Wildcard Weekend Game Picks: Who Moves on to the Elite 8?

 After week 18 was the craziest week we've maybe ever seen of NFL football, who is to say that the opening weekend of the playoffs may not be even crazier. I mean, obviously, every game is a win or go home game. Last week all of the win or go home games were wild. This has been the most unpredictable NFL season ever, now will the post-season follow suit? 

Week 18 Predictions Record: 10-6
2021-22 Regular Season Overall Final Record: 165-106-1
2021-22 Playoff Record: 0-0

5 Las Vegas Raiders (10-7) at 4 Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)

Overall outlook: The red-hot Raiders head to chilly Ohio to face the Cincinnati Bengals who some might say are even hotter. The Bengals come into the game with the 6th highest scoring offense in football while the Raiders have the 18th. It is set to also be a wildly entertaining QB match-up between two who are making their first career playoff starts in MVP candidate Joe Burrow (Bengals) and the magician that is Derek Carr (Raiders). Both QBs will look to snap playoff win droughts for their franchises, especially the Bengals who have not won a playoff game in over 30 years (1990 was the last time). This is going to be a fun battle that could truly go either way between two potent young offenses and two defenses that seem to make plays in the biggest moments of a game.

Bengals outlook: Like we mentioned before, the Bengals have Joe Burrow at QB which gives them an upper-hand already. Burrow is one of the hottest players in the league right now and will be tough for the Raiders defense to scheme against. Burrow has thrown for 4611 yards and 34 TDs which is top 10 in both categories, keep in mind he missed last week's game for rest as well otherwise those numbers may have been EVEN higher. The former no. 1 overall pick and college national champion thrives on the biggest stages, and this will be no different for him playing at home in the playoffs. Burrow is supported with the best WR trio in the league. Led by rookie top 5 pick Ja'Marr Chase who had the most receiving yards by a rookie ever with 1450, Tee Higgins hit 1000 yards this year as well, and Tyler Boyd is the best no. 3 WR in the league. On top of all of that talent in the receiving core, the team also boasts Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon who ran for 1205 yards (3rd most in the league) and 13 TDs (4th most). This offense is a defense's worst nightmare, and it will be hard for the Raiders to stop.

In terms of defense, the Bengals have seen a dramatic turnaround that led them to the improvement we've seen this season. The Bengals have gone from the 24th defense in the league in terms of scoring to 17th which is quite the improvement in just one season and is why we've seen them able to win so many more games. Give a lot of credit to some of the new additions they made on defense. Big-money FA addition Trey Hendrickson has been that pass rusher that they have been longing for. He had a whopping 14 sacks this season including 11 straight weeks with a sack which was a franchise record. Longtime safety Jessie Bates has also continued to play elite football and hold down the secondary. Sure, this defense lets up big plays from time to time, but overall, I feel good about them and what they should be able to do against an inconsistent Raider offense.

Carr to Renfrow

Raiders outlook: The Raiders are the ultimate wildcard. No one saw them here even last week, let alone a few weeks ago. Yet they have still found their way here. Sitting at 6-7 a few weeks back, they finished with 4 straight victories to get in. That is a testament to QB Derek Carr, who never quits. While Carr was up and down for much of the season, he's been much more up than down in the past month, and also in close games when it matters. Carr tossed 4804 yards, 23 TDs, and 14 INTs on the season. Some of those numbers ELITE, others were pedestrian. What Carr will we get on Saturday? That will certainly have to do with his top two targets in receiver Hunter Renfrow, who had a major breakout this season, and big bodied weapon at tight end Darren Waller. Renfrow, a late round pick a few years back, has broke onto the scene with his exceptional route running that sees him seemingly always open. Renfrow hit 100 catches and 1000 yards for the first time in his career in 2021. Waller on the other hand is one of the top 3 or 4 best tight ends in the game, and though he missed much of the year with injury, is healthy for Saturday which is all that matters. There is no right answer to covering him and the Bengals will have their hands full trying to stop him and Renfrow.

On defense, this is a weird team. The game on Sunday night was a great indicator of what they are on defense. Great at times, awful at times. On first and second down the other day, the Raiders were amazing. On 3rd and 4th down, they struggled. This is a bend but don't break kind of defense led by DC Gus Bradley. One guy that is sure to get a lot of screen-time on Sunday is edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The 3rd year pro is having an All-NFL type of season. While the sack numbers aren't out of this world, the QB pressures are. He led the league with 103 QB pressures which is 17 more than second place. That is crazy. He is always in the backfield and forcing bad throws. If anyone is going to be able to slow this offense down, it will be Crosby forcing pressure on Burrow. MLB Denzel Perryman has had a breakout season of his own and is everywhere at once it feels like. He is a tackle machine that will be a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the field for the Raiders. While their defense is a bit below average in terms of yards and points allowed, they make the plays that matter. Bend but don't break.

Prediction: I think we are going to be treated to a great game here on Saturday. Both teams feel magical at times so it was only right for them to face one another to begin the post-season. Whoever wins here feels like they have true cinderella potential in this tournament. I think we are going to see a lot of offense and not much defense between these two contenders. In a shootout, I like Joe Burrow and his weapons just a little bit better. While this game truly feels like it could go either way, the Bengals seem a little bit better to me and will be playing with extra motivation since they have not won a playoff game in over 30 years. With the fans behind them at Paul Brown stadium, I expect Burrow to continue to deliver. 

Final Score Prediction: Bengals 31, Raiders 26

6 New England Patriots (10-7) at 3 Buffalo Bills (11-6)

Overall outlook: After splitting the regular season series 1-1, these divisional rivals will meet for a third time for all the marbles. This is the next chapter of a deep historical rivalry between the franchises. It will be Bill Belichick's defense vs Sean McDermott's defense with two potent offenses also on either side. What type of game will we get here at the first one was in a snowstorm that led to the Patriots winning with just 3 pass completions and the second one where the Bills went pass heavy and were led to victory by unlikely hero Isaiah McKenzie.

Bills outlook: The Bills are such a weird team to read. At their best, they may be THE best team in the league. Anything aside from their best looks pretty bad at times. QB Josh Allen is lightning in a bottle. He may have the biggest arm in the league but he doesn't always make the best decisions with it. Allen threw for a massive 4407 yards and 35 TDs but also tossed 15 INTs in which many of left you scratching your head. The Patriots will also have to account for Allen on the ground as he ran for another 700 yards and 6 scores. While the Bills have a great receiving core to complement Allen's big arm with Stefon Diggs, McKenzie, Dawson Knox, Cole Beasley, and Emmanuel Sanders, their running game is virtually non-existent. To win not only this week, but throughout the playoffs, the Bills are going to need to incorporate RBs Devin Singletary and Zack Moss into the offense a little more. It is rare to see a team so lopsided on offense to win as much as they do.

Jordan Poyer & Micah Hyde

The defense is the Bills' strong-suit. DC Leslie Frazier has done an incredible job with this defense over the past few seasons. The Bills have the no. 1 defense in terms of both yardage allowed and points allowed in the NFL. That is major, especially when game 1 of the playoffs is playing behind your fiery home crowd against a rookie QB. Thank star DBs Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde who have both had career years in 2021 and lead this defense. Poyer and Hyde both have 5 INTs and 9 pass deflections on the year. Throwing deep on this team is almost impossible. The Patriots do like to run the ball, and while the Bills are elite in every aspect of defense, running on them is probably easier than passing (not top 10 in rushing while no. 1 in passing D). It will be interesting to see Bills DT Ed Oliver and co. against Pats' RBs Harris and Stevenson.

Damien Harris

Patriots outlook: What Patriots offense will we see on Saturday? When they played in the snow in Buffalo earlier this year, they won by throwing the ball just THREE times. 3. That was it. Craziness. While the weather is supposed to be anything but clear and sunny this Saturday, there is no way the Pats will be able to win a playoff game with that little balance. Rookie QB Mac Jones is going to have to be thrown into the fire a little bit. He has been really good for a rookie in situations where many others would fold. Jones threw for 3800 yards along with 22 TDs and 13 INTs. Pretty good stuff from a rookie. Expect this offense to be predicated off of the run though. There will be some deep shots sprinkled in, but Damien Harris and rookie RB Rhamondre Stevenson will get the majority of the work. Harris was the workhorse for much of the season with 930 yards and 15 TDs (2nd in the league) rushing, but Stevenson was a nice change of pace back at times with 600 yards and 5 TDs of his own. They will get their work against this tough Bills D on Sat. 

Just like the Bills, the Patriots pride themselves on the elite defense they have. In terms of yardage allowed, the Pats are 4th overall in the league, in terms of points allowed, 2nd. This is truly a battle of defenses. The guys to watch most in New England's defense are edge rusher Matthew Judon and cornerback JC Jackson. Judon was the prize of the Patriots' large spending spree this off-season. The former Baltimore Raven has had a career year rushing the passer for Bill Belichick with 12.5 sacks. He will apply constant pressure on Josh Allen and hope to force him into making some bad throws which he seems to make a few of in every game. The guy they hope Allen throws bad passes to? JC Jackson. Jackson was probably the best corner in the NFL this season. Jackson was first in the league with a whopping 23 pass breakups and was second with 8 INTs. Teams usually don't even throw to his side of the field, meaning the Pats may be able to erase former All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs from the Bills' offense completely. Both defenses should come to play in crappy weather this Saturday, which elite defense will come up bigger?

Prediction: What a game this will be. So many great storylines, so many great players, two of the best coaches in football. We couldn't ask for much more. Given that these teams are division rivals and know each other so well and also split the season series 1-1, this is a true toss up. I think the Bills rely on the pass too much while the Patriots rely on the run too much. Which team will be able to adapt better? This is so tough, but my gut tells me to pick the home team Bills. Rookie QBs are unreliable in the playoffs, the weather will be bad, the Bills are just the slightly better roster. I think at home, playing in their conditions, the Bills will find a way to come out victorious in a low scoring affair and move on.

Final Score Prediction: Bills 23, Patriots 18

7 Philadelphia Eagles (9-8) at 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)

Overall outlook: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open their title defense at home against the upstart Philadelphia Eagles. These teams met back in week 7 where the Buccaneers won 28-22 in a game which the Eagles almost came all the way back and won before some questionable calls from the refs. This Eagles team is so different now from the one that barely lost in week 7 and will look to come out on the winning end this time around. It's going to be a fun match between the 44-year old Tom Brady and the 23-year old Jalen Hurts. 

Brady & Mike Evans

Buccaneers outlook: We all know who it is leading the Bucs' offense. None other than the goat, Tom Brady. At 44, Brady is coming off of arguably the best regular season of his storied career. Brady led the league in both passing yards (5,316) and passing TDs (43) to go along with only 12 INTs. Those numbers are simply otherworldly, and he's 44 years old. What he continues to do is unprecedented. If you didn't know, the 5314 yards is the most in a single season of his career. While stud wideout Chris Godwin tore his ACL a few weeks ago and Antonio Brown is no longer with the team, Brady still has many more than capable weapons to help him make another Super Bowl run. WR Mike Evans logged his 8th straight 1000 yard season and was also second in the NFL with 14 receiving TDs this year. He will lead the way for Brady alongside Rob Gronkowski who continues to play great football into his old age as well. He is always a huge post-season target for Brady. A name to get to know is former UDFA WR Cyril Grayson Jr. who has track speed at the position and is a guy that Brady is coming to trust. He could have a huge post-season with Godwin and Brown no longer in the picture. This offense is so good, can't forget about RB Leonard Fournette who was having a career year before an injury forced him to miss the final few weeks of the season. He will be returning for the game which is a major boost. This might be the best offense in football, and the Eagles are going to struggle to figure it out.

While the Bucs defense isn't what it was last season, it is still one of the better defenses in the league. Finally getting healthy, this unit is filled with stars up and down the line to the secondary. Leading the way will be huge DT Vita Vea. The man who just got a massive contract extension with the team is going to play a vital role in the post-season run for the Bucs. He is considered one of, if not the, best run stuffers in the league. To the Bucs' dismay, the Eagles have the no. 1 rushing offense in the league, so Vea is going to have his hands full. Led by Vea, the Bucs' have the no. 3 rushing defense in the NFL in terms of yards allowed, so it bodes well for their chances against such a potent rushing offense. Another player to look out for is edge rusher Shaq Barrett, who is a QB's worst nightmare. He produces sacks like almost no one else in the league. He too, is returning from injury, but will make it for the game on Sunday and will have Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' elite offensive line putting in work. While this defense is a bit hit or miss, their overall talent makes them one of the harder units to gameplan for in the league, it will be interesting to see how the Eagles try and attack them.

Jalen Hurts

Eagles outlook: What a turnaround HC Nick Sirianni has overseen in his first season with the team. The team hobbled out to a 2-6 start and Sirianni was already starting to feel the pressure, then, he turned the team around. The team finished 7-3 and found their way into the post-season at 9-8 behind an elite running game, a mauling offensive line, and a resurgent defense. Second-year QB Jalen Hurts has proved so many doubters wrong this year and really appears to have secured his place as the team's franchise QB. While he isn't always the most consistent thrower of the football, he is one of the best dual-threat QBs in the league and always gets it done with his legs. Hurts only threw for 3,144 yards with just 16 TDs to 9 picks, but his impact on the ground more than made up for it. Hurts added 785 yards and 10 scores on the ground to spearhead this elite Eagle rushing attack. Can't wait to see what he does under the big lights of the playoffs. With a combination of RBs Miles Sanders, Jordan Howard, Boston Scott, and then Hurts the QB, this team was impossible to stop running. While their passing game remains suspect, they have stud rookie and former Heisman winning WR Devonta Smith and TE Dallas Goedert who seem to get open when needed. Against a great rushing defense like Tampa, the Eagles may have to try and expose their weak point which is their secondary. Will Hurts be able to do it with consistency? This all remains to be seen.

Defensively, this team is wildly hit or miss. They have the star talent in certain spots to be great. DT Fletcher Cox remains one of, if not the, best overall DTs in the league and former All-Pro CB Darius Slay had a resurgent year on the perimeter for Philly as well. He will be able to go toe-to-toe with Mike Evans all day long. Aside from those two mega-stars, the Eagles will need some of their lesser known talent to dominate. Tom Brady is one of the hardest draws you can get, and Sirianni will need to develop a plan to limit him in any way possible. I look to lesser known talents like safety Marcus Epps or corners Avonte Maddox or Steven Nelson to get the job done if the Eagles want any chance to win this game. 

Prediction: As much as I like the Eagles and want them to succeed, I can't see them taking down the defending champs while on the road in the first playoff game of Jalen Hurts' and Nick Sirianni's careers. It's a bit too much pressure for them against an opponent this good. The match-ups just don't align well. The Eagles live and die through the run game and the Bucs have been amazing all year at stopping that run. On defense, the Eagles feel a little too undermanned to go toe-to-toe with Brady. I'm not saying it can't happen, because Brady has a history of struggles against NFC East teams in the post-season, but it feels unlikely to me. I think this one will feel closer than it actually is. Bucs will move on and start their road to back-to-back titles.

Final Score Prediction: Buccaneers 30, Eagles 20

6 San Francisco 49ers (10-7) at 3 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)

Overall outlook: In what may be the best match-up of wildcard weekend, we see two of the winningest franchises in NFL history going at it in the playoffs for the first time ever. Pretty surprising there. Both teams have had very up and down seasons in which you could call either one the overall SB favorites at times but also potential one and dones in the post-season at times. While the Cowboys have looked really good of late, most of those big wins have come against NFC East teams, they have struggled outside of their own division. Meanwhile the 49ers continue to find ways to win in the wildest ways possible. These two facts coupled together should have Dallas feeling like they may be on upset alert.

Cowboys outlook: Leading this high-powered offense is none other than star QB Dak Prescott. He has had a career year with the help of young wonderkid OC Kellen Moore calling the shots on offense. Prescott has thrown for a career best 37 TDs to just 10 INTs to go along with 4,440 yards passing. Aside from Moore calling great plays and having a great offensive line to block for him, WRs Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb have been phenomenal at getting open and have made Dak's life so easy. Lamb went over 1100 yards receiving and 6 TDs while Cooper tallied 865 yards and 8 TDs. Cooper is the route runner while the Lamb is the contest catch/open field menace. Can't forget about speedy WR3 Cedrick Wilson who seems to have a big play in every game. Oh yeah, and we haven't mentioned RBs Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard who form one of the best RB duos in football. Elliott is the bruiser who is hard to bring down, especially in short yardage, while Pollard is an elite change of pace runner who seems to burst a big one a couple times a game. Good luck accounting for all of these guys.

The story of this Dallas turnaround has been Dan Quinn's defense. The Cowboys were the worst defense in the NFL last year, and in just one year, they have become one of the best. They are top 10 in least points allowed and are one of the highest SCORING defenses in the league (defensive TDs). Along with Quinn's great schemes were some breakout stars. Rookie LB Micah Parsons has been a revelation. The first round pick has had a rookie season for the ages. He can do everything on defense and is in consideration for not only DROY but DPOY...as a rookie. With 13 sacks, 84 total tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 pass breakups, do you believe me that he can do anything on defense? The other breakout was CB Trevon Diggs who has come into his own in year 2. The former Alabama WR turned corner has become one of the best ballhawks in football. He led the league with a whopping 11 INTs this year along with 21 pass breakups (second in the league). If you throw at him, expect to be running back the other way trying to tackle him down. With these two guys leading the way, Dallas' defense has become one of the most feared units in the sport. With such a great offense and defense, if they can click at the same time, it may be game over for the opposition. 

Parsons #11

Deebo Samuel

49ers outlook: There were some sketchy moments this year, but after-all, the Niners are IN. This team isn't too different looking from the squad that made it to the Super Bowl two seasons ago and was one quarter away from hoisting the Lombardi again. On offense, they are better than they were then. Jimmy Garopollo has been so hit or miss this season at QB, but may be riding some momentum as he had a career day vs the Rams last week in the OT win to get them into the post-season. He will look to build on it against this tough Dallas defense. The main guy to talk about for the Niners is do-it-all gadget weapon Deebo Samuel. What a breakout year it has been for the third year pro who was finally healthy all year and showed us what we were missing. Samuel was everywhere and did everything for this Niner offense. Samuel was top 5 in receiving yards with 1,405 on the year and 6 TDs but also ran for another 365 yards and 8 TDs. Samuel even threw for a TD last weekend. He does everything, and cannot be tackled in the open field. The team will look his way early and often. Can't forget about TE George Kittle either. He is the best blocking TE in the league but also catches everything, no matter how difficult the catch will be to make. Rookie RB Elijah Mitchell cannot be counted out either, the 6th rounder has been a huge difference maker on the offense all season for his ability to fight through contact and pick up first downs in bunches. This Niners offense is stacked with talent and all hinges on what Jimmy G they get each and every week.

On defense, they are one of the more underrated crews. The defense was the story of the Super Bowl team, and quietly they might be as good, if not better right now. Edge rusher Nick Bosa is the obvious dominant leader of the group. The former defensive rookie of the year produced a major 15.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles this season. He is going to be a problem on Sunday for Dallas. Along with him, the Niners boast one of the best LBs in the league in Fred Warner. Warner tallied 137 total tackles this year along with a forced fumble and 4 pass breakups. Having a guy that good lurking in the middle of a defense will be hard for the Dallas offense to navigate around. The Niners are 3rd in the league for least yards allowed per game and also top 10 in least points allowed. It's safe to say they will be up for the mighty challenge that is the Cowboys offense.

Prediction: This might be the hardest game to predict of the weekend. There are always upsets in the first round of the playoffs, and this game feels like it has that potential to it. I don't wanna pick the Niners just because I know there will be an upset though. That is why this is so hard. I could see this upset happening, but will it actually. Dallas is so well-rounded and could go on a deep run if they win this game, but do they win it?! It all feels like it depends on what Jimmy G we see this Sunday. The Cowboys have looked so good of late, but was it a smoke screen as most of it was against NFC East teams? The Niners feel like they are never out of a game, but will they be smoked by this elite Dallas O? I cannot decide on this one, so I'm going to write the winner down below, and maybe change it a few times, but the result you see will be the result I decided on, unconfidently. 

Final Score Prediction: 49ers 31, Cowboys 28

7 Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) at 2 Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)

Overall outlook: When the Chiefs beat the Steelers 36-10 in week 16, we thought that would be it for Big Ben and the Steelers. Turns out we were wrong. The Steelers rallied back to win their final two games of the season and then saw the Colts somehow lose to the Jaguars and the Raiders/Chargers to avoid tying which sent them into the playoffs one last time under Big Ben. While the storyline is amazing that Big Ben will have one final shot at this thing, they face the daunting task of heading to Arrowhead stadium and squaring off against the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs. Will the Chiefs handle business once again or will Big Ben and his team find another ounce of magic and pull off the stunner of stunners?

Chiefs outlook: For the first time in Patrick Mahomes' career, he and the Chiefs are playing on wildcard weekend. That is an indicator of the season the Chiefs have had. While they are the 2 seed, it has been very up and down and not getting that bye is a symbol of that. Still, it is Patrick Mahomes and the usual suspects on offense. Mahomes had another great year, even if he threw 13 picks, he still tossed 37 TDs and almost 5000 yards again. Aiding him is still the elite duo of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce who combined for 2300 yards and 18 TDs on almost 200 total catches. Crazy production. The team should also see lead runner Clyde Edwards-Helaire return to the lineup after missing a few weeks due to injury which is a big bonus. A highlight of this offense is also rookie 2nd round pick Center Creed Humphrey who had a rookie OL season for the ages. He is already playing like the best Center in football and the Chiefs' pass protection has been much sturdier due to this development. Humphrey and co. will need to hold up against the Steelers front 7 which is one of the best in the NFL.

Chris Jones sacks Burrow

On defense, the season started out nightmarishly. They were giving up yards like it was no one's business. Then they flipped a switch. Suddenly their defense was carrying them. Now it has balanced out, they are an up and down defensive unit that usually relies on creating turnovers to win them games. Statistically, they are bottom 5 in yards allowed but top 10 least points allowed per game. They are the classic bend but don't break defense. Playing this style of defense in the modern NFL is risky, and it could be the death of them in these playoffs. They will need to rely on Pro Bowl DT Chris Jones to apply pressure on the Steelers' offense to shut them down. The Steelers have one of the worst offensive lines in football meaning that Chris Jones will likely feast on Sunday night. They will also need elite production out of elite safety Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu has been the leader of this defense ever since he signed with KC a couple years back and will need to play like it to ensure this secondary doesn't get burned over the top like we have seen in the past. It will be interesting to see if their defense will succeed against a lackluster Pittsburgh offense. 

Steelers outlook: This could be it for Big Ben. He is a shell of the QB he once was, but he isn't as bad as many like to say. Sure, he is so slow and can't stretch the field with his arm like he once could, but he can still sling it with accuracy 30 yards down the field. Against this Chiefs defense, to pull off the stunner, that is all they may need. A guy they will rely on heavily is rookie RB Najee Harris. Harris ran for 1200 yards this year which had him in the top 5 for rushing leaders in the league. He will need to take advantage of a Chiefs run defense that is in the bottom half of the league against the run, allowing about 117 rush yards per game. WR1 Diontae Johnson will also need to continue to get open for Big Ben. He has had a breakout season and will need to find ways to take advantage of creases in the Chiefs defense. Ben has relied on him all year to the tune of 101 catches and 1,161 yards, and he will need to in this game if they want to pull off an upset. The real issue is their weak offensive line which is set to be feasted upon by Jones and Frank Clark. Running early and often and throwing many quick checkdowns is how the Steelers will need to play to even have a chance in this one.

Watt ties single season sack rec.

The Steelers do have their defense going for them. While they aren't the top unit as they were last year, they are still pretty darn good. Just ask edge rusher TJ Watt who tied the single season sack record of Michael Strahan on Sunday with his 22.5th sack of the year. He has almost singlehandedly won them games this year and will need to play that way in this one to give the Steelers a chance. He was hurt in the last game they played and will need to seek revenge vs the Chiefs up and down O-line. Yardage wise, the Steelers are top 10 in the league vs the pass but THE worst team in the league vs the run. They will need to remain good vs the pass in this one as the Chiefs do a lot of it. DT Cameron Heyward may be the X-factor in this game. He is having the best season of his veteran career this year for the Steelers with 10 sacks, but he will be up against Creed Humphrey. Whoever wins that 1v1 match-up might see his team win the game. If we get an elite performance from this occasionally elite Steeler D, they could have a shot.

Prediction: While diving deeper into the overall match-ups within this game have given me some hope for the Steelers, there is no way I'm picking against the Chiefs in this one. Even though their offense may be in for somewhat of a struggle against TJ Watt and the Pittsburgh D, their team is just so much better overall that I don't see them losing. At home at Arrowhead in the playoffs is just different. They are one of the loudest crowds in the league and will not see the Chiefs lose in round 1 to a QB one game out of retirement and to a team they beat just a couple weeks ago by 26. While this one will almost certainly be a little closer, there is no way the Chiefs will lose. Big Ben will not go out a winner.

Final Score Prediction: Chiefs 31, Steelers 18

5 Arizona Cardinals (11-6) at 4 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

Overall outlook: The final match-up of wildcard weekend comes on a Monday night for the first time in NFL history. What an interesting little twist that I think we are all for. Aside from the 49ers/Cowboys game, I think this is the other best match of the opening weekend of the playoffs with the biggest potential chance for an upset. The top 2 teams in the NFC West go at it for a third time this season after splitting the season series 1-1. Both teams are also coming off of disappointing losses to other NFC West rivals in week 18. The QB matchup is intriguing, the coaching matchup is intriguing, the defenses are intriguing. We can't wait.

Kupp

Rams outlook: The Rams come into this one in a place that they probably aren't too happy to be in. They could have been the two seed had they just handled their business against the Niners on Sunday. Now they drop to the 4 seed and have a very tough opening round match-up against a team that knows them very well. QB Matthew Stafford has not been as amazing as they probably anticipated when they moved multiple first rounders to get him in the off-season. Sure, he can make jaws drop with his beautiful deep ball, but he can also leave those jaws on the floor with some of the terrible INTs he has been throwing of late. He is the midst of a 4 game stretch in which he's thrown at least 1 INT and he's three games in a row of 2 or more picks. Not a good direction to be going. On the year he still threw for a whopping 4,886 yards and 41 TDs which were both top 3 in the NFL. He also did throw the 17 picks which is not ideal. He will need to clean it up fast or the Rams may be one and dones even with all of the talent they hold. Obviously, they have the ultimate weapon that is Cooper Kupp. Kupp had a season for the ages. He achieved the rare feat of the triple crown in which he lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs (145, 1,947, 16 respectively). He was under 40 yards away from breaking the single season receiving record held by 'Megatron'. He along with OBJ and RBs Cam Akers and Sony Michel form one of the best offenses in the league under Sean McVay.

The Rams still have one of the best defenses in football, though it did not play so well in the second half and OT on Sunday. They were right in the very middle of the pack in both yardage allowed and points allowed. While they have some great weeks on D, they also have some awful weeks. Obviously, they have the best defensive player in football on their team in Aaron Donald. Even when he doesn't put up numbers, his impact is greatly felt. Even double teaming him doesn't always work. The Cardinals are going to have their hands full protecting Murray from Donald if they couldn't figure it out vs Poona Ford and Seattle on Sunday. The Rams also have one of the best CBs in the game in Jalen Ramsey who shuts down one half of the field. The match vs him and DeAndre Hopkins would have been quite intriguing but Hopkins is out. Kyler Murray will struggle with Ramsey shutting down his favorite targets. Even with all of the talent they have, the Rams are sure to have their hands full with Murray and his unique dual-threat abilities on Monday night.

Murray

Cardinals outlook: The Cardinals will need to turn the page after a disappointing loss to Seattle instantaneously if they want to move on. The Rams are one of the hardest teams to plan for in the league and talented young HC Kliff Kingsbury will have his work cut out for him. In terms of offense, the Cards are always in good hands with Kyler Murray on the scene. Murray is one of the fastest QBs we've ever seen, yet he has one of the biggest arms in the league as well. Even when the pocket collapses, Murray can still make plays. That will be something the Rams have to prepare for. Murray will not have as much help as he could wish for though, as his favorite target in elite WR1 DeAndre Hopkins is out for likely the season. Murray will need to spread the ball around for this offense to work. TE Zach Ertz will likely continue to be his favorite target. Look for Ertz to have a big game. The guy that will have the biggest impact for this offense other than Murray on Sunday is sure to be RB James Conner. Conner has had a breakout year with the Cardinals after spending the first few seasons of his career with Pittsburgh. Conner combined for over 1000+ scrimmage yards and a whopping 18 total TDs. He always seems to score and make hard-nosed runs. The Rams will have a hard time figuring him out. This Cardinals offense can be hit or miss, but they will NEED to have a big game or they simply will not have a chance vs the Rams.

The Cardinals defense, while improved from last year, is still also very hit or miss as well. They were elite to start out the year but have trailed off week by week since. Through it all, the Cards still boast a top 10 scoring defense and yardage defense which is good news for them. They will also be getting former DPOY JJ Watt back in the lineup on Sunday for the first time in weeks. He and other former All-Pro rusher Chandler Jones will look to make life hell for Stafford. Outside of those two elite rushers, safety Budda Baker will look to complete the seemingly impossible task of limiting Cooper Kupp. Kupp is almost a surefire bet to have 100 yards and a TD in the game, but if Baker and co. can hold him to just that, it would be considered a victory for the Cards. The red sea defense is going to have their work cut out for them against McVay's intricate offense, but they have the talent to figure it out and I believe in talented DC Vance Joseph to help them figure it out.

Prediction: The final game of wildcard weekend might end up being the best. I think we will see a lot of offense and less defense in this game. Matthew Stafford is almost surely going to turn the ball over which is a major plus for the Cards. At the same time, the Cards passing game is probably going to struggle without Hopkins while facing the Rams defense. Both teams have their shortcomings and it will be a test to see which team can adapt better. While it is a road game, SoFi stadium is becoming notorious for not being much of a homefield advantage for both the Rams and Chargers, so it won't be too tough to play there for the Cardinals. With Stafford and the defense slumping a bit, I think the Cardinals pull off the upset which might shock some people. Kyler Murray will be the best player on the field in the game in my opinion and will not let the Cardinals lose. A great opening weekend of the playoffs ends up with a big upset.

Final Score Prediction: Cardinals 28, Rams 24