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The NFL Playoff picture is finally set. Wild Card Weekend should be madness. We break down all six matchups with plenty else below.
The road has been long, and last Monday it became terrifying. After suffering sudden cardiac arrest, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin needed nine minutes of heroic CPR to save his life. Thanks to the incredible care from first responders, team trainers and millions of prayers, Hamlin survived and appears on the road to a full recovery.
That will remain the backdrop to the postseason, where we have 13 games remaining and six coming in less than a week’s time on Super Wild Card Weekend.
(7) Seattle Seahawks at (2) San Francisco 49ers
Saturday, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
History says it’s more likely than not that a team who has swept a divisional series wins the third leg. The San Francisco 49ers are looking to uphold said standard by handling the Seattle Seahawks this weekend.
In both of their previous matchups, the 49ers have hammered Seattle with a punishing defense, allowing only three combined non-garbage time points from the Seahawks’ offense. In those games, Seattle has also sported a -4 turnover ratio.
For the Seahawks to pull off ann upset, they must win the turnover battle and find a way to win in the red zone against superior talent on both sides of the ball. Tough chore.
(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Jacksonville Jaguars
Saturday, Jan. 14, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Two young quarterbacks looking to announce their arrival on the scene. For Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert, this marks the first playoff appearance for each, providing a showcase on a national stage unlike anything either has seen since college.
For the Jaguars, it’s been a dream finish to the season, riding a five-game winning streak. The Chargers were about to be the healthiest they’ve been since Week 3, but then edge rusher Joey Bosa and receiver Mike Williams were injured in a meaningless loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
As for Jacksonville, the pivotal question will be if it can get pressure on Herbert. The Jaguars only have 35 sacks this year, ranking in the bottom third of the league. If Herbert has time, Jacksonville’s secondary will be under immense pressure.
Lastly, a quick aside on Chargers coach Brandon Staley. There’s no excuse for his decision to play starters all afternoon, already locked into the No. 5 seed. Now, Los Angeles could be down multiple stars. Also, the Chargers’ confidence has to be shaken after giving up 471 yards on 7.6 yard per play to a moribund Denver offense. Just a complete — and avoidable — disaster.
(7) Miami Dolphins at (2) Buffalo Bills
Sunday, Jan. 15, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
A high stakes rubber match for two AFC East foes, the Dolphins and Bills come in to this matchup on very different paths.
In one corner, the Dolphins have no idea who their quarterback will be this weekend. Tua Tagovailoa is yet to be medically cleared from concussion protocol, and Teddy Briodgewater has a broken finger on his throwing hand.
In the other, the Bills have Josh Allen, who looked like an MVP at times this season. The Pro Bowler is also flanked by an elite attack, one which has torched Miami for 943 yards in their two previous tilts. If Miami is going to pull the upset, it needs to come up with a different, and far more effective, defensive gameplan.
(6) New York Giants at (3) Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Everybody has wondered all year about the Minnesota Vikings. Sure, they’re 13-4, but they’re also 11-0 in one-score games. Are they clutch, frauds or somewhere in between?
One of those 11 victories came in Week 16 over the New York Giants, when Minnesota won 27-24 on a 61-yard field goal from Caleb Joseph at the gun. That day, Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley enjoyed huge days, with Jones throwing for 334 yards while Barkley ran for 84 yards and caught eight balls for another 49 yards. New York moved the ball constantly, but lost because of two turnovers.
For Minnesota to win again, its run defense must step up. In the aforementioned affair, New York ran for 6.0 yards per carry. If that happens again and the Giants hold onto the football, there’s a high probability of an upset.
(6) Baltimore Ravens at (3) Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, Jan. 15, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Will Lamar Jackson play? The Ravens certainly hope so.
When Jackson plays, Baltimore is 8-4. When he’s inactive, the Ravens are 2-3. More strikingly, Baltimore averaged 25 points per game when Jackson plays the entire game. When he doesn’t, the unit averages half that, at 12.5 points.
For the Bengals, their biggest concern is the right side of their line. Star guard Alex Cappa was carted off with an ankle injury on Sunday, and right tackle La’el Collins is out of the year with torn knee ligaments. How will Cincinnati’s line hold up against a Baltimore front including Justin Houston and Calais Campbell?
The road has been long, and last Monday it became terrifying. After suffering sudden cardiac arrest, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin needed nine minutes of heroic CPR to save his life. Thanks to the incredible care from first responders, team trainers and millions of prayers, Hamlin survived and appears on the road to a full recovery.
That will remain the backdrop to the postseason, where we have 13 games remaining and six coming in less than a week’s time on Super Wild Card Weekend.
(7) Seattle Seahawks at (2) San Francisco 49ers
Saturday, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
History says it’s more likely than not that a team who has swept a divisional series wins the third leg. The San Francisco 49ers are looking to uphold said standard by handling the Seattle Seahawks this weekend.
In both of their previous matchups, the 49ers have hammered Seattle with a punishing defense, allowing only three combined non-garbage time points from the Seahawks’ offense. In those games, Seattle has also sported a -4 turnover ratio.
For the Seahawks to pull off ann upset, they must win the turnover battle and find a way to win in the red zone against superior talent on both sides of the ball. Tough chore.
(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Jacksonville Jaguars
Saturday, Jan. 14, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Two young quarterbacks looking to announce their arrival on the scene. For Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert, this marks the first playoff appearance for each, providing a showcase on a national stage unlike anything either has seen since college.
For the Jaguars, it’s been a dream finish to the season, riding a five-game winning streak. The Chargers were about to be the healthiest they’ve been since Week 3, but then edge rusher Joey Bosa and receiver Mike Williams were injured in a meaningless loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
As for Jacksonville, the pivotal question will be if it can get pressure on Herbert. The Jaguars only have 35 sacks this year, ranking in the bottom third of the league. If Herbert has time, Jacksonville’s secondary will be under immense pressure.
Lastly, a quick aside on Chargers coach Brandon Staley. There’s no excuse for his decision to play starters all afternoon, already locked into the No. 5 seed. Now, Los Angeles could be down multiple stars. Also, the Chargers’ confidence has to be shaken after giving up 471 yards on 7.6 yard per play to a moribund Denver offense. Just a complete — and avoidable — disaster.
(7) Miami Dolphins at (2) Buffalo Bills
Sunday, Jan. 15, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
A high stakes rubber match for two AFC East foes, the Dolphins and Bills come in to this matchup on very different paths.
In one corner, the Dolphins have no idea who their quarterback will be this weekend. Tua Tagovailoa is yet to be medically cleared from concussion protocol, and Teddy Briodgewater has a broken finger on his throwing hand.
In the other, the Bills have Josh Allen, who looked like an MVP at times this season. The Pro Bowler is also flanked by an elite attack, one which has torched Miami for 943 yards in their two previous tilts. If Miami is going to pull the upset, it needs to come up with a different, and far more effective, defensive gameplan.
(6) New York Giants at (3) Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Everybody has wondered all year about the Minnesota Vikings. Sure, they’re 13-4, but they’re also 11-0 in one-score games. Are they clutch, frauds or somewhere in between?
One of those 11 victories came in Week 16 over the New York Giants, when Minnesota won 27-24 on a 61-yard field goal from Caleb Joseph at the gun. That day, Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley enjoyed huge days, with Jones throwing for 334 yards while Barkley ran for 84 yards and caught eight balls for another 49 yards. New York moved the ball constantly, but lost because of two turnovers.
For Minnesota to win again, its run defense must step up. In the aforementioned affair, New York ran for 6.0 yards per carry. If that happens again and the Giants hold onto the football, there’s a high probability of an upset.
(6) Baltimore Ravens at (3) Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, Jan. 15, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Will Lamar Jackson play? The Ravens certainly hope so.
When Jackson plays, Baltimore is 8-4. When he’s inactive, the Ravens are 2-3. More strikingly, Baltimore averaged 25 points per game when Jackson plays the entire game. When he doesn’t, the unit averages half that, at 12.5 points.
For the Bengals, their biggest concern is the right side of their line. Star guard Alex Cappa was carted off with an ankle injury on Sunday, and right tackle La’el Collins is out of the year with torn knee ligaments. How will Cincinnati’s line hold up against a Baltimore front including Justin Houston and Calais Campbell?