After an up-and-down regular season, highlighted by a five-game winning streak to end the year, the Buffalo Bills are primed for another postseason run, sitting as the second seed in the AFC. Beyond the Bills, there are 13 other teams fighting for the Lombardi Trophy with six matchups this Wild Card Weekend. The San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens were awarded the one-seeds in their respective conferences and earned byes in the first round.
Saturday, January 13
- (5) Cleveland Browns (11-6) at (4) Houston Texans (10-7)
- 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC
- Spread: CLE -2 | Total: o44.5
Despite running out five different quarterbacks in the regular season, the Browns did not lose more than two games in a row all season long en route to the top wildcard spot. Deshaun Watson started the year as their offensive leader but suffered an injury to his right shoulder, undergoing season-ending surgery in November. Thirty-eight year old Joe Flacco will lead the Browns into Houston, making him the oldest quarterback in the playoffs this season. Despite the age, Flacco has been quite efficient, averaging 323.2 passing yards per game, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions over his five games played.
The Texans, who were the second worst team in the NFL last season, were the surprise team of the season, winning the AFC South for the first time since 2019. Led by Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite, CJ Stroud, the Texans won three of its last four games, the lone loss coming to the Browns. Stroud did not play in that game due to injury but ends the season with 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions.
- (6) Miami Dolphins (11-6) at (3) Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)
- 8:15 p.m. ET on PEacock
- Spread: KC -4.5 | Total o43.5
In what could be the coldest game ever recorded, with a wind chill approaching -30 degrees, the Dolphins are sure to be kicking themselves over their Week 18 loss to the Bills. The loss dropped them from the two-seed and hosting a playoff game to traveling to Kansas City. The Dolphins have lost 10 straight games when the temperature drops below 40 degrees dating back to 2017, with an average losing margin of 15.5 points.
Miami is expected to have two of their key offensive weapons back in running back Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) who were limited in practice during the week.
Patrick Mahomes enters the game covering just one of his last five starts. The Chiefs’ receiving core has struggled much of the season, leading the NFL in drops with 44. Despite the uncharacteristic struggles on offense, the defense has been excellent, finishing the year second in the NFL in points allowed with an average of just 17.3 per game.
Sunday, January 14
- (7) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at (2) Buffalo Bills (11-6)
- 1 p.m. ET on CBS
- Spread: BUF -10 | Total: o35.5
The first game of three on Sunday features the largest spread and smallest point total, the latter in part due to the potential winter storm coming to the Buffalo area. A state of emergency or other weather-based declaration could move the game to Cleveland.
The Steelers will look to jumpstart their 28th-ranked scoring offense by starting Mason Rudolph who has started and won the last three games of the season to lead Pittsburgh into the playoffs. In those games, he is averaging 238.6 passing yards and has three passing touchdowns. The Steelers will be without their defensive superstars TJ Watt who was injured in Week 18 vs. the Ravens.
The Bills enter the game with a myriad of injuries to their defense with linebacker Matt Milano and cornerback Tre’Davious White on injured reserve since November 17 and October 7 respectively. Safety Taylor Rapp and cornerback Rasul Douglas did not practice on Wednesday due to leg injuries.
Offensively, Stefon Diggs has struggled since the middle of October, going 11 weeks without a 100-yard game. Last week was his best performance in that span with seven receptions for 87 yards. Rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid has picked up the slack, ending the year with 73 receptions and 673 yards. Since Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator, the Bills have scored an average of 27 points per game, winning six of seven games.
- (7) Green Bay Packers (9-8) at (2) Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
- 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox
- Spread: DAL -7 | Total: o50.5
The Cowboys enter the playoffs with a 16-game winning streak at home and will host Jordan Love who took over for long-time Packers’ great Aaron Rodgers this season. Dak Prescott led the NFL in passing touchdowns with 36, while Love was second with 32. The Prescott-Ceedee Lamb connection has been nothing short of spectacular this season, as Lamb’s 1,749 receiving yards accounts for 38% of the team’s total. He added 14 total touchdowns to his ledger as well.
The Packers will look to rely on running back Aaron Jones who is finally healthy after missing six games this season. In the last three games, he has rushed for at least 111 yards per game.
- (6) Los Angeles Rams (10-7) at (3) Detroit Lions (12-5)
- 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC
- Spread: DET -3 | Total: o51.5
In his return to Detroit, Matthew Stafford will look to maintain the Lions’ playoff win drought. The team has not won a playoff game since 1991-1992. On the flip side of the trade that went down after the 2021 season, Jared Goff has had a career resurgence in Detroit, leading one of the best offenses in the NFL.
The Rams hit their stride towards the back half of the year, winning seven of their final eight games. Running back Kyren Williams has been a major part of that streak as has rookie receiver Puka Nacua who led the team with 1,486 passing yards.The Lions have been consistently great all season long, starting the year with a 21-20 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The team is fifth in the NFL in scoring offense, averaging 27.1 points per game. Their sluggish defense expects to get a boost in the secondary with CJ Gardner-Johnson slated to return from injury.
Monday, January 15
- (5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) at (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
- 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC
- Spread: PHI -3 | Total: o43.5
After starting 10-1, it seems as if the sky is falling for the Eagles who have immensely struggled this season. The defense allowed just over 25 points per game and struggled to tackle all season long. Meanwhile, there are two big question marks on the offensive side of the ball. Jalen Hurts dislocated his middle finger on his throwing hand in the regular-season finale and wide receiver AJ Brown went down with a right knee injury during the game. Hurts said the injury is “progressing in the right way.” Brown did not participate in practice on Thursday.
The Bucs won their third straight NFC South crown led by a stout defense and former first overall pick Baker Mayfield. Mayfield threw for 4,044 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first season in Tampa Bay. Mike Evans continued his hall-of-fame level production with his 10th straight 1,000-plus receiving yard season. He accounted for nearly half of Mayfield’s touchdowns with 13.
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