Jan 4, 20202 min read

NFL: Wild Card weekend picks, preview

#5 Buffalo Bills (10-6) @ #4 Houston Texans (10-6): The Texans should win this game, right? They have the best player on both sides of the ball in Deshaun Watson (3,852 yards, 26 touchdowns) and J.J. Watt. Plus they're at home. But you could have said that last year too before the Indianapolis Colts shut them down 21-7. Houston wins this game if Watson takes care of the ball and they force Josh Allen into at least one mistake. We think they do so.

Staff picks:

Caleb Henderson: Texans

Charles Post: Texans

Chinedum Wejinya: Texans

Luke Gremban: Texans

Tyler Taylor: Texans

Raven Martin: Texans

Player of the game:

1. Deshaun Watson (Texans)

2. J.J. Watt (Texans)

3. DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)

4. Tre'Davious White (Bills)

5. John Brown (Bills)

#6 Tennessee Titans (9-7) @ #3 New England Patriots (12-4): The Patriots haven't exactly looked like the team we're used to seeing around this time around, but if there's anything we've learned, it's don't pick against the Patriots in Foxborough in the postseason. This will likely be their only home game of the postseason so it might be the only time we pick them, but Tom Brady (4,057 yards, 24 touchdowns) should have enough for at least one more victory.

Staff picks:

Caleb Henderson: Patriots

Charles Post: Patriots

Chinedum Wejinya: Patriots

Luke Gremban: Patriots

Tyler Taylor: Patriots

Raven Martin: Titans

Player of the game:

1. Tom Brady (Patriots)

2. Derrick Henry (Titans)

3. Julian Edelman (Patriots)

4. Stephon Gilmore (Patriots)

5. Ryan Tannehill (Titans)

#6 Minnesota Vikings (10-6) @ #3 New Orleans Saints (13-3): The Saints have lost heartbreaking games in each of the last two playoffs and they hope to end up on the right side of a nail biter this time around. Both teams are very similar as they have great skill players in Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Michael Thomas (1,725 yards, nine touchdowns), and Stefon Diggs, but Drew Brees is 6-1 at home in the playoffs with New Orleans so we'll take the safe bet.

Staff picks:

Caleb Henderson: Saints

Charles Post: Saints

Chinedum Wejinya: Saints

Luke Gremban: Saints

Tyler Taylor: Saints

Raven Martin: Saints

Player of the game:

1. Drew Brees (Saints)

2. Michael Thomas (Saints)

3. Alvin Kamara (Saints)

4. Dalvin Cook (Vikings)

5. Eric Kendricks (Vikings)

#5 Seattle Seahawks (11-5) @ #4 Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): The Eagles host the final game of the Wild Card round as they barely reached the playoffs, needed four consecutive wins to outlast the Dallas Cowboys for an NFC East title. On the other hand, Seattle has struggled recently, as they're 2-3 in their last five outings. With that said, Russell Wilson (4,110 yards, 31 touchdowns) in 6-0 versus Philadelphia, while Carson Wentz has never defeated Seattle.

Staff picks:

Caleb Henderson: Eagles

Charles Post: Seahawks

Chinedum Wejinya: Seahawks

Luke Gremban: Eagles

Tyler Taylor: Seahawks

Raven Martin: Seahawks

Player of the game:

1. Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

2. Carson Wentz (Eagles)

3. Jadaveon Clowney (Seahawks)

4. Tyler Lockett (Seahawks)