NFL 2024-2025 Wildcard Prequel
The 18 weeks of the NFL 2024 regular season are in the history books.
The Wildcard playoffs are set:
Saturday, January 11, 2025, 4:30pm on CBS
AFC (5) (11-6) Chargers (-3) at (4)(10-7) Texans — This is a case of contenders against pretenders. The Texans are pretenders and everybody knows it. Yes, CJ Stroud is a very good quarterback. Yet his team plays in the horrendous AFC South. The Chargers have a stud quarterback in Justin Herbert. Jim Harbaugh has turned the Chargers around. Weather will not be a factor. Neither team is elite, but the Chargers are just better. Chargers cover
8pm on Prime Video
AFC (6)(10-7) Steelers at (3)(12-5) Ravens (-9 1/2) — Ignore the records. Home field does not matter in this series, although this was a rare year where they split the season series and both teams won at home. The Steelers come in having lost four straight games, including at the Ravens a couple of weeks ago. Nevertheless, these teams play physical matchups. The spread is way too high for two teams who know each other inside out. Lamar Jackson is playing lights out. Derrick Henry is running with purpose. Yet with two well-coached physical defenses, an upset is possible. Ravens win but fail to cover
Sunday, January 12, 1pm on CBS
AFC (7)(10-7) Broncos at (2)(13-4) Bills (-8 1/2) — The Broncos ended their nine year playoff drought by beating up on Kansas City’s backups. Yet Bo Nix is playing well. Josh Allen has been playing spectacular football. He has a ton of weapons. While home field does matter in this game, the Broncos will not be intimidated by cold weather. The Bills are in Super Bowl or bust mode while the Broncos are a year away from being elite. The spread is too high given that the Broncos are well coached and play hard on defense. Bills win but fail to cover
4:30pm on FOX
NFC (7)(11-6) Packers at (2)(14-3) Eagles (-4 1/2) — In the regular season opener, the Eagles eked out a win in Brazil. Jalen Hurts will be rested and ready, as will sequin Barkley. The problem with the Packers is that their record is a bit deceptive. five of their six losses came to playoff teams with better records. Jordan Love is a good quarterback but the Eagles are the superior team. The Eagles tend to win close games rather than blow teams out. Eagles win but fail to cover
8pm on NBC
NFC (6) (12-5) Commanders at (3) (10-7) Buccaneers (-3) — This one could go either way. Jayden Daniels has had a sensational rookie year while Baker Mayfield has had his best season. Dan Quinn and Todd Bowles both know defense, but Washington seems to have the better defense. The Buccaneers play in a very soft division. The Buccaneers have playoff experience. The Commanders do not. Yet Daniels is too special to ignore. Upset special, Commanders win outright
Monday, January 13, 8pm on ESPN
NFC (5)(14-3) Vikings (-2) at (10-7)(4) Rams — Despite losing at Detroit, the Vikings are the greatest regular season Wildcard in NFL history based on their record. In any of the other seven divisions, they would have been division champions. Sam Darnold has had a sensational year until the regular season finale. Of the three Vikings losses, two were to Detroit and the third one was at the Rams earlier in the season. The Vikings are a much better team than they were earlier in the year. Sean McVay is a stud coach, and Matthew Stafford can still sling it. Yet Minnesota’s defense is much improved. Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in the NFL. The Rams are the only thing standing in the way of the Vikings getting a third rubber match with Detroit. Home field will not matter. This could go either way, but go with the better record and defense. Vikings cover
The top seeds have the bye week.
AFC (1) Kansas City Chiefs
NFC (1) Detroit Lions
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