NFL: Wild Card preview, picks

AFC Wild Card: #2 Buffalo Bills (13-3) vs #7 Indianapolis Colts (11-5): The Bills come into this game riding a 6-game winning streak and having won nine of their last 10 outings. Buffalo’s offense, led by an improved Josh Allen and league-leading receiver Stefon Diggs (1,535 yards. 5 TD), has put them in serious contention and they’ll look for a momentum-building win against the Colts to open the playoffs. Indianapolis will lean on rookie Jonathan Taylor (1,169 yards, 11 TD) to establish a ground game and hope their defensive unit, behind Darius Leonard and DeForest Buckner, can limit the Bills from creating big plays. All but one of us are picking Buffalo (-6.5) to advance.

Staff Picks:

Blake Stoll: Bills

Caleb Henderson: Bills

Charles Post: Bills

Chinedum Wejinya: Bills

Tyler Taylor: Colts

Raven Martín: Bills

AFC Wild Card: #3 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) vs #6 Cleveland Browns (11-5): Pittsburgh fell off a cliff after an 11-0 start but they still have enough experience and talent to win multiple playoff games and that should start against a head coach-less Cleveland Browns. Baker Mayfield played one of his worst games in a 38-7 loss at Pittsburgh in October but the Browns are playing much better and should compete. If Cleveland does pull off an upset in their first playoff game since 2002 then it’ll likely be due to Nick Chubb (1,067 yards, 12 TD) having another big day. Also the Browns will hope to put pressure on Ben Roethlisberger (3,803 yards, 65.6%) and create turnovers. All but one of is taking Pittsburgh (-6.0) to protect their home field.

Staff Picks:

Blake Stoll: Steelers

Caleb Henderson: Steelers

Charles Post: Steelers

Chinedum Wejinya: Browns

Tyler Taylor: Steelers

Raven Martín: Steelers

AFC Wild Card: #4 Tennessee Titans (11-5) vs #5 Baltimore Ravens (11-5): The Titans arrive as home underdogs despite beating the Ravens 30-24 earlier in the season, and ending Baltimore’s season a year ago. Can Tennessee’s defense hold up enough to beat this team again? Lamar Jackson (2,757 yards, 26 TD) has gotten back on track during their 5-game win streak but Derrick Henry (2,027 yards, 17 TD) has proven he can move the ball against Baltimore single handedly. It’s a game that should come down to the fourth quarter if both teams are at their best. According to ESPN FPI, the Ravens have a 62.7% chance to win on the road. Five out of six of us are picking the Ravens (-3.5) to avenge last year’s loss.

Staff Picks:

Blake Stoll: Ravens

Caleb Henderson: Ravens

Charles Post: Ravens

Chinedum Wejinya: Ravens

Tyler Taylor: Titans

Raven Martín: Ravens

NFC Wild Card: #2 New Orleans Saints (12-4) vs #7 Chicago Bears (8-8): New Orleans gets to face the worst of the 14 playoff teams as the Chicago Bears squeaked into the postseason at 8-8. According to ESPN FPI, the Saints have a 78.9% chance to win, which would snap a 2-game home losing streak in the playoffs. New Orleans is going to lean on the combination of Drew Brees (2,942 yards, 70.5%) and Alvin Kamara, and a defense with Cam Jordan and Marshon Lattimore but without Kwon Alexander. Mitch Trubisky (2,055 yards, 67%) played just one snap in a 26-23 loss to the Saints in early November. All six of us are riding with New Orleans (-10) to eliminate the Bears.

Staff Picks:

Blake Stoll: Saints

Caleb Henderson: Saints

Charles Post: Saints

Chinedum Wejinya: Saints

Tyler Taylor: Saints

Raven Martín: Saints

NFC Wild Card: #3 Seattle Seahawks (12-4) vs #6 Los Angeles Rams (10-6): The Seahawks ended the season on a 4-game winning streak after a concerning 17-12 loss to the New York Giants in December. When Russell Wilson (4,212 yards, 40 TD) takes care of the ball and the defense is healthy, Seattle can beat just about anyone in the conference. As for the Rams, according to Around the NFL, Jared Goff (3,952 yards, 20 TD) is active despite breaking his thumb two weeks ago. These teams split the regular season series with Seattle winning 20-9 in late December. Also make sure to keep an eye on Jalen Ramsey defending DK Metcalf in the secondary. Two out of six of us are picking the Rams (+3.5) to pull off the upset.

Staff Picks:

Blake Stoll: Rams

Caleb Henderson: Seahawks

Charles Post: Seahawks

Chinedum Wejinya: Seahawks

Tyler Taylor: Seahawks

Raven Martín: Rams

NFC Wild Card: #4 Washington Football Team (7-9) vs #5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5): Tampa Bay is set for their first playoff game since 2007 in Tom Brady's first season with the franchise. The Buccaneers will look for Brady to connect with weapons like Antonio Brown, Chris Godwin, and Ronald Jones III, but this game will likely be won on the defense. Devin White (97 tackles, 9.0 sacks) has been elite all year long and will key in on former teammate Peyton Barber. If Chase Young (32 tackles, 7.5 sacks) can get Brady out of his comfort zone then maybe Washington will keep it close but that's easier said than done. Five out of six of us are picking Tampa Bay (-8.0) to move on.

Staff Picks:

Blake Stoll: Buccaneers

Caleb Henderson: Buccaneers

Charles Post: Buccaneers

Chinedum Wejinya: Buccaneers

Tyler Taylor: Washington

Raven Martín: Buccaneers

Photo Credit: Upstate New York.