The NFL playoffs kick off with three days of NFL action. All 14 playoff teams are playing for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 59 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The Kansas City Chiefs are aiming to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Kansas City and the Detroit Lions both earned the top seeds in their respective conferences.
Will the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills or another AFC team knock off Kansas City en route to New Orleans? Can the Lions advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history? Or will a lower seed emerge from each conference?
The answer to those questions will start to formalize as soon as Saturday. Here are my NFL wild-card round predictions:
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AFC
7. Denver Broncos (10-7) vs. 2. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
The Bills won the AFC East for the fifth straight season. Led by MVP candidate Josh Allen, the Bills are the first team in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes (30) and 30 rushing touchdowns (32) in a season. The Broncos clinched their first playoff berth since 2015.
The Broncos are ahead of schedule in their rebuild. It’s an accomplishment for Denver to be in the postseason. On the other side, the Bills are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. It’s going to be a tough game for a young, upstart Broncos club in Buffalo. Denver’s stingy defense will make some plays, but the Bills have the more talented roster.
Buffalo hasn’t lost a game at home this season.
Score prediction: Bills win 30-17
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) vs. 3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
It’s always a physical game when these two AFC North rivals meet. Expect the physicality to ratchet up in a win-or-go-home situation.
Lamar Jackson became the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000-plus yards and run for 900-plus yards in a single season. Additionally, he’s the first player in league history with at least 40 touchdown passes and fewer than five interceptions in a season. He was the best player on the gridiron this season. Now he must translate his performance to the postseason. At the point in Jackson’s career, fair or unfair, he’s going to be judged on his success in the playoffs as the Ravens starting QB.
The Steelers have lost four consecutive games and have no momentum entering the playoffs. Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Ravens high-powered offense will overwhelm a reeling Steelers squad.
Score prediction: Ravens 28-17
5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) vs. 4. Houston Texans (10-7)
The Texans won the AFC South for the second year in a row, but they’ve lost two of their last three games.
Houston did end the regular season with a win, although, they beat up on the lowly Tennessee Titans.
The Chargers went from five wins in 2023 to the AFC’s No. 5 seed in Jim Harbaugh first year. Justin Herbert doesn’t have a playoff win on his resume. He has a prime opportunity to get a postseason victory in H-Town. Quentin Johnston is coming off a career game of 13 catches for 186 yards. The Chargers need him to be a reliable receiver if they want to make noise in the postseason. Los Angeles has the NFL’s top scoring defense.
Score prediction: Chargers 23-20
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NFC
7. Green Bay Packers (11-6) vs. 2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
The Eagles have a proven formula — they have a potent rushing attack and the No. 1 total defense in the NFL. They are the most complete team in the NFC.
These two teams met Week 1 in Brazil. Saquon Barkley rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns in their first meeting. The Eagles rested their 2,000-yard running back in the regular-season finale in preparation for a Super Bowl run. Expect the Eagles to ride their star ball carrier and MVP candidate this postseason.
Jordan Love and the Packers will keep this wild-card game competitive, but the Eagles should fly high at home.
Score prediction: Eagles 28-24
6. Washington Commanders (12-5) vs. 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
The Bucs, who won the NFC South for the fourth straight season, host a Commanders team that’s in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Mike Evans reached 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th straight year. He could battle his former Saints nemesis and now Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore if the corner returns from a hamstring injury. Evans should have an advantage versus the Commanders’ secondary, plus Tampa Bay will try to run the football with emerging RB Bucky Irving.
Tampa Bay defeated Washington, 37-20, in Week 1, but that was Jayden Daniels’ first career NFL game. The rookie QB has since blossomed into the presumptive NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Daniels has the capability to be the most impactful player on the field in Tampa Bay.
Score prediction: Commanders 27-24
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3) vs. 4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
The Rams’ offensive scheme is designed to give Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams the football in advantageous positions. Nacua compiled 79 catches for 990 receiving yards in 11 games. While Williams rushed for 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns in 16 games.
The two combined for 227 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown when Los Angeles beat Minnesota in Week 8.
The Vikings are coming off disappointing Week 18 loss that snapped their nine-game winning streak. Justin Jefferson was held to only three catches for 54 yards in the regular-season finale. Jefferson and the Vikings bounce back and get revenge Monday night in LA.
Score prediction: Vikings 27-23
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