After slogging it out for 18 weeks, the NFL Playoffs take centerstage this weekend! Super Wild Card is as advertised, a wild and unpredictable sporting spectacle. Last season, the higher seeded home teams were 5-1 while in 2020 they were just 2-4. Which way will the coin flip this season? Who knows! The NFL has made the round a ratings bonanza by slating the games over three days including a Monday Night Football matchup between the Buccaneers and Cowboys! The matchups look delicious with three divisional matchups and three rematches from the regular season. Therefore, in this article, we will predict the six games of the wild card round.
1. Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers-Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Fox
The Seattle Seahawks are one of the few overachievers in the National Football League based on expectations having traded their starting quarterback in the off-season. However, they head into this matchup as big underdogs because as the season waned the team struggled and had to sneak into the playoffs based on the Packers losing. The team has won just 3 of their last 8 games while their opponents this week are on a 10-game winning streak. The 49ers are a juggernaut with rookie quarterback Brock Purdy 5-0 as a starter and even looking better than Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. San Francisco won their first 2 matchups this season against the Seahawks including a 27-7 win at home. I think the 49ers are way better on offense and defense and they will dominate to kick-start the weekend.
49ers 30-Seahawks 17
2. Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars-Saturday, 8:15 p.m., NBC, Peacock
This game will be a rematch of the week 3 matchup in Los Angeles where the Jaguars trounced the Chargers 38-10. Ouch! However, the scoreline is misleading because Austin Ekeler had a season low in touches, while Keenan Allen did not play. The Chargers are in tough spot because their coach played their starters last week in a meaningless game with both Mike Williams and Joey Bosa suffering injuries. The Jaguars on the other hand finished the season strong with 4 consecutive wins and the AFC South division crown. It will be an intriguing matchup of young talented quarterbacks in Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence, and it should lead to a high scoring affair. The Jaguars will be hyped up playing on their second consecutive Saturday Night home game and I think the crowd will push them over the finish line.
Jaguars 27-Chargers 24
3. Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills-Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
These divisional rivals played out two of the best games in the regular season. The Dolphins won 21-19 the first matchup in scorching weather in Miami while the Bills won 32-29 in the freezing cold in Buffalo. At full strength these teams will produce a highly competitive game. The problem is the Miami Dolphins are comprised by the loss of Tua Tagovailoa who will not play due to the concussion protocol. The Dolphins barely snapped their 5-game losing streak last week in a low scoring win against the Jets. I don’t see how the Dolphins win this game against the Bills with Josh Allen at the helm and the plethora of weapons on offense.
Bills 33-Miami 15
4. New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings-Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Fox
These met on December 24 in a very entertaining 27-24 by the Minnesota Vikings at home. However, the Giants should not be disheartened by the loss because it took a 61-yard kick by Greg Joseph to win the game. The Vikings have a 13-4 record but it’s hard to trust them as the number two seed. I keep having flashbacks of the mauling by the Cowboys 40-3 and even the 33-0 deficit they faced to the Indianapolis Colts despite the miraculous finish. The defense can be exploited, and the ultra-talented Saquon Barkley is the player who can abuse their lack of execution. I feel if there is an upset this weekend, this game will be it in another tight finish.
Giants 28-Vikings 27
5. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals-Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
These divisional rivals split their season series with both teams winning at home. However, the Ravens victory came early in the season and with Lamar Jackson under center. Jackson is reportedly doubtful and facing an uphill task to be fit to start this game and if he does he will likely be rusty since he hasn’t played since Week 13. On the other hand, the Bengals are on a eight game winning streak and 10 of their last 11 games. Joe Burrow and the offense are clicking at the right time and I can only see a fairly comfortable home victory for the Bengals.
Bengals 34-Ravens 20
6. Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Monday, 8 p.m., ESPN, ABC
This game will be a spectacle likely to shatter TV records for years to come because of who is involved in the matchup. It seems like an eternity, but these teams met in week 1 where the Bucs went to on the road to win 19-3 in Dallas. In the game, Dak Prescott was flustered, made mistakes, and even got injured. However, since then both teams have endured peaks and valleys during the season. Dallas won 12 games but last week they laid an egg against the Commanders in a single finale they were trying to win with their starters. I think they are the team under pressure and the key for them is that they must start fast because they will not want to face Tom Brady in the fourth quarter in a close game. I think that is what will happen, and the GOAT will break hearts again.
Bucs 21-Cowboys 20