped against Miami in Week 15 32-29, a game in which the Dolphins had Tua. Having lost 5 of their last 6 games, they now are forced to start a 3rd-string rookie, 7th round pick Skylar Thompson at QB. Unless Skylar Thompson has the game of his life, the Dolphins have no chance. This could get ugly, quickly.
Prediction: Bills: 41 Dolphins: 10
New York Giants (9-7-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (13-4) – 4:30PM EST.
Many people consider this year’s Vikings team “frauds”. The Giants will prove that to be the case in the Wild Card. This game has “upset” written all over it. The Vikings have won an NFL record 11 one score games this year, including one against the Giants that featured a GW 61-yard FG.
The Vikings offensive line has some major question marks as they head to the postseason and will probably be their downfall. The NYG defensive line led by Kayvon Thibodeaux ranks 6th in the league in pass-rush win rate at 45%. That does not bode well for a Vikings O-Line that is missing 3 starters.
In a low scoring affair that comes down to the last drive for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings finally lose a one-score game at the worst time possible.
Prediction - NYG: 20 Vikings: 14
Baltimore Ravens (10-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) – 8:15PM EST.
As this season has progressed, I have noticed/learned that the Bengals and Ravens have no love for each other. Neither do their fans. They truly do not like one another and that leads to fun, intense playoff football. Unfortunately, it looks like the Ravens will once again be without QB Lamar Jackson. Lamar has been nursing a knee injury for six weeks now and has not practiced one single time since then. This past offseason, the Ravens refused to pay Lamar the lucrative extension he has earned (and will receive elsewhere?). Their decision looks like it is biting them in the behind now. Why should Lamar play again this season and risk further injury without a guaranteed contract? The Ravens offense hasn’t scored more than 17 points in a game since he became injured. As good as he is, he won’t be 100%. We will most likely see the Ravens start Tyler Huntley at QB this Sunday Night.
The Bengals have been on a roll entering the playoffs just as they did last year. They have won 8 straight games, have an MVP candidate in Joe Burrow, and a solid defense. They can beat anyone, anywhere.
Prediction – Bengals: 30 Ravens: 16
Monday
Dallas Cowboys (12-5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) – 8:15PM EST.
The NFL did a great job in scheduling this matchup for Monday Night Football, this was the perfect primetime game, excited for this one. Tom Brady vs. the Dallas Cowboys should break some viewership records for ESPN.
The Cowboys have looked very shaky over the last 4-5 weeks, especially Dak Prescott. Prescott leads the NFL in interceptions yet missed 5 games. The Cowboys defense was carved up by a 3rd string rookie QB last week. Dak and the offense cannot afford to turn the ball over and give Tom Brady more chances to score, because he will.
In a win-or-go-home game in Week 17 at home vs Carolina, Brady looked like his old self. The GOAT threw for 432 yards, 3 TD’s, 0 INT’s, and came back from a double-digit lead twice. Many NFL analysts have been saying “No team can play this bad on offense all season, then just magically turn it around come playoff time.” Well, if there’s one person who could magically turn it around come playoff time, it’s Tom Brady.
Fun fact: Tom Brady has never lost to the Dallas Cowboys once in his career. (7-0). Make that 8-0 after Monday night.
Prediction – Buccaneers: 27 Cowboys: 20
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