This week will be dominated by news of the Denver Broncos head coaching search, but there are some actual NFL playoffs this weekend. Now that the Broncos’ head coach search is well underway, I suppose we should get a preview of those games here.
This year’s Wild Card Weekend will be a three-day event due to the new extended playoff system, which will include one additional playoff team. Saturday is the start of it all. Each playoff game is previewed here, and all betting odds are provided by our partners at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. Mile High time
Location: Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio
Where to Watch: NBC, Peacock, Universo
Betting Spread: Cincinnati -5
Moneyline Odds: Las Vegas +185 / Cincinnati -225
Over/Under: 49.5
The Raiders, who have had one of the more difficult seasons, have to be the greatest surprise team of 2021. Their head coach, Jon Gruden, resigned in disgrace as a result of an email scandal, and their top wide receiver, Henry Ruggs III, was arrested for a tragic DUI accident. When all of those events came together, they were 5-2.
They lost five of their next six games as a temporary head coach figured things out, then rebounded to win the rest of the season and make the playoffs. However, I feel their luck will run out this week when they meet a Bengals squad that has been on a tear under Joe Burrow.
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
Date/Time: Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 6:15 P.M. Mile High time
Location: Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York
Where to Watch: CBS, Paramount
Betting Spread: Buffalo -4.5
Moneyline Odds: New England +170 / Buffalo -200
Over/Under: 44.5
After blasting through a seven-game victory run to overcome a 2-4 start to the season, the Patriots limped into the playoffs, losing three of their final four games under rookie Mac Jones. They’re also one of the only teams this season to drop multiple 50-burgers on opponents. They even defeated the Bills on the road, with Jones throwing for a total of 19 yards.
However, it is the manner in which they concluded that has them worried about coming into Wild Card weekend. They caught the Bills during a four-game losing skid, but they closed with a four-game winning streak, which won them the AFC East title. They scored 30 points a game in the final four games and are one of the league’s hottest teams heading into the playoffs.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Date/Time: Sunday, January 16, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. Mile High time
Location: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
Where to Watch: FOX, FOX Deportes
Betting Spread: Tampa Bay -8.5
Moneyline Odds: Philadelphia +290 / Tampa Bay -380
Over/Under: 47.5
The Philadelphia Eagles are not to be taken lightly. After a 3-6 start that had many doubting Jalen Hurts’ ability to play in the NFL, the club rebounded to win six of their last seven games to earn a playoff berth and a shot against the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers concluded with one of the finest records in the NFL, with the New Orleans Saints defense serving as Brady’s lone genuine kryptonite. In the playoffs, he won’t have to worry about the defense. The Bucs also defeated the Eagles 28-22 earlier this season, but it was during Hurts’ early-season struggles.
San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys
Date/Time: Sunday, January 16, 2022, at 2:30 P.M. Mile High time
Location: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Where to Watch: CBS, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Amazon Prime Video
Betting Spread: Dallas -3
Moneyline Odds: San Francisco +145 / Dallas -165
Over/Under: 50.5
My weekend game will be a classic rematch between two great NFC teams from the early to mid-1990s. I attempted to pinpoint a failing club from each conference that would turn things around and make the playoffs in my Week 11 power rankings. These 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks were the two clubs I was contemplating. I chose Seattle over quarterback because I don’t think Jimmy Garoppolo can be a franchise quarterback.
The aspect of Jimmy G’s game that I overlooked was coaching, and it was coaching and play calling that propelled the 49ers to the playoffs and damaged the Seahawks’ season.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs
Date/Time: Sunday, January 16, 2022, at 6:15 P.M. Mile High time
Location: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri
Where to Watch: NBC, Peacock, Telemundo
Betting Spread: Kansas City -12.5
Moneyline Odds: Pittsburgh +450 / Kansas City -630
Over/Under: 46
The weakest playoff club in 2021 will face the AFC’s most likely greatest team. That is also what the betting line suggests. Unless Ben Roethlisberger channeled a 5-year-old version of himself, this game has the potential to be a slaughter.
The Chiefs have won nine of their previous ten games, including a 36-10 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. I’m at a loss for words when it comes to this one. It isn’t supposed to be pretty.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
Date/Time: Monday, January 17, 2022, at 6:15 P.M. Mile High time
Location: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Where to Watch: ESPN/ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes
Betting Spread: Los Angeles -3.5
Moneyline Odds: Arizona +160 / Los Angeles -190
Over/Under: 49
I’ve been a huge fan of the Cardinals since preseason, and I got a lot of grief for putting them ahead of the Rams in my power rankings. And this is when, despite the Cardinals losing four of their past five games and blowing a chance to win the NFC West division title, I won’t back down from my initial assessment. Despite this, the Rams won five of their past six games to win the game.
Kyler Murray is going to go HAM, and Matt Stafford is going to do Matt Stafford stuff. The Cardinals will advance, leaving the Rams with the same dilemma they faced last season: quarterback uncertainty.
