It took all of the NFL regular season games to settle things in the standings, but now we're ready to preview the 2024 NFL Wild Card. The NFL's flexible scheduling certainly didn't disappoint in Week 18. More importantly, the NFL Playoff The picture is all set with the Wild Card Round scheduled for this weekend.
NFL Wild Card Preview
As has been the case in recent years, NFL Wild Card Weekend features six games in which only the Ravens and 49ers enjoy a bye week.
Obviously we expect six close and competitive matches that could go either way. Picking winners won't be easy this week, but here's our 2024 NFL Wild Card preview.
Brown v. Texas
The Browns are one of two road favorites during Wild Card Weekend but for good reason. Joe Flacco transformed Cleveland's offense late in the season and brings with him plenty of playoff experience.
Obviously the same can't be said for Texans upstart and rookie C.J. Stroud. Houston's future is promising, but the Browns appear more capable of winning a playoff berth right now.
Pick: Brown -2.5
Dolphins vs Chiefs
The Chiefs haven't been the same this year, including Kansas City's 5-4 record at home. This casts some doubt heading into the playoffs.
But do we really expect Patrick Mahomes to not rise to the occasion? After all, the Chiefs have played in five straight AFC Championship games. On the flip side, Miami is just 1-5 against playoff teams this season and has some injury questions. Mahomes and the Chiefs must find a way to win.
Pick: Chiefs -3.5
Steelers vs. Bills
Watch the Bills during the playoffs, where they have won five straight since the bye week, including three wins over playoff teams. Buffalo went from being a possibility to being a no-no. 2 seeds, making them a Super Bowl contender.
However, they did not win convincingly. They are just 6-10 against the spread this season and face a Pittsburgh team that has won three in a row and went 6-4 against the spread as the underdog. The Bills will win but they will be ugly and won't cover it.
Pick: Steelers +9.5
Packers vs. Cowboys
It's tempting to side with Jordan Love and the Packers because Green Bay looks good enough to upset the Cowboys, who have had some playoff woes in recent years.
But the Cowboys are very good at home. Dallas is 8-0 straight up and 6-2 against the spread at home this season. Six of those eight wins have come by double digits, so look for the same thing to happen against Green Bay.
Pick: Cowboys -7.5
Rams vs. Lions
What an amazing story to have Matthew Stafford return to Detroit for his former team's first home playoff game in 30 years. Unfortunately, Stafford may be the one to spoil the celebration for the Lions, who haven't won a playoff game in 32 years.
Stafford and the Rams went 7-1 and have more playoff experience than the Lions. More importantly, Detroit's defense is not a playoff-caliber defense and may not be able to contain the former quarterback.
Pick: Rams +3
Eagles vs Buccaneers
Seriously, how is anyone expected to trust the Eagles at this point? They're slight favorites on the road for Monday's Wild Card final largely because of their reputation and partly because the Bucs only beat Carolina 9-0 in Week 18.
In theory, the Eagles could potentially flip the switch and emerge as the current NFC champions. However, they have drawn 1-5 and 0-6 in their last six matches. Even before this stretch, they started to decline. The Bucs clearly don't instill much fear into opposing teams. But they have won five of their last six games and are 8-3 against spread underdogs this season. That's enough to make us think Tampa can take advantage of a struggling Philadelphia team.
Pick: Pirates +2.5
