This weekend (Jan. 10-12) the NFL’s Wild Ward Weekend will take place. In this article I’m going to give you a quick rundown of who I think will win each game followed by a short preview of what to expect heading into each matchup. Below is a bracket displaying my picks and who I believe will win each game and how that will make things look going into the divisional round next week:
Lo s Angeles Rams (5) at Carolina Panthers (4) – Saturday 1:30 P.M.
My Predicted Winner: Rams
Preview: The Rams are favored by 10 points headed into this matchup, which is by far the greatest of any game this weekend. Despite the fact I did choose the Rams too still win the game, I think the Panthers will put up more of a fight than people are giving them credit for and will cover that spread. These two teams met just a few weeks ago in the same location and the Panthers came out with the upset in a very wet and sloppy matchup.
The forecast looks like they may face heavy showers yet again which should level the playing field a bit more and advantage the Panthers who are used to playing in the cold unlike the Rams who are an indoor west coast team. But Los Angeles has been here in this situation in years past and hasn’t had much of a problem, and I don’t think this Panthers team will change that. So despite the fact that Carolina is playing on house money and will be able to play freely and take chances, due to the major gap in talent between these two rosters I think the Rams will ultimately come out on top.
Green Bay Packers (7) at Chicago Bears (2) – Saturday 5 P.M.
My Predicted Winner: Bears
Preview: Possibly the game 9of the week between one of the biggest rivalries in all of football. Saturday Night with possible light snow incoming, how could any football fan not be seated on their couch watching this game in primetime. Since the seven seed has been added five years ago, those teams have a 1-9 record in the first round. The only team and quarterback to ever win a game as the seven seed was Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers who are looking to do it again this Saturday and are even favored to do so. I honestly have no clue how the Packers are favorites on the road in Chicago.
The weather will definitely be a factor with the possible snow which in my opinion favors the Bears who have a better offensive line and run game and also have the better tight end for short passes in the cold. I think Jordan Love who hasn’t played in a couple of weeks will come out rusty and without Micah Parsons I’m not sure if Green Bay’s defense will be able to hold Ben Johnson’s offense back, so I am picking the home team so come out with the W and their first playoff win in 15 years.
Buffalo Bills (6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3) – Sunday 10 A.M.
My Predicted Winner: Bills
Preview: In my opinion I think the is the hardest game of the week to pick, I truly believe that whoever wins this game will likely be the AFC Champion when all things are said and done. It is hard to pick against the Jaguars who have won eight straight and in those games have won by an average margin of about nineteen points, Liam Coen has come into Jacksonville and completely turned this team around. They don’t have a flashy roster, but they have the best rush defense in the league and have put together quality win after quality win.
But there is one big reason why I chose Buffalo to win this game… JOSH ALLEN. Josh is by far the most experienced playoff quarterback in the AFC and he has proved year after year despite not making a Super Bowl that he always steps up when the playoffs come around. Adding on the fact that the Bills have the best rushing offense in the league behind James Cook and their elite offensive line, I think their offense will take over in the nice weather and will put them over the top.
San Francisco 49ers (6) at Philadelphia Eagles (3) – Sunday 1:30 P.M.
My Predicted Winner: Eagles
Preview: As a Niner fan, it hurts me to pick the Eagles but I am picking. with my head and not my heart. San Fran has had a miracle of a year to even get to this spot, navigating through major injuries to Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Mykel Williams, and many more. Their defense is extremely depleted, every linebacker on the niners original 53-man roster is now injured and not available for this game in Philadelphia. Additionally, Trent Williams, Ricky Pearsall, and Renardo Green are all questionable for Sunday’s game.
I just don’t see how such an injured team can go play on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions, and come out with a win. In the five home playoff games Jalen Hurts has played, he had a prefect 5-0 record, 11 Touchdowns, and zero turnovers. Though their offense has been extremely streaky this year, I would be very surprised if Jalen Hurts and his supporting cat don’t have a really good game against this struggling 49ers defense.
Los Angeles Chargers (7) at New England Patriots (2) – Sunday 5 P.M.
My Predicted Winner: Patriots
Preview: Another matchup that is a lot closer in terms of skill cap compared to other two seed versus seven seed matchups in years prior. The Chargers have the more accomplished and experienced head coach in Jim Harbaugh as well as the more accomplished and experience quarterback in Justin Herbert. Despite my fondness for both of those guys, similar to the 49ers, their are just way too injured for me to like them in this particular game. They have what may be the worst offensive line in the league, and I think the Patriots run defense is going to take advantage of that and shut down an already weak rushing offense for Los Angeles. This game is going to be played in very frigid conditions and the Chargers who are a west coast team from LA, don’t have much of any experience in such games.
Though the Patriots have had the easiest schedule of any NFL team in over 20 years and I believe they are not battle tested and won’t get past the divisional round most likely, I am still picking them to win this game due to health, their defense versus a weak Chargers offense (other than Herbert), and the fact that the game is in New England.
Houston Texans (5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4) – Monday 5 P.M.
My Predicted Winner: Texans
Preview: After a nail-biting last second win over the Ravens in a winner take all week 18 game, the Steelers have found themselves in the fourth seed and with a home playoff game against the Houston Texans. I want to give major props to Aaron Rodgers for in his age 42 season being able to lead this offense with very weak skill groups to the top of the AFC North. But with that being said, I am very confident that Houston will come into Pittsburgh and win this game.
This Texans team has been extremely battle tested through ought the season and have proven to have one of the best defenses in recent years, and as we all hear year after year, “defense wins championships”. With the defensive line they have against an extremely immobile quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, I think the Texans will continuously put pressure on the quarterback and shut down this mediocre Pittsburgh offense. With that being said, the Texans offense has been choppy this year and if the Texans somehow lose, the offensive side of the ball will be the reason why. C.J. stroud has been here a couple of times before, and in this game I truly believe he just needs to play decent to come out with a win against the Steelers.
