NFL Wild Card Weekend Playoff Preview & Predictions

The Buffalo Bills have had an inconsistent season. Josh Allen has carried this team on many occasions, but the offense just hasn’t been able to light it up on a week-to-week basis.

The Bills went 5-1 to close out the season, but their Week 17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was concerning. Without the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs, this is Buffalo’s best chance at the Lombardi Trophy.

The Jaguars have gone from a laughingstock to a dominant force. While it’s hard to trust this team, they’ve won five of their last six games by multiple scores. Liam Coen has found fire with Trevor Lawrence in Duval.

The Bills are inconsistent, but they tend to turn it up in the playoffs. Postseason experience could play a huge factor here, and Buffalo can’t be counted out.

Winner: Buffalo Bills

Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots

The Chargers started the season off white-hot, but the injury bug quickly cooled them down. They’ve lost games to the Eagles and the Houston Texans in the last five weeks, both of whom are playoff teams. 

The Patriots might be the most exciting team in the NFL. Drake Maye a heavy MVP favorite, and Mike Vrabel has created something special in Foxborough.

New England has been criticized for an easy schedule, but they’ve defeated the Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Carolina Panthers. They beat good teams and destroy bad teams; that’s what great teams do.

The Chargers are suspect, and the Pats are walking into a home playoff game with an AFC East title for the first time since 2019. The air is different in New England right now.

Winner: New England Patriots

Houston Texans @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers won an absolute thriller to close out the regular season and secure the AFC North. They earned the final playoff spot, but they have a tough challenge ahead.

The Texans’ defense is arguably the NFL’s best. They rank sixth in sacks (47), third in interceptions (19), and fifth in forced fumbles (14). They’re on a nine-game winning streak, with wins over the Chiefs, Bills, Chargers, and Jaguars.

This game is a true toss-up and will likely be a low-scoring defensive battle. Pittsburgh’s offense has Aaron Rodgers, and it’s hard to bet against him, especially after Sunday Night Football.

Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers

The Rams have been one of the best teams in the NFL all season. Their problem is that they turn ice cold seemingly at random. They’ve lost to the Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks, all in the last six weeks.

Los Angeles is still a team that shouldn’t be counted out. Matthew Stafford is having an unreal year, and the offense is still among the best in the NFL. They can’t lose this game twice in two months, right?

The Panthers won this matchup in Week 13, but they’re 1-3 since that game. They’re a fun team to watch, but they’re not trustworthy on a weekly basis. The NFC South as a whole is unimpressive, and any team from that division would be a one-and-done.

Winner: Los Angeles Rams 

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

For the third time this season, one of the NFL’s greatest rivalries is revisited. The Packers started the year off strong, but injuries to Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons have derailed what could’ve been a deep playoff run.

Green Bay’s offense is missing a spark. Josh Jacobs has been banged up, Jordan Love might be returning from a concussion, and Matthew Golden hasn’t panned out so far.

The Bears are coming off a two-game skid, but they’re still a dangerous team. What Ben Johnson has done in his first year as head coach is remarkable. Caleb Williams looks like a stud, and the only team stopping this team is themselves.

Green Bay and Chicago are split at 1-1 on the year, with the playoffs serving as a rubber match. The Packers could win this game, but it just feels like Da Bears’ time to shine in the NFC North.

Winner: Chicago Bears 

San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles

One year ago, the Eagles were running roughshod on their way to a Super Bowl victory. Now, that juggernaut looks like a shell of itself. While their defense is dominant, the offense is extremely underwhelming. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo needs to have some tricks in his bag on Sunday.

The 49ers dropped the ball in their Week 18 matchup for the NFC’s top seed. They only scored three points against the Seahawks, in what was arguably their worst game of the year.

While they ended the year poorly, the Niners are still extremely high-powered. The offense has scored more than 35 points in three of the last four weeks. Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, and George Kittle are a dangerous trio, and the Eagles might not have the offensive firepower to keep up. Thankfully for them, the defense should keep them in prime position.

Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

End Of My NFL Playoffs Rant

The NFL playoffs feel like the start of a new season. The vibes around the league change, and there’s no room for errors. This is make-or-break time en route to Super Bowl LX. Who advances to the Divisional round?