NFL Playoff Picks and Preview
What to Watch for in Wild Card Weekend
The NFL postseason has finally arrived, kicking off with ESPN’s token broadcast of what could be the least enjoyable matchup of the postseason and ending with another game featuring arctic temperatures. While Wild Card Weekend comprises four games between teams that may not even make the Super Bowl, it’s still fun prognosticating the results and avoiding the winter weather by tuning to watch the games. With that said, let’s preview the matchups.
Oakland Raiders (5) vs. Houston Texans (4)
Texans favored by 4*
In a rematch from Week 11’s Monday Night Football game in Mexico City, the Raiders take their once potent offense on the road against a team also lacking at the quarterback position. The Raiders will give rookie quarterback Connor Cook his first career start with injuries to MVP candidate Derek Carr and backup Matt McGloin. While the Texans have the talent on defense to halt the Carr-less Raiders, they’ve had problems under center all season and will start the wildly inaccurate Brock Osweiler due to the injury of their similarly unimpressive backup of QB Tom Savage. Expect interceptions and heavy reliance on the run game for both teams.
Final Score: Raiders 22, Texans 17
*all betting lines as currently listed on Bovada
Detroit Lions (6) vs. Seattle Seahawks (3)
Seahawks favored by 8
Both Detroit and Seattle limped to the postseason, thanks to variance finally catching the Lions on their come-from-behind victory luck and a weak division boosting the Seahawks. The last time these teams played, the potential game-winning drive for the Lions ended thanks to Kam Chancellor punching the ball out from Calvin Johnson and K.J. Wright batting the ball out of the endzone, which improbably resulted in a touchback for the Seahawks (the league admitted that the refs botched the call following the game). Expect repeat viewings of the aforementioned play during the broadcast. As for the current teams, Seattle’s leaky offensive line should hinder their running game and provide poor protection for Russell Wilson while a broken finger against Seattle’s pass rush could disrupt the accuracy of Matthew Stafford.
Final Score: Seahawks 34, Lions 28
Miami Dolphins (6) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (3)
Steelers favored by 10
The last time these teams met in Week 6, the Dolphins upset the Steelers, who lost quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a knee injury. This time around, the Steelers should have their revenge thanks to Miami’s own quarterback injuries and the return of Big Ben. Backup Matt Moore has served competently in his three games as a starter but the Fins will play on the road against what should be a healthier Pittsburgh team. Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell will repeat their cases as the best playmakers in the league against a team that lucked into an easy schedule and has a negative point differential on the season in spite of the insane yardage of Jay Ajayi. Expect wild two-point conversion attempts from Mike Tomlin’s team.
Final Score: Steelers 36, Dolphins 24
New York Giants (5) vs. Green Bay Packers (4)
Packers favored by 4
The final matchup of Wild Card Weekend pits the Packers against the Giants in another frozen tundra game in Green Bay. Both teams struggled early on before clinching playoff spots late in the season. The Packers ran the table thanks to an easier schedule, some luck in their division, and an improved passing game to make the postseason for another year. Meanwhile, the Giants will embark on another postseason run thanks to the one of the league’s best pass defenses. Given the recent history of playoff disappointment for the Packers, I’m going to have to predict an upset by Big Blue, assuming that Eli avoids enough mistakes given his declining stats and a big play from Odell Beckham Jr. to put the Giants on top.
Final Score: Giants 23, Packers 20
