The NFL regular season is over, which means it’s playoff time. Wild Card weekend is set and the match-ups are very strong. Six of the eight teams playing on Wild Card weekend have ten wins or more. The playoffs are strong this year and we can’t wait to see the intensity and atmosphere of these games.
NFL Wild Card Weekend
AFC
Bills vs Texans
This game might not be the most appealing but it should be a close one. The Buffalo Bills defense is a huge reason why this team made the playoffs. They are one of the few defenses to hold teams to below 200 yards per week and is tenth in rushing. The offense can be more down than up with Josh Allen but they certainly can attack Houston.
On the other side, a Deshaun Watson led offense has been very inconsistent for the Houston Texans. One week they can score a lot on the Patriots but the next they can muster only a touchdown in a huge game against the Baltimore Ravens or only 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The defense can be very good but they are also up and down. When the defense is right, they can attack you and they won’t stop. The Texans are at home which is a good advantage but the Bills only have two close losses in away games.
Titans vs Patriots
The New England Patriots are playing on Wild Card Weekend for the first time since 2009. They are coming off a horrible loss to the Miami Dolphins that sent them to the three seed. This Patriots team has flaws unlike the teams of the past. Their offense has struggled mightily this season. Tom Brady can’t find his touch, the receivers aren’t up to par, and the running backs are inconsistent. The defense has been good for the better part of the year and they will rely on that to carry them.
The Tennessee Titans offense has been one of the best since Ryan Tannehill took over under center. He can throw and he makes good decisions. They also have a great running back in Derrick Henry. He passed Nick Chubb in the last week to win the rushing title. Henry is very explosive and the Patriots run defense isn’t the best. The defense is playing together as well and this makes the Titans dangerous. They have a good chance but there’s one thing they have to do— travel to Foxborough. The Patriots are almost unstoppable at home and maybe they can find a little something while at home. This should be a very great and interesting game.
NFC
Seahawks vs Eagles
The 11-5 Seattle Seahawks have to go on the road to face the 9-7 Philadelphia Eagles. Russell Wilson was an MVP candidate for the better part of the year and he carried this team. Over the last few weeks, they’ve lost running backs Rashaad Penny, Chris Carson, and C.J Prosise. They signed two former Seahawks in Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. The offense can score and score often. When the defense is on, they can be very good but when they are off, they are way off. The defense has given up 25 or more points in 11 games this season. That means the offense has played very well.
The Eagles are beaten up badly throughout. The defense is missing pieces and the offense is filled with many unrecognizable faces. Carson Wentz is playing with receivers nobody has heard of except tight end Zach Ertz. What the Eagles have done to get here is impressive but they have to grow through a very good team. Despite what has just been mentioned, the Eagles still have a good chance at home. This game will tell us a lot about the winner moving into the next round.
Vikings vs Saints
These two teams have a recent playoff memory against each other in the 2018 NFC divisional game. The Minnesota Vikings won that on a throw up the sideline by Case Keenum and a catch by Stefon Diggs for a touchdown to win it. This time around, the Vikings will have Kirk Cousins under center. They have good weapons on offense, including power runner Dalvin Cook, who can be very explosive. The defense isn’t as strong as in years past but can still hold teams.
The New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees are red hot coming into this game. They’ve won six of their last seven games and Brees has 15 touchdowns with zero interceptions in his last four games. It will be hard to stop the connection between him and Michael Thomas. The Saints are hoping for a better result than the last time these two teams faced each other.
Playoff Time
The playoffs are always wild but there’s something about these match-ups that make it one of the best in a few years, at least on paper. There’s one 14-win team, three 13-win teams, two 12-win teams, an 11-win team, and four teams with ten or nine wins. Both conferences are stacked with great teams. It will be a lot of fun to watch throughout the playoffs.
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