The wild-card playoff round for the 2024 NFL season has six great matchups, and we have you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend.
And US LIVE EXPERTS give you the prediction and the expected final score picks for every game.
(5) Chargers at (4) Texans
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | CBS/Paramount+ | BET: LAC -3 (42.5 O/U)
Quarterback Justin Herbert has three interceptions this season, the fewest in the NFL, while the Texans’ defense has the second-most interceptions (19). It will be the third playoff game since 2000 between an offense with the fewest interceptions and a defense with the most or second-most interceptions. Can Houston force Herbert into mistakes and turnovers?
Both defenses are among the best in the league at creating havoc for quarterbacks. The Texans allow the league’s lowest completion percentage (58.8%), and the Chargers sit at 65% (11th lowest). On the flip side, C.J. Stroud and Herbert are susceptible to being taken down due to their protection, as both quarterbacks rank top four in unblocked pressures. The winner of this game will be whichever team’s defense can consistently generate pressure with occasional free rushers. –
Prediction: The Texans will fail to score a touchdown. Since Week 9 (their first game after losing wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a torn ACL), the Texans ranked 27th in offensive EPA per play. They lost receiver Tank Dell late in the season to a knee injury, too. Now, against the No. 1 scoring defense, I think they’ll struggle.
The US LIVE EXPERTS PREDICTION: Chargers 28, Texans 20
(6) Steelers at (3) Ravens
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET | Prime Video | ESPN BET: BAL -9.5 (43.5 O/U)
With his offense averaging 14 points and 258.8 yards per game in a four-game losing streak, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said this is a leave-no-stone-unturned type of game. That could mean mixing things up and using more of quarterback Justin Fields, who hasn’t taken a snap since an abdominal injury in Week 15 against Philadelphia. Fields said he’s healthy and ready to do whatever is asked of him. The Steelers’ offense needs the most help on first down, where it ranks at or near the bottom of the league in yards (4.5, last), success rate (37%, 31st) and QBR (40, 29th).
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is looking to overcome his playoff struggles against a Steelers defense that has been faltering. Jackson is 2-4 in the postseason, recording six interceptions and three lost fumbles. He has had a history of turning the ball over versus Pittsburgh specifically, but the Steelers’ defense has faded through its current four-game losing streak, allowing 258.5 passing yards (tied for the fourth most in the league during that span).
Steelers running back Najee Harris has averaged 4.0 yards per rush this season, which is 35th out of 44 qualified players. His minus-0.01 yards per rush gained over expectation ranks 31st in the NFL, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Prediction: Ravens tight end Mark Andrews will catch six or more passes, matching or surpassing a season high. After his slow usage to start the season, Andrews has run a route on a higher percentage of Ravens pass plays. His advanced metrics are also still strong. Andrews has an 80 open score this season, narrowly beating out George Kittle for the highest among tight ends (via ESPN’s receiver scores). — Walder
US LIVE EXPERTS PREDICTION : Ravens 30, Steelers 24
(7) Broncos at (2) Bills
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET | CBS/Paramount+ | ESPN BET: BUF -8 (47.5 O/U)
The Broncos, who ended an eight-year playoff drought, get another crack at one of the AFC’s top quarterbacks. The Broncos didn’t beat Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes (he didn’t start last week’s game), Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert this season. Now, they get Josh Allen, who has as many rushing touchdowns himself (12) as the Broncos do as a team. The Broncos have to limit Allen from what they call “the second act” plays — the completions and runs after his initial reads are taken away. — Jeff Legwold
The Bills have thrived in the wild-card round, going 4-1 with Allen starting. The big question for this team going into the playoffs, however, is whether the defense can get off the field. The Bills’ defense is the fourth worst in third-down conversion percentage allowed (43.8%), and taking down the quarterback has been an issue (39 sacks, tied for 18th). On the other side, rookie quarterback Bo Nix has avoided sacks (24, tied for third fewest). “[Nix] seems extremely poised for a young quarterback, and I’ve been very impressed with his mobility, his ability to extend plays,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. — Alaina Getzenberg
The Bills have turned over the ball only eight times in the regular season, which is tied with the 2019 Saints for the fewest since turnovers were first tracked in 1933.
US LIVE EXPERTS PREDICTION: Bills 28, Broncos 17
(7) Packers at (2) Eagles
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox | ESPN BET: PHI -4.5 (45.5 O/U)
The Packers finished with their highest defensive ranking (fifth) since their Super Bowl-winning season of 2010, but they’ve had trouble with Eagles running back Saquon Barkley before. Including the 2024 season opener, Barkley has three straight games against the Packers with at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown — tied for the longest streak by any player against Green Bay.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to progress through concussion protocol and is expected to play barring a setback. The question then becomes whether the passing offense can get into a rhythm early with Hurts playing in his first game since Dec. 22. Slow starts were a theme for the Eagles this season, particularly early on, as they failed to score in the first quarter 10 times. Early production has improved of late, but their progress will be tested against a team that has allowed just 19.9 points per game, the sixth-best mark in the NFL.
The Packers scored 30-plus points in five of their seven final games, including five straight contests in Weeks 12 through 16. That’s the second-longest streak in franchise history after a seven-game streak in 1963.
US LIVE EXPERT PREDICTION: Eagles 34, Packers 28
(6) Commanders at (3) Buccaneers
Sunday, 8 p.m. ET | NBC/Peacock | ESPN BET: TB -3 (50.5 O/U)
Washington’s defense has improved since facing Tampa Bay in the season opener. After three games, the Commanders ranked 29th in points allowed per game (29.3). But from Weeks 4 through 18, Washington ranked 12th in scoring (21.6 points per game) and fourth in total yards (316.1). The Bucs will present a challenge because of their improved run game with rookie Bucky Irving; they rank second in the NFL over the past seven weeks in rushing yards per game (183.3). Washington’s defense ranks 30th against the run, allowing 137.5 rushing yards per game.
The Bucs have seen quarterback Jayden Daniels take off since their Week 1 victory, when he rushed for two touchdowns. Still, they feel they’re more equipped to stop Daniels this go-around. “Early in the season, we were falling short a little bit on containment and not being able to plaster as quarterbacks scramble,” cornerback Zyon McCollum said. “From the D-line down to the DBs, we’ve done a really good job at focusing in and homing in on that type of quarterback movement.” In Weeks 1 through 9, they were giving up 5.0 yards per rush to opposing QBs (22nd in the league). That number has dropped to 3.2 (third best).
US LIVE EXPERTT PREDICTION: Commanders 33, Buccaneers 30
(5) Vikings at (4) Rams
Monday, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ | ESPN BET: MIN -2.5 (47.5 O/U)
The NFL has moved this game to Arizona, it announced Thursday night, saying the decision was made in the “interest of public safety” as wildfires continue to ravage Southern California. The game was originally scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It now will be played at Glendale’s State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, at the same time Monday.
TheVikings Week 8 matchup turned in part on the Rams’ unexpected activation of receiver Puka Nacua from injured reserve. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores admitted recently that the Vikings were surprised by Nacua’s participation, which caused “a little bit of scrambling.” The Rams targeted Nacua three times on their opening drive, and he finished with seven catches for 106 yards as the Rams scored what at the time was a season-high 30 points. “They are a very different team with Puka out there,” Flores said. “We know he’s going to be out there this time, and I’ll do a better job of making sure our guys are prepared.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had a 87.7 Total QBR against the Vikings in Week 8, which was the highest of any starting quarterback against Minnesota this season, according to ESPN Research. He was pressured on 8.8% of dropbacks in that game, the lowest mark for the Vikings’ defense all season. Now, he enters the playoffs averaging the most passing yards per game all time in the postseason (307.9).
The Vikings’ Sam Darnold is seeking to become the sixth starting quarterback since 1966 to win his first career postseason start while playing for his fourth team or later. Of the previous five, three went on to reach the Super Bowl that season. — ESPN Research
US LIVE EXPERTS PREDICTION: Rams 28, Vikings 26
Our US LIVE-prediction:
IN THE AFC the RAVENS will play the BILLS (28 – 20) and the No 1 seed CHIEFS will play the CHARGERS (31 – 24).
The Winner of this round will be: RAVENS and CHIEFS.
In the Division final the RAVENS will win against the CHIEFS (28 – 24).
In the NFC the EAGLES will play the RAMS (32 – 20), and the COMMANDERS will play against No 1 DETROIT LIONS (13 – 32).
In the Division final the DETROIT LIONS will win against the EAGLES (28 – 26)
The Superbowl will be played between LIONS and RAVENS – and the DETROIT LIONS will win the Super Bowl 28 – 21.
