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2023 NFL picks, score predictions for Wild Card Round

By Sayre Bedinger

NFL picks; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs with the ball against Miami Dolphins safety Verone McKinley III (32) during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
NFL picks; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs with the ball against Miami Dolphins safety Verone McKinley III (32) during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL picks; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) on the field before the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

(NFC no. 5) Dallas Cowboys at (NFC no. 4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I can’t abandon ship on the Dallas Cowboys this late in the season. After pumping them up as a contender all offseason and believing that things were different throughout the regular season, the Cowboys won 12 games despite an extended absence for Dak Prescott and proved a lot of detractors wrong.

Although I can’t abandon ship, the Buccaneers might make them walk the plank.

Deal with the dad jokes.

The Buccaneers have been so underwhelming in 2022 that a few weeks ago I was writing, begging for someone like the Panthers to win the NFC South and at least make this an interesting fourth seed in the NFC. In hindsight, I’m sure we’ll all agree that having Tom Brady in the playoffs is preferable to Sam Darnold, but we live in the moment.

Brady and the Bucs have been nothing like the iteration of this team we saw win the Super Bowl when he signed on a few years ago. They have been a shell of their old selves, and it’s been boring to watch.

Can Dallas end their apparent playoff curse? Can they actually come out, go on the road against Tom Brady, and advance in the postseason? Based on what we saw against the Commanders and based on what we’ve seen lately from Dak Prescott, I’m really not so sure.

There are seemingly different versions of this Cowboys team dating back to November. We’ve seen them absolutely run teams out of the stadium (including the Vikings) and we’ve seen them get smacked around, blow leads, and not be able to beat Sam Howell in his NFL debut when the no. 1 seed in the NFC was on the line.

My faith in the Cowboys is rapidly declining.

Prediction: Buccaneers win 21-17

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