NFL Playoffs: An early look at matchups and lines
The NFL regular season is over, and only 14 teams remain. Starting Saturday, if you win, your season continues, but if you lose, you get to watch the rest of the postseason from home. Now that we're ready for the playoffs, let's break down how we got here, and who plays who next week.
The top seeds
Kansas City secured the top seed and a first-round bye after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday; however, unlike the Eagles, the Chiefs aren't guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Due to last Monday's game being declared a no-contest between Buffalo and Cincinnati, if the Chiefs were to face the Bills in the AFC Championship, the game could potentially be played on a neutral site.
The Eagles clinched the top seed in the NFC and the NFC East after beating the New York Giants on Sunday. Philadelphia receives home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs and a first-round bye after finishing the regular season 14-3.
Both Kansas City and Philadelphia will host the lowest remaining seeds from the Wild Card Round in the Divisional Round (second round) of the playoffs in two weeks.
49ers close out regular season on 10-game winning streak
The San Francisco 49ers ended the regular season on a 10-game winning streak after blowing out the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. San Francisco will host the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Seattle needed to beat the Rams on Sunday, and also have the Packers lose to the Lions. Both happened, courtesy of a second-half rally from the Lions. Early line: Seahawks +10.
Bills end Patriots' playoff hopes, host Dolphins in first round
After last week's no-contest against Cincinnati, Buffalo closed out the regular season on a seven-game winning streak after defeating New England on Sunday. The Bills are officially the No. 2 seed in the AFC, and will host AFC-rival Miami in the first round of the playoffs this weekend. Despite going 1-1 against Miami in the regular season, the Bills are not only favored against the Dolphins but are heavily favored on the moneyline (-460). Early line: Dolphins +10.5.
Ravens, Bengals meet for second straight week
Cincinnati defeated Baltimore on Sunday, but the Bengals will have to beat the Ravens again at home next week to advance to the Divisional Round. The Bengals secured the AFC North and the No. 3 seed in the AFC with Sunday's victory. However, the Ravens could get starting quarterback Lamar Jackson back next week after he missed the last five weeks with a PCL sprain. The Bengals are currently 6.5-point favorites after going 1-1 against Baltimore in the regular season. Early line: Ravens +6.5.
Giants rest starters vs. Eagles, face Minnesota in Wild Card Round
If there was one team that didn't try in Week 18, it was the New York Giants. New York rested its starters in a 22-16 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. The Giants are the No. 6 seed in the NFC, and face 13-4 Minnesota next week. The Vikings beat the Giants three weeks ago on a game-winning 61-yard field goal from Greg Joseph. Early line: Giants +3.
Jaguars snap playoff drought with late rally over Titans
Jacksonville snapped its five-year playoff drought thanks to a late scoop-and-score from Josh Allen on Saturday against Tennessee. The Jaguars, who started the season 2-6, won their final five games to win the AFC South, and will host the Los Angeles Chargers in the first-round of the playoffs. Los Angeles lost to Jacksonville back in Week 3. Early line: Jags +1.
Cowboys look bad vs. Commanders, face Tampa Bay in first round of playoffs
Tampa Bay clinched the NFC South last week, and will host the Dallas Cowboys as the No. 4 seed in the Wild Card Round. Tampa Bay didn't play its starters for the entire game on Sunday against Atlanta, and despite losing to the Falcons, the bigger story is how bad Dallas looked on Sunday against Washington. Dallas played its starters for nearly the entire game, and lost by 20 points. Dallas closed out the regular season 12-5. But don't forget the Bucs beat the Cowboys back in Week 1, and oh yeah, have Tom Brady, aka the GOAT, on their team. Early line: Bucs +3.
The matchups:
AFC
Saturday, Jan. 14, 8:15 p.m. ET
No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) at No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
Sunday, Jan. 15, 1 p.m. ET
No. 7 Miami Dolphins (9-8) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Sunday, Jan. 15, 8:15 p.m. ET
No. 6 Baltimore Ravens (10-7) vs. No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)
Bye: No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
NFC
Saturday, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m. ET
No. 7 Seattle Seahawks (9-8) at No. 2 San Francisco 49ers (13-4)
Sunday, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m. ET
No. 6 New York Giants (9-7-1) at No. 3 Minnesota Vikings (13-4)
Monday, Jan. 16, 8:15 p.m. ET
No. 5 Dallas Cowboys (12-5) at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
Bye: No. 1 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
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