The NFL regular season is officially over, as we now progress to the postseason as teams begin to make the run to play in Super Bowl 58. After long last, the NFL playoff picture has officially been settled. And there are definitely some shocking playoff teams, and some shocking teams that are on the outside looking in.
Wild Card Weekend actually begins on Friday with two games. Sunday has three games, and Wild Card Weekend will end on Monday with one game. There are most definitely some very interesting matchups, and I think we could see some lower seeds upset the higher seeds. Let's take a look at each Wild Card game and predict how each will turn out.
2023 NFL Picks, Predictions for Wild Card Weekend
Cleveland (5) @ Houston (4), Saturday 4:30PM
This is a rematch from a few weeks ago, but CJ Stroud was not in the lineup. We should see two teams that are as healthy as they can be, and since it's the playoffs, I think you'll see a lot of players who are nursing injuries try to play. This matchup definitely favors the Browns, in my opinion. Joe Flacco has played in 15 playoff games, winning 10 of them.
And this Texans team is pretty inexperienced, but they also just do not know any better, so I think Houston can pull off a win. However, the Browns defense is just going to be too much and I expect Flacco to do enough to help the Browns earn the win.
Prediction: Browns win 24-16
Miami (6) @ Chiefs (3), Saturday 8:15PM
The second game of Saturday see the Miami Dolphins travel to Kansas City to face off against the defending Super Bowl champions. I do think this game is pretty evenly matched, regardless of what the seeding says. The Dolphins did falter toward the end of the season, but the Chiefs have been limping on offense all year. I just cannot see a clear favorite here.
The Dolphins have the more explosive offense, but the Chiefs have the better and healthier defense. I think in the end, the two biggest factors in teams winning boils down to the QB and the head coach. For that reason, Kansas City winning is probably a safe bet.
Prediction: Chiefs win 27-21
Pittsburgh (7) @ Buffalo (2), Sunday 1:00PM
Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills clawed their way into the postseason with their respective late-season pushes. The Steelers rode the hot hand of... Mason Rudolph to close out the year, and the Bills simply did enough to close out their season en route to another AFC East title.
This is one of those playoff games that just won't be close, I don't think. Even though anything can happen, I just cannot see a path where the Steelers win, unless it's one of those games for the Bills. Josh Allen would need to throw about three interceptions in this game if the Steelers want to win.
This might be the year for the Buffalo Bills, honestly. Joe Burrow is not in the postseason and Patrick Mahomes is on the weakest team he's ever played on in the NFL, so Josh Allen has a great opportunity in front of him to make a run at the Super Bowl.
Prediction: Bills win 34-17
Green Bay (7) @ Dallas (2), Sunday 4:30PM
This is a fun game. The Packers really turned it up over the last half of the season on the back of Jordan Love playing elite football. They clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Now, former Packers' head coach Mike McCarthy will get to coach his old team, as the Cowboys earned the No. 2 seed with their win over the Washington Commanders.
I don't think the Packers are going to have enough firepower for this one, but I would not be surprised if GB keeps it close in the first half. Jordan Love is playing insane football, but them playing in Dallas and just not having as good of a team as the Cowboys is going to be the reason why Dallas wins. The 2024 NFL Season looks very encouraging for the Packers.
Prediction: Cowboys win 31-21
Los Angeles (6) @ Detroit (3), Sunday 8:15PM
Perhaps the most fun matchup of the year, former Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford gets to play a playoff game in Detroit, but as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford was the one who wanted a fresh start away from Detroit, and Stafford helped lead the Rams to the Super Bowl back in 2021. Now, the Rams ride a late-season surge and find themselves in the postseason with a roster mixed with savvy veterans and young players.
The Lions defense is a huge issue, and the Rams defense is also their weak spot. I'd trust the duo of Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford over Dan Campbell and Jared Goff, even with this game being in Detroit. This Lions team has not been in this situation yet, so I t
Philadelphia (5) @ Tampa Bay (4), Monday 8:15PM
Man, what a hard fall for the Philadelphia Eagles. A team that was once 10-1 is now limping into the postseason at 11-6, not only losing their lead on the NFC East, but now having to travel to a surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. Like I said earlier in this article, and something that is true most of the time, the better QB and head coach is the team that usually wins.
And in this matchup, give me Baker Mayfield and Todd Bowles over Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni. Hurts has been pretty mediocre this year and I do think there are some legs to the idea that the Eagles' magical 2022 run was mostly because of their former coordinators, Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen.
Give me Tampa in this one.
Prediction: Buccaneers win 27-19
So there you have it, full predictions for Wild Card weekend. Honestly, I don't think this round of the postseason will provide that many shocks or upsets.