This article covers six predicted NFL Wildcard games to be played during 1/15-1/17/22. Two games are kicking off on 1/15/22 and that means the NFL playoffs are officially starting. Time to continue with a weekly cadence of highlighting the best games to watch. Also determining the potential upsets lurking below the radar. Hard part about doing this exercise in 2021, is trying to determine if any of the 2020 trends will continue. 2020 was the season of Covid-19 impacts, no fans in the stands and a surprising post season.
2021 Week 18 Picks Recap
Top 5 games to watch – 2/5 correct thanks to Kansas City and Dallas
Top 5 upsets that could happen – 3/5 thanks to Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Las Vegas
Overall picks – 5/10 which is right at the mean
2021 All Picks Recap
Top 5 games to watch – 55/90 correct
Top 5 upsets that could happen -37/90 correct
Overall picks – 92/180 correct which is right at the mean
Late afternoon game (4:30 PM EST) from Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on 1/15/22. Raiders enter this game at 10-7 and on a four game winning streak that barely propelled them into the NFL playoffs. Bengals enter this game at 10-7 and winning three of their last four games.
Las Vegas has had more than enough drama this season with Jon Gruden’s resignation, off the field issues and the lack of a consistent running game. QB Derek Carr has been waiting eight seasons to get his first playoff start. Cincinnati has been solid this season due to winning the tight AFC North division. QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase have shown that their on field chemistry in college transitioned well to the NFL. Bengals will be relying on Joe Mixon’s running game to move the chains and chew the game clock. NFL playoffs don’t officially start until a road team wins a game.
Prediction: Raiders are a 5.5 point road underdog and will win by three points
AFC Wildcard Game #2 New England vs. Buffalo
Primetime game (8:15 PM EST) from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY on 1/15/22. Patriots enter this matchup at 10-7 and losing three of their last four games. Bills enter this matchup at 11-6 and on a four game winning streak. All victories were by double digits, which led to winning the AFC East division.
Third time these teams have played this season, New England won 14-10 in Week 13 and the Bills won in 33-21 in Week 16. Patriots were cruising at mid-season with the NFL’s highest rated defense and seemed to run out of gas in December and January. Bills woke up after Week 13 to play inspired team ball down the stretch. Time for QB Josh Allen to elevate his play and carry his squad deep in the AFC playoffs.
Prediction: Bills are 4.0 point home favorites and will win by seven points
NFC Wildcard Game #1 Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay
Early afternoon game (1:00 PM EST) from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL on 1/16/22. Eagles enter this game at 9-8 and winning four of their last five games. Buccaneers enter this game at 13-4 and on a three game winning streak. Won the NFC South division due to six close victories.
Rematch of the Week 6 game that Tampa Bay won 28-22. QB Jalen Hurts will be running for his life as the dual threat playmaker for the Eagles. Time for him to get the ball into rookie WR DeVonta Smith’s hands and see what he can do on the big stage. QB Tom Brady quietly threw for 5316 passing yards and 43 TDs, but also had 12 INTs. He won’t have to deal with Antonio Brown in the huddle, which should relieve the stress of trying to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Currently shorthanded on offense with injuries, Tampa Bay will lean on their underrated defense for this NFC playoff run.
Prediction: Buccaneers are currently 8.5 point home favorites and will win by fourteen points
NFC Wildcard Game #2 San Francisco vs. Dallas
Late afternoon game (4:30 PM EST) from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on 1/16/22. 49ers enter this matchup at 10-7 and on a two game winning streak. Cowboys enter this matchup at 12-5 and winning five of their last six games. Won the NFC East division due to five close victories. San Francisco is comfortable playing on the road by going 6-3 during the 2021 season and they have no problem with winning an ugly game. Rookie QB Trey Lance will be used in special formations and red zone plays, to keep LB Micah Parsons and the Cowboys defense guessing during critical downs. The best NFL rivalry of the 1980s and 1990s gets a facelift for this playoff game and will be entertaining for 60 minutes.
Prediction: 49ers are currently a 3.0 point road underdog and will win by three points in walk-off fashion
AFC Wildcard Game #3 Pittsburgh vs. Kansas City
Primetime game (8:15 PM EST) from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO on 1/16/22. Steelers enter this game at 9-7-1 and on a two game winning streak. Chiefs enter this game at 12-5 and winning nine of their last ten games. Won the AFC West division due to five close victories. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is in the final chapter of his 18 year NFL career and he gets one more chance to make a playoff run.
Rookie RB Najee Harris and a depleted WR/TE corps will have to play a perfect game to keep up with the Chiefs on the road. Kansas City got off to a rough start in 2021 (3-4) and then focused on playing better team defense. Turnovers and critical third down stops coincided with QB Patrick Mahomes and the offense warming during an eight game winning streak. That streak elevated the Chiefs to the #2 seed in the AFC. Rematch of the Week 16 game that was dominated by the Chiefs (36-10).
Prediction: Chiefs are currently a 12.5 point home favorite and will win by 14+ points
NFC Wildcard Game #3 Arizona vs. Los Angeles Rams
Primetime game (8:15 PM EST) from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA on 1/17/22. Cardinals enter this matchup at 11-6 and losing four of their last five games. Rams enter this matchup at 12-5 and winning five of their last six games. Won the NFC West division due to four close victories. Arizona was the hottest team in the NFL early in the season at 7-0, then hit some speed bumps due to playing tough teams and dealing with injuries. QB Kyler Murray had a breakout season (3787 passing yards, 24 passing TDs, 5 rushing TDs) in his third NFL campaign. RB James Conner finished third in the league with 18 total TDs, but will most likely miss this game due to a rib injury.
Los Angeles Rams are paced by QB Matthew Stafford, RB Sony Michel and WR Cooper Kupp. That trio accounted for 45 TDs and they seem to be warming up just at the right time. Head coach Sean McVay will rely on his big game experience from the 2018 playoffs to start a new deep run. Rubber match due to splitting during the regular season (Cardinals won 37-20 in Week 4, Rams won 30-23 in Week 14).
Prediction: Rams are currently a 4.0 point home favorite and will win by 7 points
Same bat time, same bat channel next week. I’ll review the results of the NFL Wildcard games and try again for the NFL Divisional playoff round.
Never walk away from the table when you’re on a heater in Vegas! Hope you enjoyed the predictions for the Wildcard round of the NFL playoffs.
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