After a long and entertaining 17 week season, the NFL playoffs begin this weekend.
The top two seeds in each conference will enjoy their byes from home this week as they watch the other eight playoff teams grind it out in the wildcard round.
Here’s a little preview and some predictions for the first round.
AFC - Byes: New England Patriots (1st), Kansas City Chiefs (2nd)
(4th) Houston Texans vs. (5th) Oakland Raiders - Saturday @ 1:35 p.m.
It’s the backup quarterback bowl!
Thanks to injuries to Derek Carr and Tom Savage, both teams will be relying on backup quarterbacks during Saturday’s wildcard matchup.
For the Texans, it’s the $72 million, Brock Osweiler, who lost his starting job a month ago after a disappointing first year in Houston, but will have a chance at redemption thanks to Savage’s injury.
Oakland is missing their top two quarterbacks, which means it’s third-string rookie, Connor Cook, under centre for the 12-4 Raiders.
Either quarterback could surprise, but it should be a battle of the defenses in Houston on Saturday.
Look for the Raiders’ pass rush, the Texans’ run defense and both team’s ground game on offense to be the biggest factors in deciding who pulls out the win.
Prediction: Oakland wins 23-21.
(3rd) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (6th) Miami Dolphins - Sunday @ 10:05 a.m.
Oh hey, look, It’s another team that’s missing their starting quarterback!
Sadly for the Miami Dolphins, who are relying on Matt Moore after starter Ryan Tannehill was hurt in week 14 against Arizona, their opponent still has their quarterback and he’s one of the best in the game.
Expect Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the Steelers’ high-powered offense to take over this game from the start.
If the Dolphins want to pull off the upset and win their first playoff game since 2000, they’ll need to rely heavily on runningback Jay Ajayi.
If this game was in South Florida the Dolphins might have a chance, but you combine the injury to Tannehill with going out on the road and it’s hard to think that they’ll come out on top in this one.
Prediction: Pittsburgh wins 33-13
NFC - Byes: Dallas Cowboys (1st), Atlanta Falcons (2nd)
(3rd) Seattle Seahawks vs. (6th) Detroit Lions - Saturday @ 5:15 p.m.
The Detroit Lions were oh so close to winning their first division title since 1993, but they came up short after losing their final game to the Green Bay Packers.
Instead of hosting a playoff game as division champions, they now have to go on the road and play in arguably the loudest building in professional sports.
The Seattle Seahawks have had their issues this season, specifically with their run game and losing safety Earl Thomas to injury, but they have to be considered heavy favourites in this one.
The Lions defense has had their moment this season and they’ll need to have their best game yet if they want to advance to play the Cowboys next weekend.
These two teams are evenly matched, but the infamous 12s in Seattle will be the deciding factor in this one.
Prediction: Seattle wins 24-9
(4th) Green Bay Packers vs. (5th) New York Giants - Sunday @ 1:40 p.m.
Just like the Raiders vs. Texans game in the AFC, the road team in this one finished the season with a better record than the home team, but division winners Green Bay get home field advantage.
The Giants had a spectacular season, but going on the road to Lambeau Field to play Aaron Rodgers is never easy.
Rodgers and the Packers ran the table with six straight wins after starting the season 4-6, making them the hottest team in football.
On the other hand, It’s hard to count out two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning in the playoffs.
This game might come down to which elite receiver has a better game between the Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr. and the Packers’ Jordy Nelson.
Prediction: Green Bay wins 34-30
As for the entire playoffs, I don’t think anyone is stopping Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the rest of the New England Patriots in their quest to stick it to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
They’ll meet the Atlanta Falcons at Super Bowl 51 in Houston and the final score will be 31-30 Patriots.
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