Wildcard Weekend 2025: Game Overviews and Predictions

Another regular season has come and gone, and we have finally arrived at our first round of playoff games for the 2024-25 season. This past NFL year has brought plenty of ups, downs, and everything in between as we look at some usual suspects walking into the playoffs as well as some new faces you probably wouldn’t expect to at the beginning of the year.

On the AFC side, you have the reigning Super Bowl champs looking to become the first team in NFL history to complete a 3-peat, four teams looking for revenge after their playoff runs were ended too early last year, a rookie sensation QB hoping to do the impossible, and a head coach who decided to return to the NFL and brought a team that was always playoff-caliber out of the gutter and has a shot to make a real run.

On the NFC side, you have arguably the best team in football, two of the most electric offenses in the league (playing against each other this weekend), a team that believed in a QB that most everyone else had cast aside, the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, the bona fide football guy that is Baker Mayfield, and the wild card (no pun intended) that is Sean McVay.

What a weekend we have ahead of us. Let’s get into it.

(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Houston Texans – Saturday, 1/11 4:30 PM EST

With the departures of both WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, it was very up in the air whether QB Justin Herbert had what he needed to compete in the AFC West. But in his first year as their head coach, fresh off winning the CFB National Championship, Jim Harbaugh came in – drafted stud T Joe Alt and WR Ladd McConkey – and proved all doubters wrong by building an 11-6 record while going 4-2 in the division.

The biggest question surrounding LA for this weekend is the availabilities of RB JK Dobbins, who also played a big part in their success this season, and WR Quentin Johnston. Regardless, the Chargers have shown out enough to make them one of two road favorites this weekend.

On the other hand, while the Texans managed to win the AFC South for the second year in a row and secure a home game, it seems like they sort of stumbled their way into the playoffs after a couple rough outings to end their season. Injuries were not on their side for a good chunk of the regular season, as they lost Stefon Diggs for the year pretty early, Nico Collins was on IR for a bit, Tank Dell went down late in the year, and a few beat ups to their already suspect offensive line.

It also seemed pretty agreed upon that CJ Stroud is in a sophomore slump, as he saw dips in just about every passing category compared to his rookie year – as well as seven more interceptions. It’ll be interesting to see if Houston will be able to put any false narratives about their season to bed at home, but I like the Chargers to move on to Kansas City.

Score Prediction: Chargers 28, Texans 21

(6) Pittsburgh Steelers at (3) Baltimore Ravens – Saturday, 1/11 8:00 PM EST

It was to no one’s surprise that Lamar Jackson had himself yet another MVP-caliber season and brought Baltimore to the top of the AFC North for the second straight year, as continued dominance and woes scattered throughout the rest of the division landed them in the 3-seed at 12-5.

Jackson’s relentless ability to escape pressure and either run with the ball or fling it 50 yards downfield always makes for a scary matchup for most defenses. Derrick Henry helps as well, as Baltimore ended the regular season first in both total yards per game and rushing yards per game. Pro Bowl WR Zay Flowers will not play however, so it’ll be up to Jackson to make do as well as their defense, who struggled with containing the pass for a good chunk of the season, to show up if they hope to stay alive.

Fortunately, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem against a Steelers team that quite literally tripped and fell into the playoffs after a solid first 13 games then ending the regular season on a four-game losing streak. Mind you, finishing against the Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, and Bengals is tough, but entering the playoffs after that as well as help from other teams losing doesn’t exactly pump up your team.

Obviously Russell Wilson has plenty of playoff experience, but he’ll have to kick it up a notch as Pittsburgh only averaged 14.3 points a game in that four-game skid. We all know that defense is up to just about any challenge, but will Russ be able to keep up with Jackson amid several offensive injuries and George Pickens in his own head? I say no.

Score Prediction: Ravens 30, Steelers 17

(7) Denver Broncos at (2) Buffalo Bills – Sunday, 1/12 1:00 PM EST

For the first time since Peyton Manning won Super Bowl 50 in 2015, Denver has finally made their way back into the playoffs. And I’ll admit, if you were to tell me at the beginning of this season – knowing how the Sean Payton experiment has played out so far – that he was going to lead a rookie QB to 10-7 and make the playoffs, I would’ve laughed in your face.

After a rough start, Bo Nix quickly became a phenom and, in my opinion, deserves the OROY award. Going into Orchard Park for the playoffs is something most NFL teams don’t want to do, but I’m excited to see how Nix handles the pressure and if he can turn this into a competitive game. He should have the help he needs from his defense, as superstar CB Patrick Surtain has been lockdown all year and should have no problem eliminating half the field on Sunday. The biggest problem for Denver, however, lies in Josh Allen.

To put things frank, I don’t see any way, shape, or form that Allen allows Buffalo to come anywhere close to losing on Sunday. What we saw from him this past regular season is unlike anything I’ve seen from a QB since I started watching football. All the offseason noise about Buffalo’s window closing that came from losing receivers and defensive players was instantly put to bed by Allen’s ability to throw, run, or catch touchdowns at just about any time.

I hope this game doesn’t turn into a blowout – it’ll be interesting to see how Sean McDermott adjusts to a good secondary and a better run defense, but if you were to ask me, I think Josh Allen and the Bills take this one by a comfortable margin.

Score Prediction: Bills 34, Broncos 17

(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Philadelphia Eagles – Sunday, 1/12 4:30 PM EST

After a devastating end in the Divisional Round last year, Green Bay should be going into Philadelphia hungry to make some noise after surviving the mosh pit that was the NFC North this year. The momentum isn’t necessarily on their side following a two-game hiccup to end the regular season and going 1-5 in their divisional games, but all it takes is an explosive showing from their offense to make this game interesting.

We all saw what happened last year when the Packers were in this same spot against the 2-seed Cowboys, but it’ll be tougher this time around without Christian Watson to help open up the field. In fact, there are a lot of concerning injuries – mostly on the defensive side – that might make this an even steeper slope for Jordan Love to climb.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, all eyes are on the availability of Jalen Hurts, who was forced to miss the last three games of the season with a concussion, and A.J. Brown, who missed practice Thursday with a knee injury. Luckily, Hurts was listed as a full participant at practice on Thursday and appears to be on the right track to suit up Sunday, and the feeling is optimistic that Brown will play despite missing a day of practice.

Philadelphia is the obvious favorite, with a career-year from RB Saquon Barkley and drastically better outings from their secondary. With Hurts and Brown both teetering between 100% and playing injured, Barkley will likely be the key piece in securing an Eagles win. Unfortunately for Green Bay, the injuries they have on their side deems them unlikely to cash in on that in my opinion.

Score Prediction: Eagles 28, Packers 27

(6) Washington Commanders at (3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sunday, 1/12 8:00 PM EST

It was a close race for the NFC South all the way till week 18, but Baker Mayfield and the Bucs were able to find the gas pedal and win their last two games to secure the 3-seed. It was a bumpy road involving a four-game losing streak and injuries across the board, but I think everyone was happy to see Mayfield persevere through the adversity and continue to find success in his new home.

Rookie RB Bucky Irving showed plenty of flashes during the regular season to help out as well, and he’ll play a big part Sunday night against a terrible run defense. Similar to Green Bay, all it takes from the Bucs is an explosive offensive performance to confidently move on to the Divisional Round.

However, while you might think so given their history, the Commanders will by no means be a cake walk for Tampa Bay. There’s no doubt they’ve found the future of their franchise in QB Jayden Daniels, who’s proven capable of packing punches on offense both through the air and through the ground.

The biggest thing standing in Washington’s way is their defense, who is anticipating some help with the return of Marshon Lattimore, but will desperately need to step up if they have any chance at moving on. This should be a high scoring affair, so it’ll likely come down to QB play. Can Baker step up in prime time? Is Daniels ready for the playoff stage? My answers might surprise you.

Score Prediction: Commanders 31, Bucs 28

(5) Minnesota Vikings at (4) Los Angeles Rams – Monday, 1/13 8:00 PM EST

Closing out the wild card round is maybe the biggest surprise to come out of this year in the Minnesota Vikings. After replacing Kirk Cousins and seemingly handing the reins of the franchise to CFB National Champion J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota quickly had to put all their hopes into Sam Darnold after McCarthy tore his meniscus during training camp.

Darnold, after being drafted then cast aside by the Jets, took just about everyone by surprise by leading Minnesota to a 14-3 record and just narrowly missing the 1-seed in the NFC. Everything concerning the Viking’s offense just worked perfectly for them all season – Justin Jefferson, Darnold, Aaron Jones, Jordan Addison – pair that with the success of Brian Flores’ dynamic defense, and you have the nightmare matchup across the NFC that is frighteningly capable of playing spoiler at the 5-seed.

Similar to the Bucs, it was a bumpy road for the Rams in terms of claiming the NFC West. But through the versatility of Sean McVay, they were able to win 5 of their last 6 games and sneak into the playoffs yet again as that team you’re unsure you want to play against.

If there’s one thing that Flores struggles with on the defensive side, it’s his secondary, as they finished the regular season surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing WRs. With a healthy Cooper Kupp AND Puka Nacua, I’m curious to see the game plan McVay draws up to attack that aspect. However, I’ll be paying the most attention to Darnold to see if he can bounce back from the regular season finale, and I think he can.

Score Prediction: Vikings 31, Rams 24