Wild Card Weekend Preview

Oh it truly is a beautiful time of the year. Great way to kickstart the new year. We started this journey four months ago with 32 teams all fighting for the same thing, a shot at the Lombardi trophy. Now we're down to twelve teams left standing. It all gets going right here today, with Wild Card Weekend. Lets not waste anymore time and lets get right into it. Here's how the games go down this weekend.

First kickoff is Saturday at 4:35 between the Wild Card winning Buffalo Bills and the AFC South Champion Houston Texans. This marks the 2nd time in three years, and the 19th time in franchise history, that the Buffalo Bills are in the playoffs. They enter as a wild card team, going 10-6 during the regular season. Its the first time the Bills have won 10 games in a season since 1999. Buffalo is looking for its first playoff win since 1995. Buffalo is 14-16 lifetime in the playoffs. As for Houston, this is the 4th time in the last five years they have won the AFC South, finishing the season with an 11-5 record. This also marks the 6th division title for the Texans. Houston is looking for a playoff win for the first time since 2016. The Texans are 3-5 lifetime in the playoffs. This is the first ever playoff meeting between the teams.

This is a battle of two teams that have struggled in the playoffs in the past. It's been a long time coming for a really good team in Buffalo. They've got a pretty good defense to help lead the charge. Its been the pass defense in Buffalo that's been a strong point for this team, finishing 3rd overall in defense and 5th in pass defense. It's going to be a key focal point considering how good the Texans offense has been. What has me a tad worried in this game is going to be for Buffalo. Josh Allen has been good this year, and Cole Beasley has been a reliable target for him. They've had a solid running attack with Frank Gore and Devin Singletary. Only thing to keep an eye on is the propensity for turning the ball over that the Bills have had this season.

Houston has been the top of the South division for a reason. They've had outstanding play from DeSaun Watson this year, and DeAndre Hopkins has been good but not great. Its going up against a tough Bills defense, but Houston can hang on that side of the ball as well. JJ Watt can still be an intimidating to deal with. There is a lot of pressure on Houston this year, because it has been the 4th time in five years in the playoffs, but they can't seem to get the job done.

At least Houston has been here before. So has Buffalo, but its only been once in the last twenty years. Buffalo could be good, but I'm worried about the turnovers and the defense not being able to bail them out all day. Going to be a tight game, but at the end of the day, Houston is just better.

Prediction: Houston 21, Buffalo 17

Next up, with kickoff set for 8:15 its the Wild Card winning Tennessee Titans taking on the AFC East Champion New England Patriots. Tennessee finished the year as a wild card team, going 9-7 during the regular season. Its the 2nd time in three years that the Titans are a playoff team. Last time the Titans made the playoffs was also the last time the Titans won a playoff game, that coming in 2017. Tennessee is 15-20 lifetime in the playoffs. For the 11th year in a row and the 14th time in the last 16 years the New England Patriots won the AFC East, finishing with a 12-4 record. New England has played in the last three Super Bowls and looks to get back there again, but this is the first time they've played in Wild Card Weekend since 2009. The Patriots are 37-20 all time in the playoffs. This is the 4th ever meeting between the teams in the playoffs, with New England winning two of the previous three.

This has to be a weird feeling for the Patriots, who haven't lost on Wild Card weekend in ten years.They also haven't lost in their first playoff game since the Ravens beat them in their first game in 2012. New England had the best defense in the game this year and the 2nd best pass defense in football. That's been their strength again. The offense, despite not having Gronk this year, keeps right on moving along. The only thing that would worry me would be Brady's health. He is in his mid 40s and not having this week off on the bye could be hazardous for him late in the playoffs.

New England is going to have a test ahead of it, dealing with the Titans running game. Derrick Henry has been a beast all year this year, finishing as the leading rusher in the entire league this season. He's really been the only bright spot all year for the Titans. Sure, they have played better under Ryan Tanahill. This game is almost too easy to pick. The Jets fan in me is hoping like hell for a huge upset but I can't see that happening. The Patriots are too good.

Prediction: Patriots 30 Titans 21

Now onto Sunday, where first up, at 1:05 is the Wild Card winning Minnesota Vikings taking on the NFC South Champion New Orleans Saints. Minnesota made the playoffs as a wild card team, going 10-6 on the year, making it the 2nd time in three years as a playoff and double digit win team. Minnesota is looking for a win for the first time in the playoffs since beating the Saints two years ago. Minnesota is 20-29 in the playoffs lifetime. This marks the 3rd year in a row that the Saints have won the NFC South, finishing 13-3 this season. New Orleans is looking to get back to the NFC title game for the 2nd year in a row. New Orleans is 9-11 lifetime in the Playoffs. This marks the 5th ever meeting between the teams in the playoffs, with the Vikings having won three of the last four.

Rematch from the Minnesota Miracle two years ago. Vikings have a different look under center with Cousins leading a pass attack that finished 23rd in the NFL this year. Its still a decent mix of the pass and run in Minnesota but there isn't one thing that the Vikings really stand out with in their game, at least on offense. Minnesota can put on the pressure with the front pressure, but with the way things look for who they're playing, the Vikings need to step the pressure up to have a chance.

New Orleans managed to win the division at 13-3 and do so with Drew Brees missing over a month with a hand injury. Alvin Kamara has been good all year long, and he's been a good compliment the brilliance of Michael Thomas this season. They too, like the Vikings, have managed to get a balanced attack this year. On defense the Saints should be able to hang with the Vikings.

Just want to send a reminder to fans that the Saints hung 46 points on the 49ers, who are a better defensive team than what you get in Minnesota. New Orleans wants to get the sting of last years playoffs shook off and they get it off to a good start in this year's playoffs.

Prediction: Saints 31, Vikings 20

Last but not least, the 4:40 Kickoff will have the Wild Card winning Seattle Seahawks taking on the NFC East Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Seattle got in as a wild card team, for the 2nd year in a row, finishing with a 11-5 record. Seattle is looking for its first playoff win since 2016. Seattle is now 16-16 lifetime in the playoffs. As for the Eagles, they went 9-7 for the 2nd year in a row. This year, it lead to an NFC East title, their 2nd in three years. Philly is looking for a playoff win for the first time since winning the Super Bowl tow years ago. The Eagles are 23-22 lifetime in the playoffs.

Of your Seattle, this could be a better matchup then having to go to  New Orleans. Seattle is still powered by Russel Wilson, who is and was playing at an MVP kind of level this year. He's been keeping the Seahawks in the race against the 49ers in the West. I say this because the defense in Seattle, which at one time was considered to be a tough thing to play against, has been hampered by injuries this year.

And with the injury storyline, how about Carson Wentz? This is the first time he's really getting a taste of the playoffs. He's missed it the last two years due to injury and doesn't have Nick Foles to back him up. He's got a lot of pressure on him and can he pull it off. Against Minnesota, maybe, but not against this team. Even with all the injuries to the defense, Seattle is still too good a team.

Prediction: Seattle 30, Philadelphia 10